Willett 4Y Family Estate Rye
Tax included.
Free delivery on orders over €100
Read our Shipping Policy
About this product
Heritage, Complexity, and Cask-Strength Character.
Willett Distillery’s 4Y Family Estate Bottled Rye is a compelling embodiment of Kentucky craftsmanship and family tradition. Returned to distilling in 2012, Willett released this rye as one of its first expressions from its own still—a milestone that heralded a new era for the storied brand.
Born from small-batch production and aged for a minimum of four years in new charred white oak barrels, it is bottled at cask strength—ranging typically between 55% and 56% ABV (110–112 proof)—without chill filtration or colouring.
For whisky fans in Ireland, it's a powerful yet nuanced rye that elevates the rye experience, offering herbal spice, dessert-like richness, and tactile depth—ideal for both contemplative sipping and bold cocktails.
Why we love it:
We love this rye for its bold personality and surprising elegance. It marries intense rye spice with creamy, luxurious dessert notes that feel well beyond its four-year age. The dual mash bill blend—predominantly high-rye with a touch of low-rye—creates a layered palate profile of rye pepper, cherry sweets, caramel, and toasted oak.
Its bottling at full cask strength means every sip offers authenticity and power, and it’s that raw intensity—balanced by depth of flavour—that makes it such an engaging spirit for whisky lovers in Ireland looking for character, craftsmanship, and something slightly rebellious.
Country of origin
USA
Region/Appellation
Kentucky
Tasting notes
Colour
Medium amber with golden warmth.
Nose
Cherry bake-well tart, salted caramel, toasty oak, crème brûlée, with hints of bay leaf, menthol, and orange peel.
Palate
Rich rye spice, burnt vanilla custard, dark chocolate, chewy caramel, toffee, nutty backnotes, herbs, and baking spices.
Serving suggestion
- Neat or with a splash of water—to unlock delicate nuances of cherry, mint, and herbal spice.
- Bold cocktails—shine in a Manhattan, Old Fashioned, or a spirit-forward rye sour, with its rich depth providing a standout base.
Easy Home Cocktail – “Bardstown Old Fashioned”
- 50 ml Willett 4-Year Family Estate Rye
- 1 sugar cube
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange twist for garnish
- Ice cube
Muddle sugar and bitters, add whiskey and ice, stir gently, and garnish with a citrus twist. An elegant cocktail that lets the rye’s fruity spice and mellow oak speak.
Size, cl
70
ABV, %
55.0
About the producer
Willett Distillery, founded in 1936 by the Willett family on their farm in Bardstown, stands as an enduring symbol of Kentucky bourbon tradition.
After years of sourcing and contract bottling under the KBD label, the family resumed distilling in 2012—marking a return to roots and a revival in small-batch creativity.
The Family Estate series—of which the 4-Year Rye is a flagship—is noted for its collectible bottles, barrel-proof bottling, and handwritten batch details—appealing to both collectors and discerning whisky drinkers globally.