Johnny Drum Private Stock is a well-balanced and complex Kentucky Straight Bourbon from the celebrated Willett Distillery — a label with roots stretching back to the 1960s and a family story that begins in 1674. Approachable and characterful, with sour apple, vanilla, and oak on the nose and a palate that weaves fruit, vanilla, and spice into a harmonious and satisfying whole. A bourbon that rewards both the casual pour and the considered sip.
Appearance
Warm amber with golden highlights — the inviting colour of a well-aged Kentucky Bourbon.
Aroma
Sour apple, vanilla, and oak lead a fresh and inviting nose with the classic hallmarks of a well-crafted Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
Palate
Fruits, vanilla, and spices are woven together into a well-balanced and complex palate of genuine character. Approachable without being simple, and satisfying from first sip to last.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy neat, over a large ice cube, or as the foundation of a classic Old Fashioned or Manhattan. Equally at home alongside smoked meats, aged cheddar, and pecan-based desserts.
Johnny Drum Private Stock is produced at the Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Nelson County, Kentucky — one of the most storied addresses in American whiskey. The Private Stock expression represents the Willett family’s commitment to producing bourbon of genuine depth and balance, drawing on the distillery’s long tradition of craft and the exceptional limestone-filtered water that defines the character of Kentucky Bourbon. Bottled at a strength that preserves the full flavour profile of the spirit.
Producer History
The Willett family story begins in 1674, when Edward Willett established the pewter trade near Washington DC — the first chapter in a family legacy that would eventually find its true calling in the distilleries of Kentucky. In 1841, John David Willett was born in Nelson County, Kentucky, and went on to become one-third owner and Master Distiller at Moore, Willett & Frenke Distillery, as well as Master Distiller at four other Kentucky distilleries during his lifetime. Over the generations that followed, various family members grew the Willett Distillery into one of Kentucky’s most respected producers, incorporating many labels along the way — including the Johnny Drum Bourbon, founded in the 1960s. In 1984, Even and Martha Kulsveen assumed the leadership of Willett Distillery, and today it continues to be run by members of the Kulsveen family, honouring the vision and tradition that the Willett name has carried for over three and a half centuries.
