In his latest post, Frank gives us a refreshing look at a 2024 bottling of Rare Breed Rye. Take it away, Frank!

After my last review of Wild Turkey’s famed “Christmas Rye‘,’ it only feels right that I should turn my attention to Wild Turkey’s latest rye expression, Rare Breed Rye. It also feels timely because of the recent news that fans can expect at least one new rye offering from the brand in 2024. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there. But until then, you may have overlooked Rare Breed Rye, opting instead for the wildly popular Rare Breed Bourbon. Or, perhaps you’re stuck in your ways and prefer to purchase Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye or Small Batch Rye offerings. Who could blame you? Those two expressions are criminally under-appreciated, all the while stirring interest in Wild Turkey’s rye portfolio. Or …

Maybe you’re like me and you’ve been quietly enjoying the brand’s first barrel-proof rye ever since it debuted back in May of 2020. 

At any rate, with Wild Turkey’s rye renaissance well underway, now is as good a time as any to take a fresh gander at the Rare Breed with the green label. In addition to being the only Wild Turkey rye released at barrel strength (Master’s Keep Cornerstone, at 54.5% ABV, was proofed down) Rare Breed Rye is non-chill filtered and contains a blend of four-, six-, and eight-year-old barrels. In a previous review of the expression David Jennings said, “As strange as this may sound, the best thing about Rare Breed Rye is its youth.”

One of the things people don’t realize about youthful rye is that not only is it great on its own, but it’s also an incredibly useful blending agent. Having four-year whiskey in the mix allows Bruce Russell, lead blender for Rare Breed Rye, to infuse it with a vivaciousness a particular batch might otherwise lack. Of course, having older whiskey to mingle allows Bruce and his team to elevate each batch so it can sit a notch above an expression like the bartender’s best friend, 101 Rye. For reference, check out this nifty graphic that covers Wild Turkey’s rye portfolio (pre 2020):

As you can see, Rare Breed Rye faces some stiff competition from the rest of the lineup. But on specs alone it’s an expression that rests comfortably at the upper echelon of Wild Turkey’s regular releases. Of course, no whiskey’s quality is discernible on specs alone so we’ll need to pop the cork and determine whether or not it deserves to be at the top of the pecking order. DJ has previously reviewed both the inaugural release of Rare Breed Rye and the 2021 release. 2024’s version maintains the same 112.2 proof point as those earlier releases. With variance among batches, especially now that we’re three years removed from the last Rare Bird 101 review, it should be interesting to see where our tasting notes overlap and where they differ. 

As one final note, Rare Breed Rye has held onto its $60 asking price in most areas, though at my local chain store it was marked up to $80 (in certain markets you can find it for as low as $50). That’s a pretty big swing in price, and naturally, it has an impact on one’s opinion of the whiskey itself. Today, I’ll be judging the liquid on its own merits, but I’ll leave space for my thoughts on pricing as well.

Now let’s get into it!

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye (2024)

Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Proof: 112.2

Age: not stated (reportedly a blend of 4-, 6-, and 8-year straight rye whiskey)

Misc.: distilled and bottled by Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY 

Tasted neat in a Glencairn after a few minutes rest… 

Color: Auburn & amber 

Nose: Rye spice, chocolate truffle dust, orange buttercream, sorghum, ginger, nutmeg, with slightly floral notes. 

Taste: (oily) Orange buttercream, honeyed mint tea, and chocolate mousse at the mid-palate; followed by nutmeg, almonds, and a strong oak presence.

Finish: The finish is lengthy and lush with baking spice that rises in prominence. More chocolate truffle and mint sweetness balances it out along with black pepper and clove.

Overall: Let me say this as clearly as possible for the doubters: This is a world-class rye whiskey. Wild Turkey rye at barrel proof is one of the most underrated dark horses in the American whiskey race. I started this tasting by sampling Rare Breed Rye on its own, but as I continued to sip it and became more enamored with the fact it checks so many boxes, I decided to try it next to a few other prominent ryes on the market. The results? It beat out standards. It beat out well-regarded alternatives at a higher proof. It beat out bottles that folks pay hundreds of dollars for. Like Rare Breed Bourbon, Rare Breed Rye is a blind-flight-buster that will surprise you when you give it an opportunity to.

Pretty clear, right? Perfect! Now for what this whiskey isn’t? Hard to find. Look, I’m very high on Rare Breed Rye as a non-chill filtered, barrel-proof, and reasonably priced rye from a legacy distillery and I think you should be too. On that last point – pricing. I think this expression is worth the cost of admission at $80 or less. There’s some stiff competition in that category (including the rest of Wild Turkey’s portfolio) but it can hang with them all. The blend of younger and older whiskeys provides a ton of nuance that results in a final product that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Is Rare Breed Rye the best rye on the market? Perhaps not. Is it one of the best value ryes on the market? Even at $80, you bet it is.

Rating: 4.25/5 🦃

fd

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