Speakeasy Bourbon

You ever open a bottle and immediately think, “Yep… this one’s gonna be a porch-sipper”? That was me with Speakeasy Bourbon from Willett. But before we get to the glass, let’s take a quick stroll through Willett history — because this family’s story is half the fun of drinking their stuff.

A Quick History Lesson

The legacy traces back to the years just after the Civil War, when John David Willett was a Master Distiller and part-owner of the Moore, Willett & Frenke Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. His son, Lambert Willett, kept the distilling flame alive, walking miles to his early distilling jobs before eventually landing at Bernheim in Louisville. Then came the big moment.

In 1936, Lambert’s son Thompson Willett started building what would become the modern Willett Distillery on the family farm. By St. Patrick’s Day 1937, the first barrel was proudly rolled into Warehouse A. Fast-forward to today and the operation is still independently family-owned, now led by Even and Martha Willett Kulsveen and the fifth generation of Willetts — Britt and Drew. Each year, more than 55,000 visitors experience the Willett family heritage.

The Tasting

Speakeasy uses a mashbill of 79% corn, 7% rye, and 14% malted barley, and is barreled at 125 proof, before aging several years to be bottled at 98 proof. The bottle is shaped similarly to the Old Bardstown Estate Bottled packaging  before receiving a Art-Deco black label. The price was $39 at a major Kentucky liquor retailer. Let’s dive into the notes:

Eye: Copper, glowing warm in the Glencairn glass, with thin, quick-moving legs. Not a show-off, just quietly pretty.

Nose: The pour opens in classic Willett fashion — gentle and inviting – with vanilla, toffee, nougat, and a hint of herbal tea. It almost smells like someone baked a vanilla cookie next to a mug of hot tea.

Palate: Smooth and easy. Flavors roll in with warm vanilla, light oak, malted tea biscuits (my wife knows exactly what I’m talking about), and a soft baking spice glow. A solid Willett pour. 

Finish: Medium with toasted oak, a little more vanilla, and a gentle pop of spice

Overall: Ok … not spectacular … but not bad. Speakeasy Bourbon is pretty low-key. Would I buy it again? I’d be more likely to snag another Old Bardstown Estate Bottled, or at similar price points, you can find Russell’s Reserve, Knob Creek, and Bardstown Origin that may be a better overall value.