Review #: 235
Description: Wild Turkey 101
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: Ah, the people’s bourbon. Wild Turkey’s flagship bottling of bourbon. Decent age (bottle says 6-8 years in the blend), a robust 50.5% ABV, and cheap, what else more could you ask from a bourbon that is available everywhere?
Distillery – Wild Turkey
Bottler – Wild Turkey
Brand – Wild Turkey
Selection – N/A
ABV – 50.5%
Age – NAS
Nose – Pleasant honey and toffee, some savory spices in there: basil, fennel. There is a slight musty corn/funk that hits your nose inconsistently. Little more caramel comes out the longer it sits.
Taste – Brown sugar, caramel, well balanced oak
Finish – Hits pretty hard with barrel spices and lots of toasted bread. A light taste of oak and leather slips in after the punch of spice. Feels every bit of 101 proof.
Score: 6
Would I buy a bottle? Definitely
Thoughts: WT101 I think embodies what most non-whisky drinkers think of bourbon. It’s that “old man” style drink. It’s definitely not as sweet as some of the other bottles in this price range, the oak is a bit more pronounced, and “it’ll put hair on your chest.” I jest with the last bit, but the finish does have a bit more gruff to it which might be off-putting to newer drinkers, but for those who sip neat, it adds a nice layer of complexity.