Willett wheated 8 year bourbon was a surprise when it hit the shelves in my area. It wasn’t a highly anticipated release. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the retail price tag of $250. Willett is known for having a premium price tag with their purple top bourbons and this is no exception.
I try not to let price affect the overall rating of any bourbon I try, so please keep that in mind as you view the ratings below. This is a very good wheated bourbon. It isn’t great compared to some other wheated bourbons, Maker’s Mark FAE-02 for example. And if you factor in the price tag between FAE-02 and Willett wheated 8 year, I would prefer FAE-02 hands down.
However, Willet wheated 8 year would be a fantastic choice at around the $60 – $70 range. But I wouldn’t recommend grabbing a bottle at retail and it would be a hard pass at the high markup prices I have seen at some stores. I would suggest just grabbing a pour at a bar if you can find it at a reasonable price.
Overview
| Distillery/Bottler | Willett |
| Bottle | Wheated 8 Year Bourbon (Black Bottle) |
| Whiskey Type | Bourbon |
| Release/Batch | 1st Release/2022 |
| Proof | 108 |
| Age | 8 Years |
| Color | Russetmuscat |
| Market Price | $684 avg. |
| MSRP | $250 |
Source: Willett’s website.
NOSE: 8/10
Mild, well blended hints of cinnamon, cherry, vanilla, with a touch of orange
PALATE: 7/10
Nose flavors carry over, cherry and vanilla upfront with cinnamon and honey on the back of the palate
FINISH: 7/10
Nice medium to long finish, nice spice and a touch of caramelized oak
EPIC CASK RATING:
Uniqueness: 8/10
Value: 2/10
Overall: 7/10
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