Willett Family Estate Small Batch Rye 4 Year

Incredibly smooth for the proof. Sweet and spicy. Good rye edge. Very balanced.

Brown sugar flavors, little heat

Extremely smooth rye. No bite at all. Tasty.

One of my favorite ryes. Great spearmint flavor and a nice spice and heat

Exceptionally smooth and flavorful. Black tea mouthfeel with subtle sweetness that morphs from oak to maple and everything in between with a nice dry finish.

Being from Canada, our selection of bourbon and American Rye is limited. I was finally able to get out of the country with the family and I picked this up in Scottsdale, AZ. For this tasting I've brought down to about 94 proof. Nose: I get a lot of dill pickle here, which I actually don't usually get with whisky. There is a little cinnamon and black pepper here as well. This is rounded out by some sweet caramel in the background. Palate: Initially it is actually sweeter than I had anticipated based on the nose. There is caramel and brown sugar then out of nowhere the spice suddenly emerges with a load of black pepper and cinnamon. There's vanilla here but not vanilla ice cream - more like the bitter vanilla flavour from pure vanilla extract. Finish: Long and chewy! There is a delicious dry leatheriness and bitterness that lingers for some time. That bitter vanilla sticks around here as well. Overall I'm very happy with this bottle and I would definitely buy it again if I came across it.

Aromas of sweet chocolate and caramel. Taste is rich and creamy up front with hints of dark chocolate and black cherries. The back end has a bit of a sweet spice with a bit too it that demands a dash of ice or water to get down with enjoyment and the cereal flavor to come through to enjoy. Finish is longer and enjoyable.