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Willett Pot Still Reserve vs Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Comparing Willett Pot Still Reserve and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$45 – $60 vs. ~$90 – $130).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Pot Still Reserve | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) +3 proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $60 ~$58 less | ~$90 – $130 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve and Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Pot Still Reserve Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/8 oak: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
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 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve); neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish).