Compare
Bulleit Bourbon vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Bulleit Bourbon and Willett Pot Still Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, rye-forward bottling versus a new-wave, classically built craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$24 less | ~$45 – $60 |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a lower price point.
- Go with Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).