The Willett Family of Kentucky Bourbons
Single Barrel Willett Family Estate Offerings
Kentucky Bourbon Distillers was established in 1984. The Willett Family bought this distillery at a public auction in 1984. It’s been in their family on and off since the 1930’s. It’s small operation wildly popular with the nerds for their vintage bottlings, special occasion bourbons..quite honestly some of the greatest whiskey barrels ever collected. Willett is responsible for keeping alive stocks from the golden era of great affordable whiskey.
At one point 90% of all whiskey that was 15yrs or older was coming from Willett. Master Distiller, Drew Kulsteen and family are prolific with their approach to sourcing amazing whiskeys. From 1980-2012, there was no production at their distillery.
Willett 80th Anniversary Straight Bourbon Whiskey at Frontier Chicago
While everyone else in the industry was sleep at the wheel, the Willet Family was calling distillers to inquire about excess inventory available from monthly production. Everyone from Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Diageo, Brown-Foreman, Four Roses would fax over sheets of what’s available by number of barrels and price then send over samples.
During that period Willett was the home to customized new releases of older whiskies on the market creating the most interesting of expressions. Michter’s 25, Hirsch 25, 21yr Anniversary Delilah’s, Black Maple Hill just to name a few.
This approach was heralded by whiskey veterans who understood that without Willett preserving these old stocks, they could have easily been blended off in to some forgotten Jim Beam White Label or gotten lost in some Canadian Whiskey.
The approach of releasing a barrel at 16yrs old that was purchased at 3yrs old is a bit wild to me. Or an 18yr old rye arriving in a steel tank car that was then re-barreled and aged for another 10yrs!!??
The current single barrel program, Willett Family Estate is one of the most unique in all of bourbon. Customers can come in a pick any barrel no matter the age or profile as long as they buy the barrel.
Willett Family Estate Program Started Because Accounts Wanted A Single Barrel Expression of Noah’s Mill
Many of the brands under the current Willet umbrella - Kentucky Vintage, Johnny Drum, Old Bardstown, Noah’s Creek were all hand drawn by Drew’s dad. For Ep 28. of The Neat Pour Podcast we featured three house brands.
Johnny Drum started as a creation in the early 1950’s for Trader Joes. It was named after the family salesman, Johnny Willett.. It was his job to go drum up business. Johnny Drum begins as the original family recipe bourbon and has a high rye whiskey blended with it.
Named For Family Salesman Johnny Willett
Noah’s Mill began as a 15yr old age stated whiskey that really contained a blend of 15-18yr old whiskeys. It kinda taste like bourbon maple syrup. Somehow these notes of both peanut butter and chocolate covered cherry are mingled together in the most elegant way.
It is enjoyable beyond my expectations and restores my faith in affordable bourbons on the shelf. Today all of the house brands are made 100% from Willet distillate, it has been that way since 2017. The current lineup of 6 mashbills are often co mingled to create a unique profile with brands like Kentucky Vintage.
Since 1936
Over the last 40 years the family distillery been a cash based company with no private investors. It’s a small operation with 8 warehouses that have been restored and hold about 5500 barrels each.
—The Neat Pour
Be sure to checkout Ep 28 of The Neat Pour Podcast featuring Johnny Drum, Noah’s Mill and Family Estate 4yr Rye.