Willett Family Estate 4 Year Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey

Willett Family Estate 4-Year Small Batch Bourbon is a vibrant, character-driven young bourbon with classic Kentucky roots and a modern craft edge. It’s lively, spice-forward, and full of warm grain sweetness — a bold, flavorful small-batch pour bottled at cask strength for drinkers who appreciate energy, structure, and authenticity.

Origins & Craftsmanship

This bourbon is distilled, aged, and bottled by the family-owned Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky — a historic craft producer known for hands-on methods and small-batch whiskeys.

The 4-Year Small Batch is blended from two of Willett’s house mash bills:

• a traditional bourbon mash emphasizing corn sweetness

• a higher-rye mash that contributes spice, structure, and aromatic lift

Barrels (approximately 50 per batch) are hand-selected and mingled before bottling, with the whiskey released at cask strength, meaning proof varies per batch but always showcases intensity. After a minimum of four years aging in new charred American-oak barrels, the result is a young, expressive bourbon that captures the distillery’s signature style: bold, grain-forward, and thoughtfully blended.

Critics Reviews

Spirits writers and early reviewers often note that this expression “over-delivers for its age” thanks to the blending of two distinct mash bills. Critics highlight its lively rye spice, its balance of caramel and oak, and its unexpectedly robust character for a four-year bourbon. Many point out that it carries Willett’s recognizable house style — warm grain, bright spice, and a clean, expressive finish — making it a strong value and a versatile bottle for both sipping and cocktail use.

Tasting Profile

Nose:
Warm corn sweetness, vanilla bean, light caramel, toasted oak, and gentle baking spice with hints of fresh-cut wood and soft rye lift.

Palate:
Medium-bodied and flavorful. Caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla emerge first, followed by peppery rye spice, subtle toffee, toasted grain, and a touch of dried orchard fruit. Oak adds structure without overwhelming the palate.

Finish:
Moderately long with drying oak, rye spice, toasted bread crust, vanilla, and a warm, softly sweet fade. Clean, balanced, and pleasantly warm.

Quick Overview