William Willett, Sr.

William Willett Sr. -1714 to 1772

The Willett family has a fascinating history deeply tied to both craftsmanship and distilling. William Willett Sr. was born in Prince George’s County, Maryland, to Edward Willett and Tabitha Mills Willett. William grew up on the family plantation called Bealington, not too far from where Upper Marlboro is today.

The Willetts were a prominent family in the local community. In addition to farming, they had a successful pewter business. William learned the pewter business from his father, who carried that as his profession in London, England. He was well regarded for his skills and craftsmanship. William met and married Mary Simmons in 1737. Together, they had 14 children. In addition to his farming and pewter businesses, he decided to open a tavern. To ensure quality whiskey was served at the family tavern, he learned the art of distilling and began working on a Maryland Rye Whiskey.

William Willett Sr.'s establishment of a Maryland Rye Whiskey tradition in the 18th century off the Patuxent River reflects a lineage that blended artisanal skill as a pewterer with entrepreneurial spirit. He decided to pass on different trades to his sons. His oldest, Edward, was taught silversmithing and pewtering. William Willett, Jr., the second eldest, learned distillation. In that way, both family traditions and economic enterprises flourished.

Eventually, William Willet, Jr., moved his family to Nelson County, Kentucky. In 1793, he opened the Willett & Frenke Distillery. William Junior’s son, John David, then began working at the distillery at the age of 14.

During the late 1800s, John David became Master Distiller for five local distilleries and developed the mash bills that would eventually shape some of the Willett Family Distillery’s first recipes. The Willett's whiskey-making tradition has endured through generations, with their distilling expertise and recipes shaping the Willett Family Distillery's modern success.

Contributed by: Poppy Bruce Potash, Warwick, New York

with support from Bill & Vicki Gallagher, Mid-Atlantic Rye Whiskey Section Editors, Marriottsville, Maryland