Wild Turkey export releases compose an interesting market worthy of any whiskey enthusiast’s exploration. There are two primary reasons for this recommendation. First, there are several age-stated expressions that continued after Wild Turkey dropped age statements from domestic releases. And second, there remain a number of unique duty-free and export-only special editions never released in the United States. Wild Turkey Thirteen Year Old Distiller’s Reserve is one of those export-only special editions.

Sometime before 2014, Wild Turkey ceased production of the export twelve-year Wild Turkey 101. To my knowledge there has never been an official statement as to the exact reasons, but it’s been inferred through interviews with the Russells that maintaining an adequate supply of 101-proof, twelve-year bourbon had become difficult (as many well-aged barrels reduced in proof). In its place came Wild Turkey Distiller’s Reserve, a thirteen-year KSBW at 91 proof. The reverse label of the bottle gives a little insight into the release. As with all whiskey marketing, please take it with a grain of salt:

Born from the father & son distilling genius of Jimmy & Eddie Russell, Wild Turkey 13 Year-Old Distiller’s Reserve is Kentucky Straight Bourbon of the highest character. This special release bourbon has been carefully selected from the distillers’ favorite reserve, barreled at a lower proof, and slowly matured in the low floors of the fabled “B” warehouse where cooler temperatures, high elevation and greater air circulation combine to create a bourbon of exceptional quality.

If some of this sounds familiar, it’s because you’ve heard similar descriptions before – most recently with 2015’s Wild Turkey Master’s Keep (a seventeen-year KSBW at 86.8 proof). Master’s Keep, while considerably lower in ABV, is a full-flavored whiskey with notable complexity. How does Distiller’s Reserve line up? Is it reminiscent of the older twelve-year 101 or possibly closer to Master’s Keep? Let’s have a taste and find out!

Wild Turkey Distiller’s Reserve (2014 export) – 91-proof KSBW – aged at least thirteen years – bottled by the Austin, Nichols Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY

Tasted neat in a Glencairn after a few minutes rest …

Color: amber

Nose: vanilla, brown sugar, cherry syrup, honey, sweet & funky oak, herbal/floral notes, hints of citrus

Taste: vanilla, toffee, honey, sweet herbal/floral notes, light funky oak, caramelized sugar, a pinch of cinnamon spice

Finish: medium in length – “tingly” vanilla, toffee, fading herbal spice & sweet oak

Overall: Well folks, this is basically the same profile as Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary. In fact, I was moved to do a side-by-side comparison to confirm. While Diamond has a touch more spice and mustiness, the two are strikingly similar. And it only makes sense, as there are several parallels on paper alone. They were both bottled in 2014, at 45.5% ABV, and aged at least thirteen years. (Diamond touts a blend of thirteen to sixteen years, but that’s thirteen years as a legal age statement.) And labels aside, the profiles speak for themselves upon tasting – these are without doubt relative expressions.

What does that mean? Well, if you’re a fan of Wild Turkey Distiller’s Reserve there’s no reason to buy this bottle from overseas vendors or pay secondary market prices for it. Just find a domestic retailer with Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary in stock (there are still plenty of them out there). If you’ve always wanted to own or at least try Wild Turkey Distiller’s Reserve, consider how much you liked Diamond first. It may or may not be what you imagined (as the thirteen-year Distiller’s Reserve isn’t the same profile as the vintage twelve-year exports).

All in all, Wild Turkey Distiller’s Reserve is a perfectly fine mature bourbon whiskey. It’s a delicate profile in comparison to most Wild Turkey expressions, but it’s a profile I appreciate from time to time.

Rating:  3.5/5 🦃

Photo courtesy K. R. Oberleitner (2017)