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Willett Pot Still Reserve vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond
Willett Pot Still Reserve and Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, classically built craft style versus a new-wave, rye-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Pot Still Reserve | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $60 | ~$45 – $50 ~$5 less |
- 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
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Pot Still Reserve Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond: Bardstown's own high-rye recipe, distilled on site rather than sourced. More than a third rye gives it a bright, minty, fruit-and-pepper profile over caramel and light oak.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond if you want a spicy, fruit-forward high-rye bourbon with the guarantees of a bonded label at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond).