Comments on: Friday’s Pick: Willett Single Barrel Estate Reserve Bourbon

By: John S

John S — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:16:19 +0000

I just picked up a bottle of Willett Pot Still Reserve a few days ago to give to my parents as present to aounce to them that they will soon be grandparents a few days ago. Its bottle number 31 of 247 out of barrel number 158. Its the one tat comes in the really cool looking bottle. Im having a really hard time aging it though. Ive found information on barrels numbering anywhere from 1461 to 6,XXX, but none this low in the barrel numbering system. Any input on aging thi bottle would be greatly appreciated.

By: Jason W

Jason W — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 13:48:22 +0000

An excellent bourbon. I place it higher than my previous all-time favorite, Blanton’s.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:30:01 +0000

Just got a 1.75 litre of the Willets Pot Still Reserve as a wedding gift. After reading up on it I can’t wait to try it out. Awesome bottle as well….already planning some uses for the bottle once I savor the last drop. I’ll be sure to get back on here and give my own personal take on it once the seal has been broken. Thanks guys…

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:53:47 +0000

I’m sitting in my kitchen, smoking a Tatuaje Black Tubo and drinking the last of one of my bottles of Willett “The Iron Fist” that I purchased from Joe at Ace a few years back, and I just have to say,

Thank you, Drew. I’m an enormous fan of Rye, and I’ve never found one to match your aged offerings.

And thanks for your reviews, John. There’s only so much time to drink Whisky, and you make the discovery process so much smoother. I also appreciate how accessible you are through your blog. It makes it easier – taking advice from somebody so clearly impassioned with his work and so adamantly dedicated to it.

This cigar is fabulous, by the way

By: Gabe

Gabe — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:20:34 +0000

I was able to find the Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon in the glass pot still decanter at Costco today. $38 seemed reasonable after I read positive reviews on my some sites via my mobile. I have been enjoying it neat this evening. Considering it is 94 proof, it is rather smooth.

By: Eli Plymesser

Eli Plymesser — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:11:45 +0000

While I’m no expert, I have lived in KY most of my life and though I’ve spent most of my bourbon drinking years favoring Woodford Reserve, I think the Pot Still reserve might be one of my new favorites. If you happen to see the distinct bottle on the shelf (I dont know how widely it is sold outside of KY) i would certainly pick it up.
Cheers y’all

By: cliff

cliff — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:55:54 +0000

just got back from Ky. Purchased a bottle of Pot Still Reserve cant waitto try.When and where is the “Bourbon Festival?

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:18:48 +0000

Glad you found a bottle. Sorry, can’t help you sourcing more. Don’t know So Oregon ver well.

By: Scott E

Scott E — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:02:05 +0000

Just found a bottle in Redding CA. Anxious to try. I am origianally from KY now living in So Oregon. Any Bourbon hotspots around me. I can only find ones you see every where.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:48:57 +0000

The 23yr old Willet ryes available only in the DC market are fantastic. They are NOT, however, exclusive to Ace Beverage. They are available at Bourbon (a fantastic whisky bar) and at The Wine Specialist as well. In fact, I saw them at the Wine Specialist for $135 per bottle rather than $179.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:58:16 +0000

The 4yo, barrel-proof bourbon referenced above — sold at Toddy’s in Bardsown during the last Festival — was selected and shared by Doug Philips, whose 23yo Willett Family Reserve rye John DID review here:
http://www.maltadvocate.com/buyers-bo-WillettFamilyReserve.asp
As with the old rye, there was only a single barrel produced (a TRUE single-barrel, then).

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:51:24 +0000

John and Drew:

My thanks to both of you for your informative replies.

Cheers,
Scott

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:25:34 +0000

Thanks Drew for the update and clarification. –John

By: Drew Kulsveen

Drew Kulsveen — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:20:17 +0000

These are part of our barrel program and were bottle for a customer in DC. We don’t market these as part of our normal portfolio because they are so limited and the selections are always different. They are available in a select few markets such as DC. These whiskies were selected by whiskey drinkers and are sold by whiskey drinkers which is the approach we decided to take. If you would like to try them before you buy them (if you still can) take a trip to Bourbon DC or any other Bourbon hotspot. We just released some to one of our customers in CA, they chose a barrel of 25YR and it was bottled at 90.2 Proof (very tasty if you like the older stuff). Anyone wanting information regarding our barrel program can contact me at kentuckybourbon@bardstown.com

By: John Hansell

John Hansell — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:41:10 +0000

Scott, I have not personally tasted the Ace Beverage bottlings. However, I can make a general comment about the older (22 & 23 year old) Willett rye whiskeys that I have tasted. They are very clean and surprisingly lack the big wood influence found in other rye whiskeys on the market of that age.