Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (Old Version) 50.5% $25 (discontinued) Website What the Distillery Says: (Product information is no longer available)
What Richard Says: Nose: Out of the bottle the nose is pretty quiet. With water it comes across like spearmint and Bazooka Joe bubble gum. Palate: Pepper and raw vanilla extract poured over wood staves. At the very back is that rye mint note. Finish: Long slow oak. Th rye mint note clings to the front of the tongue as the wood rolls down the back. Way back in the end of the finish I get a weird fennel see/anise/licorice type note that lingers. Comments: It’s gone I know. The replacement of this with the 81 proof version makes me very sad indeed. Stop watering down my whiskey damn it! I can do that myself. Anyway, this is really a Whisk(e)y Apostle swan song to a former front bar rye now gone. The only $15 to $25 all around rye for drinking, mixing, and cocktails that I like more than this is Rittenhouse Bottled-In-Bond. Now I don’t have the choice anymore. Rating: Stands Out (Officially, Wild Turkey says that 81 is not a replacement but they don’t even list 101 as one of their product on their website anymore)
Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 50.5% ABV $20-$25 Website What the Distillery Says: Wild Turkey 101 is a 101 proof (50.5% alcohol) bourbon that is a marriage of primarily 6-, 7-, and 8-year-old bourbons. Jimmy Russell notes that unlike some of its competitors, “Wild Turkey 101 has an exceptionally gentle and rich aroma for a high-proof bourbon, thanks to quality at all stages of its production.”
At first taste, 101 is rich with vanilla and caramel, with notes of honey, brown sugar, and a hint of tobacco. Its high proof contributes to its bolder flavor. Wild Turkey 101 is the benchmark in bourbon, best enjoyed neat or on the rocks. It’s also excellent in more sophisticated cocktails.
What Richard Says: Nose: From the bottle to the glass this is surprisingly coy. Leave it in the glass a few minutes and sweet caramel, vanilla extract, and honeysuckles begin to come out. Water makes it more orange-like and overpowers the other elements. Palate: Nothing coy here. Straight forward bourbon goodness. Vanilla, oak, and pepper dominate. Water makes this on a little sweeter but doesn’t really change the profile. Finish: Heavy on the wood and an interesting blend of pepper spices. Comments: Wild Turkey 101 is one of those everyday standard bearer bourbons. Some surprise you (Buffalo Trace), some disappoint you (Jim Beam White Label), and some give you exactly what you’re expecting. Wild Turkey 101 falls into the last category. It’s not the hottest girl at the party but you don’t ever regret taking her home. Rating: Average
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 54.1% ABV $40 Website What the Distillery Says: Rare Breed is a “barrel-proof bourbon” (108.2 proof, 54.1% alcohol), meaning it has no added water to lower the proof or dilute the flavor after it’s been distilled. This bourbon is a unique marriage of Wild Turkey 6-, 8-, and 12-year-old stocks, giving it a remarkably smooth flavor considering its high alcohol content. It has hints of light oranges, mint, and tones of sweet tobacco. Jimmy Russell keeps his Rare Breed in the freezer so he doesn’t have to add ice, which would dilute the flavor.
What Richard Says: Nose: Whoa, that starts creeping toward you as soon as it hits the glass. From afar it smells just like walking into the distillery: mash, yeast, and aging whiskey. Pull it a little closer and out rolls fresh yeast bread dough, cinnamon, orange blossoms, black pepper and mint (with water). Palate: More pepper, roasted nuts, tobacco, and creme brulee. Finish: Dark chocolate, cocoa powder, heavy cigar tobacco, transitioning pepper notes from black to white and a big smack of wood. Comments: This is the ultimate “it’ll put hair on your chest” bourbon. Rare Breed doesn’t mince words. It gets in there and kicks ass. The Harry Callahan of bourbons. It’s not the newest and trendiest thing off the new release calendar but is damn good and always worth a go. Rating: Must Try
Russell’s Reserve Small Batch Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 55% ABV $49.99 Website What the Distillery Says: When it comes to whiskey making in the United States, Jimmy Russell and his son Eddie are America’s bourbon aristocracy. After an incredible 90 years combined experience distilling award-winning whiskey, the two are rolling out one of their richest and most flavorful bourbons to date: Russell’s Reserve® Single Barrel Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. This much anticipated bottling at a take-no-prisoners 110 proof is nonchill filtered, resulting in an unparalleled burst of flavor in every sip. As the crowning glory of America’s famed Wild Turkey bourbon family, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel promises to not only be the choice for bourbon connoisseurs, but it will also be what Jimmy and Eddie reach for time and time again. As they say in Lawrenceburg, “Our experience guarantees yours.”
What makes Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel unique is not only its high proof, but the fact that the whiskey bypasses the chill-filtration process. Chill-filtration is a common process whereby the whiskey is chilled at temperatures below freezing and is passed through an absorption filter thus removing fatty acids and other flavor contributors such as esters and proteins. By avoiding the chill-filtration process, the whiskey is bottled with more flavor compounds and a deeper color which is denoted by an impressive haze when ice or chilled water is added.
Every expression of Russell’s Reserve – both the Bourbon and rye Whiskey – is matured in only the deepest number 4 or “alligator” charred American white oak barrels to ensure the richest flavor and color. Jimmy and Eddie insist on this char level and are among only a handful of whiskey distillers who use it. The best aged whiskey barrels are hand selected by this legendary pair themselves and only from the center cut of the rick house – since that’s where the optimal maturation occurs. Adamant about quality, the Russell’s will only use the natural, weather-driven process for maturation – never air conditioned or heated “because it’s the right thing to do.”
“This is Bourbon at its best,” declares Jimmy Russell, Master Distiller. “What is incredibly special about the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel is that each barrel has its own personality, but still captures the rich, creamy toffee vanilla style of Russell’s Reserve. This bottling celebrates what we love about Russell’s Reserve, but takes it to another level.”
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel delivers a burst of intense vanilla and hints of burnt orange, along with tastes licorice and anise seed, on the palate, culminating with a rich and long finish.
What Richard Says: Nose: Honeysuckle and butter cookies. Palate: Lots of cinnamon, vanilla, and buttery sweet without being cloying. Finish: A little wood and black pepper heat on the finish. Comments: Nice and solid. I had to chuckle a little bit at being “small batch” and “single barrel” though. Isn’t single barrel the ultimate small batch? Classic Wild Turkey flavors in a well structured middle of the road bourbon. Rating: Stands Out
I like to thank Mr. Rotondi at exposureusa for sending me a sample to review.
Vintage 17 Years Old Bourbon Whiskey 47% ABV $60 Website What the Distillery Says: Our Vintage Bourbon is selected from the very rarest lot of barrels. Each Barrel is hand-picked and chosen according to our strictest criteria for taste, aroma, and bouquet. The extra years that we allow these barrels to age imparts flavor and taste characteristics not found among other bourbons. Unfortunately the many extra years of barrel aging also limits the quantities from each barrel to only a few precious bottles. Please enjoy this rare Vintage Bourbon in moderation. Best savored by sippin’ neat, of course.
What Richard Says: Nose: Vanilla, cinnamon, and rum cake. Palate: Creme brulee, cinnamon, and toasted oak. Finish: Dry wood, leather, aged tobacco, and chalky mint. Comments: This is a lovely aged bourbon. Given the skyrocketing prices for aged bourbon this is almost a steal at $60. Rating: Stands Out
