Willett Pot Still Bourbon 750ML

Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon 750ML is a wheated Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof) in a distinctive pot-still-shaped decanter. Jim Murray's Whisky Bible awarded it 95.5 points in 2012, and it earned a Gold medal for taste at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition — recognition that underscores its standing among craft-forward American whiskeys.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47% (94 Proof)  |  Origin: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA  |  Minimum 4 Years Old  |  Distillery: Willett Distillery (Kentucky Bourbon Distillers)

Production & Heritage

Willett Distillery traces its roots to Bardstown, Kentucky, one of the historic hearts of American bourbon country. The bourbon uses a wheated mashbill of 65% corn, 20% wheat, and 15% malted barley — placing it in the softer, more approachable family of wheated bourbons rather than the spicier rye-recipe style. It is twice distilled using a column still followed by a Vendome copper pot still acting as a doubler, then aged a minimum of four years in new American oak barrels with a #4 (heavy) char. The iconic bottle is a hand-blown-style glass decanter modeled after the pot still itself, which earned a Double Gold for packaging design at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe cherry and bright citrus lead, followed by layers of vanilla, dry oak, and sweet honey. A subtle note of buttered popcorn adds unexpected warmth underneath the fruit.

Taste: The entry is gentle and creamy, reflecting that wheated mashbill, with early impressions of citrus zest, caramel, and cracked black pepper. At mid-palate the caramel deepens, blending with dry oak, coconut, and a thread of crème brûlée. Floral and soft mint notes emerge toward the peak, along with cedar wood shavings, cinnamon, and a faint whisper of fennel.

Finish: Long and warm, carried by sweet caramel and soft baking spice that linger well past the last sip. The oak dries gently at the edges without turning bitter, leaving a clean, balanced close.

How to Drink Pot Still Reserve

At 94 proof, Pot Still Reserve has enough structure to drink neat but opens up beautifully with a few drops of water or a single large ice cube. It also performs well in cocktails that benefit from a wheated bourbon's creamier profile. A Bourbon Old Fashioned highlights the caramel and cherry core without competition. A Paper Plane takes advantage of the citrus brightness and spice to stand up to Aperol and amaro. A Whiskey Sour plays off the bourbon's natural sweetness and soft vanilla, reducing the need for excess simple syrup.

Best For

• Gifting a bourbon enthusiast — the decanter-style bottle makes a striking presentation without a gift box
• Building a wheated bourbon tasting flight alongside Maker's Mark and Larceny
• After-dinner sipping on a cool evening, served neat or with a single ice cube
• Displaying in a home bar collection thanks to the unique pot-still silhouette

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Pot Still Reserve taste like? It leads with ripe cherry, citrus, and caramel, supported by vanilla, coconut, and soft baking spice. The wheated mashbill gives it a creamy, gentle texture that distinguishes it from higher-rye bourbons.

How does Pot Still Reserve compare to Blanton's Single Barrel? Both are recognizable for their collectible bottle designs and share citrus-and-oak flavor territory, but Willett's wheated mashbill delivers a softer, creamier palate, while Blanton's higher rye content leans spicier and more assertive. Blanton's is a single-barrel product, whereas Pot Still Reserve is a small-batch blend aged a minimum of four years.

Is Pot Still Reserve good for sipping neat? Yes — 94 proof is high enough to deliver concentrated flavor yet approachable enough for neat drinking, especially given the bourbon's naturally creamy mouthfeel from its wheat-forward grain recipe.

Where is Pot Still Reserve made? It is distilled and bottled at Willett Distillery, also known as Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, located in Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky — a region often called the Bourbon Capital of the World.

What foods pair well with Pot Still Reserve? Smoked pork ribs complement the caramel and oak; dark chocolate truffles echo the vanilla and crème brûlée notes; aged Gouda mirrors the bourbon's creamy sweetness; pecan pie amplifies the toasty, nutty undertones; and stone-fruit desserts like cherry cobbler harmonize with the prominent cherry aroma.

What sizes does Pot Still Reserve come in? The standard and most widely available size is the 750ML decanter bottle. A 1.75L format has been produced on occasion, though availability varies by market.

Is Pot Still Reserve worth the price? It positions as a mid-premium bourbon, priced above everyday shelf staples but well below allocated single-barrel releases. The combination of a wheated mashbill, pot-still doubling, minimum four-year age statement, and collectible bottle design delivers strong value for what you receive.

Why Pot Still Reserve?

Willett Pot Still Reserve earned a 95.5-point rating in Jim Murray's 2012 Whisky Bible and a 90-point "outstanding" score from Whisky Advocate — marks that place it in elite company for a bourbon at its price tier. The wheated mashbill sets it apart from the majority of Kentucky bourbons that rely on rye as the flavoring grain, producing a distinctly creamy, fruit-forward character. Double distillation through a column still and a Vendome copper pot-still doubler adds a layer of refinement uncommon in similarly priced bottles. For collectors and daily drinkers alike, the pot-still-shaped decanter has become one of the most recognizable silhouettes on the bourbon shelf — a bottle that earns its place through what is inside as much as what is outside.