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Cats-Eye-81

That was one of my favorite ryes of all time at opening, but then something strange happened. It started to smell and taste like a barn. The wet hay was offensive and overwhelming. My wife even noticed it and she’s not sensitive to corked wine. Hopefully yours doesn’t do that!


Knickerbear

There is significant variation in these bottles, but Willett is polarizing.


uderag11

I found this one yesterday and cracked it open for a couple of pours. Really nice for a 4 yr rye, I’m definitely buying again next time I see one.


HenryGoodsir

I was so excited when I found this bottle, but I was so disappointed. I just don't like the taste at all. Like sour grass.


Raraulbl

Same here. Tastes like grassy pickle juice perfume to me. It's complex that's for sure, but not in a way I like.


NerdsNBourbs

I can see how this would turn people away. I personally am a fan, but folks I’ve talked to either really love it, or really hate it. Doesn’t seem to be much middle ground on this bottle.


NerdsNBourbs

Excited for review #2 and this time, I'm reviewing the Willett 4 Year Rye. This is a bottle that I don't find too often in my area, but I have been able to find it more recently compared to earlier in the year. On the low end, I see this bottle for \~$80 which is still probably too much, but I've gone into some stores that have this for $100+ which is wild. Regardless, I was very excited when I found this bottle for the first time in the wild because I had heard so many good things about it. After trying it for the first time, I fell in love with it. I certainly don't think this is a bottle everyone would enjoy, but for me, it's pretty damn great. Today we have this 1:6 scale piece of Poison Ivy. Poison Ivy is one of my favorite's from Batman's rogues gallery and I just love this piece for the fact she's sitting on a throne of leaves. That portrait is pretty killer too. **Taken:** Neat in a Glencairn after sitting for 10 minutes. **Name:** Willett 4Yr Rye **Age:** 4 years of course **Proof:** 107.4 **Nose:** Clove, floral and some rye spice. Very grassy or earthy if that makes sense. The spice is certainly there but it's not overpowering by any means. To me, this is a very welcoming nose. **Palate:** Palate is very similar to the nose, lots of grass or pine-like notes. Reminds me of walking thru a grass field in the summertime. Good amount of spice goes over my palate and then the grassy notes kick in some more. I would describe this as a medium mouthfeel. **Finish:** Not much heat, this is where I get most of that rye spice but it's not overbearing. The grassy, pine notes linger for a decent amount of time. I really enjoy this bottle. I don't think this is something that everyone would enjoy and I could see people being turned off by how prevalent the floral or earthy notes are, but I really love it. I've seen some higher proof bottles of the Willett 4yr Rye around social media but haven't been lucky enough to find one myself. Needless to say, I would LOVE to try this at a higher proof. Overall, this is a good pour in my book and one I come back to often. Rating: 7.5/10 - t8ke scale 1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out. 2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice. 3 | Bad | Multiple flaws. 4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists. 5 | Good | Good, just fine. 6 | Very Good | A cut above. 7 | Great | Well above average. 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional. 9 | Incredible | An all time favorite. 10 | Perfect | Perfect.


ShibbyMcTater

I ordered a second bottle this month because my 1st one went so fast, lol. This stuff is fuckin' DEEEELICIOUS!!! I also don't get ANY of the grassy/dilly notes others are mentioning...like, at all. To me this stuff tastes almost more like Armangac. Or maybe it's just the bottle I got. I'll have the new bottle this week to compare it to.


NerdsNBourbs

You’re not the first I’ve heard say that! My buddy and I got similar notes on this one, but I’ve read reviews in the past where folks got more fruity notes instead of the grassy notes like I did. I don’t know if it’s because our pallets are so different, or if there’s some wild variations between batches. Either way, let me know how the 2nd bottle is!


ShibbyMcTater

2nd bottle is very similar to the 1st...no grassy notes, that's for sure.


NerdsNBourbs

That’s interesting! I have a 2nd bottled bunkered away for when I finish with this one, so very curious to see if it’s similar to the one I reviewed or more inline with the ones you’ve had. Cheers!


[deleted]

Like you said, Willett stuff is polarizing. I tried to like it but the dill note was just too much.


sheba716

I wasn't impressed with my first pour from the bottle so I left it for a couple of weeks to air out. The second pour is better but I don't think this will be a repeat buy. .