Classification: Straight Rye
Company: The Willett Distillery
Distillery: The Willett Distillery
Released: Ongoing
Proof: 111.2 (Cask Strength)
Age: 4 Years
Mashbill: A blend of Willett high rye mashbill (74% rye, 11% corn, 15% malted barley) with the Willett low rye mashbill (51% rye, 34% corn, 15% malted barley)
Color: Amber

Package includes: Bourbon and Wellington glasses.

In the early 2010's Willett started distilling their own whiskey on-site for the first time in over 30 years. In 2014, they celebrated this accomplishment with the release of a two year old rye whiskey. Since then they have continued to age their rye whiskey and have stuck with a four year age statement for their standard rye product, although younger and older age statements can be found. It is a small batch and is released at barrel proof. The cap is sealed with aluminum and continues the company's move away from traditional wax they used for many years and were well known for.

Nose:
An interesting and borderline unusual aroma is propped up by floral, botanical, and sweet scents. Plenty of caramel is present in the form of caramel apple, caramel popcorn, and burnt toffee. The aroma has a gentleness about it thanks to additional notes of honey. There is a bit of rye bread lying underneath it all too. It's an aroma that bucks your general understanding of what a rye whiskey should smell like and has some fun doing it in the process.

Palate:
A warm bed of raisin, menthol, and spice starts off the sip. Combined with green tea notes, it creates a somewhat medicinal taste. It's unique, yet works in application. There's additional light cherry and citrus throughout that works well by introducing a contrasting fruit accent. Overall an unlikely pairing of flavors that perform surprisingly great together.

Finish
Further botanical notes are introduced against a slight ramp up of spice. The rye's proof becomes more evident with its overall hotness turned up during the finish. A lingering aftertaste of toasted grain and black pepper against a fleeting dryness closes the whiskey. Much like the nose and palate before it, the flavors all come together quite well.

Uniqueness
On paper there isn't much that drastically sets Willett 4 Year Rye apart from its contemporaries. Its age is fairly common for ryes and despite it not coming from MGP like so many ryes do, its Kentucky roots don't make it stand out as most Kentucky distilleries have now added a rye whiskey to their product portfolio.

Willett 4 Year Rye most notably stands out as the result of its flavor profile. From its nose, through its palate and finish, this whiskey is attention grabbing. Like its two year old version, the nose retains its floral and botanical scents but adds layers of complex caramel notes. The palate too features uncommon flavor notes you don't often find in conjunction with one another. While some craft distilleries have produced unique tasting ryes in their own regard, they often can't shake their youth and overall graininess. That's where Willett shines. There's surprising depth to the 4 Year's sip, and while it does feature a toasted grain note in its finish, it adds dimension and doesn't distract. This swirling and layering of contrasting flavors somehow comes together in the end, and against the odds, this patchwork of flavors works.