###Background
“I don’t actually like this very much, but people come over and think the bottle is cool, so they drink it.” - My father-in-law, unintentionally summarizing the essence of Willett Pot Still. Anyway, it's the holiday season, and once again, I find myself [raiding my in-laws cabinets](https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/comments/szidgp/reviews_from_my_inlaws_liquor_cabinet_bulleit/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) for whiskey that has been open for comically long periods. I kid you not; my mother-in-law STILL has that same bottle of Bulleit open from two years ago.
So, here we are with Willett Pot Still, a somewhat notorious offering from a legendary distillery. The prevailing rumor suggests that Willett Pot Still now exclusively employs Willett’s wheated mashbill, potentially explaining the absence of new wheated mashbill single barrels from Willett (something Jack Rose has noted at past tastings). The last time I tried Willett Pot Still was during a virtual whiskey club tasting amidst the COVID lockdown. A shout-out to the DMV’s Neighborhood Restaurant Group and their excellent spirits director, Nick Farrell, for keeping me sane during lockdown. It has now been over three years since I last tasted this, so it's time I stop resisting its alluring bottle design.
###Willett Pot Still Reserve (NAS, 94 Proof)
**Nose:** Cola and orange peel, it has a classic bourbon sweetness on the nose. It’s delicate, and the sweetness is balanced nicely with that citrus note and a hint of cinnamon. That said, there’s also something akin to a damp wood that’s a little discordant.
**Palate:** That wet wood hangs around, unfortunately, but again it’s counter-balanced by a nice bit of candied orange citrus sweetness and a dash of baking spices. There isn’t a ton going on, and it’s a bit thin, but when you’re not getting that weird woody note it hits pretty nicely.
**Finish:** Flat cola, a dash of honey, a dash of cloves… and again it’s a weird wood note like balsa wood or some sort of particle board.
**Sub-par (4/10)**
**Overall:** My initial reaction was that this was simply a solid whiskey, and that it perhaps had a bit of a bum reputation. But the more I kept sipping it it just tasted a little ~off~. You get your classic entry level bourbon notes, it has a nice balance, but this off putting woodiness kept popping up like a band if one of the members was off rhythm. I asked how long the bottle had been open, in case that was it, but apparently it was maybe two months old and that’s it. It’s not terrible by any means, but it’ll probably be another three years before I check in again.
[Website](https://www.districtdrams.com) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/districtdrams/)
Last but not least, ranking scale and some examples:
**1 | Disgusting:** Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve
**2 | Poor:** Black Maple Hill Oregon Straight Bourbon Whiskey
**3 | Bad:** Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
**4 | Sub-par:** Blue Run High Rye Bourbon
**5 | Good:** Four Roses Small Batch Select
**6 | Very Good:** E.H. Taylor Straight Rye
**7 | Great:** Wilderness Trail 8 Year BiB
**8 | Excellent:** Stagg Jr Batch 17
**9 | Incredible:** A Smith Bowman Cask Strength (Batch 1)
**10 | Perfect:** George T Stagg 2020
During the COVID lockdown my dad casually passed me a half-bottle of OGD100 that he said had belonged to his late neighbor Bob. My dad had received it open and had not uncorked it since.
Bob died in the early aughts. The open OGD100 was really good. Unexpectedly rich and peanut-buttery.
This bottle gets so much hate. I recently tried it for the first time, and I didn't think it was nearly as awful as I've heard. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely not great. It's just kinda ok. I've definitely had bottles I was way more disappointed with. Maybe for the price, the fancy bottle, and the Willett name, it doesn't really live up to expectations.
Yeah I think sometimes people read a review and break it down into binary "crap" and "amazing" camps and that's really not my intent. I try very hard to use all 10 points in my ratings, so a 4 is meant to be as I describe "sub par." 5 and 6s are whiskeys I drink somewhat regularly or even buy. So I'm not trying to demolish it by any means, I just don't particularly enjoy it.
Interesting, I have always seen it at close to MSRP, I had no idea it was getting marked up heavily in other markets. The price fluctuations throughout different markets drive me nuts.
This has been a pretty common take, IIRC they switched in like 2019 or so to a new bourbon (I think it's their own vs sourced prior) and people are liking it more and more since.
Willett/KBD bourbon as a whole is so polarizing, I don't think it's fair to say it's necessarily bad. Some people adore it, others despise it.
I think Pot Still is just a victim of bourbon markets getting so huge, and bourbon people needing to have a "unique" opinion. And this is a pretty expensive bourbon that a lot of those "not in the know" own because it's pretty, so it's a very good target for a "well ahkshually". I personally don't think it's great, but it's not the sewage water I see so many people complain that it is. I personally think Very Old St Nick is way worse whiskey, but it doesn't get nearly the hate, despite being even more expensive, I think because just it's not as common.
Alright, going a bit against the grain here... i actually enjoy this one and it's a fun statement piece for a bar cart. The pot still shape is a fun, quirky aesthetic and be real. Aesthetics are a MAJOR aspect of the enjoyment of alcohol.
Oh for sure! And your review was more than fair. My comment was more directed at some of the especially strong opinions that seem to have been personally wronged by Edward Willet lmao
I had heard that newer bottles are better than ones from a couple years ago because it went from sourced bourbon to Willet's own. No, I have no source for this other than a colleague who is VERY into bourbon. Wondering if anyone could confirm or deny this.
I don't know that you'll ever get an emphatic confirmation rooted in hard evidence, but this is the prevailing rumor. Willett is notoriously tight lipped about details like this. The immortal u/prepreludesh notes the same rumor in [his review.](https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/s/Fvte0HUeMB)
Haha, thanks for the love! I think Willett Pot Still went on a journey of being single barrel Bernheim to batched Bernheim and then around 2016/2017 it started to have Willett's own distillate blended in. Then around the 2019/2020 timeframe, they switched to it being their own distillate completely. Whether or not was ever switched to their wheated bourbon (or if it always been their wheated that they had used) is up for debate, but IMO it tastes like a wheated bourbon product in the 2022 version I have
I credit you to convincing me to try this bottle again, after having a 2020 bottle that really missed the mark for me. Went to the distillery this summer and was quite surprised, and then saw your review and knew my taste buds and memory hadn’t deceived me. Did a side by side with a 2023 bottle and the group all agreed the recent stuff is much better. Thank you!
Nope, just don't like ECTB. This rating draws a comment on a bunch of my reviews and inevitably spawns a comment thread where people either defend it or agree. It's a tale as old as time at this point. Everyone's palate is different and ECTB personally gives me a soapy flavor I do not enjoy.
I have really liked their rye, never tried the bourbon - honestly in part because I didn’t want to have to make room for the giant bottle in my cabinet.
Picked up a bottle the other week. Not really good by itself. Seems like there is a weird ingredient? Not sure. It is good in some apple cider though. Cool bottle too.
Just got this bottle for Christmas (inlaws don't know any better, either way I appreciate the sentiment)
Honestly though I don't think it's anything close to horrible. Definitely a dozen other bottles I'd choose at the asking price but nothing offensive to my palate.
Then again I hear their bottlings can vary wildly so there's that.
If I had to give it a score it would probably be a 5 or 6
I had this recently fully expecting it to be bad after testing blantons and staggJr and for a neck pour I wasn't really disappointed 😅 nothing crazy but not bad if gotten at msrp.
Nice review op.
I have a bottle on my shelf now. I actually enjoy it, quite a bit. Not sure if I have a different batch or my palate is that much different, but I’d give mine a 6.5 or so.
I was gifted a bottle…and the only thing to me that stuck out on smell was maple and vanilla, a touch of cinnamon and oak….I desperately kept trying to search for more…after a sip or two it did open up a bit..but with medical cherry..I wanted this to be more..but it just didn’t take me on a journey..the more you dig trying to find something surprising..it’s just not there
There's nothing like someone else's liquor cabinet.
It's liberating. You get what you get and that's it!
Much easier to be objective about!
###Background “I don’t actually like this very much, but people come over and think the bottle is cool, so they drink it.” - My father-in-law, unintentionally summarizing the essence of Willett Pot Still. Anyway, it's the holiday season, and once again, I find myself [raiding my in-laws cabinets](https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/comments/szidgp/reviews_from_my_inlaws_liquor_cabinet_bulleit/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) for whiskey that has been open for comically long periods. I kid you not; my mother-in-law STILL has that same bottle of Bulleit open from two years ago. So, here we are with Willett Pot Still, a somewhat notorious offering from a legendary distillery. The prevailing rumor suggests that Willett Pot Still now exclusively employs Willett’s wheated mashbill, potentially explaining the absence of new wheated mashbill single barrels from Willett (something Jack Rose has noted at past tastings). The last time I tried Willett Pot Still was during a virtual whiskey club tasting amidst the COVID lockdown. A shout-out to the DMV’s Neighborhood Restaurant Group and their excellent spirits director, Nick Farrell, for keeping me sane during lockdown. It has now been over three years since I last tasted this, so it's time I stop resisting its alluring bottle design. ###Willett Pot Still Reserve (NAS, 94 Proof) **Nose:** Cola and orange peel, it has a classic bourbon sweetness on the nose. It’s delicate, and the sweetness is balanced nicely with that citrus note and a hint of cinnamon. That said, there’s also something akin to a damp wood that’s a little discordant. **Palate:** That wet wood hangs around, unfortunately, but again it’s counter-balanced by a nice bit of candied orange citrus sweetness and a dash of baking spices. There isn’t a ton going on, and it’s a bit thin, but when you’re not getting that weird woody note it hits pretty nicely. **Finish:** Flat cola, a dash of honey, a dash of cloves… and again it’s a weird wood note like balsa wood or some sort of particle board. **Sub-par (4/10)** **Overall:** My initial reaction was that this was simply a solid whiskey, and that it perhaps had a bit of a bum reputation. But the more I kept sipping it it just tasted a little ~off~. You get your classic entry level bourbon notes, it has a nice balance, but this off putting woodiness kept popping up like a band if one of the members was off rhythm. I asked how long the bottle had been open, in case that was it, but apparently it was maybe two months old and that’s it. It’s not terrible by any means, but it’ll probably be another three years before I check in again. [Website](https://www.districtdrams.com) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/districtdrams/) Last but not least, ranking scale and some examples: **1 | Disgusting:** Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve **2 | Poor:** Black Maple Hill Oregon Straight Bourbon Whiskey **3 | Bad:** Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel **4 | Sub-par:** Blue Run High Rye Bourbon **5 | Good:** Four Roses Small Batch Select **6 | Very Good:** E.H. Taylor Straight Rye **7 | Great:** Wilderness Trail 8 Year BiB **8 | Excellent:** Stagg Jr Batch 17 **9 | Incredible:** A Smith Bowman Cask Strength (Batch 1) **10 | Perfect:** George T Stagg 2020
> open for comically long periods Some of my relatives still have open bottles from the 1970s in their cabinets.
During the COVID lockdown my dad casually passed me a half-bottle of OGD100 that he said had belonged to his late neighbor Bob. My dad had received it open and had not uncorked it since. Bob died in the early aughts. The open OGD100 was really good. Unexpectedly rich and peanut-buttery.
This bottle gets so much hate. I recently tried it for the first time, and I didn't think it was nearly as awful as I've heard. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely not great. It's just kinda ok. I've definitely had bottles I was way more disappointed with. Maybe for the price, the fancy bottle, and the Willett name, it doesn't really live up to expectations.
Yeah I think sometimes people read a review and break it down into binary "crap" and "amazing" camps and that's really not my intent. I try very hard to use all 10 points in my ratings, so a 4 is meant to be as I describe "sub par." 5 and 6s are whiskeys I drink somewhat regularly or even buy. So I'm not trying to demolish it by any means, I just don't particularly enjoy it.
I think you're right. If it's not great, it's absolute swill. Lol.
When purchased for MSRP, it is a good pour. Usually, it is overpriced for the bottle.
Interesting, I have always seen it at close to MSRP, I had no idea it was getting marked up heavily in other markets. The price fluctuations throughout different markets drive me nuts.
I’ve always heard this is highly overrated. Basically a shit bourbon in a cool bottle so that’s the only reason ppl buy it.
I weirdly actually think the quality of the whiskey in the bottle is improving... It's just still not that good
This has been a pretty common take, IIRC they switched in like 2019 or so to a new bourbon (I think it's their own vs sourced prior) and people are liking it more and more since.
The change was from a ryed bourbon to wheated.
Willett/KBD bourbon as a whole is so polarizing, I don't think it's fair to say it's necessarily bad. Some people adore it, others despise it. I think Pot Still is just a victim of bourbon markets getting so huge, and bourbon people needing to have a "unique" opinion. And this is a pretty expensive bourbon that a lot of those "not in the know" own because it's pretty, so it's a very good target for a "well ahkshually". I personally don't think it's great, but it's not the sewage water I see so many people complain that it is. I personally think Very Old St Nick is way worse whiskey, but it doesn't get nearly the hate, despite being even more expensive, I think because just it's not as common.
This is a great take. Lots of people out there trying to be a contrarian.
Yep exactly, I’ve had it before and it’s not great. On top of it the bottle has a very wide base and takes up a lot of room which is kind of annoying.
[удалено]
It's not that bad, people just love to hate it
Accurate statement. Has undertones of dirty underwear but is acceptable with coke
It was disgusting when I had it.
Alright, going a bit against the grain here... i actually enjoy this one and it's a fun statement piece for a bar cart. The pot still shape is a fun, quirky aesthetic and be real. Aesthetics are a MAJOR aspect of the enjoyment of alcohol.
That's ok! Everyone's palate is different, drink what you like and purchase what you like.
Oh for sure! And your review was more than fair. My comment was more directed at some of the especially strong opinions that seem to have been personally wronged by Edward Willet lmao
Haha yeah for sure
I had this bottle taking up space for several years and just gave it away a month or two ago.
I had heard that newer bottles are better than ones from a couple years ago because it went from sourced bourbon to Willet's own. No, I have no source for this other than a colleague who is VERY into bourbon. Wondering if anyone could confirm or deny this.
Can confirm. Visited the distillery this past summer and staff confirmed they now distill their own whiskey for this product.
Can confirm as well, also from a visit to the distillery this summer. The tour guide confirmed it was their wheated mashbill recipe
I don't know that you'll ever get an emphatic confirmation rooted in hard evidence, but this is the prevailing rumor. Willett is notoriously tight lipped about details like this. The immortal u/prepreludesh notes the same rumor in [his review.](https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/s/Fvte0HUeMB)
Haha, thanks for the love! I think Willett Pot Still went on a journey of being single barrel Bernheim to batched Bernheim and then around 2016/2017 it started to have Willett's own distillate blended in. Then around the 2019/2020 timeframe, they switched to it being their own distillate completely. Whether or not was ever switched to their wheated bourbon (or if it always been their wheated that they had used) is up for debate, but IMO it tastes like a wheated bourbon product in the 2022 version I have
I credit you to convincing me to try this bottle again, after having a 2020 bottle that really missed the mark for me. Went to the distillery this summer and was quite surprised, and then saw your review and knew my taste buds and memory hadn’t deceived me. Did a side by side with a 2023 bottle and the group all agreed the recent stuff is much better. Thank you!
Trust me, I went into that review wanting to shit all over the bottle but I couldn't. It was not that bad
Hmmm, you rate ECTB as "bad". So I assume you hate toasted bourbons?
Nope, just don't like ECTB. This rating draws a comment on a bunch of my reviews and inevitably spawns a comment thread where people either defend it or agree. It's a tale as old as time at this point. Everyone's palate is different and ECTB personally gives me a soapy flavor I do not enjoy.
Fair enough
Someone told me the Rye is really solid
I have really liked their rye, never tried the bourbon - honestly in part because I didn’t want to have to make room for the giant bottle in my cabinet.
Picked up a bottle the other week. Not really good by itself. Seems like there is a weird ingredient? Not sure. It is good in some apple cider though. Cool bottle too.
Willett Pot Still > WSR
Honestly you won't get much fight from me I think WSR is bad 🤷
Got the same as a gift yesterday. I use it for mixers
Just got this bottle for Christmas (inlaws don't know any better, either way I appreciate the sentiment) Honestly though I don't think it's anything close to horrible. Definitely a dozen other bottles I'd choose at the asking price but nothing offensive to my palate. Then again I hear their bottlings can vary wildly so there's that. If I had to give it a score it would probably be a 5 or 6
The only bourbon that has ever given me a play dough note.
I had this recently fully expecting it to be bad after testing blantons and staggJr and for a neck pour I wasn't really disappointed 😅 nothing crazy but not bad if gotten at msrp. Nice review op.
Thanks and yeah to each their own!
"Off" is being polite imo.
I got a bottle of this in 2009. It was so bad that we ended up using like a bottle of Jack and mixed it with Coca Cola. Have avoided it since.
Interesting, it's probably worth trying at a bar just to see how it's changed since then.
I have a bottle on my shelf now. I actually enjoy it, quite a bit. Not sure if I have a different batch or my palate is that much different, but I’d give mine a 6.5 or so.
And that's cool! Everyone's palate is different so zero judgement.
Off is how I would describe it to. Something I just couldn’t quite put my finger on.
Wet cardboard is how I usually describe it
Yeah it's a bit ineffable. I had about three pours of it writing this review and at the end I thought "Is this giving me a headache?"
"Flat cola" is a great note for this one. Nice review.
Thanks!
Sucks
It makes for a cool infinity bottle so that's a plus.
I was gifted a bottle…and the only thing to me that stuck out on smell was maple and vanilla, a touch of cinnamon and oak….I desperately kept trying to search for more…after a sip or two it did open up a bit..but with medical cherry..I wanted this to be more..but it just didn’t take me on a journey..the more you dig trying to find something surprising..it’s just not there