Willoughby bears glossy black currants with a milder, sweeter flavour than many black currant varieties. The berries are useful fresh or cooked.

It has a Saskatchewan story: Walter Willoughby of Parkside thought his currant was Boskoop Giant, but Honeywood Nursery grew that variety, judged his plant different and better fruited, and listed it under his name in 1941. Its gentle flavour makes a useful contrast with the sharply tart Eagle.