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Penelope Toasted Series vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Penelope Toasted Series 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 | Penelope Toasted Series | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $60 ~$10 less |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Toasted Series Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/6 fruit: Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
- 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 Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with slightly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).