Noah’s Mill Review
In-Depth Review
Knowing about Willett distillery may be the simplest way to tell bourbon newbies from bourbon enthusiasts. Not as well known as Maker’s Mark or Bulliet, Willett distillery has quietly been sourcing some of the best bourbon and rye in the world for years but the brand itself remains relatively unknown. Their core brands tend to be overlooked (and a bit pricey), while their single barrel releases are some of the most sought after in the entire whisky world. And fun fact, if you get the chance to visit Willett distillery, the bar on the premises has one of the best selections of unique bottles in all of Kentucky. The Bar at Willett is worth seeking out, especially as a quick lunch spot while enjoying the Bourbon Trail.
But let’s take a dive into one of their core expressions. Today we will look at an enthusiast favorite – Noah’s Mill. Known as one of the more expensive Willett expressions, for years Noah’s Mill was sourced from undisclosed distillery and even featured a 15-year age statement. The days of 15 year old Noah’s Mill days are long gone, and instead Willett has now begun to use their own stocks for new batches and have dropped the age statement altogether. But with a healthy 114.3 proof and an excellent reputation for quality, I am excited to dive back into one of my old favorites. The bottle I am reviewing today comes from Batch 22-27.
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 57.15%
Cask: New charred oak
MSRP: $60
Distillery Name: Willett Distillery
Review Date: 12/31/22
Color: Deep Caramel
Nose: This is a promising start. The nose is big, juicy, but with a strong nutty peanut dust note to it as well; almost like the bottom of a peanuts bag you get at a baseball game. But there’s also fruit, sweet caramel, corn dust, and old wood. At times it reminds me of walking through an old rickhouse with its woody, dusty nature. But if you don’t let this settle in the glass, the ethanol can easily sneak up on you.
Palate: The palate starts off where the nose left us. Nutty, woody, and with a restrained burned for 114.3 proof. Not as sweet as I was expecting, but is still pretty good and rounded, even with a few more tannic elements than I’d hope. Hints of banana, salty peanuts, and a bit of young grain mixed with a candied brittle. The mouthfeel is creamy and inviting.
Finish: Long finish with more salty peanuts and toasty wood. The wood notes can make this feel dry on the finish and with a strong Kentucky hug building after a few sips.
Final Thoughts: Noah’s Mill is still a good bourbon. But truth be told, I wanted to love this whisky more. I’ve had better older batches of Noah’s Mill than this one. Perhaps that has to do with the fact it’s no longer sourced and instead Willett has shifted to using their own stocks, but who really knows. But some of those early batches were amazing; but this Noah’s Mill felt a bit too much like peanut dust and wood for me. It’s more of a savory sip – a bottle better suited for pre-dinner drinks than a dessert pour. And while it’s still a solid bottle, I’m not sure I’m as willing to pay the “Willett tax” on this as I used to.
