Willett Family ‘Rare Release’ 13-Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This one is something else. The nose opens with honey, eucalyptus and fresh orange peel before settling into rich toffee and warm oak spice—inviting and complex right from the first sniff. Then the palate hits and it absolutely snaps to attention. Red Hots candy up front, which sounds wild but works beautifully against the chicory and roasted peanuts underneath. The finish is dry and citrusy with an earthy, spicy backbone that lingers long after the glass is empty. Twelve years in char #4 American oak has done exactly what you’d hope. It’s built with serious complexity and depth without losing the vibrancy that makes great cask strength bourbon an experience unlike any other.. Bottled at 62.5% ABV, this rewards a few drops of water but absolutely holds its own neat. A mind-boggling 127 bottles ONLY came from this single barrel. That’s it.