Batch 18-25. Apparently batch variation is a thing. Apparently sourcing your bourbon and bottling it under a brand is a thing. Some background is required. Willett in Bardstown, KY first put whiskey to barrel in 1937. A few things happened between then and 2012. The stills fired back up, rickhouses are being filled and onward we go. Some terrific rye whiskey and their Family Estate bourbons have since rolled out. Problem is that the offshoot brands (I have a particular love-hate relationship with Johnny Drum Private stock) apparently are largely sourced (Heaven Hill?). Enter Noah’s Mill. At one time this carried a 15y age statement. And the people (who knew about it) rejoiced. Then the NAS fad happened and batch variation snuck in. Reviews go from “creamy” to “thin” and miracle elixir to paint remover. I looked into batches, all labeled year-Xx and found that sometime between 2018 and 2019 the bottle’s language silently changed. There’s no age statement, however, “Distilled in Kentucky, Bottled by Noah’s Mill” became a distilled, bottled, etc... by Willett Distillery statement appeared. If this is true, the juice is no longer sourced and is a max of 8y in age. Mash bill, rickhouse location, etc are not disclosed. I’m comes this dusty bottle of 18-25 sitting in a favorite local shop of mine... First pop of the bottle I get raisin, acetone and oak. Nice golden juice with a thin rim and tiny slow legs. Nose in the glass I get a dusty floral funk. There is some wet oak, stewed apples, black tea, raisin and baking spice. Oddly, there’s little ethanol and no residual acetone notes. Oh my - leather, dark fruit, wet oak, tobacco and all sorts of goodness melt in the mouth. Warmth rises quickly but no bite or sting. The finish is more raisin, apple pie, leather, and that wet oak funk. It’s not viscous but is moderately tannic and oily nonetheless. This is magical. The finish just keeps going... In ways it reminds me of Barrell Bourbon 19 for those who’ve had it. Similar in body but with a dustier, leather cowboy boot quality that makes me think of a hot, dirt floor saloon somewhere, once upon a time, etc, etc. Question: where did this come from? Question: will we ever get this again? Question: can I drink this bottle slowly? The first I do not know. HH is a big possibility as it reminds me of older EC barrel picks (+14y). As far as the last two, I hope the answer to at least one is yes... ———— On time batch 19-22. Still carries the original wording re. being sourced and bottled by Noah’s Mill (not exclusively Willett juice). After resting for a few minutes I get string notes of cinnamon, vanilla, raisins and sun dried tobacco. The nose on a re-pour from the 18-25 is more astringent and dusty. The palate is oily with a slow heat with flavors of green apple pie, raisins and a bit of leather and tobacco on the finish. As compared to the 18-25 there is less cherry and leather. Overall these are both still excellent. Between the two the 18 is a bit fruitier (raisin) with less cinnamon and more oak. The 19 is spicier with more cinnamon, leather and green apple with the raisin on the end. I would take 18-25 over 19-22 (more of a 4.25-4.5) but both are satisfying. Maybe I’ve debunked myself or just gotten lucky as the main theme is similar for both bottles.