Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Bourbon 9 Year Old #5247 130.4 Proof ORGANIZED CHAOS

130.4 proof. 9 years. Barrel #5247. 'ORGANIZED CHAOS.' Willett Family Estate — a named single barrel from Willett Distillery in Bardstown at 130.4 proof, the barrel nickname a deliberate nod to the high-energy intensity of a 9-year, 130-proof cask strength expression that manages to stay coherent despite its concentration.

At 9 years and 130.4 proof, Barrel #5247 has enough age for genuine oak complexity while retaining the vibrant grain energy of a younger expression. Non-chill filtered, hand-bottled from a single cask with Willett's signature handwritten label format. The name fits: all that intensity organized into something worth drinking.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Caramel, fresh grain, citrus, toasted oak, vanilla, warm baking spice — vibrant and forward at barrel strength
• Palate: Bold and concentrated — corn sweetness, brown sugar, rye pepper, charred barrel, significant heat that opens with rest or water
• Finish: Long and warming with persistent spice, sweet oak, and barrel warmth

Specs

• Distillery: Willett Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky
• Style: Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Cask Strength
• Barrel: #5247 — ORGANIZED CHAOS
• Age: 9 years
• Proof: 130.4 (65.2% ABV)
• Filtration: Non-chill filtered, barrel strength
• Size: 750ml

Explore the full Willett collection at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does ORGANIZED CHAOS describe this barrel? At 130.4 proof and 9 years, Barrel #5247 has the intensity and forward energy of a younger high-proof expression with enough wood structure to stay organized. The name reflects the character the Willett team found when tasting through and labeling the barrel.
• How does a 9-year, 130-proof Willett compare to older expressions? More grain energy and less tannin dominance than the 12–15 year releases. Benefits significantly from a 5-minute rest in the glass and a few drops of water to open up. More lively and forward rather than deep and oak-driven.
• Why collect 9-year Willett single barrels? They carry the full single-barrel identity — age, barrel number, exact proof, non-chill filtered — at a lower price point than older expressions, making them accessible for collectors building an age-range display.