Willett 8yo Single Barrel

Willett 8yo Single Barrel

Official bottling 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber brown 
68.9% ABV
Dram

Nose: Butterscotch, cream, artichokes, toffee, brown sugar, white pepper, hints of vanilla. With water, hay, fresh cut grass, tarragon, toffee, nutmeg. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, hot, oily. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Artichokes, brown sugar, fresh cut grass, ginseng, vanilla, fresh baked bread, white pepper. With water, nutmeg, fresh cut grass, brown sugar, tarragon, white pepper. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, fresh cut grass, white pepper, ginseng. 

Comments: 

Barrel 5279. Quite rare in the UK, this dram is savoury and herbal bourbon, almost like Cynar, the artichoke Amaro. It’s got a sweet base though, and a scarily high ABV. Drink lots of water.

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Willett Straight Rye Rare Release 4yo

Willett Straight Rye Rare Release 4yo 

Official bottling 
Single rye - Kentucky
Amber, hints of red
56.4% ABV
Dram

Nose: Strawberry jam, marmalade, black pepper, honeycomb, fresh cut grass, orange peel. With water, marmalade, medlar jelly, orange peel, rye bread. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, hot, tingly. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Strawberry jam, marmalade, honeycomb, cinnamon, black pepper, fresh baked bread, molasses, hints of cloves. With water, medlar jelly, orange peel, rye bread, black pepper. 
Finish: Long. Fresh baked bread, cloves, black pepper, marmalade. 

Comments: 

So it turns out there really is a Willett distillery, and they’ve been making rather good stuff. This whisky is definitely from Willett. Lots of fruit, less spice-forward than I would expect from rye. Excellent stuff. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Willett's Pot Still Reserve Single Barrel

Willett's Pot Still Reserve Single Barrel

Willett 
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
47% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, raisins, peanuts, candy floss, white pepper, hints of caramel. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, syrupy, sticky. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Caramel, brown paper, bananas, candy floss, golden syrup, hints of white pepper. 
Finish: Short. Caramel, brown paper, treacle, hints of chocolate. 

Comments: 

Wow, this is nice! Not only is this bourbon chock-full of the usual bananary notes, it's got some characteristics of a well sherried whisky - raisins, candy floss and even some slightly spicy white pepper. Very nice offering from the somewhat fictional Willett distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.

Johnny Drum Private Stock

Johnny Drum Private Stock

Willett
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Red, tinge of amber
50.5% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Banana, salt caramel, cinnamon, marzipan, orange juice, vanilla, hints of blueberries, hints of coconut.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, turns syrupy .
Tasting: Sweet salty. Chillies, marzipan, vanilla, bananas, cinnamon, orange juice, hints of blueberries, hints of coconut.
Finish: Short. Vanilla, marzipan, chillies, cinnamon, blueberries.

Comments:

Another bottling from the probably mythical Willett distillery. Surprisingly salty and spicy, bourbon this old (aged 15 years) is not common. Very tasty, with lots of complexity. Let's see - reminds me of Buffalo Trace...

Verdict:

I like this.

Noah's Mill 15 yo 1987/2002

Noah's Mill 15 yo 1987/2002

Willett
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
57.15% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Banana, magic marker, wet stones, cinnamon, palm sugar, brown paper, hints of soy sauce.
Mouthfeel: Light body, airy, thickens, turns sticky.
Tasting: Bitter sweet. Banana, sandalwood, soy sauce, honey, orange peel, cinnamon, mint.
Finish: Long. Banana, honey, cinnamon, pears, mint.

Comments:

Bittersweet, more so than most bourbons, with a savoury note. Fragrant, fruity and slightly herby. From the supposedly defunct Willett distillery, and very very tasty indeed. I wish my health allowed me to drink more.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Rowan's Creek 13 yo 1989/2002

Rowan's Creek 13 yo 1989/2002

Willett
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Dark amber
50.05% ABV
Sampler

Nose: Brown paper, bananas, cream, strawberries, pears, magic marker, hints of pine.
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, tingly, thickens, mouth coating.
Tasting: Sweet. Brown paper, cream, strawberries, chillies, pine, red wine, hints of mint.
Finish: Long. Walnut skins, red wine, mint, chillies.

Comments:

I've a slight suspicion that this wasn't distilled at the Willett distillery, and instead was just bottled by the Kentucky Distillers' Co, but I can't confirm that. Nevertheless, they've produced a very sherry-sweet, brandy-rich bourbon. Loaded with hints of strawberries and pears, winey richness and lots of spice, especially in the finish. The bottle says 12 years old, but the distilling date and the bottling date are definitely 13 years apart.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.