Willett has what I’d call (4 different) tiers. None of which have ever been sold in Ohio.
Current batch product (4 year rye, pot still, old Bardstown, johnny Drum, pure KY) which is very easy to find in Kentucky and other stares where they distribute. The 4 year batch rye is good. Nothing else in this tier is good. These bottles are typically 20-60 bucks.
Current single barrel products that are their own distillate (most-but-not-all will be 4-7 year old bourbon). You will see these being released as “store picks” all around the USA at stores that are “really big” like the party source or at really cool boutiques where the master distiller (Drew) has a relationship with someone he’s drawn-to. These bottles typically retail for about 70-100. However, with all the recent flipping (people flip for 250-350) the stores have started charging more to deter flippers.
Older single barrel products that have been released in the past few years where 97% of it was sourced from Heaven Hill. These offerings are highly sought after and are between 6-27 years old. These bottles come from an era where Willett had to source products while they were getting their first runs of distillate into barrels and beginning the aging process. Typically bottles go for about 600-1000 for a 13/14/15/16 year old bottle. However, the more aged product may cost you upwards of 2-4K per bottle.
Super OG (sourced distillate) bottles. These could be as young as 4 years old. They could be as old as 25 years. These were offerings that came out at stores and their gift shop between 2009-2013 and they were sourced from all over by Drew’s dad Even Kulsveen (yes, E-V-E-N). Even is/was known for getting some of the best barrels in the bourbon game (back when bourbon/ryes was/we’re not popular) from Bernheim, Wild turkey, Brown Forman, Stitzel Weller, Heaven Hill, and some others that were never fully validated. These bottles typically came as wax tops with hand written labels. But some (20%) also look like their newer packaging with purple foil and printed labels (released 2014-2015). Some bottles can get insane as far as price and go as high as 20k for one single bottle. I’ve seen them sell, and recently. However, most of them go for about 2k-6k.
Anyhow, the Willett game is a crazy one. And it’s not all created equal. I’m happy to help folks learn more about the brand, the profiles, and how they gained their cult following.
Keep in mind, when I am talking current prices I’m talking secondary-Market prices due to supply and demand. For Willett, the demand comes from people that want it... but, bottles were sold years ago in the gift shop and (some, few) stores over 5 years ago (and they have no more of that certain sourced-distillate).
These bottles used to cost 10 bucks per year at the Giftshop and stores just 5-8 years ago. Talk about an investment! Buying an 18 year old bourbon for 180.00 that’s now worth 3-5k.