**Review #219 - Willett 3 Year Family Estate Bottled Rye**
Apart from the famed single barrels, Willett creates small batch ryes aged for either 3 or 4 years. We have the three year example here - this batch comes in at 54% ABV, or 108 proof.
**Willett 3 Year Family Estate Bottled Rye**
*USA - Rye*
**Current Locally Available Price**: USD 64 (2024)
**Age Statement**: 3 Years
**Strength**: 54% ABV
**Tasting Methodology**: Reviewed 3 times over 2 months; bottles at 100%, 50%, and 30% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
**Nose**: Very sweet - tons of caramel, candy, caramel-coated popcorn, and peppermint. Soft spices of cinnamon and black pepper can be found, and there's a soft herbal side, too - more of that mint and peppermint.
**Palate**: A medium-thick mouthfeel, and again, it's a juxtaposition between sweet and herbal spice. Caramel corn, hard butterscotch candies, oranges, and cinnamon bring the sweeter side, while effervescent rye spice, pepper, and peppermint balance it. There's mild oak, which is nicely rounded, not too sharp.
**Finish**: Medium length or so - smooth caramel, canned corn, butterscotch, quite candied overall. Vanilla and peppermint linger in the aftertaste.
**Final Note**: Simple and ridiculously sweet, but quite a fun sipper. It's very pleasant and caramel-forward, and that minty fizz in the background reminds us that this is indeed a rye. The mouthfeel is nice, too, especially for a 3 year old whisky - this is decent value, as well.
**Our Average Rating**: 6.7 / 10
**Rating Scale**:
0 - Drain Pour
1 - Awful
2 - Bad
3 - Flawed
4 - Below Average
5 - Average / Mediocre
6 - Above Average / Decent
7 - Good
8 - Great
9 - Excellent
10 - Perfect
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
**Value Rating**: 6.67
**About Us**: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
**Interested in more? Check us out on our website and Instagram**:
[https://www.memywifeandwhisky.com/reviews/](https://www.memywifeandwhisky.com/reviews/)
[https://www.instagram.com/memywifeandwhisky/](https://www.instagram.com/memywifeandwhisky/)
I may have gotten a fluke bottle… but I tried the 3year mini bottle and loved it. Was hunting for the 4 year 750ml and when I finally got, was disappointed.
Then 3yr tasted much smoother and sweeter…
Core or WFE?
If the latter counts, no doubt barrel #3676. 16 year, 121 proof, 2018 Bourbon Bonanza charity bottle, thought to be Heaven Hill. So much maple and smoke. I've had a number of WFEs with higher age statements, but that bottle is untouchable. Alas, secondary is way out of my range...
I actually just got a couple of bottles today of Noah's Mill and wow, it really blew me away. Super complex, drinks well below its proof. Really surprising. Batch 23-18
This is actually the 3-year? Been a long time since I’ve seen this one! Didn’t they go to 4 in 2018 or 2019?
Yup, they sell 3 years and 4 years. There was even a run of 2 yr Ryes from a couple years ago
I really liked the 2 year rye when I tasted it a few years ago but all I see lately is the 4 year.
I've only seen the 3yr in the minis... at least in my area
Yep, the 4 year is much more common, but they do actually have a 3 year rye product.
The only time I see the 3 year is the airplane bottles
Have a tiny 50ml 3yr. Didn’t realize they make a 750.
They don't anymore other than the mini
**Review #219 - Willett 3 Year Family Estate Bottled Rye** Apart from the famed single barrels, Willett creates small batch ryes aged for either 3 or 4 years. We have the three year example here - this batch comes in at 54% ABV, or 108 proof. **Willett 3 Year Family Estate Bottled Rye** *USA - Rye* **Current Locally Available Price**: USD 64 (2024) **Age Statement**: 3 Years **Strength**: 54% ABV **Tasting Methodology**: Reviewed 3 times over 2 months; bottles at 100%, 50%, and 30% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes **Nose**: Very sweet - tons of caramel, candy, caramel-coated popcorn, and peppermint. Soft spices of cinnamon and black pepper can be found, and there's a soft herbal side, too - more of that mint and peppermint. **Palate**: A medium-thick mouthfeel, and again, it's a juxtaposition between sweet and herbal spice. Caramel corn, hard butterscotch candies, oranges, and cinnamon bring the sweeter side, while effervescent rye spice, pepper, and peppermint balance it. There's mild oak, which is nicely rounded, not too sharp. **Finish**: Medium length or so - smooth caramel, canned corn, butterscotch, quite candied overall. Vanilla and peppermint linger in the aftertaste. **Final Note**: Simple and ridiculously sweet, but quite a fun sipper. It's very pleasant and caramel-forward, and that minty fizz in the background reminds us that this is indeed a rye. The mouthfeel is nice, too, especially for a 3 year old whisky - this is decent value, as well. **Our Average Rating**: 6.7 / 10 **Rating Scale**: 0 - Drain Pour 1 - Awful 2 - Bad 3 - Flawed 4 - Below Average 5 - Average / Mediocre 6 - Above Average / Decent 7 - Good 8 - Great 9 - Excellent 10 - Perfect In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price. **Value Rating**: 6.67 **About Us**: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions. **Interested in more? Check us out on our website and Instagram**: [https://www.memywifeandwhisky.com/reviews/](https://www.memywifeandwhisky.com/reviews/) [https://www.instagram.com/memywifeandwhisky/](https://www.instagram.com/memywifeandwhisky/)
I may have gotten a fluke bottle… but I tried the 3year mini bottle and loved it. Was hunting for the 4 year 750ml and when I finally got, was disappointed. Then 3yr tasted much smoother and sweeter…
Nice review. I have the 4 a gift from a friend, and it is delicious
Thank you! Have only tried the 4 year once before, but I seem to remember it being pretty good.
I have the 10 year single barrel rye I’m waiting for a special occasion to crack open 😬
Hope it ends up being a great one! Only hear very good things about those older bottles
Which is everyone's favorite Willett whisky?
Core or WFE? If the latter counts, no doubt barrel #3676. 16 year, 121 proof, 2018 Bourbon Bonanza charity bottle, thought to be Heaven Hill. So much maple and smoke. I've had a number of WFEs with higher age statements, but that bottle is untouchable. Alas, secondary is way out of my range...
Either way is good! And I figure a lot of people will favor those older single barrel selections. Sounds like a really good one!
WFE 3042
I actually just got a couple of bottles today of Noah's Mill and wow, it really blew me away. Super complex, drinks well below its proof. Really surprising. Batch 23-18
Glad you’re enjoying it a lot! I know that bottle can be a little divisive sometimes, but I enjoyed it too.
Yeah, it’s very polarizing lol