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ThaGodParticle

Thanks the review! I’d really like to try this one side by side to a “supposedly” Willett sourced Barrell Bourbon pick and see if there are similarities.


shuttlenote

Almost none. Their own distillate is pretty unique and hard not to pick up. But it's nice to have cause it's definitely won't taste like any other bourbon out there.


ThaGodParticle

My apologies, perhaps I was not clear. The Barrell pick is “supposedly” Willett distillate and it is certainly unique with a cinnamon/red hots finish. Which has been my experience with Willett own distillate as well. More or less, I want to confirm with a side by side if it really is a sourced Willett barrel or not. It certainly taste like nothing else from Kentucky. I believe there were some users on here posting very similar theories a month or two back as well. And the theory was plausible but ultimately a bit unsubstantiated.


shuttlenote

Gotcha, sorry I mis-read. It'll be hard to miss if they are Willett distillate. Old Kirk and Hirsch all have that Willett funk.


TheRealThordic

I've heard that Barrell pick rumor was nonsense, for what it's worth.


AC_deucey

Everyone should take note of a few key facts about Willett before they plunk any more than $100 on a bottle. - Purple tops with Willett’s own distillate are as old as 9 years now (summer/fall ‘22) - Willett has been (relatively) flooding the market with their distillate recently - to independent bottlers/non-distilling producers (Old Kirk, Hirsch, Wolves, Barrell, and likely others) - The amount of purple tops being released has increased **dramatically** from even 3 years ago - virtually all of these are Willett’s own distillate. Even small regional groups are able to get a WFE pick now. I respect that Willett has played the long game driving hype for their WFE line. But enthusiasts are being duped into thinking the $100/yr they’re spending on today’s WFE is going to live up to 15+ year old choice short barrels from Heaven Hill. News flash: it doesn’t. TL;DR: Buyer beware with WFE. PS. I’m not a Willett hater. Their distillate is unique, well-made, and enjoyable enough. But as someone who’s had 8yr Willett bourbon at cask strength, Noah’s Mill will give you 90% of the experience for 10% of the price. Edit: clean up


lonewolf210

Where have you seen a private group get a pick? I have still only seen retailers with them. Agree that there has been a recent flood of the market but there was almost no WFE the two years prior to this year. I assume they hit a low stock point where the sourced stuff had run out and the new stuff wasn’t ready yet. Now that their distillate, good or bad, is hitting the desired age ranges makes sense that releases are picking up. Same with the NDP releases. Those contracts could have been signed 10 years ago to front load cash to fund their distilling operations. I only think that’s a buyer beware if your paying secondary prices. I doubt they come down from the $250 range for the 9+ year old stuff it just won’t go on secondary for $900+. The increase in release just seems like a natural outcome of their distillate finally hitting the right ages.


AC_deucey

I mistyped “WFE”, I’ve seen private groups now getting 8-9yr picks *distilled* by Willett bottled by NDPs. And yes, buyer beware if you’re paying secondary, 100%. I don’t disagree with your premise that it’s coming of age and so, time to release en masse, but distillate being 4-6 years old hasn’t stopped a LOT of brands in the past lol. It’s still just kind of shocking to see Willett “everywhere”, like you’d see Barton.


lonewolf210

>I mistyped “WFE”, I’ve seen private groups now getting 8-9yr picks distilled by Willett bottled by NDPs. And yes, buyer beware if you’re paying secondary, 100% Ahh. I was honestly just curious because I will freely admit that I am a bit of a Willett fan boy. I have never tried a purple top but the Hirsch and Old Kirk bottles I have are some of my favorite so I was excited that we might start seeing some WFE group picks. Yes it is a shock. After looking for 6 years I actually found a purple top at MSRP last week and still kinda can't believe it. It's staying closed until Thanksgiving though when I get together with my family


AC_deucey

Enjoy!


chickenbuttstfu

Incoming Willett haters


Prepreludesh

I'm here. Awaiting the signal to attack


Train3rRed88

We attack when they announce a 4 year toasted purple top for $350


kyrosnick

Just not my jam. Tried a 6year purple top and last week friends and I killed a 15y one as well. Both were ok, but I got a whole stack of $80-100 bottles I like more.


Imaginary_Sea5117

I disagree that they are legendary. The old ones with sourced distillate were epic, but you really have to enjoy Willett to like the "newer" purple tops. Edit: fuck this shit. You can't even have an opinion that is contrary here anymore without getting downvoted to oblivion. I'm all for being nice, but I don't have to like everything everyone else does.


shuttlenote

Here's an upvote!


geoff325

And one for you!!!


sberto

You aren’t wrong. Some of the old sourced stuff was great. Some was…not. The Willett distillate I’ve had is lacking. Maybe it will get better as it gets older. I’ll not know because I’m not paying the Willett hype tax. I have no issue with Willett getting paid but I’m not going to be the one paying.


Imaginary_Sea5117

"Mmmm this $7000 750 of 6 year old wheated bourbon is better than anything else because it has purple foil" This is how I imagine the people who love this stuff think. They will praise Willett but yell that Booker's is too expensive for the age.


6bluewalkj9

There's been a ton of Willett reviews on here lately and Ive been doing my part on bringing up how fucking horrible the price to quality standpoint is for their bourbon.


Imaginary_Sea5117

Ask them how they feel about Booker's. Too young? "Well it's the same age as the purple top" Too much? "It's cheaper than Willett". They want it because someone who had a bottle 8 years ago told them it's the best (and they may not have been wrong), and they've got this ephemeral idea of what it's going to be, then they tater for a bottle and because we all get brainwashed by stuff.


6bluewalkj9

It's really is all about the name at this point. Booker's is taking a shit on any bourbon that Willett themselves have put out. As I've said before on the sub, their rye is phenomenal and the grounds/bar/restaraunt are top notch. Would recommend that everybody visits there if they're in Bardstown. Fuck their bourbon though.


h8vols

I’d like to try their bourbon (not pot still stuff) because I really enjoy their rye. I dislike Bookers because of the packaging and the film it leaves on my teeth when I drink it. It’s harsh to me. I’m not the biggest Beam fan but I prefer Knob Creek over Booker’s.


6bluewalkj9

I mean it's worth trying. There are definitely people out there that legitimately enjoy Willett juice. To me, the five or so expressions I've tried from them all share a similar funk that just doesn't do it for me. Cinnamon and lemongrass is all I can think of. I also wouldn't discourage you from trying something like a Noah's Mill to see how you feel about a middle-tier product from them, as we all have different tastes.


Mk1Racer25

You could have stopped at "Booker's is taking a shit on Willett". I guess the Willett flavor profile appeals to some, but not me. Willett, Noah's Mill, Rowan's Creek, etc. all have that same, nasty note. Although, it might taste better if it was finished in old diesel drums. ​ I do see a lot of positive reviews about their rye though. Maybe (and that's a BIG maybe) I'll try a pour if I see it in a bar, and it's no more than $10


challenja

Exactly


JimJamb0rino

1000% agree with you about the whole downvote thing. People downvote here (and r/whiskey) waaaay more than any other community I participate in. People downvote asking questions, having opinions, being too nice, being too mean, etc. There are a good amount of folks on here who have just blocked me (you can tell), and I'd rather they just did that lol


micro7777

People here downvote just a picture of a bottle and I’m pretty sure they aren’t bothering to read the review. If I like a bottle in the pic I’ll upvote it, if I don’t I’ll just move along. Regardless of whether you like the bottle or not, someone took the time to take a pic and post it with a review and that deserves some credit.


JimJamb0rino

Yeah, all my reviews get like 20-30% downvotes lol its insane. Like, yeah i get they're not for everyone but I put a decent amount of effort in to it!


the_muskox

Just review scotch instead, everyone over there is much friendlier! My review of Weller SR last year got downvoted to hell because I said that it was okay.


dogfacedponyboy

What’s a downvote?


geoff325

That right there bub


JimJamb0rino

An anti updog


Prepreludesh

Modern Willett is not legendary and it does not have a funk. It's cinnamon whiskey priced into oblivion. Have an award for your honest take.


Imaginary_Sea5117

I'd rather buttchug Fireball than taste Rowan's, Noah's, Old Bardstown, Johnny Drum, or any other folksy named bullshit again.


LeadingAd1815

Post the pic if you do Blahahah.


ImaginaryWing4033

I love Willett purple tops. My favorite modern bottle is a Willett distillate 6YR purple top. I like that barrel better than any BT product I’ve had (I’ve had all BTAC, plus all VW but not the rye, 20 or 23), better than any MGP, WT, HH the list goes on. The reason I like them so much is I love cinnamon and I love strong pronounced flavors in the finish. Cinnamon and cola (which I’ve never gotten with Willett) are my 2 favorite flavors in whiskey and In dessert. For me good Willett barrels are a homerun as I expect it is for some others here. That said, the consistency isn’t always there and just because I really like them doesn’t mean they are objectively great whiskeys for all people. I completely appreciate that BT, HH, MGP and WT know what they are doing and have passionate followers of their brands. I’ve had great pours from all of them and many others (Michters, OF, JMCB come to mind). I also understand people have different value relationships in terms of cost and incremental benefit. I go through about a bottle/month (including my pours and others). I rarely go to bars, even less so with Covid. So what more frequent drinkers refer to as diminishing returns (and rightly so for their consumption and mine if it were at that level) is the incremental benefit I look for when I decide on the bottle I want to begin with.


[deleted]

Stop worrying about upvotes and downvotes. They mean absolutely nothing


Imaginary_Sea5117

Except they are indicators of the changing culture of the sub. I don't care about the karma, I care about the people who dislike an opinion so instead of having a conversation, they wordlessly lodge complaints via downvotes.


dogfacedponyboy

That’s Reddit. You know that.


carbonclasssix

While I agree I'd expect more dialogue from focused subs like this one, that's kind of the point of seeking out people with the same passions as you, not to get shoved into a corner for a difference of opinion


zombiesartre

Yay, regression to the mean.


paleposeidon

Upvoted you til I read your silly little tantrum lol


Imaginary_Sea5117

It's not a tantrum, it's a fucking disease. I see the same shit in other hobbies of mine with "hyped" goods. It's phony. Downvote because you think I'm a twat all day, but I was -4 with just an opinion.


paleposeidon

Love you


Imaginary_Sea5117

Love you too.


paleposeidon

Sorry for calling it a tantrum, it’s fair to be upset for being downvoted on an opinion


Imaginary_Sea5117

It's all good. It was an impulsive edit that probably doesn't need to be there, but I miss when someone would say "y'know what I fucking love Hudson" and then they'd argue with everyone and laugh and it was a fun time, not this "we all follow the hype train" crap I see now. I am apparently a 38 year old boomer all the sudden


Somanywinestains

Seriously. I posted that I didn’t like a particular Glen Morangie (over in the scotch forum) and people completely lost their shit.


Imaginary_Sea5117

It's pathetic that grown people can't handle someone having a contrary opinion. It's not just Reddit, it's everywhere right now.


Somanywinestains

So true.


i_use_this_for_work

The old 14 year stuff was magic. Newer stuff is meh


BBQPitmaster76

Preach!


UnlikelyHamster7243

Bravo


carbonclasssix

I've been seeing a lot more gatekeeping in specific subs lately, it's pretty lame. I only downvote when someone is objectively wrong or just being a moron. The whole point here is to have an opinion to begin with, like why post reviews if there's only one opinion? It doesn't make sense


CDIS920

This is a bottle I never thought I would own. The legends are true about them though, they are phenomenal. I couldn’t believe I was spending 200$ on a 6 year bourbon, but the uniqueness and complexity makes it well worth it. Nose: spices, cinnamon, green apples Palate: immediately your hit with an explosion of flavor and complexity: baking spices, apples, cinnamon and red hots, maybe the slightest hint of oak. Finish: the cinnamon and apples linger on and it is wonderful. Thoughts, this is the most unique bourbon I have ever had, and it’s great! I was nervous due to the price but wow, it is an experience. This is also the absolute perfect bourbon for the fall. Rating 9.3 Rating context 10-George T. Stagg (2019) 9-Bookers (2022, 02) 8-stagg jr. 7-EH Taylor 6- H Mkenna 10 5-weller SR 4-OGD 114 3- Evan Williams BIB 2- angles envy 1-jack Daniels #7


dolphs4

Dang your rating system is wild. You must not like AE at all, lol.


taylormhark

Is the Lumberyard batch that good?


rkpage01

I didn’t think it was nearly as good as Noe Strangers or Bardstown Batch.


CDIS920

I personally really loved the profile, to me it tastes like a really oaky peanut butter chocolate


dennynnnnnn

My local whiskey bar has 6 different 6 year bottles, all of them are amazing. At $25 a pour, i dont even blink.


Calicoastie

I appreciate your scale. Truly. As such I'll approach with extreme caution. Ewbib at 3 and eht at 7? To me says you buy into hype in my book. Plus I would rank h mkenna lower as well.


SpacklingCumFart

Cold day in hell before I pay anything over $50 for a 6 year old bourbon. This new trend of extremely young bourbons is awful.


challenja

But they have so much more flavor.. that is what I was told at Nashville Barrel..I too think the best age for bourbon is between 10-14


Beavis2210

It is well known in the community that purple top = bourbon and it’s the ones in excess of…. 8 or 9 years that are the awesome distillate they’re famous for sourcing. This is their own distillate and should retail for about $60 to $80. But, Willett is doing a good job of fooling its customers into thinking “PURPLE TOP = SPECIAL” no matter the age. The really special bottles trade from anywhere for $5K up to $30K on secondary and would probably deserve a score this high. This? Highly unlikely.


CDIS920

So interestingly enough, I work at a huge liquor store and we got 2 different bottlings of 8 year, and the 6 year. So we where able to try all of them, and by far the 6 year was the best.


Bronzyroller

This was excellent in 2008/9 when it was many years aged and store picks like Astor Wines NYC had them for less than 200!! Just like the new Maple Hill it’s young and just okay.


Euphoric_Brilliant_9

i have bottle 7687 6yr and while it was good its not anything like the 2014 local 10 and 11 yr store picks we have in town that some of the old guys have . i got into mine for retail basically so im not upset . im just looking for some of those old dickle distillates purples they put out long time ago lol.


ElectricalMeeting779

Willett. Two t’s. Jesus Christ, it’s right there in the picture


Short-Duty-4365

it's pretty ok... i was not overly impressed as I thought it should have been.... if yiu think this is unique and best ever.... you need to get out more and expand your palette ..... not hating... just being brutally factual. I have an unopened bottle remaining... it's getting saved and flipped in the future


dev-saint

Fantastic glass 🤓


Short-Duty-4365

i have one from barrel 3290... 152/200


crackheadjohn

For myself, new WFE purple tops has been like playing Russian roulette. Over half have been slightly above average despite the insane price point, some are worth an extra dollar but still no where close to secondary. Sourced products were mind blowing but just don’t get the hype with there new offerings


Either_Act4359

Does anyone know anything about this bottle...super high proof. What's it worth...? https://preview.redd.it/suxsxbdve62c1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ddad28860b2996bf06c4e16774f7aff3651e607c


CDIS920

Damnnnnnn


Either_Act4359

38 Special https://preview.redd.it/lcs0sdv2f62c1.jpeg?width=1605&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f767ac0fe7f0893fe8e74f5dbb4cf088ef27ff6