ctbeck11
Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Rye 7 Year
Rye — USA
Reviewed
November 3, 2021 (edited November 11, 2021)
Nose - baked cherry pie, spearmint, brandied grape, grass, toffee, tobacco, Hawaiian Punch, polished oak, anise, vanilla, raisin toast, clove, cornbread, leather, nutmeg, chocolate malt, moderate to high ethanol burn.
Taste - salted caramel, baked apple, dark chocolate, brown sugar, spearmint, orange zest, leather, vanilla, raisin, burnt cookie, nutmeg, clove, tobacco, anise, black pepper, cherry, cardamom, dense oak, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium long with spearmint, rich bittersweet chocolate, and baking spice flavors.
The seventh of nine blind tastings begins with decadent, roasty toasty aromas of various holiday fruit pies, yeasty raisin toast, warm dark chocolate, and minty rye spice. The palate is thick and chewy with brown sugar, burnt sugar cookies, Andes chocolate mints, and rich leather and tobacco.
Wow, what a high quality whiskey! The aromas and flavors are deep, dark, and punchy. It’s definitely not young, but I don’t think it’s particularly mature either. The proof is dialed in perfectly, full of flavor and eminently sippable. This is great whiskey, and if not for a tiny hint of sourness, this would be outstanding whiskey. So what is this delicious spirit in my glass tonight? Willett 7 Year Family Estate Single Barrel Rye. A wonderful sipper that I’ll never own, but I’m extremely grateful that @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington sent me a sample of this heavyweight to review.
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@PBMichiganWolverine I will say I just had a go at a 6 year bottling of their Family Estate rye that also was purchased by a friend at around $200 and was significantly better than my 7 year bottle... was not part of the "Lions
@PBMichiganWolverine I’m kind of feeling that way, especially for the price. $120 wouldn’t be unreasonable but the $200+ sure is.
@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington considering the price difference, if this is even close to the 4 in taste, then shame on the 7
@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington I haven’t tried the 4 Year yet. I very rarely see any in the stores near me. Actually, the only other Willett I’ve had is that pot still monstrosity, which I didn’t hate as much as some do, but it was nothing to write home about either.
Real question is would you take this over their 4y rye?? I felt like there were some definite trade offs and honestly like this one a bit better for the additional wood and earthy notes but could go either way depending on mood/day.