Back in 2017, when this blog was young and there was much to discover, my friend and fellow writer Aaron Goldfarb graciously gifted me a sample of Whisky Jewbilee #2931, a barrel-proof single-barrel Wild Turkey bottling by J&J Spirits (a/k/a Single Cask Nation). Naturally, I wrote a review. Reading back over it today, I can feel the excitement I carried at the time. My love for Wild Turkey was new and unfettered. Everything made sense as I relished in the acquisition of knowledge and first-time experiences.
The years rolled on …
In 2020, a curious set of bottlings from Four Gate Whiskey Company, specifically Foundation batches 3 and 5, hit the market with rumors of Wild Turkey origins. After purchasing these bottles and doing a fair amount of research, I was convinced they were Lawrenceburg distilled and wrote about them in great detail in February of that year. Everything was sailing along wonderfully, until Eddie Russell knocked the wind out of my sails.
“It does not gobble,” posted clear as day for all to read on social media. It remains my most embarrassing and enlightening moment I’ve experienced in this hobby. Ironically, it’s a moment I’d never change. The Instagram post still exists, as does my follow-up blog post, “Jedi & Ascots.” They serve as important reminders that 1. Despite what some believe, I’m not a Wild Turkey authority. I’m just a passionate individual who loves to write about my favorite brand. And, 2. Whiskey – particularly sourced and/or bulk whiskey – is a murky world riddled with assumptions and misinformation, not to mention legal tightrope walking.
The years rolled on …
By early 2024, there was talk of a considerable volume of 14-15-year-old Wild Turkey totes on the wholesale market. I tried several broker lot samples courtesy of a friend, but remained unimpressed. If they were Lawrenceburg distilled, they were undoubtedly off profile. In time, additional information came to light resulting in these lot samples changing from Lawrenceburg distilled to Frankfort distilled. Eventually, bottles from numerous NDPs (non-distilling producers) began hitting the retail market. Some offerings stated “distilled in Lawrenceburg,” likely due to the inaccurate labeling of older lot samples, while others stated “distilled in Frankfort.”
If I had a nickel for every email and direct message I’ve received since this enigmatic whiskey first hit the market, I’d be a wealthy man. Yet, I’ve tried my best to avoid the topic (and bottles) entirely. I learned my lesson in 2020 with zero desire to experience similar embarrassment again. Yet, here I am dipping my toes into the dirty discussion pool of rumor-ridden bulk whiskey.
This won’t take long. I’m not going to drop any bombshells or reveal any information one can’t discern for themselves. If you’re here for more rumor logs to throw on the sourced “Turkey” bonfire, my sincerest apologies. I have no interest or authority to officially confirm or deny the origins of any particular NDP’s bottling, though I’m happy to provide my honest opinion and belief based on my own research and experience with this topic. I’ve offered that to individuals privately, and I’ll do so now publicly. The gist of it is this: If you want to purchase a bottle of Wild Turkey bourbon or rye whiskey, look for the words “Wild Turkey” on the label. And since Wild Turkey did in fact source their whiskey for many years, I’ll add that if you want Lawrenceburg distilled Wild Turkey bourbon or rye whiskey, look for Jimmy, Eddie, or Bruce Russell’s name on the bottle. Anything outside of that carries no guarantee. Producers and the brokers that supply them can be wrong. Retailers and their distributors can be wrong. Podcasters and journalists can be wrong. Authors, bloggers, YouTubers, influencers, critics, and fans can all be wrong. And yes, that includes yours truly.
Which brings me to what’s in my glass … Thanks to a good friend, I’m able to experience SCN’s Whisky Jewbilee #2931 again. Is it as amazing of an experience as I wrote about eight years ago? Absolutely. Truthfully, it ranks up there with Russell’s Reserve 13-Year – arguably better. If you’ve ever had Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel selections from 2016, imagine the best ones you’ve had but at full barrel strength. This is bourbon from the old Tyrone still – the same still that produced all of those marvelous vintage Turkeys. And not just that, bourbon selected by individuals who know what they’re doing – Joshua Hatton and Jason Johnstone-Yellin – alongside Wild Turkey’s own Eddie Russell. It’s not mysterious sourced whiskey. It’s an independent bottling with bonafide provenance, as every detail one could desire is on the bottle’s label.
In a world where whiskey enthusiasts are paying $2,000-$3,000+ on secondary markets for curious sourced whiskey bottles, it makes you wonder why sure-things like SCN Wild Turkey bottlings often sell for a fraction of that price range. Is it the Frankfort connection? If so, there are plenty of more appropriately priced LTOs – both modern and vintage – from that very same historic distillery. Is it the Lawrenceburg connection? If so, why not purchase a Russell’s Reserve 1998 with that kind of money? Maybe it’s neither of those things. Maybe it’s simply the fact that hype and FOMO continue to drive secondary market sales. Gone are the days when secondary values were determined by strict provenance, verifiable rarity, and treasured lore. For lack of a gentler phrase, it’s now a complete shitshow.
Back to my whiskey …
dj
PS – And if you think high-aged sourced Kentucky barrels are all gone – that everything that’s out there is all there is – don’t be so sure.
Photo by Victor Sizemore.
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