Willett Old Bardstown Bourbon Whiskey
Willett Old Bardstown Bourbon Whiskey is a 90-proof (45% ABV), 750mL small-batch bourbon built on the Willett family's original 1940s recipe. Sour-mashed and twice distilled through column and Vendome copper pot stills, aged a minimum of four years in new charred oak and bottled non-chill-filtered — cinnamon, pineapple upside-down cake, butterscotch, and vanilla in a soft, classic pour. Order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV/Proof: 45% ABV (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: Minimum 4 years in new char #4 American oak; non-chill-filtered
- Production: 72% corn / 13% rye / 15% malted barley; sour-mashed; column + Vendome copper pot still; Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY
- Heritage: Named for the Calumet Farm racehorse Old Bardstown; the 2016 relaunch reproduces original Thompson Willett-era label art
The Original Family Recipe
Willett calls Old Bardstown "the inaugural Willett family Bourbon" — the recipe dates to the 1940s, and the current iteration debuted in 2016 wearing a faithful reproduction of the original label artwork. It is described as a softer-style, gateway bourbon, and it serves as the foundation of the cocktail program at The Bar at Willett. Browse the Willett lineup or our bourbon whiskey shelves.
Tasting Notes
The nose shows caramel, oak, vanilla, and a hint of floral — importer notes add cinnamon and pineapple upside-down cake with a hint of flint. The palate follows with butterscotch, apple skin, allspice, and vanilla, closing in a dry finish with lingering tropical fruit and baking spice.
How to Enjoy
A classic neat pour and an easy cocktail bourbon — its softness makes it ideal for a Whiskey Sour or a highball where the vanilla and spice carry through.
Frequently Asked Questions
What proof is Old Bardstown?
90 proof (45% ABV).
How old is it?
Small batch, no age statement; minimum 4 years in new charred American oak.
Why is it called Old Bardstown?
It is named after the Calumet Farm thoroughbred racehorse Old Bardstown.
Who makes it?
Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.
The family's original recipe since the 1940s — order Willett Old Bardstown Bourbon Whiskey online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.