Four Year Old Estate Rye, Willetts, Kentucky USA

Willett Four Year Old Estate Rye comes from Bardstown, Kentucky, heartland of American whiskey, where Willett has been making spirits since the 1930s. The family-owned distillery returned to distilling its own whiskey in the early 2010s, releasing its first in-house rye in 2015. This small-batch rye is aged for four years in new American white-oak barrels, then bottled at cask strength, typically around 55% ABV. Its blend combines high-rye and lower-rye recipes, creating lively complexity. Expect mint, anise, cinnamon, vanilla, citrus and caramel, with a long peppery finish. Serve neat or with barbecue, pulled pork, smoked cheddar or dark chocolate.