Today, we are lucky enough to taste, through sheer luck of a draw since one of us won it, Willett Family Estate, Small batch, Cask Strength, 10-Year-Old-Rye. We say lucky because this stuff sells anywhere from $1200 to $2000. And while we feel like we make a good living, that’s a lot to ask for a bottle of rye. Willet is, in our opinion, best known for their Pot Still Reserve Bourbon in the iconic decanter-looking bottle. But they also make a few others that we have come across, like Old Bardstown, Rowen’s Creek, and Noah’s Mill, to name a few. They also have Bourbon under the Family Estate name as well. We couldn’t find much info about this particular rye; it wasn’t even listed as one of their whiskeys on their web-site.
What we do know is that it is expensive, very hard to find, is 115 proof, and comes in a plain-looking corked bottle. We were not able to determine the mash bill.
Strangely, we are not fans of the popular Pot Still Reserve nor the 2-year-old rye. And Rowen and Noah were just okay. We will see if this rye helps improve our thoughts on all things Willett.
And finally, we have a guest taster today, Frank. Frank has tasted with us before and as we stated then, he is more of an Irish Whiskey guy but does enjoy a good Bourbon or rye.
NOSE
Frank: Rye upfront with roasted sugar, allspice, and a little clove behind it. Ice didn’t make a noticeable difference.
Todd: Lots of scents going on here, with a smooth rye and oak leading the way. But secondary aromas include toast, smoke, vanilla, brown sugar, pepper, and a musty/oily smell. Lastly, a little orange and some wet wood. Ice brought out a little sweetness.
Matt: Great nose even though it smells hot. Rye, vanilla, yeast, and oak lead the way followed by caramel, leather, and a slight mustiness. Ice brings out vanilla, cereal, and pecans.
TASTE
Frank: Like the nose, rye is the strongest taste here. Also, getting an overall sweetness, some wood, and some orange zest. Again, the ice didn’t do much for me.
Todd: Hot and strong neat, but with a little ice I get rye, oak, sweetness and black pepper. Lessor flavors include the same musty/oiliness that I got on the nose and grain. Also, a scent that reminds me of a cigar humidor.
Matt: A heavy mouthfeel, woody and oily with lots of rye and vanilla. Coming in after that is pepper, tobacco, cloves, and that same humidor scent that Todd got. Kind of getting a slight taste of the skin of an apple. Ice makes it a bit sweeter and brings a touch of cinnamon.
FINISH
Frank: Medium long with dry oak and a numbing sensation (like sucrettes without the flavoring).
Todd: Medium long with more sweetness and some kind of baking spice.
Matt: Long and Spicey.
OVERALL
Frank: A very good rye but, wouldn’t pay that kind of money for it.
Todd: Nice stuff with a fantastic nose, but too rich for my blood.
Matt: Not my favorite rye but, I’m not disappointed. I like the dry, earthy flavors.
Nose 4.5 out of 5
Taste 8.25 out of 10
Finish 4 out of 5
Total score 16.75 out of 20 barrels.
We are all glad we got to taste this rye. Not every day, at least for us, that one can drink such a pricey bottle. So, all in all, a good experience. But the taste, while very good, was a slight downer after that nose. We were all expecting more.
It is hard to recommend that anyone go out and spend that much money on a bottle of whiskey. Is it nice that one of us has this bottle? Of course. Would it be cool for you to have one? Equally of course. It is rare and a conversation piece. If you can afford it, can even find it, Willett Family Estate, Small batch, Cask Strength, 10 Year Old Rye will be a nice addition to your collection. Just a very expensive one.