Wild Turkey 101 – 8 Years Old (Dusty, 1984 Decanter)
50.5% ABV
$80
NOTE: This was a decanter I purchased in 2014 in Georgia with an exceptional fill level and decanted.
What Gary Says
Nose: Rich salted caramel, oak, allspice, brown sugar, dark chocolate, vanilla, a hint of cinnamon and smokey fall leaves.
Palate: Sweet but sharp, deep caramel bomb with honey, vanilla, some bitter chocolate notes, cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of clove and pepper.
Finish: Moderately long and drying with cracked pepper spice.
Comments: I love older Wild Turkey, and this decanter was not an exception. Buying a sealed decanter is a gamble – it is difficult to tell how full it is, or if the contents will be drinkable. I’ve seen a few that were fairly full but clearly contaminated (looking dark like coffee and smelling “off”). I was very fortunate; this had less than 5% loss in the 30 years it spent in the decanter, and its color was a lovely dark copper. The risk of a low fill or contaminated contents is the only reason I wouldn’t rate this a ‘Must Buy’, since there is absolutely some risk you have to accept. But when you get lucky – it is well worth it!
Rating: Must Try
Proselytizing the way of the malt