Willett Pot Still Reserve is bottled in a decorative decanter that received a “double gold” award for packaging design at the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In addition to the double gold medal for packaging, the product was also awarded a gold medal for taste at the event.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Dense brown sugar at first, with lemon and orange peels giving it a light fruitiness.
• Palate: Warming pepper and clove. Buttery corn, with a little caramel later on.
• Finish: Still rich in toffee. Some touches of floral oak.

The bottle gets Willett Pot Still Reserve picked up; the small batch Kentucky straight bourbon inside is why it gets refilled. The glass is a replica of the pot still at the Bardstown distillery where it is made, and the mash bill is the quieter surprise, running 65% corn, 20% wheat, and 15% malted barley, a wheated recipe that trades rye bite for softness. At 94 proof it carries caramel, vanilla, and orange sweetness with a little baking spice and a clean oak landing. Nothing in the glass shouts; this is a composed pour with enough backbone to stand up over ice. Give it as the bourbon gift that looks the part, or keep it as the bottle guests ask about.