Willett is Kentucky through and through. Their family history goes back centuries when one William Willett, Jr., relocated to the wild frontier of Nelson County, Kentucky, in 1792 — the year Kentucky became a state.

Immediately, the Willetts realized that the limestone-rich geology of Kentucky provided the perfect fodder for growing corn, as well as the perfect natural filtration system for producing hyper-pure water. Though the family was heavily involved in distilling through the next century, it was Aloysius Lambert Thompson Willett, born in 1909, who officially founded Willett Distillery in the village of Bardstown. The distillery was located right on the family’s farm, and in 1937, they had placed their first barrel into storage. Flash forward to 1960, and the distillery filled its 100,000th barrel.

A legacy like this isn’t easy to come by. Willett produces some of the finest bourbons in the world in a true-to-form, family-run distillery. A huge point of pride for Kentuckians, the distillery has perfected its art and will be sharing it with the world until the cows come home.

If you're looking for a gift for a whiskey-loving friend, pick up the Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon. It comes in a bottle that looks like it might contain a genie, but what you find inside beats three wishes any day of the week. It's not too bitter and not too sweet, which makes it highly drinkable.

Many aficionados are also partial to the Kentucky Vintage Bourbon. It's light but highly complex and full of flavor.