Willett Willet Single Barrel Rye 6 yrs old

The availability of rye whiskey at cask strength/barrel proof seems to be the next movement in the whiskey business and Willett seems to be releasing quite a bit of young rye stock ranging from 2-8yo. Not many rye whiskeys are released at such a strength, so when I saw that my local store had SB releases of ages 4-8 yrs, I couldn't pass up on this treat. Here I review SB No. 122 bottle at 58.2% abv and which is 6 yrs old.

Nose: Cedar, grain, flower, saw dust, fresh cut lumber, pickle juice. After you let it breath it becomes much sweeter but not too much like some bourbons. Powdered sugar is how I would describe the sweetness. It's there but very light.

Taste: Cedar wood and a tremendous amount of spice. On the palate this whiskey's weight and viscosity can be felt. The heat is prominent because of the high abv. After letting it sit, it becomes a mix of sugar, spice, wood, and heat.

Finish: Pickle juice, cedar wood, curry, very oily finish.

If one thing is reproachable about this rye is that it's pricey, at around $70-80 a bottle. That's not cheap, and when compared to retail price of say Thomas H. Handy and how good that product is, it shouldn't even be in the same ballpark. But it is a good rye (although sourced), at barrel strength, and more easily available than other bottlings. I'm willing to pay the price because well, not much is out there to choose from.

Find where to buy Willett whisky