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Willett Bourbon

Kentucky bourbon from Bardstown, poured in Commack since the start.

5 bottles Same-day or next-day LI delivery Wine shipping where legal
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The story

The story behind Willett

Willett broke ground in Bardstown, Kentucky in the spring of 1936, months after Prohibition ended, and ran its first batch on St. Patrick's Day 1937. A. Lambert Willett founded it with his sons, and Thompson Willett ran the place for decades. Nelson County ground, wooden rickhouses on high ridges, wind doing the work.

The family stopped distilling during the 1970s energy crisis and spent years as a blender and bottler of sourced Kentucky barrels. On-site distillation restarted in January 2012, so the age-stated Willett bourbon on our shelf today is their own distillate. Three stills run, including a copper pot still that gives a heavier, oilier spirit.

The lineup

Explore the Willett range

Five Willett bottlings reach our shelves, from a 50mL taste of Pot Still Reserve to the 10 Year. Allocation decides what lands and when.

ExpressionTypeProof / ABVTasting notes
Pot Still Reserve 50mLSmall batch bourbon94Entry sip, iconic pot still bottle, soft caramel
Pot Still Reserve 750mLSmall batch bourbon94Approachable, balanced, gentle oak and vanilla
Pot Still Reserve 1.75LSmall batch bourbon94Large format for the back bar or a crowd
Wheated 8yrsWheated bourbon108Wheat softens the rye bite, honey and baking spice
10 YrsAge-stated bourbonBarrel proof variesDecade in oak, deep caramel, leather, long finish
Out of stockSpiritWillett - Pot Still Reserve 1.75L$99.99Out of stockBourbonWillett - Pot Still Reserve 750mL$49.99SpiritWillett - Pot Still Reserve 50mL$6.99Out of stockBourbonWillett - Wheated 8yrs Bourbon 750mL$199.99Out of stockBourbonWillett - 10 Yrs Bourbon 750mL$339.99
Buying guidance

Which Willett is right for you?

Pricing here runs from $6.99 for the 50mL Pot Still Reserve to $339.99 for the 10 Year, with the 750mL Pot Still at $49.99 and the Wheated 8yrs at $199.99. The 1.75L sits at $99.99. Willett rations these bottles, so stock moves and we do not hold inventory we cannot see. Call (631) 343-7200 before you drive over and we will tell you what is on the shelf that day.

The curious first pourWillett Pot Still Reserve 50mL

Six ninety-nine buys a real taste before you commit to a full bottle.

The wheated loyalistWillett Wheated 8yrs Bourbon 750mL

Eight years of wheat-forward bourbon at 108 proof, softer than the high-rye house style.

The collectorWillett 10 Yrs Bourbon 750mL

A decade in Nelson County oak, allocated, and worth the phone call ahead.

Make the most of it

Willett cocktails and pairings

High proof and oak tannins want fat and salt. Serve the 10 Year neat in a Glencairn, or pour Pot Still Reserve over one large ice sphere.
Good to know

Willett questions, answered

Is Willett bourbon hard to find?
Yes, for certain expressions. Pot Still Reserve is widely distributed, but the Family Estate single barrels and Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond are allocated, rationed to retailers, and often waitlisted or marked up on the secondary market.
Does Willett distill their own bourbon?
Yes, today they do. Willett sourced barrels from neighboring Kentucky distilleries after halting operations in the 1970s, then resumed on-site distillation in January 2012. Age-stated expressions under 12 years on shelves now are their own distillate.
What is the difference between Willett Bourbon and Willett Rye?
The mash bill is the difference. Willett bourbon is majority corn, either high-rye or wheated, while Willett rye is majority rye grain, giving a sharper, herbal, baking-spice profile next to the sweeter bourbon.
Why is it called Purple Top?
Purple Top is the trade nickname for Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Bourbon. Those bottles carry a dark purple wax or foil capsule over the cork, which separates them from the green or copper tops on the single barrel ryes.
Is Willett Bourbon smooth?
It depends on the expression. Pot Still Reserve at 94 proof is approachable and balanced with soft caramel, while Family Estate small batch and single barrel releases are barrel proof, often over 120, and built for experienced palates.
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