Today, we have another offering from Willett Distillery in Kentucky, their Family Estate 4-year-old Rye. In 1936, Thompson Willett founded Willett Distillery, and it has been going strong since then. Originally, they just sourced all their juice, but then around 2012-2013, they started distilling their own. If you follow us, which you should, you know we have been doing quite a bit of tasting from Willett here recently. Most of them, but not all, have pretty good reviews.
Family Estate 4 year old Rye is a blend of their high rye mash bill, 74% rye, 11% corn, 15% malted, and their low rye mash bill, 51% rye, 34% corn, 15% malted barley. We could not confirm the ratio between the two. This rye can be hard to find, and it sells for $75. It is a small batch rye bottled at cask strength; our bottle is 119 proof. It comes in the same somewhat plain looking bottle that all of Willett’s, beside the Pot Still, comes in.
The other thing we have been tasting a lot of lately is cask-strength whiskey, which our tasters have mixed opinions about. It is usually pretty plain to see by the reviews who is a fan and who is not. Hopefully, we will all like Family Estate 4 year Old Rye.
NOSE
Frank: A mild nose with a little oak or cedar, some caramel, rye and a bit of brown sugar. There’s also a spice in here that I’m not quite picking up on, I’m not sure what it is. Ice calmed it down a bit allowing the aromas to shine.
Todd: I’d put it as a mellow nose for the high proof. Rye and sweetness are the main scents with some vanilla, milk chocolate, and very slight black pepper. I get a fruit that is almost like an orangey-Pearish combo. With ice the sweetness comes off as bubblegum or cotton candy. Strange.
Matt: I have rye, brown sugar, oak, vanilla, and caramel up front. I’m also picking up cherry, almost like a maraschino. Ice adds a hint of leather and a bit of oak. I like the nose better with ice.
TASTE
Frank: Somewhat dry with some oak, rye, and caramel. Behind that a little pepper and fruit. Ice brings out sweetness and an almost fruity syrup.
Todd: Very hot neat, having a hard time picking out the flavors. I do still taste the rye and a little spice like black pepper. Ice makes it a much more enjoyable drink, bringing out that pear and orange fruit that I got on the nose. It also tames the heat and brings out the sweetness that goes good with the spice.
Matt: Taste matches the smells of rye, oak, vanilla, and caramel. Also get a hint of leather. Ice brings out more vanilla and some cinnamon that I was not getting before.
FINISH
Frank: Medium with some nice sweetness.
Todd: Medium and with a slight taste of raisin.
Matt: Medium-long with more of the same things I tasted.
OVERALL
Frank: For 119 proof it is surprisingly smooth with a sweetness that could make it a nice drink neat or on the rocks.
Todd: Not sure what I think about this stuff. Very sweet for a rye with some odd smells and flavors. Good drink after it is watered down but not sure I would pay $75 for it.
Matt: Better with ice/water, but still very good. I would buy again.
Nose 4 out of 5
Taste 7 out of 10
Finish 3.5 out of 5
Overall score 14.5 barrels out of 20.
Willett Family Estate 4-year-old Rye is a nice member of the Willett family. Not a great Rye, but a good one especially when you dilute it a bit. Normally, we don’t like paying so much for so young of a whiskey, but in this case, the scarcity adds some motivation to have a bottle. Also, since adding water to this high-proof rye makes it better, the price is lower. As noted above it has some unique scents and flavors that might be worth the price to experience. You can taste the rye, but it still comes off as sweet.
In the end, if you can find a bottle, we would recommend grabbing it.