Wild Turkey traces its origins to the Ripy Brothers, who founded the distillery in 1869 near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The Wild Turkey brand name emerged in 1940 after an executive took bourbon samples on a hunting trip, and its popularity led Austin Nichols & Co to begin bottling it officially in 1942. Today, Wild Turkey’s production focuses on traditional methods, including aging in new American white oak barrels with a deep No. 4 char, and its range includes expressions like the 101 Proof and Rare Breed bourbons, crafted under the stewardship of master distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell. We’ll be reviewing the Wild Turkey 101 Proof Bourbon and Rare Breed Rye.
Wild Turkey 101 Proof Bourbon Review
Wild Turkey 101 Proof Bourbon sits as a classic, high-proof expression in Wild Turkey’s range. The 101 Proof Bourbon has a mash bill composed of approximately 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, and matures (reportedly) for six to eight years in new American white oak barrels featuring the deepest No. 4 alligator char, before being bottled at 101 proof, or 50.5% ABV. This is widely available, from $20 in the USA, €28 in France, a little less than €24 in Germany or £20 in the UK, for instance.
Colour:
Burnished.
Nose:
Neat: The nose is distinctly bourbon, though it leans close to rye in character. Aromas of toasted wood, corn, cinnamon, and assorted spices appear alongside dried blond tobacco leaves, maple syrup on pancakes, toffee, and subtle vanilla hints.
With water: Adding water brings out richer notes of chocolate, honey, and caramel. The nose remains classic, complemented by orange-flavoured Krema candy nuances.
Palate:
Neat: Vanilla dominates the palate, joined by caramel concentrate. Then, a spice mix of cinnamon, pepper, chilli, nutmeg, and baking spices follow. Candied orange and toasted wood recur, with added layers of milk chocolate and maple syrup butter.
With water: The mouthfeel becomes creamier, with a fresh herbal honey character emerging alongside Bénédictine liqueur. The palate develops a slightly bitter, herbal edge.
Finish:
The finish lasts medium to long, balancing sweet and spicy notes with vanilla, caramel, a touch of white pepper, milk chocolate, and toasted wood.
Comments:
Have I finally discovered a ’classic’ bourbon that truly captures my interest? I realise this might surprise some of my North American readers, as I usually don’t favour Bourbon. I’m no Scotch whisky snob – my reviews cover whiskies from all over the world, many of which I enjoy. But I’ve never been fully convinced by Bourbon. Even tasting several side-by-side in a Bourbon flight failed to highlight meaningful differences for me. However, this Wild Turkey has made me reconsider. While it’s not overly complex nor drastically different from other Bourbons I’ve sampled (and admittedly, this is only my 34th bourbon, excluding ryes and American single malts), something about it stands out. It’s an enjoyable dram that works well any time – not just at 3 a.m. Paris time while watching the Super Bowl.
Rating: 6.5/10
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye Review
Wild Turkey Rare Breed sits near the top of Wild Turkey’s lineup. It is a barrel-proof bourbon, blending 6-, 8-, and 12-year-old bourbon matured in new charred oak barrels and bottled without dilution. Its rye counterpart, Rare Breed Rye, also bottled at barrel proof, features a mash bill with at least 51% rye and is aged in new charred oak barrels, and that’s the one we’re reviewing today. It seems the Rye variant is a blend of 4-, 6- and 8-year-old ryes. This first batch matured in No. 4 Char New American Oak casks. It was then bottled at barrel proof (112.2 proof, or 56.1% ABV), without chill filtration nor added colour. It seems to be hard to buy in Europe; I could only find it at a Swiss shop, House of Single Malts, that doesn’t seem to ship outside Switzerland. I had the chance to have a bottle brought back from the USA by my beloved partner, where a bottle costs a bit more than $50 before taxes.
Colour:
Burnished.
Nose:
Neat: The nose opens with lively spices such as cinnamon and cloves, joined by dried herbs and charred wood. Blackcurrant flowers, blood oranges, and blueberries create a fruity backdrop, with a slight hint of lime. Sweet elements of crystallised sugar and apple pie crust complete the nose.
With water: Water softens the nose, bringing forward notes of arlequin candy and fresh whole wheat bread while reducing the woody character.
Palate:
Neat: The palate hits bold and spicy, introducing astringency alongside bright lemon and caramel notes. The spice mix deepens with clove, cinnamon, and black pepper, complemented by herbal dried notes, charred oak, and dessert-like flavours of apple pie and cheesecake.
With water: The palate retains a drying quality but initially grows sweeter. Creamy custard and crème brûlée emerge, brightened by orange zest and spiced wood nuances.
Finish:
The finish is drying and warming, with cinnamon, root beer, citrus zest, and toasted oak. The spices build slowly toward the end with nutmeg and peppery warmth, but there’s also a gentle brown sugar sweetness persisting alongside the spice.
Comments:
This Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye continues to impress, showing notable improvement as the bottle-level drops. The added exposure to air through aeration and oxidation enhances its character, but ultimately, the whiskey’s inherent quality stands out as the true reason for its appeal.