Willett Family Estate Bottled Single Barrel 9 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey, barrel No. 2306, carries the name "White Elephant". It was drawn from one hand-selected white oak barrel and bottled un-chill filtered at full barrel proof, 116.8 proof (58.4% ABV). Labels like this one exist solely for the Willett family's Private Barrel Selection program, so each named barrel is a one-off: when the bottles from barrel 2306 are gone, there will never be another.
Every Willett Family Estate single barrel is bottled exactly as it came out of the cask. Nothing is blended in and nothing is filtered out, and the proof is simply whatever the barrel gave after 9 years in the warehouse. The label records the barrel number, the age and the proof, and the family gives each private selection its own name, which is part of what makes these bottles so collectable. The tall bottle with its coloured wax-dipped top and the Willett family crest is one of the most recognisable sights in American whiskey.
"White Elephant" is a nine-year-old straight rye, and its green wax top and green crest mark it out from Willett's purple-topped bourbons. Willett's estate ryes are some of the most celebrated in Kentucky, and at nine years this barrel balances rye spice with deep, sweet notes of toffee and fig. At 116.8 proof it is full of flavour yet approachable enough to enjoy neat.
Willett is one of Kentucky's great family distilleries. Thompson Willett founded the company in 1936 on the family farm on the outskirts of Bardstown, and the family ran the distillery until the early 1980s, when hard times for whiskey producers forced it to close. In 1984 Even Kulsveen, husband of Martha Willett, bought the property and set about restoring the distillery and its warehouses. For almost three decades the company built its reputation bottling whiskey under the Willett name, and on January 21, 2012 the first barrel was filled at the rebuilt Willett Distillery. Today the family's fifth generation runs the business, and the Willett Family Estate single barrels are among the most sought-after bottles in American whiskey.
Tasting Notes
-
Nose: Gently sweet toffee, fig and nougat.
-
Palate: Maple syrup and toffee, spiked with cinnamon and vanilla.
-
Finish: Warm cinnamon spice with lingering vanilla sweetness.
Specifications
-
Producer: Willett Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky
-
Style: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, single barrel, barrel proof
-
Expression / Batch: Willett Family Estate Bottled Single Barrel "White Elephant", barrel No. 2306
-
Age: 9 years
-
Proof / ABV: 116.8 proof (58.4% ABV)
-
Cask / Finish: White oak barrel, un-chill filtered
-
Region: Kentucky, United States
-
Size: 750ml
How to Enjoy It
At 116.8 proof this is a whiskey to approach slowly. Pour a small measure neat into a Glencairn or tulip glass, let it rest for a few minutes, and take a first sip on its own. Then add water a few drops at a time: at barrel proof, a little water opens up the sweeter, fruitier layers and softens the oak. A single large ice cube works too. As a one-of-a-kind single barrel with a hand-written label, it is a centrepiece for any American whiskey collection and a memorable gift for a bourbon lover who already owns the classics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "White Elephant" a single barrel rye?
Yes; every bottle comes from Willett barrel No. 2306, bottled at barrel proof and un-chill filtered.
What proof is Willett "White Elephant"?
It is 116.8 proof, or 58.4% ABV, straight from the barrel.
Where is Willett made?
Willett is a family-owned distillery on the outskirts of Bardstown, Kentucky, founded in 1936.
Explore more in our American Whiskey collection.
