Willett Family Estate Small Batch Rye Whiskey: The Pour That Changed the Way I Taste Whiskey
- Jes Smyth
- May 15
- 5 min read
“The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.”
— Kakuzo Okakura
Maker's Mark, Wild Turkey, Woodford Reserve—these are the brands that are steady, the bottles that offer consistency, the pours I return to when I'm craving a predictable experience. I lived in this realm for quite some time, not actively seeking anything beyond what was comfortable, affordable, and, as far as I knew, as enjoyable as any way to end a day.
That all changed the day rye whiskey entered my awareness. It started with Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye. With a mashbill of 51% rye, 37% corn, and 12% malted barley, this was likely the best way to enter the rye category, after being hot and heavy with bourbon there for a while. It was solid, expressive, and enticed my senses in a way that was different yet familiar. I stuck with Wild Turkey, enjoying a dram during cooler nights and colder months, and was satisfied. Until my palate experienced something not just different, but something more.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch Rye Whiskey is something of a modern whiskey-world cult bottle, toeing the line between being accessible enough to find on the shelves and distinctive enough—with various single barrels and/or batches—that enthusiasts still want to hunt for it. But this isn’t about the hunt; this is about the experience, and this rye whiskey, regardless of which batch, is determined to leave a lasting impression.
The small batch consists of two entirely different rye mash bills, blended together: one a high-rye recipe (74% rye) and the other a low-rye recipe (51% rye). This combination creates a balance between robust herbal notes and sweeter, dessert-like flavors. The small batch is also bottled at cask strength and intentionally non-chill-filtered, which preserves the oily texture from pot distillation while maintaining its aromatic complexity.
The small-batch rye is also a distinctive marker of Willett’s story and history, leading as one of the first major signs that the distillery’s in-house spirits were genuinely excellent after Willett restarted distillation in 2012.
I knew none of this when I bought my first bottle. What I knew was I liked rye, and, at the time, I didn’t run across this bottle in the wild very often, so it was my first true “Hail Mary” purchase. This bottle didn’t land in the end zone; it far surpassed that mark and has since been a constant auto-buy on my shelf. Not only that, it broke open the rye category for me in ways that tried-and-true Wild Turkey couldn’t do. This bottle taught me what my palate was capable of, what it really enjoyed, and how it differed from others. It woke me up from my comfort zone of predictable bourbon and barely legal rye and pushed me into the deep end of whiskey. It was the first whiskey to truly challenge me with its expressive and complex flavor profile.
My adoration for whiskey and diving deeper into this spirit through the written word can be linked to a few notable bottles, and Willett Small Batch Rye is one that led the charge. So, as I settle into two years as a contributing writer here on AmongstTheWhiskey.com, what better time to pay respects to the road less taken than by honoring the road that was with this fresh crack!
Company on Label: Willett Family Estate
Whiskey Type: Straight rye whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: A blend of 74% rye, 11% corn, 15% malted barley, and 51% rye, 34% corn, 15% malted barley
Proof: 116.7° (58.35%)
Age: 4 years
MSRP: $79.99
Further Identification: The distillery approximates that 90% of the high rye mashbill and 10% of the low rye mashbill make up this blend
Nose: I love it when the first thought that pops into my mind when first nosing a glass is "yum." This is yum and then some. Thick cherry jam wafts from my glass, coupled with caramelized banana slices, balanced by clove and chocolate-anise, if such a thing exists. There's buttered rye toast next to a vase of wildflowers being warmed by soft sunshine through a kitchen window. Swirling the liquid releases sweet notes of powdered sugar, candied lemon, and whiffs of ash—a Willett funk that I'm still trying to describe correctly. Digging my nose deep into my glass, I find graham cracker crust, buttercream frosting, and thin mint cookies. I'm actually quite surprised how easy this is to nose, considering the proof point. After a few sips, the nose turns uber creamy with notes of caramel, black tea leaves, table sugar, and that lovely rickhouse funk. It doesn't take long for the liquid to disappear, as I continue to fall in love with this pour. The empty glass smells like an empty Ovaltine container and the worn leather seats of my 1967 Mustang.
Palate: This is absolute silk on my tongue. The flavors lead with sweet vanilla, quickly turning into cinnamon, then transform into buttermilk pancakes. Dark chocolate swooshes in along with ripe dark cherries and well-balanced clove. More sips amplify the rye notes, doughy and earthy. There are also ginger snap cookies, lemon frosting, chalky white dinner mints, and a lovely warming heat that slinks down your throat. My only complaint is the slightly dry finish and the lack of barrel funk I'm familiar with on other four-year rye expressions. With this recognition, I leave my glass and return to it after some rest. Patience has been rewarded! More flavors dance across my tongue, quick and excited, and I find it hard to keep up. There's sweet iced tea, lemon slices, fresh mint leaves, cinnamon pound cake, and fields of damp wildflowers. As the liquid disappears from my glencairn, the proof ramps up and begins to overpower the earlier crescendo of notes. My last sip is a humble reminder that when whiskey speaks, it rarely stutters, and this one has always been quite well spoken.
TL;DR: a harmonious rye whiskey from start to finish
Rating: 4/5
I'm well aware that this particular rye can be quite polarizing for certain palates, which is actually why I love this expression so much. I use it as a barometer of sorts—if someone dislikes this rye, I know our palates differ and take that into consideration when making a recommendation. That aside, Willett and their ryes make writing about whiskey so easy, which is certainly a difficult task to achieve, and something I don't take for granted!
I’ve shared the same journey with this Whiskey. As I grew to like it, I was actually falling in love with it. I can circle back to many bottles of my earlier pours and realize they have fallen short of my memory’s expectations. However, the WFE SBR keeps getting better and better, giving me more reasons to revisit sooner. It’s easy to forget because it’s always there, but it rewards your loyalty in a time where the bottles we chase often disappoint.