Compare
Willett Pot Still Reserve vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Comparing Willett Pot Still Reserve and E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$45 – $60 vs. ~$70 – $140).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Pot Still Reserve | E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $60 ~$53 less | ~$70 – $140 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve and E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel do not publish an official mash bill.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
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Pot Still Reserve E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/8 oak: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel: Single barrels from the warehouse Colonel Taylor built, bonded at 100 proof. More oak and more concentration than the small batch, and one of the most sought-after regular releases Buffalo Trace makes.
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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel if you want the most concentrated bonded expression of the Buffalo Trace profile, and the hunt does not deter you with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve); neat (E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel).