The Willett Family Estate Small Batch Bourbon represents a pivotal moment for Kentucky Bourbon Distillers and the historic Willett brand. For nearly two decades, Willett built its legendary reputation on a foundation of carefully sourced single barrel releases—the “purple tops”—that became the stuff of bourbon lore among serious enthusiasts. Those early releases, many believed to contain pre-fire Heaven Hill stock from before the 1996 warehouse fire, achieved near-mythical status and commanded secondary market prices that only the deepest-pocketed collectors could access. Even though I am a deep pocketed collector, I never found one. I did get a fairly old one that was a distributor pick by Wines Unlimited, and it was really good. But it was Willett distillate.
When Drew Kulsveen took the helm as Master Distiller in 2012, Willett pivoted from the role of non-distilling producer (NDP) back to distilling whiskey—a return that marked the end of an era of exclusively sourced bourbon. For more than a decade, the distillery has been building its own inventory of quality distillate, and that whiskey has begun coming of age. The new Small Batch expression, released in November 2025, signals that Willett’s leadership has made a conscious decision: to make the purple top bourbon experience available to a much broader audience.
At a suggested retail price of $67—and available at $64.99 through regular retail channels—this bourbon is positioned as an entry point to the Willett family of bourbons. The previous single barrel purple tops, which command $150-$400+ depending on age and secondary market conditions, remain the crown jewels for collectors willing to hunt through allocations. But the Small Batch, with its nationwide limited distribution, offers something those single barrels never could: accessibility without the allocation games and stratospheric pricing.
Each batch comprises approximately 50 barrels of bourbon, representing a commingling of two distinct Willett mashbills: 70% of one bill (72% corn, 13% rye, 15% barley) married with 30% of another (52% corn, 38% rye, 10% barley). The whiskey was barreled at 125 proof and bottled at cask strength, with proof varying by batch. This bottle is bottled at 126.6 proof—among the more robust batches released.
The Appearance
The color on this is a very deep amber, approaching mahogany, which initially seems inconsistent with a four-year-old bourbon. This suggests to the experienced palate that Kulsveen and his team have indeed selected older barrels from their inventory for this commingling. When Willett began distilling in 2012, their oldest in-house stock is now approaching thirteen years of age, so it stands to reason that this small batch blend includes some barrels with considerably more than four years of aging. The deep color is a testament to both the barrel and what appears to be a thoughtful barrel selection process.
On the swirl is a thick film with gravity-defying legs—this is a very oily bourbon. The viscosity suggests excellent barrel interaction and a robust alcohol content working in concert with the barrel’s contributions.
The Nose
On the nose is very traditional bourbon: lots of caramel, vanilla, and hints of baking spices. There’s nothing experimental or trendy here—this smells like what good Kentucky bourbon should smell like. The nose doesn’t scream “young bourbon,” which is encouraging for a four-year-old expression. The balance suggests restraint in barrel selection, with no aggressive oak or green wood notes jumping out to announce its youth.
The Palate
Giving this a good Kentucky chew reveals an extremely complex tasting experience. The initial wave brings caramel and molasses to the front, followed by baking spices and cloves. As the bourbon coats the palate and your mouth adjusts to the proof, hints of dark fruit emerge from the background—not aggressive or artificial, but a subtle undercurrent that adds dimension.
This is where the complexity lies. Many young bourbons on the market punch you in the mouth with youth—aggressive oak, green wood, hot spice. This bourbon takes a more refined approach. The mashbill selection (particularly that higher-rye second bill comprising 30% of the blend) and the barrel selection have been calibrated to create balance. The caramel and molasses provide sweetness and body; the spice (clove, baking spice) provides complexity; and the dark fruit provides subtle depth. Each layer reveals itself in succession rather than all at once.
The mouthfeel is medium, which follows logically from the short aging period. Longer-aged bourbons often develop a viscous, almost syrupy quality as the barrel strips away the thinner elements and concentrates the heavier compounds. At four years, even at cask strength, this bourbon doesn’t coat your mouth like a 10+ year-old bourbon would. But that doesn’t mean it’s thin or harsh—the body is entirely appropriate for its age and the experience overall.
The Finish
The finish is where this bourbon’s youth most clearly announces itself. While the caramel, molasses, and spice notes linger, there’s an absence of oak character that would normally develop over longer aging. Some might see this as a limitation. I see it as consistent with the distillery’s intentions: they’ve created a bourbon that showcases the quality of their distillate and their barrel selection without demanding that the barrels do all the heavy lifting.
The Context
This bourbon lacks oak character on the flavor profile, and the mouthfeel reflects the short time aging. But this is a good and complex bourbon with no serious negatives. For a four-year-old bourbon at 126.6 proof, it’s well-balanced and thoughtfully composed.
What’s remarkable is what this release says about Willett’s strategy. For years, the distillery could command premium pricing and secondary market premiums because their sourced stocks—particularly those pre-1996 Heaven Hill releases—were finite and legendary. Willett built a brand on scarcity and mystery (barrel numbers corresponded to mashbills, but most customers didn’t know which barrels contained which recipes).
The Small Batch Bourbon signals a different era. Instead of chasing the shrinking pool of sourced bourbon, Willett is saying: “We’ve learned to distill good whiskey. We’re confident enough in our product that we’re willing to sell it at a reasonable price and make it widely available.” This is remarkable restraint for a distillery that could easily charge $150+ for a purple top single barrel aged four years if they bottled it that way.
Will this bourbon satisfy the collector who paid $400 for a 10-year single barrel? Probably not—age and scarcity matter, and so do the legendary sourced stocks. But for someone who’s wanted to experience the Willett house distillate but wasn’t lucky enough to find a store pick, or didn’t want to pay $270 for the eight year old purple top wheated, this offers genuine value.
The Motto on the Label
The Willett label bears the French motto “Dieu et mon devoir,” which translates to “God and my duty.” This phrase, steeped in the tradition of noble houses and family legacies, signals the Willett family’s commitment to craftsmanship and honor in their bourbon-making. It’s a fitting inscription for a release that promises to bring the purple top experience within reach of a broader audience—a duty to serve the bourbon community with quality and integrity rather than scarcity and inflated pricing. I think they have accomplished their motto here-a broad release of some very good bourbon at a reasonable price.
The Verdict
At $64.99 to $67 retail, this bourbon offers serious value. It won’t replace the 15-year single barrels on the top shelf, nor should it. But as an introduction to Willett’s house distillate, as a daily drinker with complexity and balance, and as an example of a distillery’s commitment to accessibility over scarcity pricing, it’s well worth seeking out. I also have to say I prefer this to Noah’s Mill, their other high proof release as some of Noah’s Mill’s flavors can be a bit muddy, and this bourbon’s flavors are definitely clean. I will put it this way – this bourbon reminds me of the other purple top release I bought, and I am quite happy that this was less than half the cost of that bottle. If this remains generally available, this will be a regular purchase for me.