Willett Pot Still Reserve

Pot Still Reserve is a Kentucky straight bourbon from Willett, bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof). That is a few points above the 40–45% most standard-proof bourbons are bottled at. The extra strength gives it more weight on the palate and helps the oak and spice come through cleanly. The name points to Willett's pot-still tradition, and the bottle is known for its pot still shape. The distillery has not given a mash bill or age statement in the details we have, so the notes below describe what Kentucky bourbon at this strength usually shows. They are not a measured profile of this bottle. Expect a corn-driven sweetness up front, in the vein of caramel, vanilla and toasted brown sugar. Charred new oak should supply the structure, with baking spice and a little toasted nut or dried fruit behind it. Bourbons bottled near 47% tend to finish medium to long, with a gentle peppery warmth and a drying oak close rather than a sharp alcohol bite. For neat sipping, pour about an ounce and a half into a Glencairn. The tapered bowl concentrates the aromas, so you can pick out the sweet and woody notes before tasting. If the nose feels tight or the alcohol seems prominent, add a few drops of room-temperature water. This loosens the aromatics and softens the heat without flattening the flavor. A single large cube in a rocks glass works well for slower drinking. It chills the pour gradually and dilutes it only slightly, though cold temperatures do mute some of the sweeter aromatics. The proof also suits cocktails, because the whiskey holds its shape against sugar, bitters and ice. In an Old Fashioned, one sugar cube or a bar spoon of rich syrup, two dashes of Angostura and an orange peel let the bourbon's caramel and oak lead. A Manhattan with sweet vermouth and a cherry benefits from the extra backbone, which keeps the vermouth from taking over. In a Whiskey Sour, a standard ratio of lemon juice and simple syrup works, and an egg white gives a silkier texture. For a Highball, pour over ice and top with cold soda water and a lemon twist. That keeps the vanilla and spice present without much sweetness. Serve any of these in a rocks glass, or in a coupe for the Manhattan.