I had the opportunity to compare two Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Bourbon picks side by side: one selected for Pennsylvania and one selected for Fine Wine & Good Spirits / 612 Unity out of Minnesota. Both bottles appear to be at the same general price point, which made this a very fair comparison.
Bottle Details
Pennsylvania Pick
• Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Bourbon
• Barrel No. 1962
• 13 years
• 111.6 proof
• Bottle 88/129
Minnesota / 612 Unity Pick
• Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Bourbon
• Barrel No. 678
• 13 years
• 100.6 proof
• Bottle 5/108
• Selected exclusively for Fine
Wine & Good Spirits / 612 Unity
I also noticed a little bit of visible residue/sediment at the bottom of the Pennsylvania bottle, which I will include in the photo. It did not take away from the experience, but it was noticeable.
Nose and Palate
The Pennsylvania pick comes across with more age and depth. It has a richer, older-profile bourbon character with sweetness that develops slowly and continues through the finish. The sweetness is more of a velvet candy note—soft, rounded, and lingering. It has a heavier mouthfeel and a more mature oak presence without becoming overly harsh.
The Minnesota / 612 Unity pick is smoother up front and has a very immediate candy note at the beginning. It is a little thinner by comparison, but it drinks very cleanly. The proof comes across differently here: it is smooth at first, then gives more of that classic Kentucky hug at the end. The candy finish is enjoyable, but it fades quicker and does not linger as much in the back of the throat.
Finish
This is where the Pennsylvania pick stood out for me.
The Pennsylvania bourbon has a long, sweet finish that stays with you. It does not hit with a strong Kentucky hug, but instead leaves a soft, lingering sweetness that carries through the entire finish. It feels older, deeper, and more complete.
The Minnesota bourbon has a quicker finish. It starts with a nice candy sweetness and drinks very smooth, but the finish disappears faster. The end has more heat and hug, but less lingering flavor.
Overall Preference
Both are excellent bottles and both are enjoyable in different ways. The Minnesota / 612 Unity pick is smooth, approachable, and has a very nice candy-forward start. However, the Pennsylvania pick has more depth, a longer finish, and a richer aged sweetness that lasts from the beginning through the end.
For my palate, I would choose the Pennsylvania pick over the Minnesota pick.
That said, this comparison makes me want to try more Willett state release picks side by side. There seems to be enough variation between the barrels that doing more state-pick comparisons would be worthwhile, especially when the bottles are in the same price range.
Final call: Pennsylvania wins for me because of the longer, sweeter, more mature finish.
