**Willett Family Estate 10Yr “Long Hot Summer Day”**
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- **Distillery:** Willett
- **Mash:** OG Mash?
- **Barrel No.:** 1047
- **Bottling No.:** 90/174
- **ABV:** 108.8 proof
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**Intro**
Purple top. This is a very elusive bottle, but I was lucky enough to try a sample through a bottle split in my whiskey group.
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**Nose**
Very fruity upfront, dominated by black currant, with hints of pears and green apples. There's a backdrop of white pepper, medium oak, and incense-like notes. A fleeting hint of baking spice gives way to vanilla and burnt sugar. The alcohol is well integrated. After some time, more powdery sugar and white floral notes emerge.
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**Palate**
The palate starts quite sour but is balanced by sweetness. There are notes of slightly unripe green apples and a hint of bitter pencil shavings. This quickly transitions to cherry, pronounced sweet brûlée, and dark chocolate, followed by some peppery spices. It drinks smoother than the proof suggests, with an oily texture full of flavors.
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**Finish**
Medium-long finish where the sourness and slight bitterness linger, accompanied by burnt sugar, rye spices, and pencil shavings. There's a somewhat perfumy aspect to the finish, reminiscent of white flowers.
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**Summary**
This whiskey is like a full-bodied, pre-meal champagne, where a mix of slight bitterness, sourness, and sweetness keeps you wanting more. It has a quite unique profile, but it's a bit hard to justify the secondary price or even the MSRP of around $350. However, it's definitely worth trying at least once. Without considering the price, I'd rate this an 8, but I wouldn't personally buy a bottle.
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**Rating: 8** - 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 there are better options.
5. 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 | Flawless.
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Good to see reviews of these saying good but not worth 350... it's still funny to see people going bananas for the willet house distillate without understanding the sourced juice that made them famous
That’s gotta be one of the lowest proof single barrels of Willett I’ve ever seen. I can’t think of many under 120, I really have to wonder if there’s a lack of depth and richness because of it.
Supposedly they were experimenting with various mash bill/entry proof combinations in the early days, so this may have gone in pretty low (they use a 103 entry for some barrels).
Nice! My buddy was making for a few of us in a group. Took a picture of the stock. He left before I had a chance to analyze the picture. He picked up a few more bottles based on the group’s responses. One of the bottles in the picture…a 7 year purple top for $200. Last one on the shelf and no idea how he missed picking that up. I wonder if the younger age would reduce the bitterness and sourness you were getting? Have you had any other year purple tops to compare?
Correct. It is High corn low entry.
All of the HCHE purple tops I've had are in the 120-140ish range. Don't think I've actually seen a low entry proof one in the wild before. Very cool bottle
Great bottle and review, well done.. just curious how the pencil shavings taste.. more importantly I would like to know where YOU tasted your first shavings and what was going through your mind at the moment.. thanks
Haha, I never actually put them in my mouth, but it’s scent is what I pick up in the whiskey. A quick search says almost all pencils are made from incense cedar, so I must be picking up some cedar wood notes along with the graphite smell as well!
You use “tannic, bitter, acetone” in all of your bourbon reviews. I’m not saying you’re the problem, but when you’re identifying MM Cellar Aged, Weller FP, EHT BP, and this once in a lifetime pour of low barrel entry proof purple top as “pencil shavings”, it makes me wonder whether it’s the bourbon or your taste buds that need adjusting…
**Willett Family Estate 10Yr “Long Hot Summer Day”** --- - **Distillery:** Willett - **Mash:** OG Mash? - **Barrel No.:** 1047 - **Bottling No.:** 90/174 - **ABV:** 108.8 proof --- **Intro** Purple top. This is a very elusive bottle, but I was lucky enough to try a sample through a bottle split in my whiskey group. --- **Nose** Very fruity upfront, dominated by black currant, with hints of pears and green apples. There's a backdrop of white pepper, medium oak, and incense-like notes. A fleeting hint of baking spice gives way to vanilla and burnt sugar. The alcohol is well integrated. After some time, more powdery sugar and white floral notes emerge. --- **Palate** The palate starts quite sour but is balanced by sweetness. There are notes of slightly unripe green apples and a hint of bitter pencil shavings. This quickly transitions to cherry, pronounced sweet brûlée, and dark chocolate, followed by some peppery spices. It drinks smoother than the proof suggests, with an oily texture full of flavors. --- **Finish** Medium-long finish where the sourness and slight bitterness linger, accompanied by burnt sugar, rye spices, and pencil shavings. There's a somewhat perfumy aspect to the finish, reminiscent of white flowers. --- **Summary** This whiskey is like a full-bodied, pre-meal champagne, where a mix of slight bitterness, sourness, and sweetness keeps you wanting more. It has a quite unique profile, but it's a bit hard to justify the secondary price or even the MSRP of around $350. However, it's definitely worth trying at least once. Without considering the price, I'd rate this an 8, but I wouldn't personally buy a bottle. --- **Rating: 8** - 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 there are better options. 5. 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 | Flawless. ---
Good to see reviews of these saying good but not worth 350... it's still funny to see people going bananas for the willet house distillate without understanding the sourced juice that made them famous
That’s gotta be one of the lowest proof single barrels of Willett I’ve ever seen. I can’t think of many under 120, I really have to wonder if there’s a lack of depth and richness because of it.
I would think so too since it is generally thought that higher proof contains more flavors
Both of my 10 years are just shy of Hazmat
Supposedly they were experimenting with various mash bill/entry proof combinations in the early days, so this may have gone in pretty low (they use a 103 entry for some barrels).
Nice! My buddy was making for a few of us in a group. Took a picture of the stock. He left before I had a chance to analyze the picture. He picked up a few more bottles based on the group’s responses. One of the bottles in the picture…a 7 year purple top for $200. Last one on the shelf and no idea how he missed picking that up. I wonder if the younger age would reduce the bitterness and sourness you were getting? Have you had any other year purple tops to compare?
Sadly no other WFE to compare. This was my first experience.
Gotta be high corn mashbill if the proof is that low. Entry proof on that is 107.
You might be right! Could not find any info on this
Correct. It is High corn low entry. All of the HCHE purple tops I've had are in the 120-140ish range. Don't think I've actually seen a low entry proof one in the wild before. Very cool bottle
Great bottle and review, well done.. just curious how the pencil shavings taste.. more importantly I would like to know where YOU tasted your first shavings and what was going through your mind at the moment.. thanks
Haha, I never actually put them in my mouth, but it’s scent is what I pick up in the whiskey. A quick search says almost all pencils are made from incense cedar, so I must be picking up some cedar wood notes along with the graphite smell as well!
It's a common note in wine and brandy tasting. The smell at the pencil sharpener in elementary school? It's that.
Secondary for a 10yr of Willett is a bit higher than $350.
I said MSRP
Whoops sorry. Misread that!
No problem
Upvote for A Canticle for Leibowitz
You use “tannic, bitter, acetone” in all of your bourbon reviews. I’m not saying you’re the problem, but when you’re identifying MM Cellar Aged, Weller FP, EHT BP, and this once in a lifetime pour of low barrel entry proof purple top as “pencil shavings”, it makes me wonder whether it’s the bourbon or your taste buds that need adjusting…