Review #219 - Willett 3 Year Family Estate Bottled Rye
Apart from the famed single barrels, Willett creates small batch ryes aged for either 3 or 4 years. We have the three year example here - this batch comes in at 54% ABV, or 108 proof.
Willett 3 Year Family Estate Bottled Rye
USA - Rye
Current Locally Available Price: USD 64 (2024)
Age Statement: 3 Years
Strength: 54% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 months; bottles at 100%, 50%, and 30% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Very sweet - tons of caramel, candy, caramel-coated popcorn, and peppermint. Soft spices of cinnamon and black pepper can be found, and there's a soft herbal side, too - more of that mint and peppermint.
Palate: A medium-thick mouthfeel, and again, it's a juxtaposition between sweet and herbal spice. Caramel corn, hard butterscotch candies, oranges, and cinnamon bring the sweeter side, while effervescent rye spice, pepper, and peppermint balance it. There's mild oak, which is nicely rounded, not too sharp.
Finish: Medium length or so - smooth caramel, canned corn, butterscotch, quite candied overall. Vanilla and peppermint linger in the aftertaste.
Final Note: Simple and ridiculously sweet, but quite a fun sipper. It's very pleasant and caramel-forward, and that minty fizz in the background reminds us that this is indeed a rye. The mouthfeel is nice, too, especially for a 3 year old whisky - this is decent value, as well.
Our Average Rating: 6.7 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.67
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