Compare
Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Willett Pot Still Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a new-wave, classically built craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$26 less | ~$45 – $60 |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Willett Pot Still Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
- 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 Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with slightly more proof behind it.
- 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 neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).