Willett Family Estate Single Barrel 12 Year Rye "Mustache Maniacs" - Barrel No. 1447

Willett Distillery is a celebrated, family-owned bourbon producer based in Bardstown, Kentucky—the heartland of American whiskey. Founded in 1936 by the Willett family, with roots in distillation stretching back to the 1800s, the distillery was established on the family farm shortly after Prohibition. Over decades, it became known not only for its own brands but also for its role as a respected independent bottler, operating under the name Kentucky Bourbon Distillers.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Willett temporarily shifted away from bourbon production—partly due to the energy crisis—and focused on bottling whiskey sourced from elsewhere. In 1984, Even Kulsveen, who married into the Willett family, acquired the company and later restored distillation on-site. By 2012, the distillery resumed making its own spirits again, blending modern distilling with its storied heritage.

Today, the distillery is run by the Kulsveen family—descendants of the original founders—preserving the legacy with expressions ranging from beloved series like Pot Still Reserve and Willett Family Estate to accessible lines such as Rowan’s Creek, Noah’s Mill, and Kentucky Vintage. With unwavering craftsmanship, artistic design, and a deeply rooted sense of history, Willett continues to define the essence of small-batch Kentucky bourbon.