Kentucky Vintage Willett Distillery

The Willett family has been distilling in Bardstown, Kentucky since 1936, and Kentucky Vintage is part of their Small Batch Boutique Bourbon Collection — a blend of two proprietary mash bills. The primary mash bill (85% of the blend) is a high-corn, moderate-rye recipe of 72% corn, 13% rye, and 15% malted barley; it is combined with a higher-corn second mash bill of 79% corn, 7% rye, and 14% malted barley. Both are aged separately for a minimum of four years in new char #4 American oak barrels, then blended and bottled at 90 proof. The result is a mellow, approachable small-batch bourbon with candied peanut, toasted coconut, caramel, cherry, orange peel, and amaretto, finishing with a peppery kick of charred oak and arugula.