Jack Rose Willett Tasting (Round 6!) "C&O Canelé" Rye Tasting Review
Background
My expectations were a little high heading into this tasting, I'll be honest. The last Jack Rose Willett Tasting had two banger hazmat bourbon heavy hitters. I recently had the good fortune of trying the, unconfirmed but assuredly Willett rye sourced, Premier Drams pick from Jack Rose. It was also delicious, and I’ve always been more of a Willett rye guy then their bourbons (which I think are extremely hit or miss). Jack Rose’s lead whiskey advisor, Chris Leung, started this tasting by proclaiming simply: “drink more rye.” Challenge accepted, onto the reviews:
Willett Family Estate Small Batch Rye (2 Years, 109.4 Proof)
Nose: Those Willett rye tea notes. Some of that raw oak note you get off a young whiskey, like the influence of the barrel has not quite morphed into more than just wood.
Palate: A spritely, lemony dance of alcohol. Yeah citrus, but unbalanced- like biting into a peel. Sharp. Still wood driven and astringent.
Finish: A little hot, cinnamony, yet again a little stave-y… yeah, I’m running out of ways to say wood.
Sub-par (4/10)
Overall: Quick note- the tasting sheet incorrectly says 3 years. This is the 2 year offering. You can tell there's promise with the distillate... but it just not there in this offering. It's brash and unbalanced. It just needs more time, plain and simple.
Willett Family Estate Rye “Eau de Vie” #9562 Jack Rose Pick (7 Years, 108.4 Proof)
Nose: Juicy fruits, bright and succulent. Tropical! A pirates bottle of rye, just pulls you into what you expect to be a fun and fruity drinker.
Palate: Almost mango-esque... again I hate to be a broken record but with these ryes I'm grasping for a note that’s essentially "insert fruit and make it tea." On the grand spectrum of Willett tea notes, this one clocks in closer to a flavored Arizona Iced Tea, meaning more artificial and fruity. It has a nice palate coating.
Finish: A baking spice driven, banana nut bread hangs around. It is not crazy long, but it leaves a steady juice and lightly minty impression.
Great (7/10)
Overall: Yeah, great rye! Absolutely delicious. I’ll admit, when this was first released I attended the corresponding tasting and I was a touch more critical. Just a touch, I had it at a 6.5. Revisiting again here, I’m struck by the juicy notes and overall vibrancy.
Willett Family Estate Rye “Voyage of the Beagle” #12096 Jack Rose Pick (6 Years, 121.8 Proof)
Nose: Absolutely no hints this is clocking in at a brisk 121+ proof. Slightly more tea forward than Eau de Vie. Black tea, candied oranges, overripe bananas
Palate: Laffy taffy candies washed down with a nice glass of iced tea. Lightly sweet, a touch drying (in a nice, counter balancing way).
Finish: Pineapple slices, baking spices and a lightly syrupy texture. Almost like a syrupy, pineapple upside down cake.
Great (7/10)
Overall: Taken as a two some with Eau, it's a lovely combo. The Willett tea notes pop slightly more here, but there's an underlying fruitiness between the two that's dynamic and exciting. I love good Willett rye picks so much.
Willett Family Estate Rye “We’ve Woken the Hive” #2424 Jack Rose Pick (8 Years, 116 Proof)
Nose: Syrupy... maple and honey and damn it smells like nectar. Sometimes you can smell a heft, or texture, to the pour and this is one of those times.
Palate: Ambrosia, which is not a thing I've had but I imagine in ancient time you'd drink this and think it's come from a higher power. Ok, in all seriousness, hot honey, syrupy peaches, hints of cloves.
Finish: Star anise, still honey, delicately tart and sweet and layered with an almost red pepper flake note.
Incredible (9/10)
Overall: I've actually never reviewed this formally... but to my friends this has long been one of my white whales. Years ago, coming out of covid, I had a friend pour this for me and it set off small fireworks of delight on my palate. It’s long been my favorite WFE rye and getting to taste it again brings a (metaphorical) tear to my eye.
Willett Family Estate Rye “C&O Canalé” #2228 Jack Rose Pick (8 Years, 114.8 Proof)
Nose: A little creamy which is an interesting, off note I've gotten from a Willett rye. Tiramisu comes to mind in particular. Agitating the glass a bit gives me a bit of stone fruit coated in cinnamon.
Palate: A little spicy and dry on the palate to start. Dried tea leaves, before steeping. I actually think it's a pretty intense tea. Hints of lemon and spice cake, with the cake being important it brings a bit of sweetness.
Finish: Longer, minty and spicy. Cinnamon coffee cake, buttery and spicy… but not overly spice. It’s a fun kind of brash.
Great to Excellent (7.5/10)
Overall: Drink this with your pinky up, because it’s tea time. Complete with cinnamon and baking spice driven petit fours. I definitely get the occasional note of cinnamon coffee cake intermingled with a classic Willett black tea profile. You all are definitely sick of me saying tea in this review, but I find it such a common note with these ryes… and one I enjoy.
