Wild Turkey Kentucky Rye Whiskey 70 cl, 40.5% ABV - Cocktail Whiskey

Product Information

Continuing our Wild Turkey coverage, today we’ll be considering the distillery’s range of rye whiskeys. On the nose: This smells like a very mature grain whisky, with an overall sweet and buttery aroma. There’s a sugary and spicy scent of apple cider, as well as the hallmark rye whiskey note of freshly cut aloe vera leaves. There’s a hint of milk chocolate, some crushed spearmint leaves, and a wisp of dried firewood swirling around the periphery. Leaving this bottle open for a while results in a more Christmas-y nose, with a coniferous perfume. I was prepared to write off Wild Turkey rye entirely until the Rare Breed. While it’s not my favorite rye by a long shot, it at least convincingly justifies the consideration of this grain as more than a component of the Wild Turkey bourbon mash bill. Given the preponderance of evidence, I’m not sure I’ll be buying another Wild Turkey rye for a while… but if I do, it will definitely be Rare Breed Rye. On the palate, this one is a bit thinner of body than most corresponding Old Forester bourbons, but bold in terms of its spicy profile. As we wrote when first reviewing it: Note: The recently released, brand new Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye (barrel proof!) would also likely be a great entry here, but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet.

Wild Turkey 101 Rye (2021) – Rare Bird 101 Wild Turkey 101 Rye (2021) – Rare Bird 101

And with that, it’s time to dive in and discover what 2021’s Wild Turkey 101 Rye has to offer. I have little doubt it’ll fall outside of the profile maintained rather steadily over the last four years. But then, stranger things have happened. By the time we get to a certain price point, the smaller distilleries are no longer able to compete with the big boys on the technical side of how we most often assess value, which is age statements and proof points. If they want to stay in the running, they have to do something more unique to transform that whiskey, and one of the options to do so is the newly popular process of secondary finishing in a freshly charred or toasted barrel. There are several whiskeys like this that have hit the market, but the “double oaked” quality plays particularly well in this upgraded version of Sagamore Spirit’s flagship rye, which is a blend of self-distilled Maryland spirit and MGP rye. However, the extra aging time in a second barrel really works some magic on this spirit, and what comes out is quite a bit different from what went in. It’s a reinvention of the MGP-type profile that you really have to taste for yourself, coming from a distillery that specializes in rye. As we wrote previously:It is the oldest and lowest proof bottle in Wild Turkey's main collection of bourbon, features that paint it as an ideal value sipper, especially for those who aren't attracted to Wild Turkey's 100-plus proof products.

Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey | House of Malt

Here then, are our thoughts on the best current values when it comes to rye whiskey, split into two price tiers. The most rye-like of the “ryes” from Wild Turkey. Presenting this at barrel strength allows the whiskey to maintain some of the more forceful aromas and flavors that I normally associate with rye. It’s not a world-beater, especially for the price, but it has at least salvaged the category of Wild Turkey rye for me. Score 5/10 In the mouth: Starts with a weak and watery flavor and texture. This has a nutty bitterness of almonds at midpalate and the manufactured wood flavor of particle board as the most salient notes. Again turning dilute, this finishes with a synthetic vanilla flavor and the vaguest grainy nip as the sole reminder that this is, in fact, a rye. Conclusions Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie.Rare Breed was introduced in the early 1990s as Jimmy Russell's answer to his friend and competitor Booker Noe's landmark release a few years prior, Booker's. Released in 1988, Booker's has a legitimate claim to have lit the fuse of the Bourbon Boom to come. It was a premium bourbon bottled at barrel proof and proved to the spirits community — including Jimmy Russell and Wild Turkey, clearly — that whiskey drinkers wanted more than affordability and flavored spirit. Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye has a few things going for it. First off, you’ve got the implicit promise that any given single barrel here is the apple of master distiller Eddie Russell’s eye, and this is a guy who knows his rye whiskey. You also have an attractive proof point that, while not as high as the likes of Pikesville or the Knob Creek, is still fairly close to barrel proof for Wild Turkey, which uses a lower barrel entry proof for maximum flavor. Interestingly, this brand doesn’t feature an explicit age statement, that not being something Wild Turkey usually cares to use as a defining aspect of its products, but it can be assumed that the liquid here is typically a year or two older than the rye whiskey in the 90 proof Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Rye—also a great value, by the way.

products | Wild Turkey American Bourbon Whiskies: our products | Wild Turkey

Finish: Medium finish with heavy wood notes that lead to a spicy drying finish. Definitely satisfying but could be made more interesting with a touch more sweetness. From mass-produced products like 101 to highly limited releases like Master's Keep, you could make the argument that Wild Turkey is the only major American whiskey maker whose lineup hasn't been compromised by the Bourbon Boom. Its products are available widely at or near their suggested retail price, and are generally ignored by rare whiskey hunting communities that have driven many a bottle to extinction. This makes Wild Turkey whiskey — weighed by price, age, proof — one of the best brands for value in the whiskey world.This is a younger NAS rye, with a lower proof point, so one might initially wonder about its position on a list of “value” ryes, but we shouldn’t overlook that this is one of only a handful of regularly available single barrel ryes out there in the marketplace. For those who are interested in the delicate variations offered by single barrel selection, that makes Michter’s an interesting option—as does its easygoing but surprisingly complex flavor profile of earthy, fruity and spicy notes. You get some caramel candies, citrus and rye spice, but also a more savory tobacco and wood note that belies the spirit’s young age and relatively low proof point. At this proof point, it’s especially well suited to neat drinking, no ice required. You certainly have to respect what the company has achieved to date, being able now to stand up alongside some of the biggest names in the field.

Wild Turkey Rye 81 Review - The Whiskey Jug Wild Turkey Rye 81 Review - The Whiskey Jug

Today, Rare Breed is in contention for most affordable barrel proof bourbon on the shelf. After many years of waiting, Wild Turkey rye fans' prayers were answers, as the company introduced Rare Breed Rye in summer of 2020. An Ode to the Horniest Sitcom Parents, the Belchers and the Wilkersons By Clare Martin April 11, 2023 | 10:40am This is a slight improvement over the 101, in the sense that there are no off aromas or flavors. The nose held promise, but they palate again underwhelmed. This combination of rye and corn doesn’t seem to be working for me, as I’m not getting any of the notes that I love from Wild Turkey bourbon, and yet the rye is not allowed to stand on its own. Score 4/10 On the nose: Immediately presents a note of grape bubblegum so convincing that you could chew on it. Violets and lavender provide some floral and herbal nuance. There’s a bit of candied sweetness here, but with a more syrupy quality than on the 101 Rye. With some extended sniffing I am getting a provolone cheese scent, a first for me in any whiskey.This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services.