Willett Family Estate Small Batch Bourbon 4 Year Old

Willett Distillery released Willett Family Estate Small Batch Bourbon on Nov. 6, 2025. This cask-strength expression was crafted under the direction of fifth-generation Master Distiller Drew Kulsveen. Produced in Bardstown, Kentucky, the small-batch bourbon was created by blending two distinct mashbills and composing each batch from approximately 50 barrels. Suggested retail price is $67.

This bottling is a test: Can Willett's house-distilled juice live up to the sterling reputation the brand has built for itself using sourced distillate?

The blend consists of 70% bourbon made from a mashbill of 72% corn, 13% rye and 15% malted barley, and 30% bourbon made from a mashbill of 52% corn, 38% rye and 10% malted barley. The bourbons were distilled at a barrel entry proof of 125 and bottled at cask strength, with proof varying by batch (the bottle we reviewed was bottled at 63.7% ABV).

According to the distillery, the release was designed to highlight the practice of blending barrels of different ages (although the brand hasn't disclosed how old the older components are) to create a consistent small-batch profile while allowing variation between batches. The expression expands the Willett Family Estate lineup, which also includes the Single Barrel Bourbon and Small Batch Rye Whiskey releases.

In announcing the bourbon, Drew Kulsveen said the release represented the next step in the family’s journey and reflected values that have guided the distillery for generations. He also referenced the legacy of his late father, Even G. Kulsveen, whose leadership helped shape the modern identity of Willett Distillery.

Willett Family Estate Small Batch Bourbon joined the distillery’s portfolio as an ongoing small-batch offering, with each release distinguished by its individual barrel composition and resulting proof.