I have a 2009 bottle, and my notes are pretty similar. I don’t put it on the same level as the ’91 101/8 you sent me a sample of, but it’s more complex and reminiscent of dusty WT than any currently available Turkey product (and I like the RR SiB bourbon and rye a lot).
Amazingly complex and interesting bourbon, clearly much older than 8 years. Almost tastes like a port-finished whiskey with that yeasty/musty in the finish.
Thanks for commenting. Nothing to do with cool – I mean, let’s be honest … hype goes to plenty of other whiskeys before Turkey. I love Wild Turkey, regardless of cool. And I’m not talking it down – I just wasn’t impressed with this bottle over others (and I’ve had A LOT of Turkey). A C-range rating is not bad. Just means average on my Turkey scale. Thanks for reading!
You’ll enjoy that ABC Barrel. But the Total Bev (Colorado) barrel from the same floor, same warehouse as the Davidson’s here is also terrific. Almost a dead-ringer for the 2394.
Every time I see WT 8 YR, it reminds of 1993 rage against the machine concert in demark. I made my girlfriend at the time sneak in a couple of bottles in the mini 33 cl size. What a great time, and the best whiskey a poor airmen could afford at the time. Cheers
OMG! searching for a picture of my Wild Turkey to find its age and found your site. My bottle is a exact copy probably 1992. I recently acquired this from my uncles old collection along with a Cutty Sark 1992 anniversary bottle Christopher Columbus. Yes these bottles bring back good memories but back then was mixing it with coke!
Tax strip or foil over the cork? Also, there should be a two-digit bottle stamp on the glass bottom – that’s the glass manufacture year. Finally, if you can make out a bottle code (probably on the label or foil at that time) you can get the fill date by using the date code link in my “Other Turkey Sites” page. As for value, I’m not that kind of website. I can tell you that it’s worth what someone is willing to pay for it. In this case (if the juice is in good shape – clear and free from debris or discoloration), it’s a lot greater than the original retail price. The problem with the box Turkey’s are a lot of folks left them on their side (which is bad – real bad over time). The cork falls apart and ruins the whiskey. Hopefully, she stored it right-side-up. Nice find!
I’ve had success (through friends and associates) finding W-T-01-99 “in the wild.” At least six bottles or so in the last few months, all at retail price. I also find batch 03RB quite frequently here in the South. It is, however, a rather tough find so a premium is likely warranted. I’d suggest opening it and finding enthusiasts in your area willing to swap samples. You might just get to try something even tougher to find!
Which batches have you tried? Rare Breed varies in profile from batch to batch. In general, the older batches are more sought after. I’ve heard batch 03-RB is Jimmy’s personal favorite.
Well kind internet stranger, I assume you mean the super rare export 101/12 from ’90 or so? Oh, that would be a treat! I’m assuming it will taste about like ’89 BD or ’90 CGF, so the extra rarity is likely in the packaging. Something to consider before breaking the seal. If you do decide to pop the cork, please send me an email to let me know how it turns out!
Actually, no. Don’t let the picture or my use of present tense fool you. I spent several days (at least four) with multiple pours and notes throughout tasting. This is my standard process unless I’m reviewing a sample (depending on the sample size I may have 1-3 tastings – sometimes against references or SBS). But you make valid assumptions. Thanks for commenting!
I just scored a few bottles of these Pewters and I am looking forward to trying and comparing them. My barrels are from 9/94, 2/95, and 1/99. Any idea when the first barrels of WTKS were bottled? The earliest I can find is September of 94. Thanks.
Well, to me Wild Turkey expressions are only worth what one is willing to spend to sip it. I realize you’re probably not looking for that type of answer, though. FWIW I recently saw a 1979 WT 101 on Master of Malt for $379 (plus shipping from the UK). That’s likely a good reference starting point.
Talk about a parallel universe…. I saw this 116.8 rare breed for the first time today and thought to myself let’s try it…and I am very pleased with the new addition. I’ve been sampling the Russels’ Reserves, Knobs, etc.. and then this Rare Breed appears on a shelf in a Montgomery County, MD. run liquor store!!!!! The bourbon has a beautiful vanilla candy scented nose…it is just delightful to breathe in.. the neat 116.8 bourbon in a snifter!! Wow! The initial sip just dissolves in your palette and lets you know this is a luscious complex bourbon. The hints of barrel, fruits, and spices are appropriately blended to give a super clean finish, leaving one smacking their lips wanting for another sip of this 4.5 star gem from the distillers of Wild Turkey.
Glad you enjoyed it. Have you tried Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel? If not, it should be the next thing on your list. Arguably the best core expression coming out of Wild Turkey right now. Thanks for commenting!
I certainly have tried the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, it is as you write, an excellent expression of the Wild Turkey spirits at this time. It is good time to stock up on these two, who knows how long they will be available.
I have been enjoying Wild Turkey 101 since 1963. Recently picked up a bottle of Rare Breed 116.8 and found it to be with a fine personality even at that proof. I personally drink it NEAT.
Neat is the way for me as well. But really, however one enjoys their Turkey is perfectly fine with me. Glad you’re liking the latest Rare Breed! And I agree – it sips very easily at 116.8 proof.
Love the 101 Rye! Up until a couple of months ago it was still pretty difficult to find in my area, really happy to see it showing up on the shelf more often
Just tried the 2017, very happy with it. And as luck would have it I found it at a 25% off locally so how could I pass that up. I will enjoy this bottle through the Holiday season with a smile on my face
Avoiding the secondary is recommended. Instead, seek out communities on social media that discuss the enjoyment and appreciation of old whiskey. I promise that in time, if you are genuine in your pursuit, you will meet those willing to share. A great start would be Reddit’s r/bourbon. Thanks for commenting!
You hit the nail on the head on this one. I have been crazily trying to find another square labeled 116 to no avail. I sampled it in the store and my sales guy let me have the rest of the bottle. It’s fabulous juice for sure!
Well done! Great comparison with interesting information.
Wild Turkey 101 and Evan Williams Black Label are my everyday pours. …..And always will be ! Great values and top quality!
Thanks Joel! As much of a Turkey fan as I am, in no way can I deny the tremendous value for quality that Heaven Hill puts out. Their BiB expressions, especially. Thanks again for your comments!
I am not positive the place you’re getting your info, but great topic. I must spend some time finding out much more or figuring out more. Thanks for magnificent info I used to be on the lookout for this info for my mission.
In general, my info comes from various publications (print and online), research with other enthusiasts, materials published by the distillery, and sometimes I even ask the Russell’s or Campari directly. I’m not an authority – just a fan. My goal is accuracy but we’re all human. Thanks for commenting!
Nice weblog here! Also your site so much up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link on your host? I want my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Wow, awesome weblog layout! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you make running a blog glance easy. The overall glance of your website is wonderful, as neatly as the content material!
Thank you! I spent a few years writing reviews for other forums. I started this blog over a year ago. WordPress.com handles most of the design aspects.
Great list! I’d love to see throw-back labels, permanent RRSiB stickers, 101 Proof RR10, Rare Breed Rye, and ESPECIALLY a new WT12 bottling. Probably not going to happen, but we can dream, right??
Great ideas. Personally I think anything would be an improvement over the current 101 label. I don’t think turkeys are the right bird for a close up… although it certainly hasn’t caused my consumption to decrease!
More info on RRSiB labels would be nice. And bringing back a 12 year expression would also kick ass. I think it could do well, even at a premium price.
Thanks for commenting and apologies for my late reply. It took a little bit for the big turkey head to grow on me, but I’m getting there. The actual sketch itself is “full turkey” (if I recall correctly), but for some reason the folks in design opted to zoom in and make it a bust pic. Campari has a great design team – just look at the Master’s Keep bottles and Whiskey Barons – but some folks have had a hard time accepting the “big turkey head.” LOL
Great article. I totally agree. My first venture into bourbon around 2002 was with Rare Breed and Russell’s Reserve. For years now every time I try another bourbon I compare it to something in the WT line. Lesson learned. I still travel outside the WT line but it is still my favorite with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel being my absolute favorite bourbon. Sometimes I wonder why I bother. Why have good when I can have great. But I do recognize that others have different tastes. I gift other brands all the time. More WT for rare bird and me!
first off, let me say that i’ve recently come across your site the last few months as i dive head first into whiskey and bourbon beyond the level of a casual enthusiast, and i want to say thanks for all the info, its been a great read and i’ve learned alot.
second, just picked up a bottle of this from my local store. my first dusty in fact, and obviously i was stoked to read your favorable review. based on all the info i’ve dug up online including your site my bottle is indeed one of the “first two years” bottles!
i recently had my first stip of Russell’s 10 yr from a recent release and while i found it tasty it came off a touch sweet – granted, it was one pour on one night so my opinion is liable to change the next time i try it – but how does this compare to recent releases? it’s probably a completely different animal but i’d love to hear your take…
Thanks so much for checking out my site. I truly appreciate you commenting as well.
As for Russell’s 10-year … 2005-2006 “non-embossed” bottles with the old black ink bottle code stamp are basically 101/12 profile KSBW. My belief is that they were simply batched from under-proofed barrels that couldn’t be used for export 101/12, so into RR10 they went. By the time the glass and code changed (to embossed and lasered) the profile had notably thinned out (possibly because they contained whiskey that was aged at the Old Crow stone rickhouses – another story altogether – see my WT Timeline). Post ’05/’06 RR10 is enjoyable as a daily sipper, but nowhere near what came before.
As for recent RR10, I wrote an article comparing it and modern WT101 a few months ago. Both are great daily sippers in their own way, but again … the very early RR10/90 are truly special.
yep, my bottle is indeed a black ink stamp, code L1226016 which I believe makes it a bottle from March 2006… can’t wait to try it!
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For what it’s worth, I’ve liked the 2006 black ink, non-embossed bottles a little better than the 2005’s. Just a touch – and the color is a slight shade darker on the ones I’ve compared. Still, I’d take either year in the blink of an eye.
I walked in the store the other day to pick up some Ardbeg and I happened to glace down and see RR Single Barrel on sale for $39! I could not believe my wandering eyes. I picked up 3. New daily sipper!
I’ve been on the fence about this as well, and like you, keep buying RR Sib instead. I really like the 2015 Bourye I picked up recently but still don’t know if I want to take the plunge on Forgiven.
Can always trust your blog to deliver on any WT questions I may have! Recently picked up one of these and from reading your review it would seem I have made a good choice! Cheers Sir!
The bottle count appears to be considerably low. I’d expect $200-$300 and would be very surprised if less. Unfortunately, there will be folks buying to flip instead of sip, which retailers often pick up on. Stay loyal and close to your local!
That about sums it up for me too. It’s a fine whiskey, just not one that was made for me. At $40 I’m glad to have tried it, but probably won’t buy it again.
And you’re right – no smoke or mesquite whatsoever. I didn’t want peaty Scotch, but was disappointed to not even get a hint of “Texas”.
Glad I’m not the only one feeling that way. If McConaughey is in this for the long haul – not a bad starter whiskey. But who knows? Maybe he’ll get into the dusty stuff and modern single barrels and then we might have something crazy good to look forward to! One can dream, right?
Maybe so. I started with lighter stuff like I assume most people did. It’d be cool to see a progression if he gets another shot at a signature expression.
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Longerbranch 🙂
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This could have been so simple. 12 year old barrel proof. Done.
I get where you’re coming from, but the barrel entry proof changed in 2004. So even a 12-year in 2018 wouldn’t be from the old 107 barrel entry proof. I also think McConaughey was aiming for exactly what he ended up with. Revival is around the corner, though!
I don’t know what to think of the Oloroso finish on the Revival. Seems weird for Wild Turkey, given that they usually strive to do things “the way they’ve always been done”.
Have they ever done a finished bourbon before…?
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Yes. WT released a Sherry Signature export in the 2000’s. Very rare. It was lower proof. Never had it, though.
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I am a big WT fan, love WT 101 and Rare Breed.
I am also waiting on the same thing as you are
I heard an interview with Eddie from a couple years ago talking about the Oloroso finish and how they almost couldn’t give it away at the time. Now he says they’d probably demand a premium price for it.
And Oloroso casks are very hard to find now, much less 20-year Oloroso casks. You’ll notice that many Scotch whiskies, famously cask finished, now state “sherry seasoned casks.” That’s fancy wording for “not really sherry casks.”
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Just found and LOVE this blog! I love Wild Turkey in all its incarnations so this blog is a joy to read. Wild Turkey is , in my opinion, always a great product and always a fair price. I’m sure I’ll be reading every entry in this blog.
I love both tho I like , love, 101 a little more. Maybe it’s the history but it’s just perfect for me. I’m biased tho: it’s hard me to find a Wild Turkey product I don’t at least like and usually love. Great blog!
Very interested to know more about your statement that the 2018 bottlings (G laser code presumably) will be comprised of 7-10 year stock. Please elaborate if possible. Thanks, and keep up the amazing work!
I love the Single Barrel: I’ve gone through three this year. One was a bit off (I guess it happens with SB’s), one was really excellent, and the second was one of the best bourbons I’ve ever had. It’s always on my self.
Amen on chill filtration. The more RRSiB I drink, the more I love it for the mouth feel that chill filtration robs from the experience. Hey, the bourbon industry has been known to respond to demands (somewhat), look at the boom of barrel proof options. Now its time they dig even deeper. NCF is the new barrel proof. Give us what we want!
Came across this comment from Bruce Russell on Reddit, a few weeks ago:
“We are currently and continuously fighting to get rid of chill filtration on all products over 100 proof. I personally think we should only do chill filtration on 81, LB, and AH but that’s it’s own battle. You will start to see some non-chill filtered versions of some existing products very soon. I can guarantee you that.”
Thanks again. Please refer to my previous response. Good luck!
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Kathy,
Hello and thanks for commenting. Unfortunately I don’t speculate as to the values of old Wild Turkey bottles. I drink all of the dusty bottles I’m able to acquire. To me they’re only worth what I’m willing to pay to consume them. There are, however, plenty of secondary sites you could use as resources. I’d recommend searching whiskey auction websites. You might also try KY’s House of Bourbon.
I enjoyed the article very much, because we have something in common. I’m looking on my desk at a 1981, in the “original box” 8 year aged, 101 proof, unopened bottle of Wild Turkey. Is there anyone out there that can give me a ballpark figure what its worth? The box is is in average to pretty good condition. The bottle and label are in excellent condition. Reason why I’m so forward on asking is I live modest in a small town in central Texas, near Texas A&M University. My mother is is sick and is not going to be around to much longer. While she can can still walk (she has major breathing problems) I would like to sell this bottle and take her on a weekend trip somewhere, just for the memories of course. That’s it in a nut shell, or whatever! THANK YOU FOR TIME! Eric
I always appreciate your comments. You should check out my Patreon page if you haven’t already (simply click the “become a patron” button). I have exclusive content there – recently a post about “tornado-surviving” Wild Turkey. You also get early access to all of my blog posts and numerous other rewards. I think you’d enjoy it.
Another review chock full of information!! I know it’s what’s in the bottle that counts but I LOVE that bottle! I’m going to have to check out Stoll and Wolfe. My local package store is pretty responsive: maybe they can order a bottle for me.
I hope this isn’t too naive a question. Where did the bourbon Jimmy Russell distilled at Ripy Bros/ J.T. S. Brown end up? Was it bought by various bottlers?
Exactly. Before the 70’s, most distillers simply provided whiskey to wholesalers that then filled bottles for various labels to retail. There were exceptions, like Jack Daniel, but the further you go back the more this wholesaler & distillery relationship existed.
Thank You! That’s what I thought but was never sure.
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Anytime!
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I love it! As you said Russells Single Barrel is more compelling but there’s something wonderful about the 101 also. I found a 1.75 liter last month~ it doesn’t pop up much around here (Connecticut). I guess they save their rye for the six year and single barrel? Those actually are pretty consistently on store shelves.
Like you I’d rather have the big easy to find selection we have in the States. The CT. store I go toalmost always has all four Russells and they bought a barrel of the Kentucky Spirit so it’s always in stock! Still, I’m jealous you have this!!
You’re honestly not missing anything. RRSiB is better – even the standard non-select releases. The ‘17 101/8 is a cool bottle to have, but nothing new on the inside. Thanks for commenting. I always enjoy your input!
I’m sure it’s amazing! I’m jealous! When you get a Russell’s single barrel winner they’re so hard to beat! Along with a Four Roses (OESV) barrel proof the one I bought was my favorite bourbon last year. And both were under $80!
That’s what I think. People go so crazy over hard to find bottles (which I understand) when there’s some single barrels from Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and all the majors that are incredible.
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Exactly!
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RR Sib store picks are the absolute best buy in bourbon. I’ve never had one I regretted picking up and some have been just fantastic. Definitely my favorite sub-$50 bottle.
I’d shop around a little. I purchased for $135 and I’ve heard at least one person find it as low as $125. Send me a gobble if no luck. If you like sherry-finished whisk(e)y you’ll love Revival.
I’m happy Master Keep still sells for its retail price. I saw a bottle of Four Roses Limited Edition Small Bath at the store I frequent and they want $999! I’m keeping my fingers crosssed Wild Turkey doesn’t become a “in” brand.
I just found out about them: I would have loved this. I read their business base is in Guilford, CT where I spend part of the summer each year. Wish I had known! And thanks for the great information on the Rickhouse K and D. I didn’t know that!
Great article! Thanks for the info on barrel proof entry. I actually like (love) 101 the best; it’s only available around here (West Hartford, CT) off and on. The two Russell’s are almost always in stock. Maybe the history of 101 is swaying me but next time it shows up I’m buying every bottle!
I think Baby Saz suffers from dilution. Handy is a much better pour from the same recipe and age. But then, RRSiB Rye arguably rivals THH, especially when you factor in availability and price.
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And thank you as always for commenting!
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They’ll be making more, so don’t worry. WT has really amped up rye production in the last few years. Hopefully we’ll see some well-aged offerings in the future!
I picked up a bottle of RR single barrel yesterday: always really good! That’s a interesting point about the baby saz being too diluted. Unfortunately the Handy never turns up here : if it does it will most likely be $800!
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Yeah, another good reminder of why it’s great to be Turkey fan! Sorry BT fans.
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I’m so glad I can find 101 rye around here. I still prefer the RR Sib, but the 101 can’t be beat for value.
You’re absolutely right. The price for 101 Rye makes it a better deal for the money. And, I’ve really enjoyed the last two modern 101 Rye bottles I’ve had.
Interesting review as always! It pretty much sums up my feeling: I enjoyed the half dozen bottles of Kentucky Spirit I’ve owned but never as much a Russell’s single barrel. I guess the Spirit seems more refined (?) but I love the bolder spicier (to my palate) tastes of the Russell’s. I actually prefer the regular 101 over Kentucky Spirit: it’s a amazing price and has the tastes I associate with Wild Turkey.
Yep, it’s tough for WTKS to compete with WT 101 for the money and RRSiB for the profile. I’m curious if they didn’t chill filter WTKS how that would translate. Hmm …
Do you think there’s any chance they go non-chill filtered for WTKS in the near future? Like you said – Eddie seems to be against it. It’d be nice if they dropped it altogether, or at least for the 90+ proof offerings.
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Actually, I think Eddie is all for NCF. The trick is convincing the suits that it’s the right thing to do. At least that’s my take on it.
I wish Master Distillers could call the shots. Jim Rutledge said in a interview that he had wanted to produce a Rye but Four Roses wouldnt green light it.
I certainly appreciate your review. I think it is far too ‘pricey’ for the delivery. I do have one nagging question though. Did Jimmy Russell serve as the Master Distiller for this bottling process? Or Eddie?
Neither were directly involved with the 2017 Whiskey Baron releases; however, the bourbon used was WT-distilled, and as such both Russells were technically Master Distillers in charge of the distillation and maturational of these whiskeys. I agree, they are priced too high.
Great review! I loved the info about the rickhouses: I only knew about Stone Castle. If it was bring sold in CT (it won’t be available here) I’d buy it. $250 is fair given it’s how few bottles are available. I think that’s down from $350 suggested for the 98? And when Four Roses (my second favorite distillery) Small Barth Limited Edition goes for $999 here and Van Winkle 15 year for $1999 it’s a bargain!
I see your point though: Revival is a genuine rarity and 2002 a created one. It doesn’t make a lot of sense for 2002 to list for more but I guess that’s marketing. I’m happy Revival is $150 though since it leaves me more money for other Wild Turkeys!
Last comment! I’m also wary of that Pappy sounding press release. I hope Wild Turkey isn’t trying to edge its way into that market. I can take or leave most Buffalo Trace bourbons, so crazy prices don’t bother me. I’d hate if WT started getting priced out of my range.
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Amen. Exactly!
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I mean, I kind of see where they’re getting $250 for 2002, but with near 10-year Jewish Whisky Co. bottles retailing for $100 (and far less of them), $200 might be more reasonable.
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It’s reasonable at $250 for its age and being NCF barrel proof, but certainly not worth secondary. Thanks Jon. Always appreciate your comments!
The only bourbons I’d pay much more than $150 (thank God WT is keeping Masters Keep in that range) are ‘historical’ bottles: like a 70’s era 101 or a Brown Forman Sputnik commemorative issue. I don’t think wine but I think that’s how it works in wine circles: the super high prices are for old dusty bottles?
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I totally agree. Vintage bottles are a completely different thing altogether. A nicely kept sealed bottle from the 1970’s *should* be valued greater than a 2018 bottle (speaking generally).
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Revival is a revelation! I’m glad that it will sit on shelves so I can lazily buy a few extra bottles. It’s already $125 at the big box stores in my area. It’s unfortunate that Revival will not get the regard that it deserves. I wonder if the 96 points from Wine Enthusiast will have any impact. This bottle really has to make some end of the year Top 10 lists considering Jack Rose’s Pick of Belle Meade Sherry Cask Strength was on Whiskey Advocates list at some point and that was juvenile in comparison.
When I taste Revival and I taste Dusty WT, there are some overlapping notes there that no other newer Turkey has hit just right for me. I enjoyed Decades but this really is the next level.
I have a bottle of RR2002 that I have yet to open. I don’t want to be let down by it but even at retail, I feel like I have to open it in the company of other turkey-heads and not just by my lonesome.
Thank you for the honest review. It would have been awesome if RR2002 was 10,000 bottles and could have hit more states. I’m glad I got one but I’m saddened that most of my locals did not have a shot at all.
All so very well said. Thanks for commenting. I was nervous that the return of 101/12 would be a finished offering. Oh damn was I surprised. Eddie knocked it out of the park with Revival. One day it will be sought after. That’s for sure!
I’ve always thought WIld Turkey Rye was 51% rye. I’ve read on line commentors saying its in the seventies and one that it was 67 %. Any idea why these claims keep popping up? Maybe I’m wrong about the 51%.
WT doesn’t disclose their mash bills, but trustworthy sources state the modern rye as 51%. The PA and MD rye that was sourced through the 70’s was notably higher. The IL rye is unknown. My WT Timeline has the PA and MD percentages. Also, a great source for modern mash bills is Bourbonr. See:
Thanks Jon. I’m pretty sure the entry proof changes had a lot to do with barrels proofing lower than desired (per the Russell’s). It just doesn’t explain the variance with 2000’s WT expressions. That’s something I’ll continue to research. You can count on it!
Quite an interesting review! I’ve had RR 10/101 before but not he 10/90. It was interesting looking these up on secondary. It seems like some folks have been very on to what they have for a while and were trying to get $150 a bottle at some point for these while other were going as low as $50 somewhat recently. I guess it’s a tricky bottle in that way as it just appears like and old RR to most folks.
Doesn’t seem like they come up too often. I wonder if there are just sitting in peoples “collections” not really knowing what it might be.
I’ve been fortunate to find these at retail – others through associates. The most important thing is looking for the two primary identifiers. Outside of that, modern RR10 scratches a similar itch. But once you taste ‘05-‘06 RR 10/90 you’ll see what I’m talking about. Worth $150? Possibly not. But then, it *is* a delicious pour – that’s for sure! Thanks for commenting!
I couldn’t find a appropriate place to ask this, sorry! I saw on the timeline that at one point Wild Turkey distillery switched from cypress wood to steel fermentation tanks, Is there a generally agreed opinion as to if this has any effect on bourbon produced?
There are a few, such as CGF and Donut, that will always pull me in. But 2000’s 101 … very cool for a different profile. Certainly nothing to pay a premium for, however, with so many killer RRSiB selects out there.
That’s how I feel about the 2005 101 I have open. It’s different but not necessarily better. Truth be told I prefer the modern profile 101 to the 2000s 101.
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I am a collector of Wild Turkey Products. I recently purchased the Russell’s Reserve 2008, but unfortunately did not have the box, information card and the insert that holds the bottle in place. I am looking to purchase the box. Can you help.
Thanks,
Don
Thanks Jon. It was a struggle, as I prefer a simple scale. But with all the top-quality pours coming out of Wild Turkey lately, I had to do something to narrow down differences more accurately. Very glad you approve!
Great review! I also really wish Wild Turkey would do another single barrel, barrel proof someday! Have they ever done a single barrel, barrel proof Rye? I’d love that.
I love the single barrel rye! Hopefully a barrel strength single some day. I’ve actually never had a single barrel barrel strength from any distillery. They don’t seem that common.
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Whistlepig barrel selects, some MGP sourced offerings, but outside of that there’s really not many options. Very good point.
Local store, MSL Liquors, just got in two different barrels from rickhouse B – floors 5 & 6. Looking forward to trying both to see the differences between the two.
Fantastic review.
I have worshipped Tribute for years, and used to get it sent to Australia from Japan for $300 – $400 AUD.
The price has gone through the roof in recent times.
In fact it now sells occasionally in Australia for between $1500 – $2000, but bottles are as rare as Hens teeth.
I must try the Kentucky Legend Donut, (also rare) as you have made it sound too good to pass up.
Can’t wait to read a review on Wild Turkey American Spirit.
Thanks for the great site and informative reviews.
Thanks Andrew. Yes, Tribute is fabulous but certainly not worth a mortgage payment. Donut would be my first recommendation to come close to the export Tribute. The 2006 MDS 14-year would be another, but that’s rare as well. Cheers and good luck!
Interesting review! I mean to try this tho I know it won’t replace the 101 as my daily drinker. As Wild Turkey is my favorite distillery I’m interested in trying every one of their exressions.
I remember a camping trip I took with a mate.
We gave the small batch Beams a good go around the camp fire. Next morning, my poor head … I have not touched Beam since. Good to see Tribute in the Rare Bird top 10. Have you sampled American Spirit yet?
While I can appreciate Beam, I completely understand your preference. 😉 Yes, Tribute is fantastic! As for American Spirit, not yet. Very soon, I hope. Cheers!
How can I purchase one of these? Nobody, so far, will sale me one as I live in the USA.
Is anybody out there that will help me purchase a Masters Keep 1894.
Thanks for your help.
David Goodman normsgts@comcast.net
318-470-5078
It’s AUS only. You’re likely going to have trouble shipping in to the USA. Maybe reach out to some Turkey fans in Australia via social media? They might be able to help.
I live in Japan, and the only Blue Label I’ve found in physical shops is marked up pretty severely – like $100 give or take. Not a bad price but not the same as finding as MSRP of course. But who knows – maybe someday I’ll get lucky and do just that…
$100 is a very fair price considering the cost of Master’s Keep. Don’t wait too long!
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In context, though, I can usually find W-T-01-99 RB for around 40 bucks. Any 12/101 is really good, but 99 RB is probably right on par with 2010s 12 year.
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True. Enjoy life in Turkey Camelot!
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Yeah, between that and ’90-ish Blanton’s at that same approximate price, my “everyday drinker” box is definitely checked!
My previous experience with WT-99 is a 2004 bottling (which I got in trade, a 375 in fact) which was great. I just popped (literally – natch, the stopper exploded) one about 3.5 years older (Jan ’01) that I bought here. And it’s definitely even better – I did a SBS and the Jan ’01 is richer, more buttercream/vanilla on the finish, a tad more refined. My nickname for ’99 RB is “sugar and spice and everything nice” because that’s what it puts me in mind of – it’s an amazingly balanced bourbon.
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Great piece! I can’t bring myself to pay secondary for this stuff but your review has me teetering.
I have enjoyed 12 YO Turkey from various periods, and to be honest I have NEVER had a bad one.
I have a bottle of the last batch of 12 YO on my shelf unopened, as well as a genuine Split label with the Turkey on the bottle looking straight at me.
Can’t wait to compare the two.
A couple of years ago I was blessed to crack a bottle of pseudo split label, and it was totally faultless.
Perhaps 12 YO is my personal favourite apart from the sublime Tribute and American Spirit.
I agree Rare Bird, a regular run of 12 YO would be a huge step in the right direction, though I suppose the flavour profile from the 90s which I love so much is gone forever.
The old profile might be a memory but the whiskey Wild Turkey is making now is just as awesome, barrel depending. I, like you, hope for the return of 101/12. Fingers crossed we’ll see that down the road as more stocks come of age.
Well, I’m willing to purchase an empty 1894 decanter & box to solve the customs problem. This would complete my collection. I would need it to be in like new condition, though. Could be profitable for someone.
Thanks for anybody willing to help me accomplish my goal,
David Goodman normsgts@comcast.net
Thank you very much. Your help is much appreciated.
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Are you on Facebook? If so, check out the Aussie Wild Turkey Collectors or the Wild Turkey Rafter.
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Great write-up and review! While 12-year WT is discontinued, because this was the most recent label, it is the most likely one to be found in wayward shops in Japan (or in exorbitantly overpriced ones).
It’s interesting how the 12 year evolved over time. With US demand for Bourbon ramping up, it’s easy to see why this label was discontinued. With any luck, the powers that be will see the attractiveness of a throwback label to cash in on the nostalgia factor.
It is very interesting how the 101/12 profile evolved, much like the 101/8 profile (in relation to change, not taste). I’d love to see this show up again, but until then I’m extremely grateful for the bottle I have. If I’m able to secure another down the road, awesome! If not, great memories!
I’m getting skun on secondary prices for Dusty Turkey in Australia.
I can’t help myself.
When I’m old and munted, I’ll probably look back with feelings of regret over all the old classics which I didn’t try, so I’m all in.
I just absolutely adore old profile from early 2000s
Licorice, Apricot, Leather, Apple and even custard in American Spirit.
I would love some feedback on American Spirit, as it is not overly popular with many Turkey fans.
I love it and thought it absolutely murdered Tradition.
I never heard of the club either. It seems a bit on the haughty side. On another note is the single barrel Russells being produced in smaller numbers? Last winter there was always a bottle or two here but I haven’t seen one for months. Connecticut, at least my part, is a pretty small boubon market though I think. George Dickel is bottled in Norwalk though these days!
I wouldn’t call 1789b haughty, though I understand where you’re coming from. I kind of felt that way initially myself, but after watching Bourbon Pursuit and exchanging emails with Reid, I think they just have an agenda that other clubs don’t. Which is fine for them. Plenty of other clubs out there, that’s for sure!
As for Russell’s Reserve SiB. I don’t think less is produced, I just think it’s more popular now. Have you talked with the manager of your local? Maybe there’s something going on in distribution to/in your state? Curious to know what you find out. Cheers!
I’m going to ask at the store today. They’re quite friendly and helpful. Trying to see if they can get a bottle of the Jim Beam High Rye Harvest for me. Thanks again!!!
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Anytime Jon! Cheers!
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Thanks for the advice! They said it’s getting hard to find but they’re saving me the next bottle of the Russells Reserve single barrell bourbon! Oh and I have a question I can’t find a answer to by googling. What does it mean when someone says a bourbon is ‘grassy’? Jim Beam gets that description.
I very much appreciate your honest, objective and well thought out reviews of our group selections. Like most everything in life everyone is a bit different as are their palates with whiskey. Keep up the great work!!! Reid
Thanks Reid. I greatly appreciate the opportunity. Should you ever find yourself at Wild Turkey picking more barrels, I’ll be right here waiting – happy to review again!
Hey Rarebird you’ve mentioned in your reviews that Jimmy puts aside certain barrels for WTKS. Any chance he stores in spots where these typically come out the barrel below 110 proof and closer to the classic 101 proofing? I’m a RRSB guy but if they are using good barrels that don’t make the 110 proof but hit close to 101 out the barrel I’d like that.
Hi John! Eddie is doing more of the barrel selecting now. He’s learned Jimmy’s profile and does it all by taste. My guess is he’s not looking at specs so much as targeting flavor. I’ve seen modern WTKS from a range of rickhouses and floors, so that makes most sense to me. Thanks for commenting!
Wow, this sounds fantastic. Where are you confirming ‘98 – is there a date code, or just the glass stamp? I often don’t see bottle codes on Japan bottling from the 90’s.
Interesting points! I wish it were possible to determine if there is some of the 12 yr in this bottle. Personally, as a novice, I have at times wondered if distilleries put higher priced/older bourbons in releases when they have extra barrels. It’s most likely a big stretch but I wonder if this is why batched whiskeys taste different to me from bottle to bottle. 101 sometimes is, to my taste, spicier or sweeter depending on the bottle.
You are correct. I know this practice has occurred, and still occurs at Wild Turkey. Eddie has confirmed older age-stated releases had older whiskey in them, particularly Glut Era bottles, and Bruce confirmed on Reddit that batches of 101 just this Spring contained some 10-year barrels.
Thanks Jon. Have you reached out to your state’s Campari rep? You may have some closer than you think. Feel free to shoot me an email and I’ll happily help.
I couldn’t agree more, Lincoln Road does some phenomenal picks. I wish they were closer. I have made that 10 hour drive twice. What you described is a bottle full of greatness.
In DFW sadly its mainly big chain stores that do RR picks and I don’t find them as good. On the brighter side, I will be visiting Lincoln Road again over Christmas.
I agree with your observations. It’s hard to beat a store like Lincoln Road. Passion for their barrel selections and their customers as well. An excellent combo!
In Australia we never even hear of these offerings from independents.
We have to take what we are given off the shelves.
One recent experiment was to try the Pikesville Rye 110 Proof.
it was absolute perfection, and at $135 AUD we were able to eat that week.
Just scored and cracked a bottle of the 14 YO Distillers Selection for the Japan market.
It was sublime, but no where near American Spirit or Tribute.
I have noticed a mini glut of Tribute and 17 YO 101 on Ebay.
Sadly this has not driven prices down.
$2000 per bottle in good old Oz.
Now i’m off to pick out the bits of cork from my glass of magnificent 14 YO…
Yes, we’re quite lucky in the States. Dusty Wild Turkey is often amazing, but honestly I could live off these single barrel private selections just fine. Fun to find, sip and share. I found the 2006 14-year export to be stellar. Comparable to the export Tribute, though a nice step above the domestic (US) Tribute IMHO. $2000 is ridiculous and I’d avoid that like the plague. Cheers mate!
That mineral note… I get it in my ’80 8/101 too, though I find it burns off with about 15 minutes of air in the glass. It’s not my favorite dusty WT note, to be honest – too much and it’s downright off-putting. Fortunately I usually don’t get it at all and almost never in excess, but the fact that it shows up in varying degrees over several years leads me to believe it’s a matter of something in the profile from those days, rather than sourced whiskey.
That lines up with my 1979 101/8 notes and would be from the same/similar “season.” I agree – I don’t think it’s sourced, but rather something that pops up from time to time. The only thing I can relate it to is maturation, since the recipe hasn’t changed. Thanks for commenting!
I usually get Rare Breed but just picked up my first bottle of 101 in several months. It’s not the 70’s 8 year but I’d forgotten how good it still is! Wish it still had the four color label tho!
I liked the 101 Rye the most. I prefer the sweeter taste over the, to me, spicier RR single barrel (which I love also). It has, to me, this great black licorice taste and a very long finish. The only aspect I don’t like is that both aspects fade a bit too quickly after the bottle is opened. I have what must be a idiosyncratic reaction to the six year (I’ve looked at a few reviews and no one else experiences it). It to me had this odd aftertaste I dislike. I’ve noticed it in both bottles I’ve bought. Apparently it’s a quirk of my taste buds!
Great post. It is interesting that they dropped it down to 100° and went for bottled in bond; as you stated, their usual “signature” is 101 and 15 years is certainly older than the required four years for BiB. I was listening to one of the Bourbon Pursuit podcasts yesterday (episode 42, April 2016, where they interviewed Matt Gandolfo, brand ambassador for Wild Turkey [at the time, not sure if he is still there or not]) where he mentioned that Jimmy was somewhat reluctant to go with barrels that were older than 13 years. This one must have been exceptionally good to go against his rule of thumb.
Great article! I really have to start seeking some historical bottles. These articles have really got me thinking in that direction. Maybe as Christmas presents to myself!
The comparison to Diamond makes me want to pick one up. One of my locals has it for $79 and I’ve been waffling for a while on whether it’d be worth it. Like you I gravitate towards bigger, bolder Wild Turkey expressions, but it sounds like it may be a nice “change of pace” bourbon.
“Every single barrel in the state of Kentucky has unique properties. Most will be good, some will be exemplary, but not a damn one of them will change your life. Stay mindful, stay careful, and most importantly, stay informed.”
Perhaps the wisest words spoken about what’s happening with the whiskey world. Well done!
Appreciate the notes and the write up. Its amazing to see how the interest in bourbon (and Turkey!) has skyrocketed in recent years, but along with it the unfortunate side effect of flipping/re-selling. Fortunately there are many Bourbon fans who just want to share the experience and knowledge of whatever it is they may be sipping, whether its a mass release, or a limited edition. A few bad apples can’t ruin the overall community.
Very interesting read. I am particularly impressed by the balance of the article above. I can certainly empathize with your frustration. I have adored the Wild Turkey distillery for over 20 years, and have been increasingly shocked by the prices jimmy Russell’s magnificent products are going for on the secondary market. I have always despised greed. One of the things which I admire so much about wild Turkey is the prices of their new releases. Not over the top. Simple as that. Even the Perfect Tribute and American Spirit, to name my two personal favorites, were very affordable when released. And this price stood even though they were not readily available in every corner bottle shop.
Now on the secondary market there is the potential for financial massacre. Now I’m the first to admit that on occasion I have paid outrageous dollars for certain rare old dusty bottles, but I just can’t bear the idea of dying wondering. That’s just me. I certainly agree with your sentiments on sky high prices, which i’m sure neither Jimmy, Eddie or any of the good people at Wild Turkey intended when they released their peerless limited editions. Crafted to be enjoyed by average everyday people who love fantastic Bourbon.
P.S Thanks for the excellent American Spirit review. You have just about tried them all. Where to now….?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Andrew. The secondary isn’t by nature a bad thing, I just wish folks would think about the true value of what they’re buying/selling. As for the future … plenty of expressions to cover. I’m looking forward to it!
Very informative and well written article. I would never, except for charity, pay substantially over retail for the reasons you described. Old bottles are of course different. For me price gouging retailers are even worse than flippers: there’s a $800 bottle of Four Roses limited edition and a $2999 bottle of Pappy’s 23 ( I’ve only had the 15 at a friends and was less than thrilled) at the store I frequent. It’s crazy!
That’s right, Jon. Secondary isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but flipping a fresh-out-the-case $60 bottle that’s no more or less (subjectively) better than any other RRSiB is, well like you said … crazy.
This right here is why i love reading your posts. It is refreshing to see you put words to everything i feel is right and wrong about this bourbon craze.
I told my wife a couple years ago – if I can’t find that bottle I’d like to have for my collection at retail, then I guess I just won’t be able to have that bottle. Never had Pappy, but knowing all the pricing silliness surrounding it, I’m content with not having it (nor likely EVER having it).
That being said, I’d like to know where I can find a Russell’s Reserve 2002!
What a wonderful story this was, thanks very much for posting. It is odd, despite never meeting Jimmy or Eddie Russell, whenever I think of them, read an interview with them, or see a video of them, they feel like family to me. Heck, I am not even from Kentucky, so I am betting that sounds cheesy. I can’t explain why I do feel that way, but that warmness I feel towards them always carries over when I am enjoying their whiskey.
Thanks John! Not odd at all. The Russells are as genuine as their whiskey. It’s one of the main things I love about Wild Turkey. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
I totally agree with you on this one! Great review!
112.8 is good, but the new 116.8 really “knocks it out of the park” (way better).
Only just now showed up for sale here in Europe, and a steal at 30 Euros!
The best Bang for the Buck (or Euro for that matter) !
Thanks for the review of the bottle none of us will see. Thanks for being obsessive over rick houses and floors. Thanks to the distiller for issuing so many variations on a theme, so many brands, special issues, anniversaries, special picks, and on and on. It all creates cult followings, price increases, private sales,
Yikes! You sound a little unhappy. My apologies. I’m only trying to share my honest opinion – on this and so many others. There’s plenty of reviews on this site featuring retail bottles. Maybe give those a try? And I’m always happy to answer any questions directly. Shoot me an email if I can help. Thanks!
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I enjoy the single barrel reviews. Certainly most bourbon folks have dealt with ‘fomo’ at times. That is what is fun with single barrels, find a good one and load up. I think RB101 does a good job with his reviews. The rickhouse guide is handy. You may not be able to get ‘Fight Me’ but if the B profile sounds good to you, seek some out in your market.
There are reviews of all mainline WT offerings here, can’t expect RB101 to review Rare Breed every 6 weeks.
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Glad you liked the post, Jon. Thanks for the feedback!
Good stuff as always. I know what you mean about wanting private picks to be unique or spectacular. Nothing wrong with the middle of the road standard Russell’s Reserve Sib profile, but if I wanted that I’d just grab a retail bottle.
You’ll get them on the 17/101 first – that’s a split, so it’s getting opened this week without me having the chance to agonize over it. Donut probably early next year sometime.
I just figured if one was going to call themselves a gobblehead, they had to buy a Donut sooner or later.
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Sounds like you’ve got some fantastic pours ahead!
Great critique! I just picked up a second bottle since September: it pops up from time to time here and I either get lucky or it’s not popular. The last bottle had the nicest black liquorice taste and curiously a really long finish. My only slight complaint was after a month or so it changed in a way I didn’t care for: those two qualities seemed to diminish, Still, I drank it daily so it didn’t last long: most of the time it was great!
Well… I had honestly intended to wait a bit, but it arrived tonight and there was a tiny it of leakage around the seal and I figured it would be best to open and strain it ASAP. So there you go – decision made.
I’m going to give it a couple days to settle before I review it but… It’s pretty fracking amazing. I was expecting something more… savage? But it’s actually incredibly refined. Drinks below the proof (115.4) and the finish goes on for days.
It really was a great year for Wild Turkey! I just picked up a second Revival, which I’ll keep a while before drinking. And for some reason, at least to me, the 101 bourbon I just picked up is the best I’ve ever had. I’ve never had the 8 year age statement. It has this added ‘leathery’ quality I never noticed much before but love!
I need to grab another Revival myself. I had a sealed second … not sealed anymore. 🙂 And yes, some of the recent 101 batches have been excellent. You’re not really missing anything with modern export 101/8. The dusty stuff, however, is just different altogether. Not necessarily better. Cheers Jon!
Great Job David… I think it is plain hard to beat the value the readily available OTS WT 101 Bourbon brings to the table. They should also get the award for most improved as just a short time back this was pretty mediocre whiskey and in some cases just plain poor whiskey.
I the days when folks are paying crazy money for pretty average whiskey why not just settle in with a case or two of 101 for less than folks are paying for the latest and greatest bottle which is most likely just sourced MGP….
I have a bottle from 2017, and the first 2 pours were distinctive, but nothing suprising. Letting it sit for 2.5 weeks and now at the label, it’s fuller, it was initially very light, now medium creamy with caramel and those herbal notes, at one point like a spearmint mouthful. Wow, very tasty and quite enjoyable neat, hard to believe it’s 101. Mixed with ginger ale will be an amazing summer drink. Have some 2018 on the way. A great bottle will try with old fashion and Manhattan next.
So I did a sbs with the Export Tribute (which Jonathan R. brought me a sample of). When I tasted the 17 I remembered it as being very similar and on-par with the Tribute, and while I do think they’re on-par they’re more different than I remembered.
The Tribute has slightly more dusty elements to me, and the 17 more classic (which is interesting as the 17 is older both in age and vintage). More spice and musty wine barrel with the Tribute, more sweet, burnt sugars and vanilla with the 17. Still, very much in the same branch of the family tree – more alike than different, If you forced me I think I’d take the 17, just because I think the finish is unmatched in any WT I’ve sampled. But I don’t think I’d say it’s “better” – both are superb. I think it’s just a matter of which profile you prefer.
Sorry for the late reply. Been a busy time of year!
Thanks for the insightful comment. I love both expressions and it would certainly be a hard choice, but like you I’d probably go with the 101/17. Such amazing whiskeys forgotten for far too long. Cheers!
Glad you put the regular 101 on the list, 2018 is solid, maybe the best in over 20 years. Why anyone chases stuff like Weller Special Reserve when you can buy this perplexes me.
Interesting conjectures! I’m curious also about Camp Nelson barrels in Kentucky Spirit. I picked up a bottle last week, after a years of not buying any, and liked it a lot. It was the type you described as on the sweet side. It as I think you suggested reminds me of an old (in years, not date of distillation) 101. And with that bottle it’s a great gift!
One really nice thing about this particular bottling of RR6 Rye is that it still sits on the shelves of many stores here in Mississippi, and often at nice stale pricing. Picked up 4 bottles recently at $27 per.
A step or two above Rittenhouse and Baby Saz to me and if you can stock up on these older bottles around $30, well, that’s a good thing in my book. I encourage others to do a little young dusty hunting (the ones I bought were legit dusty) if you like this one.
Excellent write up once again. I have unfortunately not had the opportunity to try any aged stated WT 101’s. After reading this I was thinking, why not start up some kind of petition. We have a strong community with technology on our side. You definitely have connections with other bourbon communities out there (Bourbon Pursuit, Breaking Bourbon, etc.). Come up with some kind of link that people can electronically sign saying they want to see aged stated 101 back, at least for annual releases as you mentioned. We could get tens of thousands of “signatures” I’m sure. The bourbon community is strong and this is something I think plenty of us could get behind. Taking 2 minutes to click a link and sign your name would be easy, especially having the chance to influence a company to push for an annual age stated 101. Worst case scenario they don’t do it but hey, now they have been made aware once again but this time they have a community collectively coming together asking for something they can actually provide. If enough voices sound out together it will definitely weigh on the minds at WT, and might help push this idea over the fence to actually happening. We will never know unless we try. I say it’s worth putting together and giving it a shot, especially with the connections some of us have. Happy Turkey Tuesday!
First off, thank you for commenting. While a petition isn’t necessarily a bad idea (I attempted one briefly in 2017), once you understand how the system works you realize they’re not nearly as effective as one would think. A petition is like a single explosion. It hits hard, fast, suddenly, yet briefly. In order to enact change in the industry (be it with a single expression or entire brand) you need many voices speaking consistently with appropriate volume. Slow change. That’s how it is in this industry. Always has been, (probably) always will be. Just like barrels aging in a rickhouse, it takes a lot of time.
I for one fully agree.
I adore the massive flavour of Wild Turkey 12.
I have tried various vintages, and have never been let down.
Perhaps only the peerless Tribute, and American Spirit are a notch above, and of course that’s just my personal opinion.
Liquorice, Turkish delight, Apricot, thumping grains.
It’s all there on the nose and palate.
I still buy 12 Yo Turkey from Japan, though not cheaply.
If I could see the 12 Yo as a staple in quality liquor outlets again it would be a triumph of good sense and sanity, and I could die happy.
P.S. I found the 13 Yo horrendously dull.
A most unfitting replacement.
Though how do you replace perfection?
Very well said, Andrew. 101/12 isn’t cheap now, but it’s still worth it for a once (or twice) a year special purchase. And I agree … the 13-year isn’t all that much better than RR10 from the early 2010’s.
I also recently had the chance to taste ’07 12/101 thanks to a generous friend in bourbon (thanks, Rob) and yes, it was fantastic. So close to Split Label as to make it the better QPR proposition, IMO.
As much as I would love to see 12/101 reintroduced (Japan-only would be fine by me, ROFL) I don’t think it would be on-par with this stuff. I mean, pseudo split all went into oak at the original 105 entry proof, and any 12-year released now wouldn’t have that going for it. I’m sure it would blow 13-year out of the water, though.
Regarding modern 101/12 … Revival was amazing at 101/12. Sure, it was finished. It gets me thinking though … probably would’ve been pretty damn good without the Oloroso character as well.
The Masters Keep 17 Yo was readily available in Australia, as was the 1894, and Decades.
I found the 17 and Decades not too bad at all.
Haven’t tried the 1894 yet.
After reading your glowing review of Revival, I thought, “I’m in here for sure”.
The end result of my search was ” Wild Turkey Revival is a US and Distillery only release.
I could of wept, but I’m not giving up.
I’ll eventually get one on the secondary maybe.
Probably have to sell my Wife, kids and house though.😀
The irony of it is that most Americans don’t appreciate Revival. Those red boxes collect dust all around my area. A 12-year, 90-proof Van Winkle? $500 and sold in minutes. Revival … just sits there at $150.
Great arguments and I totally agree. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of limited special releases (the concept not the product) and much would prefer older (12 & 13 & maybe 15 year old) issues on a regular schedule. It’s hard to believe (tho I could be way off base and wrong) that the distillery hasn’t enough barrels for those products. They have so many barrels!
What a great article! This Brand is doing everything right by not changing a thing.
Just let the Russells continue running things!
p.s. Met Jimmy R. at 2018 Kentucky Whisky festival in Bardstown. What a great guy, and what a great legend of a Bourbon Distiller!
First time posting, but long time reader and love the blog and your reviews. I have been wondering for awhile why Wild Turkey doesn’t release an aged stated 101 domestically. Great timing to see your post about this 12 year. I get how aged stocks are depleting and all, but Buffalo Trace can still release Eagle Rare with a 10 year age statement. Up until a couple years ago HH was releasing EC at 12 years and they still have it on the BP. It’s not like WT is some small craft distillery. Why can’t they set aside some 101 and at least release an 8 or 10 year? If sustained noise is required to get Campari to pull their head out, then why not do a petition every year? Maybe we just need to track McConaughey down, and tell him to advocate for it!
I think if they would do an occassional release it would also be a good middle ground pricing wise between 101 and KS/RB/RRSiB, which all are in the $40+ range. WT needs something in the $30 range (yeah I know, RR10) but an aged stated 101 in the $30 range would be huge.
And please, when able, review the 2018 batches of 101! I know you have it on your list to do, but bring it to the front of the line! These 101s are a step above the last couple years. As has been pointed out, there is older stocks in them, and it shows. The RB is the same way. I believe it was Bruce or Eddie Russell who pointed to the older stocks being put in a few of the lines for 2018 (and hopefully ’19!).
Thank you for commenting (a great one too)! I apologize for the delay. I trust you saw my post today and I hope it helped. As for 12-year Turkey, I’d love to see it. I could care less for having 8-year 101, as the current export 101/8 isn’t that much different than domestic NAS 101. But if we had 12-year … heaven! Thanks again for posting and welcome!
Great write up David. I agree with you and what is interesting is that 2 years ago I would have never paid any attention to WT 101…this has been an amazing turnaround for their hallmark product. Question is can they keep this great run of 101 going????
Any way you cut it……WT 101 is the best “Bang for the Buck” out there!
p.s. Once again, great article and review. Keep up the great work!
I am always interested in learning more about my favorite distillery.
Oh man, I love liquor store scavenger hunts, looking forward to scouring the shelves for late 2018 bottles codes and trying a taste-off with the 2017 bottles I have at home, preferably blind.
I am in total agreement with your 101 sentiments – it is one of three bourbons that are mandatory residents on my shelf at home (Evan Williams Bottled in Bond and Old Grand Dad 114 being the other two). My local retailers often have 750 ml bottles of 101 on sale for $19.99; what more could you possible want? Without naming names, I often shake my head as I see bottles that sit near 101 on my retailer’s shelves that are double or even triple that price that don’t come close to 101’s quality and enjoyment to my tastes.
Well said and I agree completely. 101 is so undervalued by folks chasing the hype bourbons, yet fervently loved by those that appreciate 101’s quality profile and remarkable value. Thanks for commenting, John. Cheers!
Not really a list of codes, just a list of code prefixes. Codes are printed as bottles are filled. So with 2018 bottles, they’ll begin: LL/G, with G meaning 2018. A will be Jan, B Feb, etc.
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Thanks for the great review. I had almost the exact experience as you report. I saw the Reddit post so grabbed the first 2018 batch I found (Jan. or Feb., I think) I did a SBS with a 2017 batch and, to me, they seemed nearly identical. I recently found some Aug. ’18 and, wow, what a step up! The ’17 is good but, in the ’18, the flavor is deeper, richer and creamier and I pick up some mustiness (not in a bad way) on the nose. I’ve never had dusty Turkey but I’ve heard it had that element. Anyway, I went back and got a few more bottles for $19 ea.+tax. I can’t believe WT can put out a whiskey this good that retails at a supermarket for under $20.
I second your comments. The August 101 is where something changed. Like you, I noticed an immediate “mustiness” on the nose after opening the bottle. Luckily, it was some good ole’ Turkey funk and not bad whiskey, as the taste was better than expected.
Great timing on this review! I had just left a comment on the latest 101 12 year review, asking, nay, begging for you to review the 2018 101 releases. Sho ’nuff, you delivered! Great review.
I’ve been a whiskey drinker for over a decade, and always liked WT. In fact I credit RR10 as one of the “gateway” bourbons for me, where I shifted away from Scotch and more towards bourbon. WT has always been in my top 5 and I always had a 101, RR10, and RRSiB stocked. It was only in the last 6 months that something changed slightly in my taste preference, and I became a card carrying WT cult member. I mean, I always liked it, but now it is THE distillery profile I can’t get enough of. These 2018 batches have been lights out. I wonder if we should bunker these? It seems silly, because they are readily available, but so was 101/12 and 101/8 not too long ago. The comments I read about the aged stocks indicated it was only going to be for a short bit (but who knows, maybe that’s just a marketing bit to get us to buy more WT). Oh, and when able, take a look at the 2018 RB batches. I believe they have older stocks in them as well, and seem notably improved. 2018 was a hell of a year for the Russells!
It’s hard to know exactly why – multiple factors to consider. But the good news is, as you’ve mentioned, is that it’s out there. And who knows? Could get even better! Cheers!
Good informative review! I was wondering a couple of months ago if it was my imagination of if the late 2018 101 really was better. I’m reassured that you agree!
Rare Bird! First – I always enjoy hearing you on Bourbon Pursuit! Okay – maybe only twice? Still, good stuff! Second, I’m new to reading bottle codes and do understand the turkey codes except I’m struggling with the year code and how it aligns with the year it references. It’s early here, I’m not done with my coffee…..help a WT fan out. Thx!
Thanks for commenting, Charlie. There’s a code guide here on my site, which also links to a Reddit post that explains in greater detail. When it comes to the modern laser coding, you mainly want to look at the first four letters – more specifically the third and fourth letters for year and month. Thanks again!
I just ran out and found 4x 375ml GH bottles. I also grabbed a GJ 750ml. I cracked the GJ and it is musty, toffee, caramel heaven. Drinks like the proof is 80. We really are in the golden age of WT101. I might bunker a few cases for longevity. Thanks for the heads up. I hadn’t bought any 101 other than a few minis in the last 2 years. I might be done chasing unicorns. Why should I when I can get Lawrenceburg Gold for 19.99$!
Very interesting. I have yet to try blending but plan on it soon. Not Wild Turkey but I read a interview with former Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge saying that sometimes by blending a mediocre whiskey with another mediocre whiskey that you could create a exceptional one! Maybe I’ll get lucky!
Ok I am interested in blending more. As part of the blending process, time is a factor. Have you toyed around with different times it takes for the whiskey flavors to actually come together? I blended larceny and Maker’s cask a while back and noticed the profile changed over time. At least to my untrained palate.
I’ll be honest, I’ve never noticed much difference in letting it sit. It may just be that the bottle is being sipped down (more O2). That I *have* noticed a difference in.
The only WT blend I’ve ever done was by blending equal parts CGF, “donut”, ’94 Rare Breed, and ’07 WTKS. It came out pretty well but I don’t know if the sum was better than the parts going in.
Thanks for the great review. I’ve been a WT 101 fan since Thanksgiving 2012 when my dad brought a handle to our house to celebrate the holiday! Funny how it led me on the bourbon appreciation trail (trying numerous other brands/proofs) but I seem to always return home to the kickin’ chicken as Jimmy says … Best bourbon out there, especially for the price! Will have to grab some late ’18 vintage, to see how they may have improved the “unimprovable!” Thanks again for the reviews and great information.
Man am I happy I scored a bottle of Kentucky Spirit. By me these are very hard to come by. I wonder if there are differences between the warehouses or between the barrels? The store I found this in had 2. Both from warehouse K one bottled in Oct 2017 the other In Feb 2018 from different barrels. I wonder how different they are. Didn’t have money to buy both.
Good news, Dean! Yes, there will be differences so long as the barrel is a different number. Sometimes the variance is minimal, sometimes world’s apart. The only way to know is to try. But don’t feel pressure to buy them all. There’s plenty more where those came from! Cheers!
David, thanks so much for the review. It came just in time! After doing a Russell’s pick with Eddie yesterday, I was able to snag an LL/GI 750 from the gift shop. Looking forward to tasting that one alongside one of my earlier bottles.
David, Jason from the “Mash and Drum” was over today and we were able to taste the LL/GI side by side with an older 2015 liter I had laying around. It was a nice surprise. The nose on the 2018 stood out and brought back fond WT memories (not mentioning my age). The palate was more rounded with a wonderful buttery-toffee-spicy sweetness joining in the mid palate and carrying though to the finish. I kept reaching for the LL/GI till it was gone, but finished the 2015 as well. Both are delicious, but the late summer, early fall 101’s are a little special. Thanks for letting us know!
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Anytime! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m a big fan of Mash & Drum!
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David, am I safe in assuming something bottled in November ’18 would be of comparable age as the July, August, September that you tasted for this review? I was in the right place at the right time today when I walked into a store to kill 10 minutes and walked out with a handle of 101 that cost me $30. We turkey heads sure are spoiled with the availability and price of this stuff.
Excellent review, and I couldn’t agree more – Mom and pop stores are the way to go. That’s how relationships and friendships are made, and it’s nice to support the little guy.
We specifically drove to Lincoln Road last August from New Orleans. We live in Maryland and flew there so that we could visit friends and get to the store that we had heard so much about from you and Dixon Dedman. We were not disappointed. We walked away with 8 different barrel picks if I’m not mistaken. None of which we were able to taste ahead of time. We purchased on reputation, recommendation and having had just one taste of one of his other picks before. none of the ones we got that day have disappointed. Of the RR there that day, there might have been 4 choices. We picked two and thankfully this 15th Anniversary was one of them. It’s been a while since we tried it, so I will revisit it tonight, but I do believe our assessment of it was in line with yours. We only have 5 store picks of RR and 2 are Jamie’s. We’re planning on making the trip again for sure.
Sounds wonderful! Picking up a bottle of whatever one they have at the package store I frequent. I’m ordering a case of 101 bourbon to put aside for the future: just it case it falls from the incredible quality it currently is. I wonder how many put aside case of the 70’s expression. Lucky them!
Thanks for the awesome content. I saw that Eddie commented on Reddit that the older stuff made its way into 2018 Rare Breed too. Have you had a chance to try any summer/fall-2018 Rare Breed to see if it was noticeably different?
Picked up a bottle of batch 2 tonight. Love the mouth feel and the finish. Unfortunately, this bottle was right at MSRP. If I found this at $80-$90, I’d buy two on the spot!
Okay, so I’ve been a fan of WT long enough that it’s time I splurged on one of these classics. Where do you find these? Online auctions? Can you recommend some places to watch?
Search online whisky auctions, hunt at old liquor stores, join communities on Facebook, etc. That said, it seems the best bottles are found through friendships developed over years. Regardless, always pay attention to your country’s or state’s laws. 👍
Worldwide Whiskies in Japan have a fantastic selection of ultra rare Dusty Wild Turkey.
I have purchased from this site many times and had them sent to Australia.
No problems at all.
Go get!!
At least one CGF just sitting there waiting for a loving home.
I would buy it, but have destroyed my Turkey allowance on recent purchases.
Fascinating history! I keep meaning to and find a 12 year: any label. CT has some crazy regulations tho about shipping spirits to individuals so I need to check into it more. For instance a Total Wine in Alpharetta Ga had a bottle at list of Rock Hill Farms (around here it’s 4-6 times retail): they are not allowed to ship to Ct tho. I’m thinking maybe the package store I frequent could do a WT 12 ( or Legend, Donut, 70’s 101) for me.
Yeah, it’s a shame we’re living in a time when things shouldn’t be that way. Maybe join a bourbon club with members that could assist you in finding hard-to-get bottles?
Great points! I buy it once in a blue moon only: mostly I buy it as a gift for non bourbon fans. Personally, I’d rather save $20 and get the now exceptional 101 or spend the same for the excellent Rare Breed. I’d hate to see it go though.
Agree about the “rest” part. Going with the new bottling – okay, I get it; I like the look of the bottom label, but that bright gold main label looks like something from the 1970’s – reminds me of avocado and harvest gold appliances at the Brady Bunch’s house! Maintain the flavor profile as best as possible and move on.
In the meantime, I’ll go to local spirit sellers here in Michigan and grab the old tail-feather bottles for $57 to tuck away.
As a new turkey drinker I’ve come to love 101 by the handle. Next is the regular RR for when I want to be a bit more refined. Then I go with Rare Breed for that special occasion. I see no reason to spend more for Kentucky Spirit other than to have a souvenir bottle when I finish it. Hopefully it is marked down where I am.
It’s somewhat depressing, as I’ve loved WTKS for years. It just took me looking at it without bias to see that it’s simply not necessary at this point in time. It could offer more – and should – but that ball’s in Campari’s court.
But when you find that sweet sweet private selection/store pick…. all worth it. I’ve bought at least a dozed of one in particular, and it just sits there like a shelf turd… meanwhile the same store has done 3 RRSB picks in the same time frame
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Sounds like my experience with a WTKS Total Wine private selection from a couple years back. The RRSiB was just fine, but the WTKS – a personal favorite. And yes, it sat and sat and sat.
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I agree on all accounts. The one bottle of this product I purchased (about 2 years ago) was darn boring compared both Rare Breed and the Russell’s offerings I have tried. KS is sorely in need of a makeover.
I’ve had a few modern WTKS that were hands-down excellent, but not as many as I’d like considering its price (not to mention RRSiB being in the same price tier).
The change in entry proof turned the tables decisively away from WTKS and towards RRSiB. If they want to keep it alive, the best way would be to release it NCF (as you said) and at a higher proof. But then what would there be to distinguish between it and RR? Geeks like us can obsess over one being the “Jimmy profile” and the other the “Eddie profile”, but to the average drinker that’s a meaningless distinction.
I think you’re right. KS is going away soon- it does not sell well and it’s too expensive. Keep your “could be” suggestions and add a price adjustment to compete with 4R SiB in the $40 range or even better, in the $30 range. I’ve always thought WT needs to have something in the”Jimmy” profile in the $30 area to compliment RR10.
It’s painfully obvious with the new bottle design that Campari wants to kill it off. Instead of discontinuing the tail-feathers version now and suffering PR blow-back, they give it a nondescript bottle that will ensure it’s demise naturally.
I love your idea of having KS go dormant for 8 years or so while they distill and age some lower 107 entry proof whiskey. They could bring it back to much fanfare as a regular but low volume premium NCF top shelf expression, with the original bottle design. As a kicker, they would also set aside some of that special 107 entry proof distillate and age it for for an extra 4 years, to be released as their special annual fall “LE collection” (2 special bottlings every fall): Wild Turkey 12 Year 101 NCF and Wild Turkey 12 Year Barrel Proof NCF. Allocated in very small numbers, critics would love it and people would chase it like BTAC…
Haha, no we certainly don’t. But I bet Campari would like to create a buzz
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Can you please stop talking about this Wild Turkey product?
They will jack the price, if it ever becomes popular.
I love this stuff as much as I love WT 101. ROI is unbeatable !
With the new $23 Old Forester 100-Proof Rye, a price raise on WT 101 Rye would be incredibly foolish. That said, it would keep it on shelves for a while.
David, awesome article, I absolutely love Wild Turkey 101. The minute I got home I looked at a couple of bottles that I had not opened yet and one was a LL/GH and the other was a LL/GK, I can’t wait to sample these. Is it safe to say by reading your article that the July, August, and September will all be the same quality. Do you think months after that are also great?
Chuck, thanks for reading! I haven’t tried any bottles after Sep yet, but WT 101 is always a deal. Not much risk in trying and buying – especially with half pint and pints readily available. Go for it and let me know. Cheers!
Chuck, have you compared the GH and the GK to see if the GK has some 10 year old in it? I got a GH and can definitely tell a difference. Lots of GKs in my area but I have not bought yet hoping to hear from someone else their finding. Thanks.
Great review. I agree that this batch is superior to the last one. Perhaps you can answer a question about it that I couldn’t get a direct answer from Campari. Will every bottle of each release of Rare Breed be the same batch? That is, is 116.8 all one large batch and will every bottle with that batch label be the same? I’ve heard some claim that there are multiple batches of each proof release and that WT waters them down to 116.8, 112.8, etc. Campari says RB is barrel proof and uncut but, as I understand it, those are not legal terms. Thanks.
What the hell is wrong with most of you, I drink wild turkey 101 because of its unique flavor. It’s very distinctive flavor sets it apart same as Jameson and jack Daniels have their unique flavors. Once u taste any of them u known them forever. I don’t care what shape their bottles are or what their labels look like, I just want them to taste like I remember them. Some I like straight and some I want mixed with water or ice or even soda. My most favorite straight (neat) would be Woodford Reserve. Drink for the taste (what u like) not for the price or hype.
I’ve only tried one bottle of KS a few years ago and was unimpressed. I enjoy 101 and Rare Breed and think KS is an inferior product to these two. It is definitely not worth the price point. When I saw this post I was not surprised. Bottle shape has nothing to do with it. What matters is what is in the bottle.
A few years ago WTKS was clearly a cut above 101 and RB 112.8. Things have changed in the last year or so.
And yes, the bottle redesign is just one more thing to cope with. It’s not as important as the bourbon itself (true), but it’s most definitely a factor when it comes to sales and keeping it around.
It just says f. There’s no rickhouse f at wild turkey? Or only at camp Nelson? Which rickhouses are at camp Nelson? Which are at WT? Thx
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The sticker (not tag) says CNF. There were no Tyrone F barrels last year. WT has about 29 rickhouses. Most at Tyrone, some at Camp Nelson, and some at McBrayer.
Very nice review David, especially your perspective on life changing whiskey at any price…. But week after week someone pays thousands of dollars for a single bottle of whiskey…I am lost on what they expect for that $$$. Can something really be that much better to be 80-100x the cost of a WTRR???
Sorry if this has been talked about before but I purchased a bottle of rare breed 116.8 early in 2018 and wasn’t impressed at all. I just purchased a 116.8 rare breed early 2019 and it is totally different. I would have to go as far to say one of my favorites. I typically only drink anything allocated but being able to get this anytime is huge. Am I imagining this taste difference or is something else going on here?
The Rare Breed’s in my area are still 2017, but someone sent me a Jul 2018 Rare Breed sample and it was excellent. I hope to review very soon. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I saw this when I stepped inside the gift shop in January. I took a photo and hoped to find a review before I purchased. Now I have one. I was also leary because of the last two. I hope it is still there when I revisit in a few weeks. Thank you.
Great review!! I skipped the last Whiskey Barons release mostly based on your review of it. The WT fan in me wanted to try it just for completion’s sake, but I think I made the right decision.
I hope to see this one around me soon, and I’ll definitely pick up a bottle or two when it does.
In the last few days I found some LL/GG and LL/GH pints, and some LL/GI 750s on sale. Gonna stock up and bunker while I can. Can’t hate on delicious, available, and affordable bourbon.
Possibly. It’s interpretive. To me, earthy is soil, heavier herbal spice (clove, sassafras, etc.) tobacco, dark chocolate, etc. Lower floors create lighter notes from my experience – more white fruits and floral notes.
curious if you think these are worth chasing to bunker or if you feel the standard 101 only warrants buying what’s available when its available? i know it may seem silly to bunker given the price point but i’ve only really been drinking Turkey and 101 now for about 5 years and this latest LL/G batch is the best ive had so ive got 2 stashed away.
Personally, I’m not bunkering modern 101. Drink, yes. Bunker, no. I have only so much room in my cabinets and most goes to dusty WT or RRSiB. That said, I completely understand why some folks would and fault them not!
Being fairly knew to Bourbon (Whisky in general also) I’ve only had the 112.8 and the 116.8 – enjoy them both, though the 116.8 more. I’d love to see it more 8-12 years. I read somewhere (maybe here) that those are Jimmy Russels favorite ages for Bourbon. I think I read also that 6-12 were Booker Noe’s favorite ages. It would be great to bring Rare Breed to Jimmy’s favorite ages. Great article!
Thanks as always, Jon! While there’s no way to know the exact percentages of ages in Rare Breed, I’m either tasting more 6-8 – or – 8-12 from lower floors (hard to say). But yes, I’d love more 10-12 – particularly from mid to upper floors.
Great write up and well made points, but I disagree with you on this one. The LL/GH or GI etc have been a step up in my opinion. May I suggest trying a few later vintages i.e. GI and later? I haven’t had any RRSiB GH, but have a F bottle RRSiB that I compared the RB GI to and I like the RB better. So, for $35 out the door, RB is becoming my go to WT pour.
Would love to try the Saffell, but haven’t seen it yet. I checked out a liquor search site and the only one that came up- $125 for a half bottle. Cue sad trombone…
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Don’t spend that. Got it from Campari today – nationwide release. You’re wise not to fall for price gouging!
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I disagree, the LL/GI was great; spicy and sweet, with a fantastic mouth feel. I went back and purchased 2 more bottles, 4/5 to 4.25/5 in my humble opinion, especially after 3+ weeks and that baby starts to oxidize. Cheers!
Great review. When I see a 375 that sells for around $50, I start questioning if I really want that, or if I’d rather spend the money on a Rare Breed or a Russell’s Reserve and get twice the juice for around the same price.
On another note, you mention the various warehouses often. Is there a decoder ring for which warehouses are at which facilities? Are they all designated with a single letter and are certain letters at certain facilities? Or is there a warehouse “A” at each facility? Is there a map anywhere that shows the layout of each facility and warehouse?
I’m not sure how McBrayer is categorized, but Tyrone and Camp Nelson are alphabetical starting with A. There is no rickhouse J as it burned in 2000. Oh, and Saffell is so worth it!
Nose has the vanilla spice, caramel drizzle, and cherry/orange soda you picked up on before.
Taste: burnt vanilla, caramel, molasses, faint tobacco & pepper but very silky with the char filter
Finish: medium-long but not necessarily “robust” like other RR SiB I have tasted before – I do seem to have a presence of toasted caramel, vanilla extract, sweet oak, maple, clove, leather, black pepper, diminishing citrus & herbal spice.
My palate is not nearly as good as the RB101 but it would be neat to do a side by side taste.
I’m sipping a 2017 bottle that’s very good and exceptionally better than 101. Maybe it’s just my particular barrel or batch. Only complaint is price at $57 here in AL.
Haven’t seen the new bottle yet but good to know it’s worth a pass.
What about the F warehouse? Thoughts on that? Is that the only Camp Nelson warehouse (F), or are there others? I know very little about CN. I would love to see a stand-alone warehouse details post. Would also be much easier to reference/link to (aka many more clicks/site visits!).
Honestly, it’s hard to say. There’s a Tyrone F and a Camp Nelson F. WT has owned Camp Nelson since Seagrams left the rickhouses. Wish I had a date. It was when they started using Cox’s Creek, I believe. Only in mid 2018 did WT start labeling CN (and not for every pick either).
I enjoyed the WT Christmas Rye when I had an opportunity I had to sample it a few years back with another WT fan. Our discussion included the opinion that this may not be a Kentucky rye. The label mentions its bottled by WT and only refers to it as a straight rye, not a KY straight rye.
It depends on the year. Austin, Nichols sourced rye from MD, PA and IL for WT 101 Rye until they purchased Boulevard (1972). Sometime after, Jimmy started distilling rye with his own recipe. Pretty much anything bottled after 1980 was produced at Boulevard.
Based on your review I have to pick up a bottle of the 2019. It was the first WT I ever bought but have avoided it lately. It always seems a bit toned down to my taste. This sounds good tho!
More often than not I find private selections generally better – at least more unique. If you get one, let me know!
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I think the Camp Nelson profile works well bottled as Kentucky Spirit. Definitely worth sampling or perhaps purchasing if the price isn’t an issue for you.
I have to agree with your initial assessment and what I assume mostly still stands after this review. I did a single barrel pick at WT a few years ago. Once our barrel was picked, Eddie told us we could do it as a chill-filtered, 101 proof under the KS brand or a non-chill filtered, 110 proof under the RR brand and it was a no-brainer. More flavor and a higher proof usually means a better experience. Granted, I’ve had some excellent KS picks, but at the new price range I’ll be reaching for RR picks every time. Cheers!
I have to agree. I think it’s very likely they will finish off the Kentucky Spirit brand with this pricing. Unless this is a prelude to RRSiB becoming an $80 bourbon.
$65??? WTH yo?!? Sorry, but that’s a pass for me. I’ll pick up the last of the 2017 KS’s on the shelves for $42.99 and then stick with RR or plain ol WT101.
I just bought an old style bottle of warehouse A bottled in Jul 18. Debating whether just to bunker it because of the bottle. Do you know if the warehouse A’s from 2018 are from Camp Nelson? KS was the WT that really turned me onto the brand, so I’m hoping they keep it around, but the pricing is indeed hard to understand. $40 is about right for this bourbon
Man, was this written by an accountant? That’s a load of numbers, brother! Nice work. I also am a huge Rare Breed fan and can still get it at one store for … wait for it … $38. I should clean the shelf off but there’s no shelf space on which to stuff it at home. Good, thorough review.
I have tried a few Kentucky Spirit vintages.
All quite good, but none of them in the same stratosphere as Russells Reserve at its best.
The tall 750ml bottle with the gorgeous etching.
I don’t remember the exact release date, but I remember the complete perfection.
It was a hot day in Melbourne and a mate and I had the bottle in the car while we worked.
When we knocked off we poured a good shot each.
It was literally warm, and the complexity near killed me.
It was indescribably perfect.
I haven’t had anything since apart from Tribute or American Spirit, and we all know what they cost.
I’m not optimistic when I consider Kentucky Spirit down the track.
I have a bottle of Platinum top just sitting there.
I might as well crack that and enjoy the reverie.
Even now, I reckon Russells Reserve is pretty decent stuff.
In Australia we have absolutely no access to independent bottlings from small outlet’s in the States, so it’s standard RR releases or nothing.
Not that I’m complaining.
Also I’m a huge fan of non chill filtration.
Thanks David.
I was wondering if you are able to shed some light on this:
Is all Wild Turkey chill filtered unless otherwise indicated, for example RR Single Barrel Bourbon and Rye?
Secondly. Why chill filter in the first place.
Isn’t good Bourbon all about flavour.
I for one love a good old gutsy Bourbon full of sediment, and that’s why my second favourite Distillery on earth is Ardbeg, because of their mindblowing un-chillfiltered peaty monsters.
P.S I enjoyed your rant regarding R.I.P Kentucky Spirit.
Honest and balanced.
Wild Turkey has been (unfortunately) chill filtered now for many years unless otherwise stated (such as RRSiB and Decades). Ardbeg is a personal favorite, and I suppose NCF has much to do with that. I can say that if Eddie had his way there’d be a lot more NCF WT expressions. Campari would be wise to listen. 😉
Interesting reference to it’s similarity to the 10 year. I like that one and find it quite underrated. I didn’t care for it at all at first (too low proof) but it’s grown on me. Not great but I like it!
Wow that was fast! I think the 13 year is a good whiskey, but I would rather reach for something aged a bit higher in the rickhouse. Very interesting comparison to the RR 10 year as well.
While in Japan, I had an opportunity to get the WT13 but passed due to lukewarm reviews like yours. Thanks for helping me avoid the remorse of missing out!
As I work in a liquor store in West KY, I often recommend RR 10 to customers, in fact, we have it on sale at this time. I have enjoyed the Wild Turkey branded whiskey for over 50 years, it never fails to satisfy.
Good comments.
I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again, Wild Turkey 12 yo is absolutely magnificent.
I will even go so far as to say that Russell’s Reserve effortlessly slaughters the 13 YO.
I found the single bottle I purchased dreary and one dimensional, and I haven’t the courage to go round again.
The 13 YO is certainly not lacking age, and the 45% ABV is passable, so how could they have got it so wrong?
Ironically, the 13 YO is readily available in Australia, and quiet affordable.
I feel sorry for us Aussies as well David.
I will say that I’ve had two bottles of it that were sensational, and two that were profoundly blah, from different vendors here in China. I pay less than $40 a bottle so it is totally worth it, and it makes me sad to think of someone passing up the one that is good… but just as sad to think of someone believing the other bottle is the best it can be. Sad all around, I suppose, especially once the vendor of the preferred bottle runs out!!
Under $40 is an appropriate price for this bourbon (I’d buy). In the States, Russell’s Reserve 10 is about $35. They’re quite comparable IMHO. That said, I think the 2014 Wild Turkey 13 may have been a little closer in profile to WT Diamond Anniversary. At least that was my observation years ago.
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So where I live we only have county stores. In the 750 ML I can only find GE café which no one has reported on yet. But I found a 375 ML size today with GH. I must admit I have only had wild Turkey 101 from a bottle last year and finished it earlier this year. I thought it was good in mixed drinks because of the proof but I personally found it a tad harsh to either drink need war with one or two rocks. I just tasted a small amount of the GH I just bought and while I am no expert I can definitely tell that is smoother with practically no bite. I have a bottle of Hudson baby bourbon which cost me $50 and is not half as good as the one I just bought. Unfortunately they only had the one bottle. I would’ve bought more even though it was more expensive than the 750 ML size. Hopefully someone will try the GK and report back as to what they found is compared to earlier versions they may have had. The clerk in the store could not understand why I was looking at codes and I explained it to him so he understood.
Interesting! I have a friend in Austin: I have to encourage her to try it. Wish they would release a 12 year that’s nationally available: it’s frustrating !
Thought you might like this tidbit RB. I was sampling Saffell at NO Bourbon Fest and the fella pouring for the WT booth at the tasting said that when Eddie walked in that night it was the first pour he requested. Really good stuff. Just wish it was $35.
I found two bottles of WTKS at a local store today, both bottled in 2017, one from Warehouse B and the other from D. (Aside, the one from B was selected by “Oklahomans for Oklahomans” I’m not sure who is in that group, is there somewhere to research that?) I’m anxious to compare them.
Meanwhile until I can taste, do you have a comparison guide on general differences between various WT warehouses? If not online, will that be in your book (which I’ve backed and can’t wait to receive!)?
Sipping a Rare Breed bottled “GI” (it’s been open for a few weeks plus). Sweet maple oak hey-sus! This is probably the sweetest barrel proof bourbon I’ve tasted.
Very well rounded. I’ll be looking for more at this price point.
Just give me Russell’s Reserve picks for $55 all day long. Having tasted a few dusty offerings I’m more than happy spending money on modern Turkey, especially when price is taken into account.
Great thoughts and notes, Id say our thoughts line up pretty well on this one. This label has a rich/dusty profile but lacks the deeper complexity of age stated labels from that era. Given the disparity in secondary price between Tradition and the more desirable bottles (especially with the great leap in prices of late), it can be a nice change of pace once in a while.
Wow Dave! Time to update the top 10 list? It’s very good. I don’t get the creamy flavor I taste in WTKS, which I’ve become attached recently. The nose is great but do think the finish stops just a tad short? It’s really good without a doubt. Your tasting notes are really spot on IMO.
I have not seen anyone report on Nov 2018 and whether 10 year is in it.
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Just trust your palate. If it tastes great, it doesn’t matter if it has 4-year or 20-year in it. 😉👍
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I saw a bottled in Nov 2013 bottle on the shelf at a store today, and have to ask- do you think that will have the 107 entry proof juice in it? I’ve read WTKS is anywhere from 8.5 to 10 years old, so if it was bottled in 2013, and 10 years old, it would have been distilled 2003 which would be the 107 entry proof. But if it’s only 8.5 year old, then it’s probably a 110 entry proof. Either way, you think this is worth picking up?
I regret not tasting this at Justin’s House of Bourbon today! Ended up with the Justin and Cassie wedding pick though – it’s amazing. It had a richness that took me by surprise.
CNF
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I’m surprising my wife with a trip to Kentucky, including a Wild Turkey Distillery visit, for our 25th wedding anniversary this month. I can only hope our WT visit is as magical as yours, David.
Perfect encapsulation of a fantastic weekend, DJ. I just want to rewind time back to Saturday afternoon and experience it all over again. Thank you again for the opportunity!
Sounds like a true dream come true. How lucky you are to have met the Master and had such a wonderful conversation. Started drinking WT101 back in 1970 and visited in mid1980’s. dream come true for me. Great reviews keep up the good work.
Great story and well written,I’m sitting back reading this sipping on w.b. saffell and wishing their was a part 2 to the story,very informative. Thanks
The WT Reserve 13 Year did not impress Me at all. I think I don’t like any WT at 45 % alcohol. If the Japanese like the hype, then they can have this product.
I’ve had this bottle on hand since it’s release! Down to just a few pours left, it’s only gotten better with time – whatever that magic is. Great to see a local pick done good!
What’s “NCF”? I get all the other acronyms (BTW, the excessive use of them, to me, is annoying, and sometimes telling of poor writing — what’s so hard about writing out a full word? — oops, my bad: I used “BTW” instead of “by the way”).
Just curious…you alluded to vitriolic comments addressed to Josh and Jason. For what exactly? Limited access to Jewish Whiskey Company’s product or something else (anti-Semitism). I’m not a Facebook user, so I’ll leave it to you to give some context to your comment. Sounds like delicious bourbon, and I’m going to sign up as a Single Cask Nation member.
Folks were *very* upset about server timeouts and shopping cart errors when these were on sale (lasted 2-3 minutes). It got quite nasty. Since these releases, they’ve moved to a lottery-based system for popular bottles.
I’m down to 1.5 bottles of G4 bottle 45 from Crown Wine & Spirits in Miami. The one I have opened is now about 4 months old and keeps getting better with every pour.
Unfortunately, I’m told that I have bought up the rest of Crown’s stock for friends and family so it will be a sad day when this barrel reaches its final pour.
What a wonderful, memorable experience! Just looking at the picture of the old railroad bridge and the lush green surroundings makes me long for the chance to visit.
One thing that has been bouncing around in my head since last year: In a Bourbon Pursuit podcast involving a barrel selection tasting at WT, Jimmy Russell mentions that the rye used at WT comes from Germany. I thought it odd to have rye shipped that far. If I had known you were going to chat with Jimmy, I would have primed you to ask why. Any idea why Germany?
Yep, their rye comes from Germany. I’m pretty sure that’s been in place since Pernod’s ownership (if not earlier). Jimmy doesn’t like change, so it wouldn’t surprise me if that stays in place. I’ll do some digging.
Just found two of the tail feather bottles this past weekend and snapped them both up. I really like Kentucky Spirit. I actually like all Wild Turkey products and always have back ups. I will miss the bottle and I know Campari was just trying to keep the label forward on the barbacks of America’s bars. But, this much new bottling and label shuffling hurts brands and surely marketing should understand this as well. I know that Bruce has a real sense of pride about this product and I hope he will listen to the suggestions you’ve made above. I’d hate to see it go anywhere.
I think the back bar argument is pointless in consideration of Longbranch. The real reason the WTKS bottle changed was that it was expensive to manufacture. I get it. But to go to a cheaper bottle AND charge more? Not nice. Congrats on the finds and thanks for commenting!
Agreed on the CNAs. I have a Kentucky Spirit CNA that was so thin and astringent I ended up blending the second half of the bottle with some 101. Massive improvement.
Really entertaining stuff, Blake. As someone who didn’t like Turkey, but who saw the light and fell in love with it, I loved seeing your flavor chart comparison. The tobacco and leather notes you cited in the old Turkeys were what I didn’t like years ago. Now they’re Turkey trademarks to me, and I love them. Funny how one’s palate changes like that.
I recently purchased 8 Wild Turkey 101 proof decanters of which 5 we’re still full. I have taken the bourbon out of them and placed it in glass decanters dates on the bottom of the decanters 1980, 1981, 1982 and 2- 1983 I considered these to be heavily dusty. It was a great find and I really like the decanters. I’m still testing the bourbon 🥃. You never know what’s out there. Just keep your eyes open.
Right now I’m finishing off a bottle of 101 from 2016 – right after the latest label change. Even tho’ not a dusty, I deciphered the code and snatched it right up. (It was sitting there all neglected among some newer bottles.) Very tasty stuff!
I’m sold on the newer 2018 101, having tasted it in a bar and thinking it had to be Rare Breed. Bartender showed me the bottle, LL/GK, so I bought a bottle. Told a friend and he also tracked one down, texting me that he thought it was maybe better than RB. I did a HTH with a RB with GK code and still found RB somewhat better. More complex. Bad news is a RR10 I bought with GI code was not very good at all. Hmmmm.
Glad you’re liking modern 101! RR10 is a different profile altogether. It’s not everyone’s jam. Wasn’t mine for a while. Now I appreciate it regularly.
May I recommend a post or link heading for your blog that delves into profiles at each warehouse at each location? And what the rotation is i.e. 2018 was CN, 2019 is…
Thanks for the work you do, you are a true rare bird!
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Love to do that one day!
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Great write-up as always. For me, at least, Tradition is what I want a stand out or different 101 experience to be. It is my kind of Kentucky Spirit, although I am aware that is antithetical to the purpose of KS. I would say 4/5 is a fine rating with exceptional bottles at maybe 4.25. That being said, I would love to see you do a comparision with a 1993 or 1994 Tradition and a 1992 Kentucky Legend. In my experience it seems to be more of a re-branding than anything else. These bottles are by far the worst cork design I have come across.
I’d love to do a comparison. Just gotta find some bottles for a decent price (getting crazy by the day). Oh, Longbranch’s cork fits Tradition perfectly. 😉
They are getting exceedingly hard to come by. Pricing have been shooting up everywhere. Really? I’ll have to give that cork a go. Also, I’m not sure it counts as labeling , but “Kentucky Straight Bourbon” is embossed on the glass and written on the carton.
YOU ROCK!!! One of the most well written piece on the current contrived “whiskey crisis” due to increase in disposable income and the internet hype of the moment. It will take an economic downturn to correct this “whiskey bull” just as in 2008. And only the rock-solid whiskeys will survive.
As mentioned in a more recent post,
…WT will also be repackaging, repricing some products to accomodate for increased production costs.
I prefer a price increase, to a quality decrease,
especially with WT.
Sure. So long as it’s not a 266% increase like HHBiB. Something reasonable would certainly be justified.
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I was fortunate enough to get a bottle of American Spirit maybe 10 years ago or so and unaware of how few bottles were actually released. Only 6000 here in Australia. Although I haven’t had the fortune to sample too many limited releases this and the old Russell’s reserve pre 2005 101 proof are my very favourites to try on a special night.
Another great piece David. I completely agree with your thoughts.
The industry at large is not helping itself with regards to integrity when decisions such as those made by Heaven Hill are revealed.
As a side note…Beam will be positioning Baker’s as a single barrel. This is exciting as I’ve always had a soft spot for this unsung expression.
Happy 4th!!
Great review as usual! I just finished a bottle of Jan. 2019 WT101 and it was fantastic! Distinct from and, IMO, a bit better than its predecessor, an Aug. 2018 bottle. It’s amazing that bourbon this good is always available for under $20 at my local supermarket but I have a feeling that this party may not last forever…
The only thing in their way – at least right now – might be inventory. That’s something I didn’t think about when writing this post. Probably not near as many well-aged barrels as there are younger ones.
Thanks for the follow-up review. I have been curious if the quality has been maintained. Even if new stocks are preferred over last summer/fall, I am not tossing the bottles in my bunker. But I will be adding to it. WT101 is what a great daily sipper should be. Thanks again.
I’ve havr bottles of GI, GJ and GK, and they are all wonderful. Have GI and GK Rare Breed, and noticed a slight difference. The GK had a noticeably better nose, but the GI was maybe a smidgen better in the palate. Personally I’m thrilled with both, as you can really taste the age in both. Plan to pick up a HB next week to see if it continues or if I should bunker GK’s.
I saw a Bruce Russell post from about a year ago saying that he believed all 100+ Pf WTs should be NCF. We’ll see what happens. I agree that more dedicated bourbon drinkers will be their customers for >100 Pf brands and they will not be turned off if their whiskey gets a little cloudy when an ice cube is added.
I stumbled across your site recently and have really enjoyed your articles. I’m a relatively new bourbon enthusiast (a little over 3 years now) and have largely avoided Wild Turkey until recently (darn stereotypes)…. now it’s quickly denting my bank account. I tried Rare Breed about 2 years ago and didn’t particularly like it. However, the RR SiB VA Private Select I tried a year ago blew me away (from rickhouse G). It was awesome. I plan to revisit WTRB, as my palate has certainly matured and I definitely appreciate higher proof bourbons now.
So, being a Wild Turkey newbie, and after reading a few of your musings on WT101, I went to my local ABC store and stumbled across a small bottle of 2017 WT101 (LL/FG) and another small bottle of WT101 from 2018 (LL/GF). I currently have a liter of 2019 WT101 (LL/Hx) at home and it’s a great pour. So, tonight I’m doing a side by side comparison of the 2017, 2018, and 2019 bottlings to see if I notice a difference. Now that I have a few years under my belt tasting various bourbons, I think it’ll be a worthwhile exercise.
First off, the distinct Wild Turkey flavor is present in every bottle. It’s unmistakable. Side by the side the color was the same between all 3 years and the nosing was very similar, which is not too surprising. The 2017 bottle tasted “younger.” It had a spicier bite and not as sweet on my palate. The 2018 and 2019 bottles were very similar to each other. Compared to the 2017 bottle, they are noticeable smoother and perhaps somewhat sweeter. They also had a more refined oakiness in the background. Both 2018 and 2019 were very pleasant and noticeably different than the 2017. Not that 2017 is a bad pour – it was very good. But the 2018 and 2019 bottles were easier to enjoy neat. A must have on my shelf! What an incredible value.
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David, about a year ago I bought a RR SiB VA private selection that came from rickhouse G (delicious). Today I found another private VA selection that is from rickhouse A. Any way to know if either is from Tyrone or CN?
If it’s 2018-2019, A is CNA with only two exceptions that I’m aware of … Moonshine Grill’s “Cheesy Gold” and “Stay Thirsteen.” Those were tucked away in Tyrone A.
Great review! Can’t agree more on sharing vs selling. The best WT I have had was a sample of a 1984 decanter, shared with me by a total stranger. It’s always more satisfying to kill a good bottle with friends than to make a couple hundred bucks selling it.
Good advice I reckon David.
Last month I cracked a my last bottle of Tribute Japanese edition, and my last 17 Yo Japanese edition as well.
Firstly, a good friend and I enjoyed them around the campfire deep in the Australian wilderness.
On returning home, I invited a couple of other Wild Turkey worshippers around to my home to enjoy them as well.
One friend was almost in tears over the 17 Yo which he declared the finest Bourbon ever.
I’m not sure I can even argue with him.
Of course both corks were completely stuffed, so it needed electricians tape to secure the bottle tops.
David, I’m telling the truth.
Tribute, and 17 year old Japanese Edition are without a doubt the absolute greatest.
They have ruined me forever.
Completely perfect, and I don’t use that word lightly.
Now last month as well, I finally secured a bottle of Revival.
I wasn’t over excited by the 17 Yo Masters Keep.
It was ok.
The Decades was just ok, and the 1894 was rank.
I wasn’t overly positive about the Revival, but I remembered your positive review.
So in I went…
Well Im completely shocked.
Revival is the finest Of the Masters Keep range by a mile, and the finest recent release in years.
Complex and just so well made.
I’m in heaven.
And I’m all the more happy, because now I’m sure Eddie Russell can make great Bourbon just like his Legendary father.
I am dying to get hold of the Cornerstone Rye.
The wait is killing me.
Thanks for the fine Wild Turkey musings David.
Keep up the excellent work.
Wow. Thanks for the amazing comment. Yes, the 17/101 and Japanese Tribute are legendary pours. Possibly never to be topped. And Revival … with the Sherry influence, may not be for everyone, but for me (like you) … incredible. Have you tried W. B. Saffell yet?
Haven’t had the pleasure of trying the W.B Saffell yet.
As soon as I find it, I’ll buy it for sure.
I was grateful to finally find the Revival as I was sure it wasn’t going to reach Australian shores ever.
$200 AUD but worth every cent.😱
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I think you’ll love Saffell. And yes, Revival is worth every penny! Cheers!
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I have two bottles of Saffell and several different rock houses of WTKS tail fan bottles waiting for the right occasions to open and share them. They may not be dusty, but I know they’ll be exceptional when the right people and moments present themselves.
I have a Kentucky Spirit 2018 A4 that I just purchased and I’m looking forward to sampling. David, thanks for your all your work. Looking forward to buying your book.
Would you buy a 1987 wild turkey 80proof for $180? It’s got to be better than a Weller 12 fetching the same price on secondary markets? What’s your thoughts?
Vintage bottles are inherently rare and warrant a premium. Off-the-shelf Weller does not. I’d say buying dusty Wild Turkey, provided the transaction is legal and fair, is never a bad idea.
As for valuation, I think $180 for 80-Proof 1980’s Wild Turkey sounds high. But then, the market has changed rapidly in the last 12 months. Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re going for that.
Great review! Your description of the finish is what has me most excited to try Cornerstone – “intense vanilla, zesty citrus, and a sly, sugary lace that weaves through layers of licorice and faint ginger beer”. Give me that all day long!
I’ll probably end up with one, just because I love rye and I have had the other Master’s Keep releases, but at $160ish it sure is a hard sell. I’m looking at it as a one time expense though, and not something I’ll keep coming back to, even if I could find multiple bottles. And once it’s gone, I’ll have no issue going back to RRSiB Rye.
Hopefully this does well and WT decides to release more LE rye down the road. There’s certainly a market. And I agree with you, thank goodness for Bruce and his influence! The future of Wild Turkey is bright!
Scott, apologies for the delay. You’re always so thoughtful in your comments. I truly appreciate that. If you can find one and have the extra money, I’d recommend it. If you miss out, don’t get too upset. I honestly think RRSiB Rye is the better value. Cornerstone is the better whiskey, but not 3x better.
This is a regular on my shelf since I went through 2 Virginia store picks the past year. I do wish that the regular RR SiB’s had the rickhouse and barrel on the label. I like knowing what rickhouse locations I like best.
Great review! Man, I sure wouldn’t mind trying this, but at $175 a bottle that’s out of reach. Plus I could get a few bottles of the RR Rye SiB for that price. That being said, if I came across a bottle of this, it would be tempting.
Cornerstone is the best modern Turkey rye I’ve had to date, but yes, that price is tough to swallow. And as you said, you get a lot more return on investment with RRSiB Rye.
Well, it’s only available through lottery here in VA and I didn’t get picked. Apparently over 3000 people signed up for 282 bottles. LOL.
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Yikes! I know they’re out there. You might have to branch out a bit. 😉
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I’m still new to your site, so I’m gradually reading through your reviews. As a relatively new WT fan, I just picked up a bottle of RR Rye SiB yesterday to add to my collection of WT101 and RR SiB. I have a bottle of 101 Rye on hold at my local ABC that I hope to pick up soon. I digress..
I really enjoyed this review and was very interested in reading your tasting notes. I have to say that RR Rye SiB might be my favorite WT offering so far. I sipped a glass neat for the first time and my palate shouted “peppery cinnabon!” I’m not great at picking out specific flavors (which will come with time) but this one hit me immediately. I think my cinnabon captures and packages your more experienced tasting notes perfectly.
I look foreward to tasting this side by side with 101 Rye.
If Eddie and Bruce continue putting out ryes like this, sign me up.
I do wish WT would put the rickhouse and barrel numbers on these SiB offerings and not just on the private selections.
Thanks for commenting, Todd. Glad you liked the post. Sounds like you’re on track with tasting notes to me. Peppery Cinnabon makes total sense. Keep working through the Turkey catalog and if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email (or message on social media) at any time. Cheers!
Great review of the 17-759 bottle. I was fortunate enough to win the opportunity to purchase one in SCN’s lottery. Very well balanced, sweet, spicy, a touch of oak. A very spicy (for me anyway) finish with floral notes and that splash of cherry cola. Definitely a fun bourbon. Keep up the great work. Your passion for Wild Turkey absolutely shows through in your writing.
Alright…I think they both sound terrific.
Well, I went out yesterday to buy my first bottle of Longbranch just to do that 50/50 mix with one of my 4 bottles of Rarebreed that I have sittin’ around. It really is quite delicious. I think I’ll do a SBS with some of my 101 LL/GH and the Longbreed next week sometime. Have you tried that? 101 vs. 101.4…Cheers!
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Haven’t done that SBS but I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!
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Wow! What a fantastic experience. Rare Breed Rye? I’m in. Please, tell me more.
So, how does Wild Turkey pair with crab cakes?
And those cocktails sound amazing…. can you share recipes?
Rare Breed Rye should be a batch of 4, 6, and 8-year whiskey. I sipped a barrel-aged Manhattan with my crab cake sandwich. It was great, but next time I’d probably pair with 101 or Rare Breed on the rocks. I have a picture of the cocktail menu. Send me an email (or DM on IG or Twitter) and I’ll shoot it to you.
I’ll wildly guess the other great Master Distiller would be Jimmy and then Freddie Noe?
That 107 entry will be waited for with baited breath. I’ve sadly never had a CGF.
Rare Breed is a Kentucky straight bourbon. WTH is Rare Breed Rye? Oh, wait they really mean barrel proof WT rye, correct? I assume they are just leveraging the established Rare Breed brand name to hawk a 4 year rye whiskey at a premium price. Hmm…
Correct in that Rare Breed Rye will be a batched product – likely 4, 6, and 8-year straight rye whiskey at full barrel proof. It’s not a product to “hawk” – it’s a project Bruce and Eddie are very excited about. It just hasn’t been done before, as Jimmy’s not a big rye fan.
I’m sure it will be tasty so I didn’t mean anything really negative by it, but at the same time, the cross-branding that these companies are doing is kind of sketchy. I don’t blame the Russells at all by the way.
What’s really sketchy is how Campari is bastardizing the established (and legally required) practice of labeling an age stated product by referencing the youngest aged whiskey included in the batch. This will be a 4-year age stated whiskey, not a “4, 6, and 8 year” as you call it. Similarly, Rare Breed Bourbon is a 6 year bourbon, and calling it a “6, 8, and 12 year” product all the time is just marketing spin. I expect more from anyone who considers themselves as editorially independent. Otherwise it’s slippery slope for a reviewer, especially when an independent writer like yourself has so closely and exclusively aligned with a particular product, you have to careful.
Where’s Chuck Wade when we need them Lol.
I still love your blog though! It doesn’t sound like it but I’m a huge Turkey fan and a huge Jimmy and Eddy fan.
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I understand. There’s sketchy things going on in whiskey, but Rare Breed isn’t a good example. Nowhere on the bottle, website, or any recent official marketing information that I can find states the ages of the blend. That information comes from interviews with the Russells, whom I trust greatly (sounds like you do too). Non-age-stated whiskeys are just that – not age stated. I try to give as much information as possible, so long as I feel it’s accurate. If Eddie or Jimmy tells me something I think readers would like to know, I consider it accurate, and therefore, I publish it.
I’m 100% honest and very careful about everything I write, and if I’m wrong, I acknowledge and correct ASAP.
I follow Chuck Cowdery and Wade Woodard and respect their work. I also exchange information with them on occasion. I’d like to think if I were doing something I shouldn’t – promoting info I shouldn’t – they’d be there first to let me know. In fact, I’d expect nothing less.
Glad you enjoy the blog and I’m glad you’re a fan of Wild Turkey. Cheers!
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Looking forward to RBR! Also, the 107 entry is not going to be next master’s keep but a separate release? Will those be 15-16 year old?
Correct. Very limited – not a Master’s Keep (think RR 1998 and 2002). Not sure on the exact age, but most was distilled in 2003, so around 15-16 is my best guess.
Does a whiskeys price figure in to your ratings because that’s the only way I can figure out why this isn’t rated higher.i absolutely love this rye.after following your reviews for some time I thought my palette was aligned similar to yours but this rating throws me off.
No. Price was not a factor. Grab a few RRSiB Rye bottles from 2017-2018 and taste against Cornerstone blind. Love to hear your opinion afterward. Also, scores are subjective and relative to the reviewer. If you’re honest, you’re never wrong. We don’t have to agree on everything. That’d be pretty damn boring if we all did.
For me I think the old design of the bottle didn’t help with sales. It always made me think of Crown Royal. I can still get the older bottle for $54 when I want but the Rare Breed is so good. I do think WT should just end the Kentucky Spirit line. When I look at the line up it just seems so out of place.
Excellent tribute to a wonderful Wild Turkey distiller, bourbon ambassador, and man. God bless you, Jimmy Russell! Here’s to 65 more years with you at the helm of Wild Turkey!
There are not enough kind words that can be said about what Jimmy has done for the whiskey we love!!!! Thanks for your energy, thoughtfulness and creative drive Jimmy!!!!!!!
So, you state that Jimmy Russell had settled on the JTS Brown distillery by 1971 as the source for 101. Is it therefore reasonable to infer that the JTS Brown drunk by Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) in The Hustler (1961), was a direct progenitor of WT 101? Or do they change recipes as often as you change underwear?
Fats: “Preach, go down and get me some White Tavern whiskey, a glass and some ice.”
Fast Eddie: “Preacher, go on down and get me some bourbon. JTS Brown. No ice, no glass.”
Fats: “Preach, get it at Johnny’s.”
Forgive the demented interest, but that brief exchange always stuck in my head. P.S., I finally got hold of a pint of JTS some time in the early 2000s. Never tasted anything so one dimensional and uninteresting.
I posted this exact observation to Patreon a few months back (and have a private selection named for it in the works – see my article “Bourbon, Brunch, and Barrel Selections.”) Yep. That’s all Jimmy (at 86 proof)!
I finally picked up a bottle of this (my ABC got their own barrel before the bottle change and they still have tons) and I liked it. I just didn’t like it $35 more than the 101. It is a profile that I haven’t gotten from 101, but I wouldn’t call it a better profile, just an equally good different profile. Lots of dried spices (similar to the smell you get when you first open your spice cabinet and get a little note of almost every spice in there)…and on to the bottle. I thought it was bad before I saw it in person, but seeing it on the shelf it is absolutely one of the ugliest things in the store. I always thought the Tailfeather bottle was a little on the kitschy side, but you immediately identified it as a Wild Turkey product. This non-descript bottle and plain labeling remind me of a local craft whiskey trying to look classy. Quite possibly the biggest downgrade in packaging/labeling in the history of bourbon.
Glad you tried it! The ceiling can be pretty high on Kentucky Spirit, but then the floor is sometimes equivalent to 101. I’ve learned to “accept” the new bottle, but damn do I miss the old one!
September 10th is my birthday. I just turned 50 years old. That means that on the day that I was born in 1969, Jimmy Russell was celebrating his 15th year at WT. I used part of my birthday bonus from work this year to purchase my first bottle of Kentucky Spirit (tail feather bottle). It is delicious. I believe I’ll drink a pour tonight in his honor.
Nice you found a good and older bottling of the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel. I think these get left on store shelves based on price and the stigma of Wild Turkey. Currently a Single Barrel Russell’s Reserve hovers around $65 at Total Wine. With some of them being up and down most patrons will just go with WT 101 or Rare Breed. I too like going to smaller out of the way stores if I can. 2 weeks ago I found a 2015 Wild Turkey 101 gift set. it was the older label with the jar and oak stave to make cocktails.
Man you beat me to it. I found a 2015 bottling that looks to have the transitional label. I only paid $25 for it. I was going to compare it to a much more recent WT 101 bottling. I’ll keep RareBird’s thoughts on this one when I do my comparison. It’s Bourbon Night on Youtube was also ones who have said to get the older bottlings of WT 101 if you can at retail. It is fun going to the old Mom n Pop stores to see if they have the older stuff.
I’m doin’ my best with the almost impossible to find store picks that are within 300 miles of me. Have a couple 2-3 year old picks from Hilt All-Star liquors picked by Jed, Marcella and Eddie. One is Rickhouse O, Floor 5 and the other is Rickhouse G, Floor 5. The Rickhouse G is a bit better, but both are fantastic.
A friend of mine and I were enjoying Wild Turkey Wednesday last night. We poured ourselves a little 101 and exchanged the knowing looks that we were almost getting away with having outstanding whiskey at a discount. After a couple pours I decided to go inside and grab another WT expression. I almost reached for a store pick of Russel’s Reserve, but hesitated and decided to break out the W.B. Saffel as it had been awhile since I’d last tasted it. I poured us both a nice pour in a glencairn and took in a nice deep breath through the nose. The nose on this is amazing. I could sit and sniff this four hours. I took a sip and looked at my friend and said, “Ohhhhhh…you know, as good as 101 is…” She said before I could finish that thought, “Yeah, this is sex.” That pretty much summed it up.
No laser code from this tasting?! How else am I going to go clear the shelves? Ha, /sarc. Re NCF of RB, please ask Eddie next time you speak although I’m guessing this is a Campari decision
I wonder how a low proof dusty (1980s 86 proof comes to mind) would pair with a modern Rare Breed (112-118 proof). If lucky maybe one could experience something of those dusty funky notes but with a robust proof, without dropping the cash needed for a 8/101 from the dusty era.
I lean towards the 9-10 year KCSiB from my experience. They’re a damn good deal if you’re a Beam fan. That’s for sure!
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My guess…it’s chill filtered because that’s how Jimmy wants it. And we all know that Eddie has far too much respect for his father to go against his wishes while that wonderful man is still with us. I think Eddie would like to do a lot of things differently and probably try some new things. I think they’re likely on the back burner for now. Patience, Jedi Master…patience. 😉
Possibly, but I doubt it. They’ll both tell you the best whiskey comes straight from the barrel. Ain’t no chill filtration happening with that experience. I’m sure there are concerns on the corporate side in regards to cosmetic appeal. I respect those concerns, but would rather see an NCF version (at least for enthusiasts).
Possibly. Who knows? I was hearing rumors in the summer of 2018. I believe that episode was recorded in Sept. Codes are cool and fun to compare batches, but the rumors of older whiskey compositions must be taken with a grain of salt.
Thanks for saving me $46.99 plus tax. I was in a small store and saw they had WT Rare Breed in the old label. I saw the neck and it said 112.8 proof and remembered seeing something about it mentioned before here. Glad I checked. Left that dusty bottle on the shelf.
Man oh man.. I have to run back to the small hole in the wall store where I just found the WT Diamond Anniversary. I didn’t have good signal and couldn’t check here for a review so I didn’t buy it. They had it for $130 all in.
Thanks for chiming in. Over the weekend I got back to that store and got lucky. I was able to get the WT Diamond Anniversary at $130 and found they had WT 101 that was bottled in 2012 with an MSRP price tag. I found a new WT 101 honey hole. Thanks also for the bottle code guide. It has helped me interpret the codes and select better. One store clerk makes fun of me because I look at the date codes.
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I always get looks for code inspections. 😄
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Great article. I love Rare Breed. It’s my favorite Wild Turkey product, but one thing about it has always flummoxed me. Why do you think they pick a proof and force themselves to blend every batch to that proof? Can they add some percentage of water to get the proof to 116.8 with “barrel proof” on the label? It seems by forcing themselves to blend to a proof it would complicate them blending batches to match a consistent taste profile. It’s my favorite product so I’m asking out of curiosity rather than being critical.
Could it be they don’t care that different batches of the same proof taste different as long as they’re good? I’ve never had blind side by sides of different batches of 116.8 but the research needs to be done ;). Perhaps a Wild Turkey enthusiast blogger will one day!
Well that answer came much faster than I imagined! I’m not sure how I missed that last year. Thanks!
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I came here to ask basically the same question: do they really use a bottle proof like 116.8 to aim at rather than a flavor profile that can vary significantly in ABV? Is printing and clearing new bottle labels with an updated ABV really that difficult (assuming that’s a factor as well)? I guess ultimately the question is HOW much variance are they allowed with the ABV that they state on the bottle?
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The TTB allows for a .15% tolerance in the label’s stated ABV. The ATF allows for a 1.0% tolerance to state a whiskey as “barrel proof.” I’m no expert, nor WT employee, but my guess is that they batch slightly over 116.8 and add as little water as needed (under 1%) to reach 116.8.
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But like you I wish they’d just opt for new batches every year or so like it was in the 1990s. And … no chill filtration. Rare Breed is awesome, but it could be better with some simple changes.
Sorry if this is a dupe post. WordPress is acting funny on my phone this morning. Part of me wonders if the WT 101 Rye shortage is due to Bruce’s new Rye whiskey based on the different mashbill. I can’t find new WT 101 Rye anywhere by me. Only 81 proof Rye is available along with the Russell Reserve SB Rye. I talked to some small store owners and they said they can only get WT 81 proof from their vendors. Another great article. I like the idea of a small craft WT distillery. Their 1st batch from there should be called Joretta’s batch or WT Freeman.
No worries! Keep in mind these are just my personal suggestions (I don’t work for WT/Campari). Joretta is so humble I doubt she’d want anything named after her. And Bruce wants to experiment with additional rye mash bills, but to my knowledge that hasn’t happened (yet). Let’s hope!
I’ve got an unopened LL/GD of this so it’s the April, 2018 stuff. Bought it only 3 weeks ago and looking forwatd to opening it soon. I won’t pay $175 for Cornerstone either. Thanks for the fine review.
OK, literally on the side of the base of the bottle – found it. Wow, easy to miss (which I obviously had!). Thanks!
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Anytime!
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Interesting thoughts! I would love to see a different style Rye from WT and with the current trend in Rye, I think its a no-brainer. And speaking of a smaller craft experimental distillery, do you know what they did with the old WT distilling site? Maybe with some light renovation, this could fit the bill.
You state that the private rye selections you’ve tried are from warehouse E. I didn’t even realize that WT offered RRSiB Rye store picks. I rarely even see the regular version. Have wanted to try this one for awhile but haven’t jumped on it since it’s more than Pikesville or Knob Creek SiB Rye.
Yep. There’s a few reviewed on this blog. Unfortunately, no recent RRSiB Rye picks, as those barrels likely went into Cornerstone. I’m sure they’ll come back soon, though.
Hmm. This was rather interesting write up. I just checked my Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbons and I may be able to recreate a comparison like this. I’ve got a 2016 store pick from Warehouse G vs. a 2014 retail bottle that I found a month ago. Thanks for the inspiration.
Is there a difference in flavor profile from the different floors? I just found my 2016 store pick from Warehouse G like the one tasted here but from floor 6 instead of floor 4. I don’t know if this factors in too but the barrel number of the pick I got is 3101. I’m guessing these warehouses are huge to have over 3000 barrels. Thanks
Yes, floor can make a huge impact. Lower floors have cooler temps and lower the ABV over time. Higher floors have hotter temps and raise the ABV over time. They affect flavor in different ways as well.
Where I am quality Bourbons at MSRP fly off the shelves. To me a dusty is a bottle that has a bottling code of 5 years ago. Hell some Wild Turkey Rare Breed’s from 3 years ago some would consider dusty by me. They pretty much get scooped up and if something is left over it is an oddity. Now I’ve found some Scotches that have sat on a store shelf for 10-13 years. The thing that stinks about buying those bottles is the damn cork rot. I’m finding if the spirit has been sitting in the bottle for at least 10 years just be ready for the cork rot.
I’ve opened 20- to 40-year-old bottles numerous times. Breaks? Absolutely. Rot? Never once. As long as it’s kept upright and not laying down, should be a-okay!
Just got mine this AM and figured…why not, it is almost noon. In this regard we always try to do barrel selections in the AM when the palate is very fresh…. In any case my thoughts ROTT ….. very unique RR. Nose is bright with very fresh fruit notes, dark brown sugar, no alcohol with subtle spice cake notes….gorgeous nose! Palate is soft yet has a chewy note to it as the mouth feel is viscous. Lots of fruit, cherries, burnt sugar and spiced wafers. This drinks well below its abv! Beautiful entry, a very long transition..it just lingers… near perfect balance and deep flavor concentration. The finish is long and fall spice notes emerge. IMO opinion an exceptional turkey…hats off to the pickers!!
Why do they call this export bottle a pseudo split label? I know the US version is in fact pseudo, but the one in the photo appears to have a detached bottom strip.
I enjoyed your post and do agree. Personally, I would extend your sentiment of “I’m only saying that a single blind tasting is prone to mood and error” to include all tastings. For me personally, I am continually amazed that there are occasional nights where my reliably favorite whiskeys are ‘just okay’ to me only to rebound to toe-curlingly good a few days later.
A funny and related aside – My much better half has had a few pours of the 116.8 Rare Breed and has always casually described it as ‘good’. A few weeks ago, passing through the kitchen, she noticed I had a pour of something neat but did not know what it was. She smelled, then took a sip and proclaimed it to be outstanding and immediately inquired what it was. You guessed it, it was our 18-month old bottle of 116.8 Rare Breed that we occasionally uncork and enjoy. Personally I never embrace or reject a whiskey based off one pour alone; like any relationship, it takes time to understand your dancing partner so to speak.
Thank you! Very good point. You are correct, which is exactly why I’ve moved from reviewing samples to reviewing primarily bottles (there are exceptions, of course). The cumulative time spent helps provide a better idea of an overall sipping experience. Cheers and thanks for commenting!
I just passed on a KS pick in a Reno Total Wine. Dammit..Never had a KS pick before.
However, I should be forgiven as I spent $340 on some Smoke Wagon and Knob Creek CS Rye and a Barrell #17.
Just came across this interview online from Whisky Advocate from about a year ago with Fred Beam and Jimmy. At about 4:30-4:40 Jimmy says that Rare Breed is un-chill-filtered.
I covered that on Patreon earlier this year. Yes, Jimmy is allowed some room for error at his age. Rare Breed is in fact chill filtered (presently). Love Jimmy though!
Gotcha. Thanks for the follow up. Here’s to hoping that changes!
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Cheers to that!
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Not a Wild Turkey, but recently received several decanters of Jim Beam from the late 70’s. They were all full, even had tax stamps still on them. Opened one and cork broke. We strained out the cork and enjoyed some very fine bourbon. Taste profile is completely different than the current Beam.
I purchased with high expectations, found it not to my liking. Mixed a Manhattan…sublime rest of the bottle I thourghly enjoyed. Thanks for the review 🙂
Well I have a special place in my heart for this bottle because it was the whiskey that first opened my eyes to decent bourbon and got me to writing down notes and thinking about what I was drinking.
I thought that was a Negroni on the coaster until I realized it must not be with that RR10 sitting right next to it. I know who the r/Bourbon guy is you write about. He is very passionate about his opinions and I agree with him about a lot of things, but about the RR10 being swill…that’s really off base.
Love the Hackell idea…
Definitely don’t want to call anyone out, but it sure ain’t “swill.” Very close to a Negroni BTW. And yes – do try the Hackell next to Saffell. I’d love to hear your opinion if you do.
I enjoy the barrel proof offering on occasion, but most of them become quickly overpowering for me. Ive found that I like a proof range of about 90 to 110 and RR10 fits into the low end of that range nicely. Its not really the proof that I like about the bottle though, its that the flavor is full and vibrant with a great balance between sweetness, oak and spice. Absolutely a workhorse in cocktails and in my opinion offers an additional layer of complexity and richness over the standby 101. Barrel proof is not the end all be all of bourbon, and even low proof bottles absolutely have their place. This has been a topic I wanted to see brought up for a while and I am happy to see it come up here.
I have had both (although admittedly my RR10 is from a few years ago, it languishes on shelves around here), and while I have not tried them blind, after going through full bottles of each over several months I think the profiles are very different. RR10 comes across with a lot of maturity, loads of soft oak, baking spice and caramel while the WT13 has a lot of fruit notes offset by darker wood. If I was a betting man, the main differences in profile would come from where they were aged in the rickhouse, I wouldent be surprised if the 13 is aged low and slow, while the 10 is more of a mid simmer.
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I tried a 2017 WT13 (thanks to a generous traveler 🙂) vs. a 2018 RR10 blind and found them far more similar than different. Give it a try!
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For the hackell, you say equal parts, but what’s the volume or is it exponential? And would you recommend a specific expression to bottle it in?
And how would one come across the camp Nelson a and f Russels? Just crate digging or are they now impossible to find?
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Virtually all the private selects right now are CNA and CNF.
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I absolutely love the Rare Breed version 116.8 ! But I am predjudice towards Wild Turkey products….Wild Turkey….Across the boad is an honest value for the “Working Man”.
Don’t let the hype monsters get you down. This is an amazing blog, and I can’t wait to get my copy of the book. This type of hype can be found in other “collectibles” and there will always be the “necessity” of having whatever it is. But what really does owning a bottle do to your experience? Most people I know who have one haven’t even tasted the juice. Seems stupid. Reminds me of the story Freddie Johnson told to somebody who pointed out that he had multiple pappys. I recommend it if you haven’t seen it.
Anyway, keep doing what you’re doing, spreading the good word on good bourbon, experiences, and good people.
Ps – I ran out to my local store (VA unfortunately) and made sure RB wasn’t going the way of McKenna. Seems the hype wasn’t “big” enough for those fans. And I’m 100% ok with that.
Thank you so much. I’m fine with it, honestly. I don’t seek out the highly sought-after products any longer. If I lucked up on them at retail – absolutely, I’d buy. But outside of that … I’m 110% happy with Turkey. Thanks for all of the support and I’m glad you’re looking forward to the book (I am too!). And thanks for taking the time to comment today. dj
I listened to the Bourbon Counterfeiter podcast and came away completely frustrated.
1) Why invite him on if you werent trying to spread detailed information for the community of what to look for in order to spot a fake?
2) Asking for more “remorse” was a joke. No one who was not personally affected by him cares if he is sorry enough now. It was something that happened in the past what relevance does his adequate remorse have now?
3) Glossed over was the substance abuse aspect of the counterfeiter. That seems like something this community specifically should look into fully and discuss how his actions were fueled by his addiction, and became self serving a d all encompassing. Acting like he was just a bad person for defrauding the illegal marketplace of bourbon seemed like a strange high horse to get on when a larger issue that affects many of the bourbon community was thrust right in front of their faces but all they could muster was “I don’t think you’re remorseful enough”
4) Why was Fred so intent on this guy turning himself in? Seems like a bigger issue would be if he admits that he sold a bunch of counterfeit whiskey then he is going to have to tell the authorities who exactly he sold whiskey to, thereby incriminating people that were already ripped off by this guy… That’s such a short sighted thought process by Fred, even though I don’t think his intentions were bad.
5) Again, I come back to why have this guy on unless you wanted to learn how he did it, or dig into his underlying addiction issues. Either of those topics would have been infinitely better than just berating him about not turning himself in and being properly remorseful
Your thorough comment deserves a response (and thank you for taking the time to post, BTW).
1. That was my thought going in. I kept waiting to get the details, and outside of eBay (no mention of which label), it never came. Transparency is a good thing. We’re not talking about dirty bombs here.
2. Yeah, I could give two flips about “John’s” remorse.
3. Honestly, I think it would’ve taken us even further off the bourbon path. They should’ve just kept it focused. But that’s only my opinion.
4. Turning himself in would only expose an even larger field of legal issues.
5. It could’ve – should’ve – been more informative. There should’ve been more takeaway. That’s only my opinion. I guess it was about remorse and redemption, not counterfeiting. We need a solid counterfeiting episode.
I completely agree with what you said, and agree that talking about the substance abuse would have gotten us further from actual bourbon related information. My only reason for even considering that tract was that the podcast seemed not to care about the bourbon related information and instead focused more on the personal retributive aspects of the person. I felt that ignoring the personal retributive path of addiction and substance abuse while also ignoring the actual bourbon counterfeiting information seemed like missing all the boats for me. No information, and no understanding of what drove his actions. It just seemed like a greatly missed opportunity.
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Good point. If you’re going to go down the personal/redemption path (which I’d rather they’d avoid, BUT) then that was a missed opportunity. Yes.
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The total avoidance of the addiction was disappointing. Was it opiates or something similar or alcohol. If it was alcohol it should have been discussed. That elephant is almost totally ignored in bourbon culture. I wonder why?
That could be fixed with an edit of the intro. Also, checkout Ralfy’s “Great Taboo” on YouTube. 👍
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I’m sorry that you feel our interview was a low point and “useless” Our motive in the interview was to highlight the emotional pain and suffering that this individual and his family had gone through as a result of defrauding individuals with his counterfeit. We hoped that highlighting the suffering and consequences would deter anyone from doing it again. Yes we could of gone over more technical “how to spot a fraud” but like Fred said in the interview, that changes rapidly. and to be honest I don’t think his methods were that advanced. Yes Fred was very angry and it even became uncomfortable throughout the interview. I feel he was taking the voice of the people that had been defrauded. I don’t think he was coming from a point of “moral
Superiority” or I’m better than you. We are all
screw ups and make mistakes and we all understand that. He was trying to voice the anger of those that had been frauded. We really thought we were trying to do the community a service by exposing the consequences of trying to defraud the community. We had no ill intentions and I’m still amazed and disappointed by the negative comments and feelings about this episode. You have to understand that we pondered on this forever and had a criminal invited into Kenny’s home to share his story. It was a very uncomfortable interview that we all three hated doing. But we felt it was too important to let it go uncovered.
Ryan, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. To be completely fair, I never said “useless.” I did say “low point,” and I stand by that. Just as I’ve criticized some of Jimmy and Eddie’s hard work (don’t forget you guys do product reviews too), I sometimes offer my opinion on bourbon-related matters. I respect your hard work, but let’s be honest – they can’t all be winners. That goes for me – for everyone.
As for specifics, I never once commented on Fred’s (or yours or Kenny’s) emotions. Fred’s admitted he would’ve handled it better in hindsight, so that’s that. And truthfully, I really appreciated your angle – but – this ain’t church. This ain’t daddy’s sit down. This is Bourbon Pursuit. It didn’t feel like Bourbon Pursuit. Look, it wasn’t fun writing this post. In fact, I sent it to several friends saying, “Should I even do this?” But the fact of the matter is it’s the truth – at least the truth with how I feel. Jimmy and Eddie don’t get a pass. If they produce a flop, I call it a flop. I admire what you were going for, but it didn’t translate for me. I’m very sorry. You guys do great work. You’ll do even better work in the future. I have complete confidence in that.
I was replying to everyone not just you David. Sorry I should have clarified that. I appreciate and welcome the criticism, I guess I just don’t understand it. The “bourbon” information that everyone was wanting us to stick to and extract was shallow and to be honest would have only lasted 5-10 min. It literary was as simple as him buying bottles off eBay, refilling them with Weller, and heat sealing them with a hair dryer. Podcast over. I understand you want the show to be just fun bourbon stuff but I feel it’s very short sighted. Our bourbon hobby, and life is more than that. It’s very emotional to us and something we are very passionate about. This individual took a piece of that away, and we didn’t want that to happen again. There’s a dark side to everything and if you don’t shine light on it then it will remain hidden and will resurface again. This will be my last comment on this and I’m sorry it didn’t translate for you and that others don’t agree with our intent. I still don’t regret it and think it was the right decision. Now back to having fun.
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Thanks for replying and clarifying, Ryan. I thought about addressing some of your points here, because I don’t want you to assume that I only want “fun bourbon” topics. That’s certainly not true. But I’ll take a step back. It’s your episode to defend, and … well, you should. You put a lot into it. You deserve the last word. You deserve the closing argument. I will say that I think with some crafty editing you could have a much stronger, even more meaningful episode. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to hear my ideas. (Honestly, I wish I’d thought of them before this post because I probably would’ve sent them to Fred, as I often “over-message.”) I’d be happy to give you my cell. Other than that, I hope we (including Fred and Kenny) can leave this matter as bourbon friends. I respect you – all of you – and your hard work. Take care. dj
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With all due respect to BP, the episode was very bad. It’s that simple. I understand their purpose for wanting to do it, but it was poorly, poorly executed. I actually feel bad for Ryan and Kenny. Fred was awful through the entire episode. The self righteous “holier than thou” act was ridiculous. I truly believe that since he has joined the show, the content and purpose has taken a wrong turn.
And above all, YOU are allowed to have an opinion. People don’t care to be criticized. It makes them uncomfortable. I’ve also learned that people defend intentions, NOT actions. The BP guys may be doing just that.
David you have a gift with this bourbon thing. And the way you express it is entirely up to you. But, please don’t ever compromise that because someone may not be able to handle truth and criticism.
Thanks for your support. As I said, it was a low point for me. I don’t place blame on Kenny, Ryan, or Fred, but rather the episode in general. I think it could possibly be improved with some content/time editing and a new intro. But even so, it is what it is. Life goes on. Thanks again, Bryan.
Glad I wasn’t the only one that felt this way. I was listening on my headphones, just cringing as Daddy Fred spanked the counterfeiter. Had to just turn it off.
I don’t really feel bad for guys that bought bogus juice. What do expect when you’re sending PayPal f/f to some schmo in Kentucky.
And to bourbon pursuit crew- this hype bs that makes bottles impossible to find is on your hands too. Cough cough McKenna…
Couldn’t agree more. Fred was angry, and felt 100% fake. Ryan and Kenny did an amazing job with the interview. The only low point in the whole thing was Fred, and his holier than thou turn yourself in BS. Worst episode ever. At this point, the whole thing would be better without Fred. I pulled my support, and rarely listen anymore. Again, Ryan and Kenny, ya’ll do a great job.
Fred has publicly expressed his dissatisfaction for how the interview was conducted on his part. I respect that, so I left it out of my post. Is what it is at this point.
Yeah, listening to Fred say over and over “to turn himself in” just had my eyes rolling. We get it, he did a terrible thing. But it was illegal. And so was purchasing those bottles from him. Is one crime worse than another? Was this not an assumed risk for ANYBODY choosing to get there bourbon in this manner? I don’t condone what the man did, but I understand what he did and why he did it. The episode spent far too much time dwelling on his feelings. I still don’t care about those. I just wanted to know what bottles, how he did it and what to watch out for. As you stated, “It’s not like we’re talking about a dirty bomb”. Also, I don’t feel he was honest about how many he counterfeited. The math didn’t add up when he said how much he sold for and how much he thinks he made. I think he just copped to what he was definitively caught for. It was a delicate subject and they should have been far more prepared going into it. Not all of the episodes are going to be winners. I’m glad I’m not alone in how I felt about it.
That said, the Pappy 23 vs. The Field tastings were fun to watch. I ordered more W.B. Saffell and a bottle of Woodinville. Cheers to you, Dave. Always enjoy reading what you have to say. I find your rant pieces are quite entertaining. 😉
Does anyone here know how many bottles of Decades batch 1 were produced ?
Mine is # 72336 Bottle ( seems high ) code: LL/ EE 310719 Bought in Germany 700 mL
Bought from a reputable German Distributor company. Was very expensive, very special for- to Me.
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It’s an excellent bourbon. Glad you were able to find one.
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I feel like I remember hearing that barrel proof Russell’s Reserve single barrel was happening. Am I wrong?
As for the rest of the list, my top three would be NCF, 12/101, and more RR Rye picks. The “off the shelf” RR Ryes are rock solid, especially the recent ones, but I’d love to taste some private picks just to get some off-profile variety.
Either way it’s shaping up to be an exciting 2020 for Wild Turkey!
It’s supposed to, but it’s staying on the list until I see it. And I’d love to not only have RRSiB Rye selects, but pick ‘em too! Is that greedy of me? 🙂
So for “Barrel-Proof, Single-Barrel Wild Turkey KSBW” you mean to say something under the Wild Turkey brand name? Like a single barrel Rare Breed, basically? I suppose in order to see the main line flavor profile at barrel proof as opposed to the more curated Russell’s barrels? I imagine they probably think Russell’s Reserve single barrels satisfy this desire, but I can agree with you that it’d be fun to see a WT branded one—perhaps at a slightly lower price??
Agreed! I wonder if/how many WT barrels get upwards of 60% ABV given the relatively lower entry proof they use. It’d be fun to try some of those if they exist (assuming they make the grade quality-wise).
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A good many actually. Depends on the floor. I’d say most are 115-125. I’ve seen as high as 132 or so.
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Solid list, I concur with everything.
Most important to me is the Non-Chill Filtering. Do it to the 81 if you must, but everything else should be NCF.
If Russell’s Reserve 10 year was 101 proof and non-chill filter it would sell through the roof.
You would think NCF would be the most attainable- Eddie & Jimmy want it, enthusiasts want it, and it would actually save the company money.
As always, thoughtful and insightful. I’m on team NCF, but I have a feeling the 101 flagship brands (101 Turkey and 101 rye) will not be considered for it because they are mass market appeal bottles while things like Rare Breed and Russells Reserve are more geared to the enthusiast.
Im excited about the Rare Breed Rye, and while WT typically escapes the bourbon hype machine of today, this label is generating some noticeable buzz in the Reddits and discussion forums, which is nice to see. This actually makes me think back on how well WT has handled their stock and product lines in the current market. You already know this, but if you want a particular WT product, its usually as easy as heading to your local store. Even limited editions are pretty easy to find if you want it (I was happy to find a local store stocking Cornerstone even in Japan). The same cannot be said of other major producers such as Buffalo Trace (the worst offender), Four Roses and even Brown Forman. Beam and maybe Heaven Hill have done better, but certainly have their limited products that you just cant find. WT on the other hand is always there for a reasonable price, and with the Rare Breed Rye, I know there will be enough to go around when it is released.
As for the other points, I hope 2020 sees them all come to light! Its a new decade and a great point in time for WT to really step up their game in the modern whiskey world.
Thanks so much! And thank you for taking the time to comment.
Yes, I doubt 101 and 101 Rye will get NCF … but it doesn’t hurt to ask! 🙂
Rare Breed Rye has a lot of promise on paper. We know it’ll likely be younger in comparison to Rare Breed (KSBW), but rye can really shine in that 4-8 year area – especially at full barrel proof. You make great points about availability. Hopefully, things will stay this way.
Haha, maybe I spoke too soon! I was listening to the Bourbon Pursuit interview with Eddie from almost a year ago, and there was a ton of great information in there. I usually expect such Q&As to be quite limited in terms of historic/technical information, but Eddie was very honest and forthcoming in his answers. From the underlying reasons of the barrel entry proof increase to why they chill filter so many of their offerings and the lack of single barrel-barrel proof, he hit on a ton of issues. He also made it very clear that if it was up to him they wouldent chill filter anything but the ~80 proof offerings. Maybe someday we will get the 101 NCF!
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That is a fantastic episode. I like the Russell family one as well. Also, check out One Nation Under Whisky’s time with Bruce, as well as Dads Drinking Bourbon. All great podcasts.
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Just bought a 2009 Austin Nichols WT 101 on the way home. Thank you for your science.
What a great article/ a great read!
Jimmy is such a legend, not only for building the Wild Turkey Brand with excellent products.
And look what Eddie Russell doin…
It’s the hard work and values as well as some stubbornness which impress Me.
Jimmy defines what ” doin it right” is all about!
I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with him a few years back.
“Just a Country Boy from Kentucky”……?
To Me, He’s a living Legend!
Greetings from Germany……Just snagged a case of Rare Breed 116.8 LL/ HA bottles at
Euro 27.80- per bottle. What a steal !
Just got my first bottle of RR SiB! Was wondering about the different aging locations—I’ve seen and heard talk about Camp Nelson and also maybe Tyrone. When the labels only list a letter (like my bottle’s “A” that was dumped and bottled in September of 2019), is there any way to know which site it may be from? Does each site start with A, so there are two (or more) different A rickhouses—one for each site? Or is each letter a unique rickhouse across all of Wild Turkey’s aging stock and there is only one “A”?
There are two As: Tyrone and Camp Nelson (three if McBrayer has letters – never seen a SiB form McBrayer, though). Being a Sep 2019 release, it’s most certainly Camp Nelson. CNA and CNF are “in season” this year. It’s up to the Campari rep to fill out the tag with location detail. Some say A; some say CNA. Either way it should taste delicious!
I don’t think I’ve ever even seen a Spiced on the shelf around here, and I’ve certainly never thought to seek one out. Glad to see it works well as a cocktail component though, and that eggnog recipe sounds fantastic!
SWEET!! Thanks for the helpful review. Now I’m even happier I found a 2012 and 2013 bottling of this. Scored them for around $45 each. Sometimes you gotta love those small out of the way stores. They can yield some good finds. Can’t wait to taste them and compare notes.
I enjoy whiskey. I am a sipper. I decided to try Rare Breed 116,8. I was very disappointed. How can any one comment on the flavor sources? The harsh bite of the alcohol ruins any chance the whiskey has. Wish I had my $ 65.00 back.
Happy Holidays. I am a new bourbon drinker. My first was WT101 this spring. I am a 49 year old sole provider and live paycheck to paycheck providing for my family of a wife and couple kids. I’ve always been an IPA beer guy and never considered bourbon.
My first sips of WT 101 were mixed. My taste buds were not used to it. I was still interested as I knew this was a long cherished tradition of sipping bourbon. So I kept drinking. I went from a 50ml sample to a fifth. My appreciation for WT101 continued to grow more and more with each drink. I learned how to savor it. I mainly drink it neat or with a splash of water or a cube depending on the mood.
I have tried some other bourbons in the same price range but none of them have the complexity or taste I have grown to love on WT101. Here in Seattle we have ridiculously high liquor taxes so I cannot afford anything over WT101. Even this is a stretch for my budget. I do drink two drams a night, sometimes three on weekends. I would love to try Rare Breed or others in the WT line up but it’s just not possible. Maybe one day. I am just thrilled WT101 is so well respected and a drink I can enjoy every day.
I enjoy reading your reviews and appreciate your enthusiasm for Wild Turkey. I’ve watched all the official YouTube videos from WT and am happy with what a great family tradition the distillery is founded on. I look forward to learning more from your blog. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Michial. Without doubt, Wild Turkey is the everyman’s champion. So much integrity and flavor in an affordable offering. You hit the nail on the head. It must be tough as a sole provider, so I can understand the need for a budget pour. Might I recommend Russell’s Reserve 10-year for an occasional splurge (should you have the ability)? It won in a blind tasting over 101 last night (and three other bourbons), which in some ways surprised me. I think you’ll find it’s worth every penny of $30 (should you find it priced appropriately). Cheers and Happy New Year to you!
Thanks for the quick response. I have had both successes and disappointments with RR10. One of my local liquor stores has several cases of RR10 LL/HI on sale for $30 (usually they charge $40). I bought one yesterday and will make a point of giving it a try soon so I can possibly buy more at that price.
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$30 is a solid price. I can’t think of the last time I saw it for less.
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Ahhhhh, ’74 – my high school graduation. Wasted all my spare change on Budweiser, Gallo Burgundy and Annie Green Springs. Oh to go back and grab a boatload of the WT101 8. Only in my dreams!
A few years back my brother in law found a bottle of WT 101 8 yr from the mid-70s at an estate sale. I determined it’s approx. age from the label style which was identical to this one, except it was a regular fifth. It was the best bourbon that I’ve ever had. I too graduated HS in 1974 and in college I was drinking Jack and Jim Beam. I wish then I had tried the “old man’s bourbon” back then.
I’m currently working on a KS from Feb 2018 from Warehouse A Rick 4 and have been really enjoying it. A nice cherry on the finish. I’ll be picking up another bottle of this from my local store that still has a few from this barrel left. KS doesn’t seem to fly off the shelf and that’s ok by me. More for me.
$ question here. While I agree with your assessment of 112.8 vs 116.8, I’ve come across a stash of 112.8’s in the 375ml for $17 per. I do like 112.8, but not at $50+ a 750. Thoughts on thos buy at the equivalent of $34 a 750ml??
For me just to know the difference between WT 101 vs Rare Breed 112.8 vs. Rare Breed 116 I’d buy those Rare Breed 375mls for $17. In my area a 750ml Rare Breed sells for $41 so for 750ml of that 112.8 Rare Breed is $34. $7 difference. Worth it to me to try and see the difference or to get the experience.
Great advice. Never hurts to try. Besides, some folks really like 112.8.
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I was given a sealed 1983 WT 101 8yr Flying Turkey decanter last year. I think the purpose of these decorative decanters were to sell excess whiskey to non-whiskey drinkers. They sure weren’t made for pouring out whiskey. Of course the cork broke, so I decanted it (well most of it) to a newly emptied 101 bottle. Though concerned about possible lead contamination from the glaze, I have been slowly sipping on it and it is Dusty and Funky. It’s so different from the current offerings. I have to be in the mood for da funk to reach for it, but I do enjoy it. I wouldn’t rate it in my all-time favorite bourbons or Wild Turkey offerings, but there is lots of stuff going on in there.
The decanters were an attempt to sell more bourbon – definitely. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out in the long run. You’re right, decanter whiskey can be excellent (not always, but frequently so if stored properly). Lead glaze is a concern, so I typically avoid them. A little here and there is probably okay, but I’m not health expert. You can buy lead testing strips if you want more peace of mind.
great read, and “better” news for us far from the distillery who will never see (and worse, taste!) the bottles. I wonder if the Russells will ever make way for a master taster? You have definitely got the pedigree and then some. cheers
Hey RareBird ! Just cracked open a bottle of 101.
LL/ GJ291136 (29 Oct. 2018) Best bottle of 101 ever !
But Why?
Because of the Longbranch 8 year old stock drain ?
WT 101 as so amazing ! Decades…WOW ! Rare Breed 116.8 Superb ! I love Wild Turkey …..
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You and me both!
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Totally on with Wild Turkey stepping up their Rye game.
Remember the times when WT 101 Rye was not available/ allocated ? ….2012 ?
Eddie and Bruce should make it happen…A long term Rye strategy.
Interesting I’m sipping on a barrel selection from F, floor six bottled on the 13th of 2009. This is from one of the more established 10+ years bourbon bars in Houston that’s been making selections from WT I believe since the inception of the barrel program.
A really solid pour, those F’s are really killing it.
THE BIG CON. The smell of funny business was revealed with greater and greater clarity for me as the number of private selections and store picks grew. At this point I believe I should only need to point out that the number of privileged retailers, retailers with proper tasting ability, friends, business ‘opportunity’ contacts, media boosters, clubs and groups in private tasting sessions, far exceeds the number of available special quality barrels in the output of any distiller.
And just to cast even more doubt, allow me to point out that you’re picking 100th (?), two hundredth (?), one thousandth (?) in line from a facility that produces barrels in the hundreds or thousands, So what are your odds? This ain’t Coca-Cola after all.
People are more likely buying average or sub-quality for a $10-20 dollar premium and a bottle sticker that supposedly assures them of extra quality. It’s time to cut the shit. The bourbon drinking public is throwing money away on imagination. That special barrels exist, I have no doubt. That you’re going to be able purchase a special bottle after all the obstacles is a fools hope.
Eddie Russell takes great pride in the barrels selected for the private selection program, virtually handling every single one to date. While your experience may apply to other distilleries, Wild Turkey IMHO doesn’t adhere to flippant standards. There were about 500-600 private barrels last year. Some better than others, but all excellent and priced very well for the specs. Also, taste is subjective. A stellar barrel to one may very well be a subpar barrel to another.
I see no con here. Not with the Russells. Not with WT. But, I respect your opinion and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.
I was hoping you would not lapse into defending you favorite manufacturer as my comments were intended to apply to the industry as a whole. I also view the “taste is relative” argument, while applicable in some circumstances, is also used as a general excuse to defend against sub-par product, results, beauty, and taste, across all human behavior. It is essentially meaningless, equivalent to the “well it’s your opinion” defense.
None of it answers the problem that thousands of bottles are picked and labeled as ‘special’ when supply, picking position, abilities, and motives are only guessable from the consumers point of view.
I love Wild Turkey. It’s what I do. 🙂 Single barrels are inherently unique, as such, special is a relative term. Whether or not you appreciate each barrel is up to the individual. So long as they’re priced accordingly, what’s the harm?
Great post! And probably spot on regarding price. I have regularly picking up a 750 of WT101 for 17.99 at Kroger. Even NOT on sale it is only 19.99. While there are lots of other awesome bourbons out there that compare, or maybe even have a better taste, there are none like 101 below $20 IMHO.
But I am perplexed by the label/bottle change. Wouldn’t going to a Longbranch style bottle be just the opposite of what they did with WT KS? The dig on the ole “turkey butt” bottle was that it doesn’t fit in the well at a bar, and is usually sideways on a bar shelf. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the old KS bottle…but why switch the product that has the most chance of being in a well or on a shelf when they just moved their premium offering the other way?
Thanks Phil. WT 101 has been undervalued for a good while now. It’s probably due a slight price increase, though nothing extraordinary. As for the design change, one reason might have to do with how similar it presently looks to WT 81 on a shelf. Enthusiasts like you or I know the difference, but to the average liquor store shopper it’s not as obvious. The new labeling may be a way to set 101 apart and give it a little more class (class one could argue is surely deserving). Thanks for commenting!
Interesting…I hadn’t thought about WT 81. I rarely see it! But your comments make sense. If 81 is the well drink, then by all means, separate 101 from it and maybe bump the price a tad.
I’m blessed to be in KY so most “traditional” restaurants/bars have Jack, MM and Jim Beam white label. If I see either Bulleit or WT I feel like I’ve scored! Most around here are 101 but I can see those across the country being more of the 81.
Keep on writing. Much enjoy the insights and discussion!
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Thank you. Will do!
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Wish list: RR SiB Rye store pic. Ideally 7 years and 107°. I can dream.
Haha guys and girls, us everyday joes and janes in Australia have never seen a WT private barrel, they are unicorns. The upside is the WT brands including RR bottles are readily available and reasonably priced by Australian standards the equivalent of USD50. I did try to get some of the more popular stores to ship to Australia and it was $30 per bottle minimum of 6 bottles. So I wouldn’t be complaining too much…
Picked up a bottle of KS the other day. Old style bottle. Warehouse K Rick #4 bottled in 2017. Haven’t tried it yet.
I remember you saying something about warehouse K being special. What was it?
I recently opened a bottle of 01-99 and it is incredible stuff. It features a degree of maturity you just dont find often in current bourbon. It almost has a sweet oak-perfume note to it, which is unusual and very satisfying.
With any luck, down the road we will see some more refined Rare Breed releases as the label hits its stride with maturing stock. (I cant wait for that Rare Breed Rye either).
Hehe, I knew that bottle was familiar! Its the old school hang tag that offers “A Rare Opportunity”, unfortunately I dont think they are accepting mail in offers to join the Rare Breed club any more.
Never liked the present label with the overblown turkey head.
WT does change their labels rather frequently. I don’t blame WT for making packaging changes as an excuse to jack prices, if everyone else is doing the same.
WT is seriously the best bang ofor the buck…..any way you slice it.
p.s. just snagged a case of 101 for 20.- euro pro 1 liter bottle.
I love WT 101.
As I mentioned in the post, I’ll withhold judgement until I can see it for myself. I’m not opposed to a quality design, though. Agree 100% about its value.
Great Article !
Age statements are finally coming back !
Why?
Maybe after years of ramping up production capacity and increased supply/ stock, the Apex of the latest overhyped “Boom” has been reached?
I do think there are producers, such as Beam and Heaven Hill, that have the stocks necessary to make those happen worldwide. I don’t think 101 is there yet, but you can find 101/8 in Japan.
I’ll for sure miss the CNF picks when they’re gone. Haven’t had a bad one yet, and like you said, some are pretty special. Luckily I have 4 or 5 bottles left that I can milk for a while.
That being said – bring on the Tyrone picks! Super excited for A (should that actually happen), and the return of G.
So well balanced, so cohesive. Bold, flavorful, exquisite. Everything about this bourbon just works. Pretty much one of, if not the best, permanent expressions of any distiller out there. Maybe only second to RR SiB. Maybe.
I’ve personally never felt like I was missing out on something not having a barrel proof offering under the RR label, as the proof of RR Sib is perfect for me, but I definitely understand why that would help drive more enthusiasm for the brand. An age stated 10 year barrel proof offering under the RR label would sell like hot cakes I imagine. I actually kinda like the idea of it being batched as well. No doubt single barrels keep things interesting, but I like the consistency of a batched product too.
Just found a bottle of this, sitting dustry on the shelf. Owner gave my 10 dollars off. Same store sells Stagg Jr. for $100 and Dickel BIB for $129. I felt a tad wise leaving those behind and instead with some wonderful Turkey.
And really, since RB Rye is NCF then it shouldn’t be any issue at all to go NCF for RB Bourbon. They KNOW it’s a selling point or they wouldn’t have made it a point to note it on the RB Rye label. Doesn’t make much sense.
I am looking forward to the RB Rye, but it doesn’t get my blood pumping like a 10+ year batched barrel-proof KSBW release would.
Good stuff Mr. Bird. Some fine ideas in there. My latest favorite blend is a 50/50 mix of Rare Breed and and Knob Creek SiB 120p. A tasty bowl of warm, funky nuttiness. Cheers!
Well said David. There’s a place and time for any decently made whisky.
Have you noticed if the profile has evolved at all over the last decade or so? Or is it locked in at this level?
I’d say since 81’s introduction (2011) it’s been generally consistent. At 81-proof there’s not a lot of fluctuation from bottle to bottle, though I’ll admit I’ve enjoyed the last two years’ releases more than the ones that came before.
How would you say this compares with longbranch? The difference in ABV is small, but the price difference is quite a bit larger. I keep meaning to give longbranch a try, but the lower proof and higher price point have so far kept me from taking a chance on a bottle.
Value is a killer for KS at the current price point. I purchased one before the ill advised bottle change and unfortunately, as sometimes happens with single barrels, mine did not meet or exceed std. 101. That beautiful tail-feather bottle though?, that is a keeper and a fine decanter for my handles of 101. They need to bring that bottle style back.
I know that older whiskey is not really the Russell way, but if they wanted to keep the price point of Kentucky Spirit then at least maybe bump up the age to 12-15 years old or something like that to justify the price (like Knob Creek just did). I’ve never bought a KS bottle because the value ratio is so off. I’ve had a delicious KS pour at a bar, but I likely won’t be getting a bottle for myself anytime soon—not unless the price drops down closer to $30 or so. That seems like it’s be the right, fair ballpark.
I know some people have a nostalgic attachment to the old design, but it looks like tacky garbage. The new bottle is a significant improvement to consumers outside the COVID19 high risk bracket.
How do you think Campari internally justifies the price of Kentucky spirit? Any insight? My local TW sells their RR store picks for about 63, their Kentucky spirit picks for 60. And just the regular retail versions are priced the same. It’s just…odd. It seems the RR label is supposed to be the premium side of wild turkey, but the pricing on these bottles is inconsistent with that.
I’m not sure how they’re viewing it. I assume like other single barrels priced similarly, like RHF and Blanton’s. RRSiB is a much better value, as you’ve noted.
In my area, I can get it for $55 at the county liquor stores. Only carried at a few of them but I really like it. Of course, there is a 9 percent tax added. One of my favorites. In the non-WT world I recently discovered is Old Elk blended bourbon. Totally different with 34 percent malted barley. Still, I am a 101 bourbon fan for mixing and KS is my overall favorite with one or two rocks
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I could not agree more about your review. I had the privilege of trying Lincoln Road 154 next to Lincoln Road 136. Both fantastic bottles. Still have several 154s unopened. I may go open one now!! Jamie and Misty are great folks and Lincoln Road is an awesome store. I love reading your reviews!
Update! I opened one of my remaining bottles of this barrel last night. Better than I remembered! Did a LR tasting with 154, 136, and Misty’s Birthday pick. All fabulous!
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Definitely. Jamie and Misty know how to pick ‘em!
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What a generous thing to do for folk who where first in line to lose their jobs and may be last in line to regain them. A show of mastery of being a company that cares.
Always been curious about the C.L., and while I don’t think I’ll ever be able to afford a bottle it’s nice to see it’s as good as you’d expect given the specs. If anything, seems like it has a touch more fruit than your typical CGF/BD?
So I never thought I’d be able to pull off the exact Hackell recipe you listed above since I never thought I’d be able to find those exact bottles of Russell’s with the right rick houses and floors. I’d come across an A floor 4 last winter by chance, and I think I remember you saying that it was likely Camp Nelson. Well lo and behold, I just happened to find a Total Wine pick that’s an F floor 6! I presume it’s also probably Camp Nelson. I’m looking forward to trying the specific recipe for Hackell now!
I seem to remember that not too long ago you had a post breaking down specific rich houses and their general flavor profiles. I tried searching for it but couldn’t find it. Would you mind pointing me in it’s direction?
Thanks, but I do have that link to the Hackell recipe. I was actually asking about a post you made with like a cheat sheet for each rickhouse and their various profiles. I.e., G tends to be more floral, F more spicy, etc. Do you recall making a post like that at some point within the last few months? Thanks!
Classic. I really loved sipping along with y’all and some 101 for Whiskey at Home this weekend. One of the notes I got in mine (LL/HE) reminded me of the sweet, fresh cut oak smell I remember from splitting wood in the fall up at our family cabin. I wasn’t an immediate lover of 101 in my whiskey journey, but I always ended up coming back to it time and time again. I couldn’t deny the power of the kickin’ chicken, ha ha.
So if one were to see 2 boxes of MK17 sitting all dusty, still for MSRP, at a local shop….And even though that unnamed person already has 2 unopened bottles of MK17……What would one do….
I have posted the details on a couple of local forums, yet months later….there they still sit. The shop is a little out of my way, and get by there about once every 3 months or so. I would bet they have been there a over a year, since I first saw them and purchased my second bottle. Still hunting the elusive (to me) Batch 1 of Decades.
Awesome review as always! You did a great job on WFH. I get so conflicted inside when I hear you and others preaching the Gospel according to Russell. I want WT to get the credit and respect it deserves but I get worried about creating a hype train that is headed toward allocation town. Nonetheless, I route for the home team too and always get joy listening/reading you doing the same
Great list, DJ. You’re right that the best pours are those with an emotional attachment. I’ve got several of my own that I’ll forever cherish, one of which is the split-label from the Patron gathering. Still probably my number one Wild Turkey pour (even over the CGF that we also had that day).
Copying and pasta-ing is way more fun than copying and pasting 😉 , thanks for the info, David. Also good to know that “bottled-in-bond” doesn’t mean aged exactly four years, rather it’s a minimum of four years. (I should have known this by now!)
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Thanks! We’re all learning. Very few experts in this world.
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Hey thank you for the post. I’ve just made a promise to myself to pull the cork on the American Spirit I have – IF I can score at least one of these. Just wondering on the timing on this.
Very exciting to hear your little labor of love is (almost) here! Congratulations David! Looking forward to getting my hands on a copy and enjoying it with glass in hand.
I have an LL/IB 1.75 if you need a sample for comparison. For what it’s worth I’m a WT fan and hadn’t noticed a difference and didn’t know of this “issue” until reading this review.
The embossed glass bottle is really outstanding. very impressive. I strongly agree with your assessment of the bourbon inside the bottle too. We enthusiasts aren’t the target market for every expression. There are, however, a lot worse values on the shelf as well.
I really enjoyed your post and I am a fan of WT Rye 101 myself and Russell Reserve Rye. I also pre-ordered your book. Best of Luck with your book sales/
I think this is the perfect sentiment for the day. Thanks for writing this now, as hard as it must have been. Not much into looking at social media these days, even at whiskey enthusiast sites. But this caught my eye and glad i read it.
Appreciate this. Kentucky has a complex history (as much of our country does) when it comes to race and class and I take comfort knowing that over a glass of bourbon I’ve had many a deep discussion with folks about the myriad ways in which white and black working people are so much more alike than we are different, no matter what folks in power want us to believe.
No. This is this epitome of a entity/brand wanting to post something filled with empathy to garner affection and maintain their viewership, whether you work for them or not.
To start, it is clear you are white (fine, okay, nothing wrong with that), but nowhere in your statement did you once mention black people, or minorities of any kind. How can you “set an example” (as you say) like that? State something to be clear that you support people of all colors, not just “set an example” (of what?). It is not hard. It is not deleterious to your simple blog to make a clear statement.
“The crux of our hobby hinges on fellowship and sharing. Without both, we’re left with shelves of fancy bottles.” – Tell me, have you shared glasses and bottles with people of color? Do you have photos to prove it? So far, all you have shown on your blog is you (white) with many others of white complexion drinking whiskey. In the future, involve others.
While I’m not calling out any names, but think about the conversation you have started with your community. You say “that they are that are thoughtful and engaging, generous and open-minded.”
All of this sounds tone deaf, privileged, and ignorant. The fact that you say this isn’t the “proper forum” shows that you have an opinion but don’t want anyone to face you here on it. You created a forum, so be ready for anyone to express anything they want – that’s sort of the whole point.
I promise you that Jimmy, and others, DO care what you look like, so long as you are purchasing Wild Turkey.
I’m sorry, but you’ve taken my thoughts the wrong way. If you truly feel I’m posting something to maintain my viewership, then you don’t know me. The alternative would be for me to say nothing at all (which is not how I feel) – or – to say something fabricated by someone else (which wouldn’t be speaking my own mind).
If it’s not apparent that I (and the vast majority of the whiskey community) support people of all colors, then you’ve missed the heart of this post. Yes, I’ve shared with people of color. No, I don’t have pictures to prove it.
I can’t deny being privileged, but tone deaf and ignorant – well, you’re certainly free to criticize my writing as you see fit. It’s hard to be positive in times like these, but I’m damn sure trying. As for the proper forum, if you go back and re-read you’ll see that it’s in reference to politics and religion.
I’ve seen nothing but kindness and charity from the little time I’ve spent with Jimmy. He doesn’t do what he does out of a love for money.
Again, I apologize if you’ve taken my thoughts the wrong way. Feel free to email me if you’d like. I’ll listen.
Love the blog. You are very engaging writer and I look forward to continuing to follow your work. But I have one response to a specific statement you made.
“When I first explored whiskey enthusiasm, I learned early on (occasionally the hard way) that checking one’s political and religious beliefs (or non beliefs) at the door proved sound practice.”
I totally understand this sentiment. We all come from different backgrounds, religions (or lack thereof), cultures, etc. And it seems easier, less volatile, to talk about our shared interests rather than our differences. But I think ultimately this type of thinking is misguided. I think it’s critically important that friends and family engage each other over controversial issues like this. We have to learn to respectfully challenge each other. Otherwise we tend to retreat into our own political bubbles, insulated from differing ideas and perspectives. They aren’t always easy conversations, but they can be meaningful and constructive, especially if they start out over a shared bottle of whiskey.
When you become friends, those discussions are great to have. But if you’re new to one another, political and religious topics often divide more than unite. However, this particular issue – equal rights and fairness – has nothing to do with politics or religion. It has to do with decency. And so, speaking openly from day one is a good thing.
101 Rye has become a daily sipper for me. Like you I used to see it as mainly a cold weather pour, but something about the intense “lemon Pez” flavor once it heats up a little bit while enjoying on the back patio just screams summer.
I’m hoping RB Rye hits Texas soon. Sounds like it’s right up my alley.
Love WT Rye 101 with just an extra large cube….all year round !
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Definitely. Hard not to find a good way to sip 101 Rye.
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Great review, Dave! I look forward to the Rare Bird Rye making its way to Michigan next year (only 120 bottles allocated for 2020), and more importantly, getting down to the Lawrenceburg area to see what I might be able to find this summer.
Glad you got to try it out David. I Just got a bottle yesterday on my road trip up in Eugene, Oregon. Only 2 bottles left in the whole state. Woohoo! The owner came out from the back when he heard me talking to an employee about the rye. I got very lucky. They also had a store pick of RR SiB, 9yo, Warehouse G, Floor 4. Can’t wait to dip into these. Cheers!
A big, big congrats David. I was just reading Whiskey Advocate today and it mentioned your book coming out soon. I can’t wait to receive my copy. Cheers!
Thanks! Now the question becomes is it worth risking COVID to hunt down a 5/5 bottle.
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Well, I’m no medical expert so I can’t give advice, but I masked up!
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Great review and background as usual Dave! Sadly I’ll have to wait until it reaches Japan to see if it matches the “perfection” of the M.K. Revival in my whisky cabinet….
Many months later, I just got my hands on a bottle in Korea, so I’m sure it’s in Japan. I have to agree with all the notes, it’s a fabulously balanced and rich bourbon that has familiar Turkey notes but is also incredibly unique at the same time. Special product and great review!
Glad you found one, Andrew. Truly a special bottle!
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Yes! It is available in Japan now but so limited. One web site so far. I’ll grab a bottle. Thanks.
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Great review Dave! This will Almost certainly be a lottery item in Virginia (Cornerstone was) so cross your fingers and say a little prayer to the Russells for me when the time comes.
Given that this is 17 years old, how much do you think this needed to be proofed down to reach 100? Since the original Master’s Keep was lower, I’m curious as to whether this may be nearly “barrel proof” (or “batch proof”) as well.
I’m not sure. The original MK17 spent time in brick rickhouses that lowered proof. My guess on batch proof for this release would be similar to RR2002 … about 115.
Congrats! So awesome and have been wanting to read this ever since I heard about it! Do you know when hard copies will be available for purchase? Gotta have a book in my hands 🙂
I was eagerly awaiting your review so thanks for writing such a nice one.
You teased it in the intro but didn’t really address it: how does this compare to dusty era Turkey of yore? I’ve heard everything from “it’s the closest they’ve come in a decade” to “not even close”.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your blog. I’m sitting here really enjoying a Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel I just picked up as I read this. It has a real toasted pecan note on the finish that I absolutely love. Because I enjoy it so much, I can’t help but wonder how to figure out the identifiers. I’ve looked at the Bottle Codes explanation, but I can’t figure out if it carries over to the QR codes I’m seeing. Any thoughts on the QR codes on bottles these days? There are three different codes on the bottle, and I can’t make heads or tails of any kind of format. Cheers!
Thanks so much! And I really appreciate you commenting. Unfortunately, when it comes to standard retail bottles of RRSiB there’s no way I’m aware of to tie each to a specific barrel. In fact, multiple barrels were likely bottled in a single day. Your best bet is to run back to the store and grab another bottle with as close as a laser code as possible. 👍
You probably already found out, but the barrel# is on all the RR SiB (Picks & standard). RB101 even wrote about it.
On the bottom line of the bottle codes, directly on the glass, not the label, there is a code that starts with a “B”. The four numbers after that are the barrel#.
If you are looking for the same barrel, it’s best to go back to the same place you got the 1st one, as soon as possible. Then check the closest stores to that location.
You’re correct. Wasn’t always that way, however. But a great idea for recent releases.
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I could not agree more. This release was outstanding, and I think the retail price is justified, which is rare for me. I loved the decades release, and thought cornerstone was very good, but this is a whole other level up.
I have a private selection that was distilled on 11/20/09 and dumped on 01/13/20. The warehouse is just listed as “F” rather than “CNF” as I have seen on some labels. I assume it is Camp Nelson. But I keep wondering why some bottles are labeled just “F” when there are multiple warehouse locations.
This one has charred orange rind on the nose and blood orange on the palate. My wife said “Grand Marnier” when she tasted it. My notes would have been very similar to yours for Bourbon and Banter 1.1 (which perhaps confirms that it is Camp Nelson).
This one puts my standard issue RRSB to shame. Great stuff! I am a believer in CNF!
Your A and C were distilled on the same day and dumped one day apart…interesting. I picked up a Private Selection last week. 9 years, warehouse C, 4th floor.
I looked closer and it’s G, not C (that’s another quirk with these, I needed a magnifying glass to see what it really was). Distilled in 2011 and dumped in 2020. Damn. Can you put out an article on how to identify Camp Nelson stuff? You make it sound like it’s not that easy anymore. I’ve looked over this site and can’t find any info. Thanks David. Cheers!
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That makes sense. I have a similar bottle. I’ve notified Campari about the poor print quality. They were very receptive. Hopefully this is a temporary issue.
So can we safely say that this was distilled in 2003 by doing simple math or could it have been distilled in 2002? I know sometimes the juice is pulled and vatted in a holding tank for blending. Any confirmation?
Thanks for the review! I have a bottle of the WT Austin Nichols 101/8 year circa 1988 and it’s unbelievably good. Just started getting into Bourbon 3 months ago and then found that bottle in my liquor cabinet which I was gifted by a friend in the 80s who owned a restaurant that was going out of biz. Sure wish I could find something today that tastes like it, and I’d forego any further hunting/tasting. Any suggestions?
I just bought a bottle of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrell based on your enthusiasm and a good price at a liquor store I only get to infrequently. Dramatic pause. . . . This is really wonderful stuff! The date code is HH which I calculate as August 2019 (but please forgive me if the alcohol has befudddled my brain).
Okay, I just opened the bottle. Perhaps the contents will evolve and I will think differently in a week or so. But I’ve got to say this is one of the best Kentucky ryes I have had the privilege to drink. I can definitely taste the corn, but for me, that is a definite plus. Wonderful nose, palate, and finish, and all well integrated.
Sure it would remain a KSBW. A Double Oaked or Finished variation. Masters Keep Revival Oloroso Sherry Barrel Finish for example. I’m so curious to see what a Double Oaked Turkey would taste like.
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You can label it “KSBW finished in …” but it’s technically not straight bourbon at that point. I like the idea of more finishes – even proposed them on a Zoom with Campari a few weeks ago. But you have to remember that WTKS is 100% Jimmy. A finished whiskey isn’t representative of his profile or legacy. But new expressions? Absolutely!
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Respect to the Original. Just a little wishful thinking. Big Love Rarebird. Cheers!
I actually just stumbled upon this bottle.. sent my buddy a picture of the tag and he sent me your article. Anyways…was stoked to hear it was Camp Nelson juice. I really enjoy this bottle…I found it had a ton of vanilla flavor…may have to pick up a few more!
I can’t find the dating mechanism you mentioned on my 2020 handle of 101. I read the reddit but it’s too confusing. Where on the 2020 1.75 liter bottles?
Not right off hand. Call around and see if they have any CNF private selections. Start with Total Wine since they do so many. You might also reach out to bourbon groups like the CBC (Columbia Bourbon Collective). Best of luck!
I never had a problem with Longbranch, except its price. I now found it at $33, so I picked it up again, and I enjoy it for what it is. A very good sipper I can drink straight out of the bottle, without feeling I have to analyze it. I’m a WT guy, so I keep all WT expressions at hand (no RR though, as I want the bite). I enjoy other bourbons, and have those around, but always drift back to WT, especially Rare Breed.
Agreed. Longbranch is a great easy sipper. I particularly like it outdoors in the summertime. Nothing too fancy. Checks the main boxes it should. The price is tough, considering Russell’s 10 is a little cheaper, but at $33 I’d jump too. Thanks for commenting!
In the past months I have picked up 2 bottles of Batch 302 at a local store. My buddy was looking for a present for a WT loving friend, and I pointed him to a 302 bottle. And the store still has one bottle left (Sitting beside a WT Master’s Keep 17) that sings to me every time I walk by it. Great Stuff.
Picked up a Single Barrel #11 Rick House G Floor 4 today after listening to the ‘dusty turkey’ Bourbon Blind live and hearing Chad talk about finding some in a small town ABC store in Alabama. Irony is I live in a small Alabama town and found some in my local ABC store… true story 😁
Been looking all over for this, and finally found one bottle in a store near the house a few weeks ago. Opened and tried it and realized I was in love. Went back and told the guys at that store I’d like another, if possible. I then hit 7-8 stores over the next week who said all stocks in the state were gone. That was hard to hear as I’d already gone through half the bottle. Finally decided to check the same neighborhood store, and voila! Another single bottle! Now I have to figure how to make it last till it’s back in stock. Good news is I convinced store to get 101 Rye, which has just come to my state. Now have 2 bottles (well, 1 1/2) of that. Both great whiskers!
I purchased a bottle of Rare Breed Rye a couple months back and it got a “Wow” response from me, I love it! it’s my new favorite rye and I purchase another bottle today. Very complex and a wonderful mouth feel (thanks for the non-chill filtered). I also like 101 Rye and the hint of mint at the finish really does it for me. I did a side by side comparison to Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye and it wasn’t even close. WT for the win!
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Amen, Cooper! Rare Breed Rye is fantastic! Thanks for commenting.
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I’m also wondering what’s going on here—I’ve had a couple 8ish year picks from 2020 and none taste like bottles from years’ past. Delicious, yes; interesting, no. Is it the new facility distillate finally rearing its head, or just the fact that it’s 8ish years? Not sure what the average RRSiB age is, but I was always under the impression it was 10ish years. Not sure what gives.
RRSiB has always been 8-10 years. Different rickhouses/floors impart different flavors. Have you read my comparison between Lincoln Road’s 2020 Tyrone A (8 years) to the Bourbon Crusader’s 2020 CNF (10 years)?
I just did, and it’s definitely reassuring. Will continue to try dif warehouses/locations.
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Sounds like a plan!
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That mineral note is an interesting footnote in dusty Turkey. It seems to come from a very specific window of time (I have an ’80 8-year which has it, but the stuff I’ve had from earlier in the 70’s and 83-onwards doesn’t). And it even seems to come and go in my ’80 bottle – with a half-hour of air it sometimes (not always) largely dissipates.
Is it a flaw? Well, some folks love Dickel. I don’t. This ain’t Dickel but (as you note) it’s close. It’s enough to keep me from loving any of those old 8/101s that have that note, for all the other good things they bring to the table.
Definitely not a flaw IMO but I can get others not liking it. There was a bit present in the ‘89 I tried, which I expected to taste more like 1990-1991. That said, I found the ‘89 101/8 to be magnificent and well balanced between fruity and dusty notes. I think the main culprit is rickhouses adding their unique character. Just like they do now in different ways (Camp Nelson for example).
I don’t recall ever picking up the mineral note in any mid or late-80’s bottles, or anything but 8/101. Definitely gotten funk, but in my mind WT funk and minerality are distinct notes. A little doesn’t bother me too much, but the ’80 has more than I’d prefer (though it’s otherwise great).
Before I got it in WT I always assumed the multivitamin thing was due to Dickel’s yeast, like Beam peanut and JD banana. Now, I’m not so sure, since presumably WT was always using the same yeast. Possible a warehouse issue, as you say.
Rarebird101,
I have kentucky legend donut bottle from new,unopened,damage on box, numbers on neck fading and also signed by jimmy when he was in perth Australia in 1999.i am trying to find info on selling and prices.can you please advise me on best way to proceed.
Thanks and regards
Kelly Duncan
“reportedly a blend of six-, eight-, and twelve-year, barrel-proof bourbon” – Jimmy Russell told me this was true at a Liquor Barn signing several years ago. No longer “reportedly”
Love the review. Agree that this 2020 batch is something special. Interestingly enough, 2021 will also be the 20th anniversary of Russell’s Reserve. Would be great to see Campari re-release a special 101 proof 20th Anniversary edition of RR10 to commemorate. 2021 could be a fun year for turkey fans!
Love your reviews as always..this is PNW Trent on Instagram that you turned on to the Saffell! Hoping for something special from Wild Turkey but the Masters Keep BiB will be a hard one to beat! How do you know the bottle date and if it’s a 2020 release for Rare Breed? I’m going to seek a May 2020 bottle out!
Are all the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrels dumped in Jan 2020 from Camp Nelson? I have a 10 year distilled 2009 and dumped 1/31/2020 with a warehouse F floor 6. Btw have your book on order can’t wait to get it!
I just got around to picking up a 2020 batch today(took longer than expected cause of the multiples of 2019 batches I was working through 😜). Can’t wait to crack it open to compare notes!
Okay, cracked it open yesterday for derby day. Neck pour your notes are spot on! Definitely noses like it’s a little older than the 2019 batches, which was reminding me of some of my Russell’s picks I currently have. Really loving this expression. Like all Wild Turkey products, I find they get better after being open for a week or too so I can’t wait to see how it develops.
Was shocked to see that my liquor store has raised the price on this expression so I think word is getting out on how good it is. Deservingly so, still one of the best values in bourbon today. Cheers! 🥃🦃
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Glad you’re finding similar qualities. And yes, it should get even better in the days ahead.
Doesn’t take those store owners long to catch on, does it? 😄
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Great review, and thank you for the passionate plea to Campari for an attainable 30 year edition. You’re the voice of the people! Cheers!
I have experimented with blending Russell’s 10 and 101 in the past. I love the notes of the 10yr, I just wish it had a little more punch to it. Now yes, most would say “just go get the single barrel,” which I have several and love, but I love experimenting. Just adding a little bit of the 101 to the Russell 10yr gives me the age I’m looking for with the little extra kick to it. My next thought when writing this is what would happen if you took Rarebreed and blended it with some Russell’s 10yr…….? Rarebreed CYPRB? 🤔
I didn’t really like Longbranch. Loved all other Turkey products. At 2/3 of bottle left, I mixed the last glass and half left in a 101 bottle. Also mixed last ounce of WB Saffell bottle. I know wrong. Tuned out nice and bottle went fast.
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Turkey blends well with Turkey. Bet it was great!
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I just bought a handle of LL/IG. I’m a big fan of Wild Turkey, however mostly drink Rare Breed and Russell’s Reserve SB. Have had a few pours of 101 over the past few years and wanted to revisit, especially after reading this review and the comments, so I jumped in with both feet. It’s delicious. You nailed the review Rarebird101. I’m getting most of what you describe on the nose, palate and finish. I had OGD114 as my No.1 under $30, but I think WT101 just surpassed it. Kudos and keep up the good work!
So, call me crazy but America seems to be in the throes of a light-whiskey rebirth. Unlike the rejection of more traditional bourbons in the 60-70’s this one seems to be fueled by a young crowd without a lot of money or experience with whisk(e)y who are trying to fill time during a global pandemic. They reach for (it hurts me to say this here) Buffalo Trace products because they are low heat, no bite, young and sweet bourbons. That affection coupled with an undersupply and rising secondary prices could make Longbranch look very appealing to these new bourbon drinkers.
Now Jimmy and Eddie just need to stage a “Stolen truck of Masters Keep” to create some Pappy-like hype and Longbranch and eventually all Turkey could fly off the shelves. All it takes is a correctly priced bottle (sadly up to $40 these days) and a light-whiskey with some name recognition and Campari might win over their market share. Where there’s money to be made, there’ll be whiskey.
Interesting points. I think a line of Longbranch, if done properly, could definitely cast a more successful net. I mean, someone has to be buying all that Basil Hayden’s. They key is keeping it cool both ways: okay with whiskey snobs and popular with everyone else.
now that it’s under its own brand, maybe they’ll do a second barrel finishing with Longbranch? Oloroso? Port? Rum? I would think that since Longbranch is marketed more as a more approachable bourbon, finishing it in a second barrel as mentioned, it might bring about even more sweeter/friendlier. It’s to offset the turkey spice and Longbranch light smoke you get from the Mesquite filtration. All speculation and thoughts of course, time will tell. Cheers!🥃
Could very well be. I’m thinking a line similar to Basil Hayden’s (with possible finishes), as mentioned in Tuesday’s post. We’ll just have to wait and see! Cheers Scott!
Scott, I think your thought is spot-on for what they can/should think of as Longbranch matures. As I always say in the car world (and it applies to other makes as well: “the Porsche Cayenne prints the money that allows Porsche to give enthusiasts and purists all those cool 911’s they love”. As in, there is nothing wrong at all with creating a side/parallel brand with the idea of branching out, while you keep the mainline stuff close to the original mission.
That doesn’t in any way imply lower quality (or taste in the case of a food or drink), but merely that a more “mass market” product line can serve a good purpose for the mothership.
Exactly! I would love to try Longbranch with second barrel finishes or even at Barrel Strength! Which I don’t think will happen again because of its target audience. But second barrel finishing seems like the more practical step for the brand
Great idea, and I agree 100% regarding stressing over allocated bottles. I stopped hunting long ago. If I happen upon something cool, then great, otherwise I’m more than fine with readily available standards.
Give me a handle of 101 and a Russell’s Reserve pick ever once in a while and I’m good to go.
Damn right, Scott. It’s silly really. And once you step back from the insanity, as I’m sure you’ve discovered, life gets a lot less stressful and a helluva lot more simpler (and fun). Cheers!
For me, Ardbeg 10 is one of the few whiskies I’ve bought extra of and have been saving. Was fortunate enough to find it on sale for about $35 about a year ago, which is a great deal around these parts. I find that I have to tuck them away in another room so that I forget about them, ha ha. But I really love the idea of specifically keeping some bottles as a time capsule. We know there will be great whisky still being made down the road, so it’s not out of a sense of worry that things will decline, but one of a fun historical comparison. Whisky operates in a unique space regarding this because other things like wine or even cellared craft beer will change over time so you can never truly do an A-B comparison years on the same way you can with whisky.
I was impressed when Jim Beam re-launched Baker’s as a single barrel, that they printed on the label the exact age and warehouse the bottle came from. I sadly did not like my one and only bottle of Baker’s single barrel that I purchased, but major props to Jim Beam for putting that info on the label. Just another example of how Campari is not letting Wild Turkey keep up.
It could be better, definitely. Though in all fairness to Campari, we have more barrel information now than we’ve ever had before. We just need more accuracy and across all products (not just private selections).
I’m sure the 10 bottles coming to the metroplex have already been spoken for. DFW is a wasteland for any allocated or hard to find bourbon, at least if you’re just a regular bourbon drinker. Sadly I think a lot of these bottles will go to people who don’t even drink Turkey products on a regular basis. It would be nice to see limited releases like this get sold in half-sized bottles to at least give us plebeians a fighting chance.
Barrels on low floors lose proof. At some point these barrels were moved to lower floors to slow their aging. 2015’s Master’s Keep suffered from a similar condition. It was bottled at 86.8. Just under two points away from barrel proof.
I just recently picked up a Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel with the old split label and realized that it actually doesn’t say “Private Barrel Selection” on it like the new label does. This one had a neck tag, so I knew it was a store pick, but I thought it was interesting that they would add “private” to the new label–leads me to believe that going forward they will only be store/private picks? Or are they going to perhaps continue to use the older split label for the standard, non-private pick versions? Here in the Twin Cities I think I’ve only ever seen store picks, so I was actually kind of wanting to try the standard Russell’s Single Barrel for a point of reference. All tasty, regardless!
Well, I have a Kentucky Spirit from Warehouse A, bottled on 07/06/20. Barrel 1514, Rick #40. Since I’m not the infamous Rare Bird 101, is mine a Tyrone A or a Camp Nelson A? Inquiring minds want to know.
This might help. Only thing is, one of the barrels my group tasted last month was a CNA. It was only eight years, so I doubt it’ll have the prefix 19 when bottled. Regardless, good chance it’s Tyrone A. See: https://twitter.com/agmcclam3/status/1309462381584625665?s=21
Thanks man, that’s some thread you had with Amy. It’s never simple, but it should be. It looks like all 2020 KS is Tyrone A, to me. Or a great chance at least. Yup, mine has no 19 or 20 anywhere either. I just cracked mine an hour ago and I gotta say, It’s rockin’…I’m going with Tyrone A.
I have a decanter my wife got me years ago. This has been used primarily for my blends. Some people will do a “Infinite Bottle”, but I do not believe in them as it can be a ‘hodge podge’ of whiskey. Myself, I have stuck with 1 distillery blends, whether it be Beam, 4-Roses, Heaven Hill (EW, EC, FC…etc) or Wild Turkey.
My last blend was using open bottles of several offerings. It was RR10, WT101, RRSiB, RB & a very small amount of WTKS I had left. To say it was good is and understatement, but can also be very subjective. It threw my BIL for a loop when he tried it. His note’s were; Very complex, oak & spice upon entry, very sweet after entry with caramel, vanilla and sweet dates glazed in honey with a good amount of spice of nutmeg & cinn and a touch of orange rind. A progressively longer finish than normal with lingering oak and leather and add a kick of black pepper and a wisp of char/smoke character.
To his surprise, it was all Wild Turkey product in a blend. Needless to say this turned him around on most WT products.
Seeing your article reminded me of this, and I encourage anyone to try there own blends, but stick with same/similar distillate. Don’t mix from styles/profiles from all over the place. It can lead to some really weird results in the end of things. For the blender’s out there. It was about 1/4th bottle left of each with a small tracer of the WTKS on the middle of the blend.
PS, no Longbrach was ever used in this blend. I’ve had 1 bottle of this, and it will most likely be my last from when it was released.
Thanks for commenting. I tend to prefer all-Turkey blends myself, though I have experienced some success experimenting outside of the box. That said, the chances of failure are a lot lower staying within a single brand and/or mash bill from the same brand. Glad you enjoyed the article!
Good Afternoon.
I’m basically new to bourbon/rye, and have sipped a number of different distillery products. My first taste of Wild Turkey has been the 101. I usually sip everything neat. I viewed your various Turkey pours with Jason C. of Mash & Drum. I just ordered your book through your publisher, not Amazon. What are your suggestions for my next venture with Wild Turkey? I haven’t popped my Russell’s Reserve or RR Single Barrel yet, as well as the two Rare Breeds 112.8 and 116.8. Everyone I know say they really rely on the Wild Turkey products. Your insight would be much appreciated.
Respectfully,
Rich Cannon
Nice to see you on Mash and Drum the other day. I had the chance to taste the Masters Keep 17 yo BIB and the 2003 Russell’s Reserve side by side. I really enjoyed both, the Masters Keep being more vibrant and spicy but I appreciated the mellow complexity of the 2003 RR as well. I’m enjoying your book. Cheers!
Lemon instead of orange peel for your standard old fashioned – care to comment why? I’ve always preferred orange peel myself. Perhaps because of my affinity for Sazeracs.
I like oranges too – but – generally speaking I prefer tangy cocktails over sweet. I’m a big citrus fan – have been since I was little (Five Alive over Sunny D all day long). Now, if I were using an Indiana rye, like Bulleit, an orange would help with the balance. Cheers!
Great article. I often use WT101 bourbon or rye in my Old Fashioned, but haven’t combined the two. I sure will next time, as well as trying your other recipes.
Have you reviewed that Stateline Elite Banks bottle (from the Don Valdez photo) here? I couldn’t find it, but have a couple unopened in my stash at the moment (and just picked up their lastest bottlings today). Would love to read your thoughts on it.
Nice write up. That pineapple old fashioned is calling my name. I like the idea of using a lower proof sprit as the base.
And for an easy twist on the old fashioned, I really enjoy substituting the simple syrup with 1 tsp of maple syrup. It’s a subtle change, but it’s less sweet with more flavor. Cheers!
Wild Turkey 101 is a staple in my house. It’s always in my collection. A few years back at my nephew’s wedding i talked with some of his young friends and the talk turned to bourbon. They asked me my opinion of Maker’s Mark and my comment was it was a decent starter bourbon. They looked at me in amazement and said “Starter bourbon? What do you think is better?” My instant reply was “Wild Turkey 101”. They looked at me like I was crazy. I just said, “Try it.” Hopefully they did and are now fans.
Yes sir. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve had that same experience. When I tell folks I’m a Wild Turkey fan, I get a lot of strange looks and chuckles. 🙂
Very nice review. I could not agree more with the sentiment “Sometimes you just have to taste a whiskey for what it is…” We whiskey fans often can get rapped up in comparisons which can result in certain styles of fine whiskey being under appreciated. The Russell’s Reserve 2003 is like a soft warm blanket, not flashy but ultimately very satisfying. Cheers!
World class is an understatement. I can only enjoy RR 2003 through your palate! Through a reliable industry source, this selling on the secondary market for over $1,000.00!!!!!!!! Yikes!!! Enjoy every last drop!!!!
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Wow! That’s way too much. But it is good whiskey. 🙂
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What are the chances that a January 2019 Kentucky Spirit from Warehouse A is actually a Camp Nelson – A ? Thanks for all the great reviews and insight.
WOW! Thank You! I love Rare Breed Bourbon 116.8, WT 101, WT 101Rye…..
I can’t wait for this to get to Europe ! I so hope!
p.s. Waiting for DHL to deliver your book…..Greetings from cold Germany!
“To do so and have it where a majority of enthusiasts can find it and afford it as a special occasion purchase is remarkable.”
Indeed these days are over. Whereas Revival and Decades could be found on the shelf for months and months after their release, BiB never even really made it to the shelf around me, immediately selling out. This is how things are these days I guess. Still, can’t complain as long as I can walk in at any time and get Rare Breed and Russel’s SiB whenever I want. Cheers.
It can still be found in some places, though at a small premium. I think this may be the last year that happens. Like you said, the sitting on shelves for months and months is over.
First of all thanks for the insightful post, as always. Just finished your book last night and this list will definitely help decide my next pickup.
I’ll likely grab another 2020 Rare Breed and finally try the Rye as well. May even grab a Russels Reserve Single Barrel to round out the trifecta.
If I manage to close out the year debt free, I might have to celebrate by relieving my local shop of their last bottle of Bottled in Bond to celebrate.
Oh. Duh. Well it’s kinda late for me. EST time.
On a side note do you think this redesign resembles Makers just a tad?
And….when will we see these? 2/3quarter ?
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I think they’re moving in the direction of Longbranch. But, be sure to read the part about the tequila influence and follow that link. 👍
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Wild Turkey 101 is among my favorites. Unfortunately, Safeway in my neighborhood no longer stocks it—a huge negative surprise. Had to walk 1.25 miles each way to Trader Joe’s to buy W.T. 101; worth the 2.5 miles of exercise.
Master’s Keep is such a quietly excellent series I have to admit this news left me scratching my head. One thing I will commend them on, however, is a willingness to experiment. Whether the aforementioned Revival or the rye Cornerstone, I appreciate that while this series is almost always stellar, it is also almost always a site for exploration. That those things tend to converge is a credit to Jimmy and Eddie’s mastery.
I’m hopeful, and buy most of these master’s keep releases. In the end the Russell family has a lot of integrity, and often these MK bottles end up being ones I really miss when they’re gone. And more than any other distiller, both my lady and I end up enjoying these together, so sure I’ll bite.
Newish bourbon enthusiast here, since 2019. Picked up an old fantail bottle Kentucky Spirit store pick selected in 2014 by Market Liquors in Tallahassee (my favorite store). Just been sitting on the shelf for years evidently!
Never had Kentucky Spirit before but excited to see what this is like! Love your site.
I just picked this exact bottle up in a random trade because of this review. I’ve had my share of old T RR and only on KY spirit. Looking forward to the bottle, T has been in my top 3 ricks along with D/H for quite some time.
On your profile differences, I have noticed a lot of nuttiness on the G-4 picks from this year as well. They are also around the same age and that note could very well be from the new distillery, in fact it probably is. I just keep thinking about the beam “funk” and how it tends to disappear within KC SiB picks at around 12 yrs old. It seems that 2 yr period really does a number on that peanut note.
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David I am a big fan of your reviews and am a WT 101 preacher.
Recently I have only gotten my hands on this elusive elixir (here in Australia) and have been reading up about BIB (we don’t get many BIB bourbons down under). I was wondering if Eddie specified the season (spring or fall) of this release as part of the BIB act.
I started to look up information online but couldn’t find much. It got me thinking – would a spring MK17 BIB taste different to a fall MK17 BIB?
Like yours my bottle has the same basic information and batch number 0001, but nothing on the months it was distilled. The lazer code on my bottle is a bit blurry but from what I can make out of it is something like LL\C240929 or LL\CZ40829
I then attempt to decrypt the letters and realized that C would correspond to the year 2014…..
Should I just stop asking questions and heal my soul with such concoction?!
How can you tell whether It’s Tyrone versus Camp Nelson?
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That’s the trick. No easy way. If A or F from 2019, Camp Nelson. If F 2018-2020, Camp Nelson. If A with a barrel number prefix of 19-, Camp Nelson. If A with a barrel number prefix of 20-, could be either and refer to the vendor.
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Great read as always. Have a select 10 year CNF floor 5 best yet
Great write-up, DJ! I actually enjoyed the last pour of that ’99 last night. I don’t have terribly extensive experience with dusties (’84 decanter, ’97 export 8/101, a couple ’05 101s, the few we sipped at the Patreon gathering), but they’ve all been excellent. I was lucky to get them before the market went nuts last spring.
I still keep an eye out, but for the prices things go for lately I can just sip some Russell’s Reserve SiB and rest easy knowing I’m getting a premium Turkey expression for roughly $50. No complaints.
P.S. You and this blog are what piqued my interest in Turkey to begin with. Happy to be a supporter and to call you a friend.
Hi David, belated thanks and compliments for your insightful and eloquent writing. I was fortunate to pick up several bottles of MK17 sib and I’m happy I did because I’m almost through with my first bottle. It is everything you say it is and more. I bet this is a release that people will be talking about in hushed tones years from now. And even if they aren’t I will!
Great post Rare Bird! Actually vatted bourbon is all I drink. This gives me the best chance to drink something special without having to shell out hundreds of dollars on limited releases for I have a large family. One of my top blends was Knob Creek 9yr sib and Rare Breed. This one can be proofed down with Russell’s 10yr if necessary. This is as good as it gets for the money.
Really loved your thoughts here on both the bottle and the secondary market. Agree with you wholeheartedly on the latter and I hope to pay a reasonable price and find common ground with you on the former. Thanks for sharing sooner-than-usual, David.
Well said David. I think all the talking and discussion helps. I actually just read an article the other week on the subject – link https://www.whiskyadvocate.com/black-market-bourbon-feature/
It is not quite as bad here in Australia, but the scene exists as I would imagine in any country. Another reason why I love WT – easily accessible and affordable. I recalled your post on RR10 sharing the same pricing with Eagle Rare 10. Well over here ER10 is $95AUD and RR10 is $55AUD. And I paid retail price for that bottle of MK17 BIB which I wouldn’t otherwise for others (e.g ER17).
Thanks Jim. I just hope Wild Turkey remains affordable. Also, this Father & Son release states involvement with Campari Australia on the label. I hope y’all can gain access to it, as opposed to just travel retail. Y’all deserve a good one!
I suppose because it’s heavily used – Rare Breed, Rare Breed Rye, Kentucky Spirit, Father & Son. I think it’s fine for the Rare Breed line. Would prefer something different for Kentucky Spirit.
That sticker sure was interesting. Now I’ve got the Beach Boys California Dreamin song in my head from looking at that. It does make you look harder at the bottle and does have the relevant info although one does have to look at it carefully to fully see it. I’m happy they took a chance and did something different. I’d definitely buy a bottle of that if I could. Thanks for the review.
I found a flask type case with wild turkey 86.8 proof in it. The red seal on the cap has never been broken. Is this a rare find? Got it from my dad, he passed away 33 years ago. Just curious. Thanks
Certainly not common. How incredible. Maybe open it on a special day for you and your dad and sip in his memory. Should make an extra special pour. Thank you for sharing this, Brenda.
Thanks for the update David. Good to know that I don’t need to stockpile on the 2020 batch!
Btw my copy of your book finally arrived here in Australia last afternoon. Just holding the book I feel the labour of love and passion. I’m gonna pair the reading with some Russell’s 10, Rare breed, Longbranch, MK 17 BIB and finishing it off with classic 101. Cheers mate.
Well said! The CNF KS I’ve been enjoying since Friday is one that has made me a believer. I was pleasantly surprised about the balance and flavor being delivered. Well worth the $58 I paid.
Since there were two barrel entry proof changes, in 2004 from 107-110 and then in 2006 from 110-115, then there might be some differences up to 2014 based on the eight year average. I have a 2013 I picked up a couple years back but haven’t had the chance to crack. Hoping it still retains some of the older characteristics.
Yep, but I was referring to the closing paragraphs where you recommend not picking anything up unless it’s 2012 or earlier. “Unless the bottling date is 2012 or earlier, there’s no likelihood the bourbon will taste any better than a recent bottling.” So there was a couple years where it was 110 proof; just wondering if you noticed a marked down turn in KS after the first dilution or only the second.
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Gotcha. Well, I’ve had 2013-present that were very much modern WT, a few that I’d argue as classic, and one that’s pretty much straight dusty. But I stand by the 2012 or earlier with likelihood as the key word. That doesn’t mean a 2013 or latter bottling couldn’t be special, just trying to say that 2012 or earlier is where you hit barrels of the original BEP as well as barrels not competing with (pulled for) RRSiB (2013-present).
I have two bottles from Warehouse G (2020 bottlings) and they are only 3 barrels away from each other but they taste totally different. The one bottle I would take over the WT17 BiB offering, it is that good. The other one is very good but nothing special. It’s wild how different they are.
The one bottle has me hooked and now all I want to buy is Russell Reserve picks.
The best one had the date info on it (about 8.5 years) and the other bottle only had the barrel location, floor, and warehouse on a tag (lame).
I purchased them about 3 months apart and in the same state (probably the same distributor is that matters for store picks?).
The one tastes like a PB&J with quality ingredients. It has me hooked. The flavors linger for a long time and reminds you how good the barrel pick was. I can’t believe I only paid $53 for the bottle. The only disappointment is that I only have one bottle of it and I will miss it when it is gone. I enjoy it so much that I’d pay some of those prices for another bottle that you mentioned in your post.
I recently came into one of these – Not the US version (sorry no help here) – Now that it is 2021, I am going to do a blind side by side with WTMK BiB 17 year. I wonder how intriguing that may be… I will report back.
After reading this post, I finally jumped off the fence and headed out to one of my favorite local stores to buy a bottle of Tyrone E Floor 4 that has the same distillation date (09-19-11) as the Martin Wine Cellar pick that you liked so much. Have not opened it yet, but excited to see if it mine has the same Dickel notes.
Great article! Thank you for convincing me to grab a bottle of KS, picked one up today. It’s warehouse G, rick 33. I’m guessing that’s Tyrone correct? Any opinions on KS that you’ve had from Tyrone G?
This was great, I hope to try Masters Keep this year and plan on snagging a Saffell, as there’s a few still floating around here in VA. Btw, thanks for addressing the elephant in the room. I’m new to bourbon (bought my first bottle, Longbranch, last November) but it didn’t take long for me to realize that Eddie is under appreciated. I guess we can only hope that one day Eddie is so loved that Bruce is forgotten about for too long. That would make for a long time of Turkey being in good hands, which is something we Turkey fans all envision already.
Enjoyed a glass of CNA floor 3 to toast the birthday boy today. Also, where can one get a Russell’s Reserve glencairn or Wild Turkey glencairn? I’ve tried looking around, but it almost seems like there are no official ones out there that I can see.
You rarely saw a 10-year pick until late 2019, early 2020 Camp Nelson selections. Plenty of 8-year picks in 2018. The grand majority of RRSIB picks have always been 8-9 years. I tasted a McBrayer B barrel sample that was only 7 years (it’s 8 now). It was amazing. Age is just a number. 👍
Thank you for the detailed info. I have one from Tyrone A that’s nearly 11 years and is unbelievable. Agree age is just a number until you reach a certain number. 😉
Great blog, I wholeheartedly agree. Stickers are selling bottles right now, as crazy as that sounds. People will look back on this one day and laugh at themselves.
I just picked up a bottle tonight after not seeing it for a couple of months my rare breed bottle starts with LL on the code but I’m not sure of what I have. It doesn’t really matter as this is absolutely delicious I was just wondering.
Awesome ideas. I have used other liqueurs in the past as a substitute for sugar syrup in something like an Old Fashioned, so I may have to try that with this. Another favorite simple cocktail of mine is a Stingray: https://punchdrink.com/recipes/sting-rye/ which I find works especially well with a rye, like 101 Rye. Skål!
Hey, I noticed that twice you referred to this as being, in part, from the “Austin, Nichols” company. Is there a reason for the “comma” … I had always seen/heard it as just “Austin Nichols”?
I introduced my wife to bourbon with what I named an Orange Smash. 1.5 oz WT American Honey, 1 oz HH BIB, 1.5 oz orange juice. Mix, stir with ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
I can report she has advanced now to Russell’s Reserve SiB/water as her beverage of choice.
Gateway spirit indeed.
Since my kids love this stuff I think an opportunity for Wild Turkey would be to try different types of honey in it – Clove, Apple, Dandelion, Acacia, etc – and see how the flavor changes. A marketing or gift set opportunity at the very least.
A bottle of this lives in my fridge for use as a sweetener in bourbon cocktails. Always have one on hand just in case the mood strikes.
A little over a decade ago, it was also one of the main “gateway drinks” that brought my wife to being a bourbon lover (she has a much bigger sweet tooth than I do).
Like David I find this one a little too sweet for sipping but it can be amazing in a cocktail. One of my favorites is LiberTea that we wrote about way back in 2012. Give it a try but make sure you don’t the entire pitcher like my wife and I did in just a few hours – when we made it a 2nd time. Dangerous stuff. 😉
The reason for the confusion is it shows a picture of the label and the picture says 110 proof/55ABV.
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That’s the official TTB filing. There’s been no other official image to date. Only leaked photos. Unfortunately, it’s all I have to go with at the moment.
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I’ve seen pictures that show the actual boxes,
It appears to be 114.8 proof.
Well if it’s fewer than MK then I might as well forget about it. I’m really getting tired of fighting over bottles. I never even sniffed an opportunity to purchase the RR2003, 2002 or 1998. And MK17bib was probably available but that one was tatered beyond belief.
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Fingers crossed for you, Larry.
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Update: I was able to score a bottle from my local retail store. Evidence that miracles do happen! Already opened it and it’s fantastic.
Interesting, considering the label for Father & Son. I know it’s travel-retail, but it’s also supplied by Campari Australia (per the label). I know some bottles have hit online retailers. Maybe ask your area Campari rep. Cheers Jim!
Curious how you know it is annual release (obviously you have likely heard more than I have), but the press release does not indicate that regularity.
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Thanks for commenting. My Patreon group had a Zoom with Bruce Russell. He stated it would be an annual release and a permanent part of the Russell’s Reserve line. 👍
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Well it appears that Wild Turkey has released a One Liter Rb thtis also Non-Chill filtered. Excited to crack it and report bacl!
Yes picked it up in Aruba on the way back to the US. Also at 116.8. Curious to see how it compares to the standard.
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In the mid-nineties before many of yall were bourbon chasers, I happened upon a few cases of some dusty Pensylvania Whiskey at a flea market, of all places. I bought a few bottles for the heck of it. One was called Three Feathers and it was bottled in the 50s, the other was called Gibsons and this particular bottle was distilled around 1942. Well, me and a buddy tried em both, rotgut is the term we used I believe. I laugh to this day just thinking and imagining the fervor these whiskey fanatics would have over these horrid bottles if they ran across them today. Old, vintage, sealed, for sure. But terrible, oh yeah. Take it from me, old doesn’t always equal quality. Im assuming these were likely bottom shelf swill in their day.
Late to the party, but this is… good. Really good. Some genuinely dusty notes to it for me. And for the record, bought it retail and not the secondary.
Got a 1970 4/5 quart bottle of Austin Nichols New York Wild Turkey 101 8 year from my father-in-law this past weekend. It had been opened but not reopened since. About 1/3rd was gone and the original cork had broken off into it. We opened, strained and removed the original cork. Still very tasty. Bottle and label are in great shape and a keeper!
Hello, I have a bottle of Kentucy Spirit with these info on it : bottled on 01/16/20 , barrel 1066, rickhouse A, rick 19. What camp could it be? Thank you.
Thanks for your answer, now there are 2 with the same info in my old trunk/bar .
I don’t think I will be disappointed by this 1066 barrel, it is WT after all.
Regarding the camp , maybe they don’t want this information to hinder with sales as great reviews of a camp or bad reviews of another may make a certain camp more sought after or avoided by buyers.
Just saying.
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I don’t think it’s that. They’ve only used a single letter on Kentucky Spirit since 1994. I guess it wasn’t that important then. It certainly is now. Hopefully, Campari will recognize this and address it with KS in the near future. Thanks Florin!
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Just picked up a bottle for $84 at Heathrow. Looking forward to sharing with friends
There’s no time limit on commenting, yeah? I’m minimalist and frugal, meaning my glassware has mostly been acquired “at no additional cost” — a small Glencairn from Glen Scotia, a tall glass from Johnnie Walker, an aluminum tumbler from Maker’s Mark — but also an insulated tall glass and tumbler that I did purchase. They all get used, and get used according to what I want out of the drink being poured. Do I want my cold, neat cocktail to remain so? — into the insulated tumbler it goes. Do I want the ice in the drink to further dilute — Maker’s Mark tumbler it is. It also keeps ones hands cool! Mix it up! The same goes for mixology. I had a bottle each of dry, bianco, and rosso vermouth, and was experimenting with varying proportions of each in the Negronis, Boulevardiers, and whatever the rum variation is called, that I was making. Bitters, lemon juice, salt? Why not? Now, I don’t post any of this anywhere, but I’d reckon if I had exposure, there’d be some shaming and flaming goin’ on.
This comment will be much more to the point than my previous one. I live in Japan, and therefore have access to WT 101 8 Year for ~$31-36 / 1 liter. RR 10 Year goes for ~$55. I’ve had plenty of WT, but never RR. I know the mark-up for RR is greater than WT, which gives me pause on buying it here. Sell me on it!
For starters, great price on the 101/8. I’d say that RR10 occupies a different profile. It’s similar to Eagle Rare but with greater spice. $55 is rather high (it’s $35 here) but is there any harm in trying it once? You might just enjoy it. Then again, if you have access to WT13, just buy that over RR10. Their profiles are almost exact, batch depending.
Indeed, the price, (and the contents!) are hard to beat. RR10 is not a part of the Japanese lineup, wildturkey.jp which likely accounts for the price. Eagle Rare 10-Year, which I have had here, is ~$40-45. WT13 and RR10 being similar makes sense; come to think of it, I may have read that before. I’ve read mostly “just okay” reviews of WT13, so I’ve stayed away — I’m generally a higher-proof person anyhow — but, as you said, why not give it a go. Thanks! (BTW –I’m a long-time reader, but new-fangled commenter.)
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WT13 is great at its native price, but at the American secondary market price ($100+), it’s a pass for me. Especially since RR10 will get you 90%+ there in flavor. Cheers Tavis!
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I have one bottle of 2001 RB left after buying a dusty case about 10 years ago, still my favourite whiskey of all time.
Saving the last bottle for my 50th, only 11 more years to go!
Maybe a silly question and maybe I missed this info, but how do you know where a bottle was aged? I recently picked up an OHLQ RR barrel pick and it said it came from rickhouse F and floor 4… does that info help me find out where the aging happened? Thanks!!
I’ve spent nearly 15 years in the whiskey industry (always on the single malt side). Without question the greatest detriment to this specific sub-group of the industry is the proverbial gate-keeper mentality around how a single malt should be drank. It has undoubtedly turned people away from single malt and empowered bourbon/rye to become the popular choice for consumers that want a lower stress, more diverse consumption opportunity. My hope is that over time we see this begin to break down but I fear that the “Cask Strength only, Glencairn only, Neat only” mindset is so engrained that it may have missed its chance to really grow past the most dedicated fans.
It is worth pointing out that we all, as consumers, aficionados, enthusiasts, etc have a platform to educate. When people ask you how to drink whiskey the answer should almost always be “however brings you the most joy”. I now go out of my way at consumer events to educate on the difference between drinking and tasting whiskey. I think its great to have some level of standards in tasting whiskey; clean (and correct) glassware, small sips, neat first, with water second, etc. But what you do on a Wednesday night after a day of work when you want to enjoy a drink doesn’t by any means need the same level of rigor, in fact I’d argue that it shouldn’t.
So very well said, Chris. There’s a huge difference between tasting and drinking whiskey. And, the only right way is, of course, your way. BTW the 2yo Single Cask Nation Westland was excellent. Cheers! dj
RR SiB Rye (one of the very best ryes on the market at any $$)
RB 112.2 (was too hot in 2020 and a bit overpriced IMHO) Gotta try the 2021.
101 Rye
RR 6yo Rye (always something not right for my palate)
81 Rye
I personally wasn’t so big on Rare Breed Rye, which is a shame, because I can readily get it for $46. Now Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye is a completely different story; it’s currently my rye to beat.
Amazing direct opinion about a product and topic that has impacted the bourbon community greatly! There are many of us Wild Turkey lovers, old established followers of the brand, and newbies such as myself, that have loved and come to love a product that is incredibly unique yet readily available, save the limited releases and private picks. The shelf products have literally been available for years. I really enjoy tasting the various expressions that Wild Turkey offers, amazing for a product that has only one mash bill/recipe!
I’m interested in joining the patreon, but have a question about the single barrel selections. If i was lucky enough to secure one can they be shipped to a state like Mississippi? It is technically illegal to ship liquor here.
Is it possible McBrayer barrels were bottled as standard Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel offerings in 2020? I swear, I had a retail bottle that matched your description of this selection almost exactly, especially the grape note. It was so “off-profile” for what I usually get in a RRSiB that I damn near sent you a sample.
Either way, I’ll be on the lookout for McBrayer picks this summer. I really dug the uniqueness.
Any word on a bottle count on the russels 13? My buddies always find just about everything allocated but nobody has found this or even heard of it ever showing up this is very strange.
No official count. I’ve just been told less than a typical Master’s Keep. The insanity and hype around this release has reached ridiculous levels. It will be quite difficult to find for most. On the brighter side, it’s still rolling out. Best of luck!
Thanks for this, David. I have a story to tell that might give your readership hope. I’m in the greater Minneapolis area, and my little burb doesn’t get much for the rare/allocated bottles. That said, there are a couple of Total Wines within a half hour of my house, so I occasionally hit those to do some hunting.
I had a friend call to tell me he was in a Total Wine on the opposite side of town, and they told him they had gotten a case of RR13 in that morning and it was gone before it hit the shelf, but I thought, what the heck… I’d run to the nearest TW store over my lunch hour and see if I could get lucky.
I got there and asked one of the employees if they had any and he pointed to a short line of people down the aisle. He said “the truck is just arriving and if we get any, it’ll be on it. Those four guys have already been waiting for almost two hours. Chances are, we’ll get a case or two at most.” So I decided to hop in line not knowing how long it would take. I had afternoon meetings and couldn’t wait any longer than 20 minutes.
As I waited, the line grew. Pretty soon it was nearly 20 deep. As I nervously watched my twenty minutes expire, I couldn’t help but think this would likely be my best (and perhaps only) chance at getting a bottle. After all, even if they only get a case, I’m fifth in this line, so I was in a good position.
Twenty minutes came and went. I thought “I can take the first part of my call in the car… ten more minutes.” Right then a manager walked up and said “the truck is here, but it’s not even at the dock yet. It could literally be hours. You’re welcome to wait if you want, but it will likely be a while.”
I was sunk. Cursing my responsibility, I left the line with about 5-6 thanks their people (none nearer to the front of the line than me). For a day and a half I thought about what might have been had I been able to stick it out.
Several days later, I was at the grocery store in my sleepy little town to pick up supplies for a small gathering we were having. I checked out and realized I had forgotten ice for the cooler. So I put my groceries in the car and ducked into the adjoining liquor store. As I walked in, I thought I’d grab a bottle of WT101 for some summer cocktails in the event our gathering wanted to head that direction. So I grabbed one. On sale for $26. Score!
As I started to walk away I did the obligatory quick scan of the shelves, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. There it was. A single bottle of RR13 between the 10 year and the 6 year rye. I audibly let out an “OOOOoooooooof!” as I grabbed it as quickly as I could. I was stunned. Elated. In complete disbelief.
When I brought it up to the counter beaming, the cashier said “Russell’s 13… we’ve gotten multiple calls every day for over a month about that stuff.” She seemed less than impressed over all of the fuss. I told her about my Total Wine experience and she just rolled her eyes. I can’t imagine being a liquor store clerk having to field constant questions about these rare bottles, knowing that a good percentage of those asking are people looking flip bottles for a ridiculous profit.
But this time, I got one. In the place I least expected. So occasionally, it does happen. The people who SHOULD get the good stuff do. And it feels SO great when it does work out that way. Stay hopeful, friends, and enjoy the hunt.
Apologies for the late reply, this was caught in my blog’s pending comments folder. A fantastic ending to an at-first-discouraging story. Thanks for taking the time to type that up and share. Very happy for you. Congrats and enjoy! dj
I do not like it much; I prefer the previous ugly bird label. This new one is too elegant for my WT.
I imagine the cork will be the same size though, so I will be saving my current bottle to put new WT101 in 😁. I do the same for Glenlivet.
I picked up a bottle at O’hare for $64. I am very excited to try it after reading your review. I wonder if maybe they rang it up wrong? Wish I had picked up two now!
We get caught in the roll of life’s journey forgetting that we must stop once in a while to look around , enjoy our simple things that matter to us like a glass of whiskey, we are not gonna live forever to keep forgetting about ourselves.
Raise the full glass for your life !
Cheers!
In regards to the straight bourbon designation, I didn’t think a toasted finish (but not charred) would affect that. I believe they can age in a new charred oak barrel, then put that into “toasted only” oak barrels for finishing. Looking at the Elijah Craig and Michter’s labels, both say Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Elijah Craig’s description specifically says that they use toasted but not charred barrels for finishing.
Longbranch is not that bad and with KS , half and half, it is a fine WT by any name you may call it.
KS adds a litle kick plus more importantly it adds substance.
Longbranch can be improved at home, it is a good base to start. No need to overlook it, it is Wold Turkey after all.
Mix and enjoy! Cheers!
RR10 is a great value in today’s market but I’ve tried several bottles of it through the years and it always leaves me underwhelmed. For my palate it falls short to WT101 in every way — including flavor. It balances a bit too much to the tannic oak side for my tastes as a daily drinker and more often than not either ends up either boring me or fatiguing palate to the point I reach for something else. Can’t see much reason to buy it as long as 101 quality is so good except as a change of pace pour. And I’m not even considering price. YMMV.
I know, right? That’s the great thing about the Wild Turkey line. Plenty of amazing options to choose from. Something for everyone, and at great prices & availability to boot!
Great article, my bourbon journey starting with eagle rare and Blantons has finally lead me to the WT distillery which is now my favorite. WT 101 is the best value on the market period. Started trying KS recently and I haven’t been disappointed yet. I think they generally have that typical 101 flavor but with a little more vanilla/orange creamsicle and I dig it. Personally, I don’t really care about the packaging my only critique is the price paid 59$ pre taxes for one today. Totally delicious creamsicle/orange spice/clove as per usual so I will probably still buy a few bottles a year for a break from my usual RB and RRSiB addiction. I will say if this were 10 bucks cheaper and non chill filtered it would be really hard to pass up lol. It’s so weird how these barrels differ so much from the RRSiB which always have a grape/cherry flavor to them. I’ll never understand how warehouse placement can change bourbon flavor so much but I’m gonna enjoy every sip of it lol.
I like how you mentioned that some barrels might not show their best at the 110 of the RRSiB but will shine at 101 Proof. In general I love that high proof Rare Breed and RRSiB. But sometimes my palate just isn’t in the mood for that and the 101 proof is right on the money. Still really flavorful with all the focused flavors of a single barrel but it’s not gonna fry your taste buds lol
It was with mixed feelings that I saw and reacted to the Fred Minnick’s latest YouTube video on the findable BTAC alternatives. While I was thrilled that two Wild Turkey releases were there, I was worried because usually what Fred says starts making things start to disappear and to go up in price. I hope that will not be the case with Russell’s Reserve 6 yr old Rye or Rare Breed.
With all due respect some of the comparisons in this article must have been made in jest. E.g. anybody who has ever tasted THH would never consider RBR as a substitute. Come on man! Lol
Couldn’t agree more about the RR-10. It was the very first bottle of bourbon I ever bought. Thought it was hot as hell neat, but delicious in an old fashioned. Fast forward a couple of years, a few more bourbons under my belt, and now it’s just an easy, well crafted sipper. It had been a while since I had bottle, favoring 101, RB or RRSiB, but I’m so glad I tried this bottle again. Really appreciate it more now that I’m more experienced with bourbon. Definitely going to be a permanent addition to my shelf.
I have recently gotten into a lot of the post 2011 RR and share the same sentiment you do. They aren’t bad by any means but there is a profile shift. I dont know if its the age difference or the new setup but they are missing some depth.
I think it’s more to do with the new distillery. That said, some additional age might be where the new whiskey shines. Time will tell! Thank you for reading and commenting.
once again, you seem to capture all the things i think about. i was fortunate to secure a bottle at $165 the other day. That is an odd statement I guess, since $165 is still a silly amount that 8 years ago I could not have imagined saying or buying. and now, i feel like i got a ‘deal’.
I look forward to opening it soon, once my better half regains his tastebuds from a stretch of Covid, but mostly i write because i find you passed on mentioning one dimension of this bottle. It was nearly impossible for me to remove it from the standard packaging!. i laughed while i tried my best to pry it from the encasement. upside down, bottom, top, sides, tapping the back like it was choking. ultimately i failed and had to wait for someone else with much stronger hands to attempt it, with success. some neck holes in the packaging would be a great suggestion for future boxes.
anyway, do hope to meet you some day and if it were on the grounds of WT, that would be most excellent.
Thanks Kelly. Yep, I suppose $165 is a deal nowadays. As for the packaging, some of the MK Cornerstone bottles were prone to falling out, so at least it’s safe. 🙂 For now!
This is my wife’s sipper and I enjoy it on occasion. I’m lucky that my retailer discounts it 25% so it falls to a more digestible price point. We get three or four bottles per year. Not liking this 80 / 700ml change. Will probably stock up now before it changes.
Your last paragraph says it all, and says it well. For goodness sakes, it would save them time and money at the least, and we would get a possible better bottle of whiskey.
Just think of all that whiskey WT distills and ages and someone really thinks it must be filtered , an amazing amount of work for a result I could do without..
Please just write on the label about that (hazy or cloudy if chilled or served with ice) and let us have only the water as the alteration of whiskey.
Other distillers let he customers know they do not use CF and think it matters a lot.
I will be happy if my 101 or RB will not be subjected to CF anymore.
Hope that day will come sooner than latter.
I just pulled the trigger on some here in Australia. My thought process was the taste / heat difference from the Single Barrel offerings. The NCF is noticeably more punchy and often picked ahead of the SB. Granted its higher proof, but the NCF SB Drinks alot warmer than its proof IMO. Looking forward ro trying it! Cheers
So, I finally managed to grab some here in Australia . . . well, ordered a bottle anyway. It was AUD250 with a 5% Black Friday discount and free shipping. Crazy money, really. But, it will end up as a special Christmas present whisky (for me) when it finally arrives!
Congratulations David! Loved your blog and your style of writing. You should review those Aussie RTD including the discovery series, and maybe this bad boy below!
I swear I had a taste-memory flashback to a few decades ago when I took my first sip of Saffell, a bit of a Proustian moment. I didn’t really “taste” bourbon back then, of course. It was mostly, but not exclusively, JD and often a glug from a bottle, but occasionally with a glass and more deliberation. And yet!
Great review!
Long time fan of Wild Turkey 101 Rye, I just recently picked up my first bottle with the new label (LL/JI08064). I’m blown away at how thick, oily and viscous it is. More so than any other bottle of 101 rye I’ve had, and Russell’s Single Barrel Rye too for that matter.
The taste is on track with what I’m used to, perhaps a bit more age and smoothness to it, but the oiliness was a pleasant surprise. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was non-chill filtered.
Did you notice a difference at all?
RRSiB Rye is definitely NCF, but not 101 Rye. This 2021 101 Rye doesn’t have a notably thick mouthfeel, but it certainly isn’t thin. Loving it just as much as past releases. Thanks for reading and commenting, Brian. Cheers!
Coincidentally, just had a finger’s worth yesterday evening to help me overcome Army’s loss to Navy in The Game. For me, both red and green WT101 bottles are simple and straightforward, relaxed and reliable – they should be on everybody’s list of everyday go-tos.
I love your blog, I still remember the first bottle of bourbon I purchased was the old style bottle of Kentucky Spirit and to this day I have not found a bourbon that has the creamy spice notes that I found in that bottling. However the bottle of WT101 I picked up recently kind of brings back that nostalgia of me staring wide eyed at all of the nice bourbons I could legally purchase and the wonder that was the first sip. Keep on writing, this blog is one of my favourite things on the internet.
Longbranch and Russell’s Reserve are their own brands. In the latest website redesign, they’ve moved them to their own domains. Probably not the best decision marketing-wise, but we shall see.
Nose: it’s a more intense traditional Turkey Spice – smells like a bakery at Christmas with the cinnamon/nutmeg spice coming forward immediately and leading you to the fruit pastry section – highlighted with caramel apples and even a slight pear note.
Taste: fruity spice bomb – baked cinnamon apple cake, caramel apples and pear on the finish. Nice balance of savory spice and sweet fruit. Really a perfect balance.
Medium to long finish with the spice lingering in the front and sweetness on the end. I couldn’t be more happy with this shelfer. Wish I knew which Rickhouse this was pulled from. It’s delicious.
I have a warehouse S, Rick 57 that was bottled on 12-09-20. It has a nice nuttiness to it that I haven’t picked up much on other barrels. I will be looking for future warehouse S bottlings as well!
Love the content of this comparison. If you have a single barrel A-F, how do you know where it’s from (Tyrone, Camp Nelson etc.). If it’s G and higher seems that by deduction it should be Tyrone. Thanks for your help.
It’s a supply issue period. Having folks interested in bourbon is a good thing. It’s a fad and it will pass eventually. Plenty of other Russell products on the shelves.
If it were a bourbon, it would be gone. I think there’s a lot of folks unfamiliar with American malt whiskey, but if they tried it, they might be surprised. Can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
Will do! This will be my first American malt, though I am a Scottish single malt fan.
The only thing that makes me less upset about the bourbon frenzy in the States is that we can get a lot of the Scottish single malts that disappear in seconds in the UK, like Springbank for example.
Back in 2020, a few months into the Covid pandemic, I got bored and set up a 32-bottle semi-blind whiskey-tasting bracket for myself with all the bourbon and rye bottles I had on hand. Took me a few weeks to get through it all, tasting a variety of things head-to-head, etc.
Guess which whiskey came out on top when it was all said and done?
As I was doing my research I came across all of your work here and I appreciate the time you took to learn and study them. However I do have one question for you, Iv acquired a 2010 ,wt-03rb , I’m intrigued if you know what barrels were mixed for the 2010, I see you know for 09,11,12. If you knew that would be awesome!
Rare Breed is traditionally a blend of 6-, 8-, and 12-year whiskey (per the Russells). So you can always count back the years from bottling. Of course, there is no formal age statement, so it could be anything 4 years or older in theory.
As promised, here is my reaction: My impression from the just opened bottle was “Wow!” and that it really did deserve the 9/10 that Taylor gave it. I put another bottle in my cart (which I confess I never paid for). Subsequently, I have tried it four or five times and the bottle has really settled down, like the difference between vivid and movie modes on a television. (But I have my tv set to movie mode.)
The flavors are complex and integrated. It really does not taste like any other whisky that I have tried. But that complexity does not make it a chore to drink. The main flavor I get on the palate is milk chocolate but layered with lots of other flavors like a great dessert (not that I would call this whisky sweet in any way). The tequila cask is detectable to me, adding a certain citrusy brightness. Very glad I bought this.
Love this analysis. It really is unlike any other Westland I’ve tried. Really appreciate your thoughtful feedback, as well as your willingness to take a chance on a not-so-cheap bottle. Cheers!
Thanks! And I will always be happy to spend my hard-earned cash on anything that both you and Taylor recommend! You are two of the reviewers that I trust the most.
Good points in here. Coming from someone that grinds it out 5 days a week in the industry working 12 hour days currently to do the daily blending and processing and catching up on custom barrels which are typically 6-12 plus months for most that we’re trying to meet in 3-6 months it can be easy to voice improvements from the picker perspective. There’s a lot of physical labor, logistics and time involved in a custom barrel program. It’s a treat to those who experience and those who offer it. Would love to enjoy a pour of RR SB CNF at the end of these long days but not happening right now. Patience is a virtue and plenty of other expressions to enjoy at the end of day. Always an enjoyable read DJ. Cheers!
I’m sure it’s a very tough job. Most consumers (of any product) never appreciate, much less see, what goes on behind the scenes. That being said, when competing brands deliver quality results faster, it should always be an area of concern for a business. Customers, unfortunately, aren’t the most understanding folks. I hope one day your hard work is rewarded. Thanks for reading and commenting. dj
Sounds like a pretty perfect weekend! Brought back memories of the 2019 Patron barrel pick and gathering. I vowed that wouldn’t be my last private barrel experience, and reading this makes me want it to happen sooner than later.
Long time reader, first time commenter:
Thank you for this interview and blog post! Cigars and whiskey are my go to for an hour or so of solace. I work in the production side of bourbon in KY for a “medium-size” distillery and it’s refreshing to read such a down to earth interview focused on enjoyment of each item rather than pointed recommendations. I’m grateful for the passion and intrigue you both share for whiskey and cigars, it makes for some excellent reading and excited for the next cigar and whiskey I get!
Great read, DJ. I still enjoy an LE and will pick up private selections when I see them, but my days of caring what’s in my cabinet to the point of spending significant time and money are over.
I’m happy with what I’ve got, and if that means a handle of 101 every couple weeks, then I’m good. Everything else is gravy.
superb perspective. i will forward to everyone who gives a darn. nice that i got the ‘good’ stuff before the world went mad, but for anyone who did get into this when things were easier, it can get pretty disheartening to view it through today’s glasses. i am trying to be patient and hopeful that some normalcy will return. until then….i now buy more WT/WT101 to blend 50/50 than perhaps anything else. *if you haven’t tried it, you MUST. i try to keep a positive spin, avoid all the sites that would make me angry, including the news, and just be happy for what i DO have and share it with others who feel the same.
Thanks Kelly. Really appreciate you reading, commenting, and sharing. Staying positive is a must. Avoiding negativity is the only way to keep that up. Sounds like you’ve got the right idea. Cheers! dj
I guess I’ve retreated over the past couple years, as sitting and enjoying a brown beverage several times per week seemed counterproductive to trying to stay healthy during the COVID scare and as doctors juggled meds while they guessed what was going on with my body. As more and more bottles were collected, just to sit unopened here at home, it became a “What’s the point?” decision.
My retreat has been conducted within the boundaries of simply staying with those distilleries whose history I appreciate and whose offerings suit my tastes – Wild Turkey, some Maker’s, Woodford’s Derby bottles, High West’s lineup, and an occasional barrel offering from the local liquor store. Gone are the days when I felt I had to have anything new just because it was new, with a colorful label, or in an exciting bottle. After having been in the bourbon scene for about ten years, I’m content with knowing I’ll never have a bottle of Pappy in my collection.
Very sorry to hear about your health struggles. But it sounds like you employed a lot of wisdom. Sticking with old reliables – even exploring new but available things – is a great plan. Certainly keeps the frustration out of your life. I’m the same way now. Thanks for reading and I truly appreciate the comment. dj
The “Looking Back” section is the heart of this piece for me. Anyone feeling burned out was in it for the wrong reasons to begin with or needs a reset to their original fascination. And the old maxim “it’s wanting what you have not having what you want” applies here.
I too have gone through periods of whiskey “burnout,” but I think one of the reasons why is that the pandemic has severely curtailed the in person social aspect of the hobby. If you only view the whiskey community through social media, it quickly becomes annoying. But if you get together with some folks in real life, share a few bottles, and just have a good time, I find that my interest in whiskey comes back. A barrel pick with friends is like that on steroids. My friends and I have so many blind tastings/themed get togethers that we have been discussing for the past two years, hopefully everyone can get back to actually doing these things in person in the near future, if they aren’t already.
Human beings are easily impressed and thus easily deceived. Everyone is susceptible to being sold. It’s ALL marketing mumbo-jumbo, mostly GMO flatulence
Based on your review it sounds like there’s a good chance I will prefer the new profile. I have never really enjoyed RR10. Too dry and tannic and at the lower proof there’s not enough bold bourbon notes to counter-balance it. Any idea what to look for laser code wise for the new profile?
Thanks! I’m sure I will give it another try when I see the new bottles. However I wish a popular profile were not going away for other people. That sucks when that happens.
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Thats an interesting and notable shift. Ironically there seem to be two camps for RR10, those that love the profile and those that hate it. There certainly have been many comparisons made to Eagle Rare 10, and I think those are fair comparisons. This profile shift sounds like it will be more in line with those who wanted less oak in their low proof 10 year old Bourbon. Ill miss the old profile, but I think its good to iterate, change and improve on occasion. Ill be on the lookout for something bottled this year (it takes forever to get to markets here, we havent even seen One yet), to put it through its paces.
Interestingly enough, I’m also not the biggest fan of Eagle Rare either, preferring the Buffalo Trace expression of the same mash bill over ER10.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy “oaky” bourbons (I do) but I need a balanced bourbon.
With the Wild Turkey mash bill and taste profile, I feel it benefits from a higher proof to be at its best. If WT would consider upping the proof of RR10 to say, 94 to 96 proof, I think it would be a big hit for more people, especially in today’s market with new customers wanting higher proof levels.. I would advise them not to make it 100/101 proof to prevent the product from overlapping too much with WT101.
Besides, it’s clear that Eddie and the team want to keep RR10 as at a mid-level proof to keep it approachable, which I agree with. I have nothing against 90 proof bourbons but something about the WT profile needs a little more oomph to balance out the oak notes.
You’ll definitely like this 2022 bottling then. I’m a huge Eagle Rare fan and the former RR10 profile had a lot in common with ER. This new profile is more in line with a more mature Buffalo Trace KSBW.
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Very good points. Please let me know what you think when you try it. And thanks for reading and commenting. Always appreciate your thoughts!
So I went to (one of) my local liquor stores here in Louisville and there were cases of the old RR10 on the floor. Made me wonder how deep the pipeline of the old product is and how long it’s likely to be before the 2022 ‘two-tone red’ version shows up on the shelves.
The Pennsylvania state store system was selling Saffell in late 2021 (also Bond & Lillard). I bought several bottles and opened one. It is excellent. The neck label says “Batch 1” as before but the date code is LL/JF. Do you know anything about this release? I also saw some available from K&L recently.
I would be happy to send you a sample. Let me know.
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Came here to ask the same question. Got a few locally in Maryland that appear the be LL/LI (Sep 2023), but also have the “Batch 1” neck label… Was wondering how that was possible… Also to note, the laser code is not the same etching style as my other recent WT bottles…
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The “batch 1” is just marketing. Similar to OGD114 having the same batch number for years. Only way to know how good it is or how it compares to prior years is to roll the dice! Cheers!
This is such a wonderful post. Every word, every thought is exactly describing the reason I return to KY as often as I can. Not that I get stellar people and experiences with every visit, but each trip is filled with something extraordinary. So glad to hear how much you appreciate these moments shared with friends making new friends and sharing wonderful whiskey. Cheers.
I’d only “need” two: Wild Turkey 101 and Russell’s Reserve SiB. 101 covers cocktails and a regular sipper price point. Russell’s Reserve SiB covers premium sipping and variety. And those should only run $85-90 for the pair.
My friend, I just found this blog. I “got into the bourbon game” just a few months ago, and I quickly became independently convinced that Wild Turkey was severely underrated after I tasted Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel for the first time. I’ve now come to love Rare Breed, RR SiB Rye, and even WT101.
Anyway, ordered a hardcover copy of your book yesterday. Really good to know that I’m far from alone. 🙂
Thank you sir! I just read your entry on participating in the Starlight barrel selection. I’ve got a bottle of Starlight SiB that I picked up from JHOB in April (unfortunately not a Renegades pick, lol) … looks like I’ll be cracking it open soon!
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I’m confident you’ll love it. JHOB picks great barrels.
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I really miss the old Kentucky Spirit bottle, it was the first nice bourbon I ever purchased and proved to be one of my favorites. This was in 2013 which feels like a lifetime ago and I found it to be delicious so I got one a few years later after the bottle changed I am not sure what happened but I found it to be lacking for some reason. I only say this because I saw your review of this and part of it made me nostalgic.
You sure can spin a yarn, DJ. Loved reading this, and each time I hear about one of your Kentucky excursions it gives me the itch to get back there myself. Cheers!
Great post man. Read the latest edition of your book (hardcover) over the weekend. Absolutely loved it. Would love to learn more about how to join the Renegades on a barrel selection adventure sometime. I’m within reasonable driving distance of Kentucky. 🙂
Thanks for reading, Grant! Glad you enjoyed it and the book. If you have any questions about the Renegades, feel free to shoot me a message via my contact form. Cheers! dj
Any chance you can elaborate how much better numbers-wise this year compared to last year?
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I don’t have counts, but I do know that some states are getting double (or more) than last year.
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Thanks!
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Anytime!
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I have to say, I do enjoy finding and collecting old WT glassware (in addition to the dusty bottles!). Those are some neat shot glasses, but I have a set of WT “highball” glasses with a line to mark pouring level of your spirit and I use them all the time.
I have a RR13 that was bottled in December of 2021 and was fortunate to get another this year that was bottled in May. That bottle has the date under the code. Is there any difference in these batches? I know the first bottling has been rumored to have had 19 year old in the blend.
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December is batch 2 and is pretty much the same as batch 1, but with some barrels from higher floors. Batch 3 has 20-year whiskey in it, but in similar ratio to batch 1 and 2.
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DJ, speaking of press releases, I missed hearing that Campari has released a 12/101 expression in Australia. Do you know anything about that? I also saw a post on a facebook group about it being in Korea.
This WT12/101 info would be a great topic for one of your blogs.
Thanks! Sounds like I need to consider getting on there. Cheers!
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Thanks Larry!
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I walked into my local Costco and lo and behold, handles of 101 for $19.97. Wow, 2 in storage and 1 I’m sipping now. I swear it tastes even better at that price.
So just bought a wild turkey blue label 12 year here in Japan how to I date the bottle. It is completely sealed and plastic still 100% intact around cork.The code reads 2033FF10:48
Great blog and great review DJ. I totally agree with your ‘Rave’ and ‘Praise’ sections and loved the review part as well. Thanks for this info!
But… I have to disagree with the ‘Rant’ segment. Don’t take it personal, but IMO this is a bad take for a couple of reasons. Firstly, just because you don’t want to be personally inundated with complaints after you share information about a new release is not relevant. If you don’t want to deal with reader complaints then you shouldn’t be doing what you’re doing. Easy for me to say I know, but to me it just comes with the territory. Secondly (and more importangly) it’s generally a bad decision by Wild Turkey/Campari to not offer their best quality products in the home country of the product. This is not new. It was also poor form when they removed age statements from the US products in the 1990’s while retaining age statements abroad. I imagine that if/when the hightest quality Scotch offerings are not available in the home UK market, there is similar consumer blowback. I’m sure there are plenty of examples in the Scotch world where this happens, but it doesn’t make it right then either. Export country-specific brand variations are necessary (and usually a good thing to keep things interesting) but not offering the most popular premium products in the home market is the wrong decision and should be discouraged by we the buying public. Call it American entitlement if you want, but I feel that’s a bit of a lazy take on the situation.
Anyway, my own rant is over now 🙂
I’m still a big fan of yours and look forward to what you are up to in the future! Keep up the great work and Cheers!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Larry. Glad you enjoyed (most of) the review. 🙂
But let me clarify one thing – and this is important – I never said I had a problem with people communicating with me. I reply respectfully to everyone – always have. My issue is with “Americans whining about special whiskey expressions earmarked as exports or travel-retail exclusives.” *Not* people complaining *to me,* but people complaining about this in general, anywhere. Responses to my social media posts are merely what prompted my rant.
Second, to say that Campari is placing their best products overseas is inaccurate. Russell’s Reserve 13 is a great example, as well as an enormous volume of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and Kentucky Spirit private selections we have that they don’t. I’d argue those are some, if not THE best, in the company’s catalog.
Also, Campari didn’t remove domestic age statements, Pernod did, and so did many other distilleries in/around that same time. The fact of the matter is that from the 1970s to the 1990s, most Americans didn’t care about bourbon. It was a dying category. Many distilleries went out of business. Some were saved by foreign ownership, like Wild Turkey when Pernod purchased them in 1980. Were it not for the export market, bourbon would be a shadow of what it is today. And that’s a fact. I should also add that Campari has added age-stated expressions, such as the aforementioned Russell’s 13 and Russell’s Reserve private selections (which have included age statements since late 2019). Besides, the only age statement Pernod removed was the “8 years” from 101. That’s it. Just that single expression.
We, as Americans, should be grateful to have what we have. There are bourbon fans in countries all over that have only a fraction of what we do – often just the 81 proof and maybe 101. They’re people – bourbon geeks – just like you and me. Sharing is what this hobby is all about. If countries like Australia and Japan (the two leading WT markets after the U.S.) get occasional special offerings, fine by me. If it weren’t for them years ago, who knows if the brand would even be around.
Thanks again for your feedback. It means a lot to me. Have a wonderful weekend and sip plenty of Turkey.
These are good and fair responses to my comments. Thanks for clarifying the bit about the social media response, and that you have no issue with the feedback to you specifically. Make sense and apologies for implying otherwise!
Also yes true, it wasn’t Campari in the 90’s, I knew this as soon as wrote it, but it’s the Wild Turkey brand and, for the point I was trying to make, it doesn’t really matter whether it was Campari or Pernod or someone else.
I’m not an American spirits historian, but I feel that the notion that international markets indeed “saved” bourbon needs a bit more research and debate than what we can do here. The sales and finance analysis at the time would actually tell that story.
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I’ll concede that “saving” is arguably an overstatement. That said, had foreign companies not purchased certain distilleries, like Wild Turkey, the brand likely would have died. So foreigners saving bourbon, maybe not (it’s debatable). Foreigners saving brands, for sure.
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DJ,
Great distinction there about the difference between saving “brands” versus saving bourbon. As usual, you are on top of things. Very nice and interesting discussion we had here. Thanks for clarifying several things that I may have blurred the lines on. Cheers
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Think you as well. I appreciate and respect your perspective. Great conversation!
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Need help dating my bottle of 12 year 101 proof beyond duplication bottle it has a laser code on but do not know how to decipher can you please help? I am currently living in Japan and came across this sealed in case everything just cannot date it the code is L 2033FF 10:48
I hear you on the whining. Let’s not forget Japan helped bolster the bourbon market for decades while interest was low in the States. They’ve earned some special releases. But I’m not going to lie, I can’t help but be jealous. I can barely find Rare breed or retail RRSib on the shelf in my area. I probably won’t have the chance to buy another special or super premium Wild Turkey product for years to come given the persistent insanity here. I’m not losing sleep over it, but the jealously remains.
From what I’ve been told, it’s not a travel-retail release, but an export to Australia and several Asian markets. I hear ya on the jealousy. It is a beautiful whiskey.
Excellent perspective and review as always. If the reported MSRP for Japan is accurate, that is insane! I am still waiting to see it land here in Japan, and so far have not seen or heard a whisper from my big box local stores, or standby online sites (hurry up Campari and get it imported already! 😉
The discussion on the role bourbon has and continues to play outside of the US is fascinating to me. I have heard stores from older Japanese people that back in the 70s/80s you could go into a bar and simply order “bourbon” and would be assured to receive Wild Turkey. Patrons commonly had their own bottle at the bar they would drink from on every visit (basically bottle service, a practice that continues in Japan to this day). Japan was certainly a reliable stronghold of bourbon lovers back in the troubled times of the glut years.
Old releases are well known and famous now (like Tradition, Master Distiller Select, 17 year, and others), but flew under the radar at the time of their release. Now export markets are getting a highly coveted release in the form of the 12 year. Along with that, it is important to observe that we have not received RR 13 year, RR selections, W.B. Saffell, and have not received Masters Keep One (we received the past versions, but not the most recent one). Bourbon releases are a balancing act, Campari needs to keep up interest abroad as well as domestically. Im in the camp of “the US gets tons of unique things, so it is fitting for Asia to get its own special product once in a while”. Also, if the 12 year was released in the US it would be sold out instantly and tatered/secondaried to hell and back.
We don’t get RR13, RR98/02/03 or any private selections here in Australia. We do get MK but in small quantities.
I am super stoked we are getting WT 101/12 which is slowly starting to pop up on selected bottle shops, retailing around AUD$130-140. Can’t wait. I’m sure they will be very popular!
Well David, as always I thoroughly enjoy your zeal for Wild Turkey.
My best mate and I have been hiking the Victorian high country in Australia for decades.
We always take a fine Bourbon to ward off the cold.
I can remember many a night spent with WT Tribute, 17 YO Japanese edition ( my two favourites by a mile ) scored from Japan at great cost, American Spirit and the old 101 Rye (sigh)
The magnificent 12 YO with any danged label, absolutely faultless.
I absolutely adore Turkey from the 90s and early 2000s.
I suppose all things change though.
Russell’s Reserve tall bottle, and the early RR Rye kept the light of WT burning bright with gorgeous complexity.
In recent years though, I have felt a certain tiredness creeping into the Turkey stable.
The standard 101, 86 Proof Rye, and RR offerings as we’re available in good old Australia we’re a bit mundane.
You my friend, by courtesy of your rants, raves and whatever have contributed to the reinstatement of a WT staple, worshipped by many earthwide.
David, I’ll raise a glass of the new WT 12YO 101 in your honour next time I’m in the wilderness.
It may not be the same as the old Dustys, and Funkys, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
Thank you so much. I think you’ll love the new 101/12. It’s not the old profile, and no one should expect that, but it’s excellent in its own way. Cheers to you!
Excellent news David, especially since I live in Japan! No sign yet but a whisky buddy in Tokyo says September with a price point of 9000 yen which is currently just under $70us.
I fly home to Canada for a few weeks vacation Sept 6 and it would be nice to bring a couple of bottles if it hits the shelves by then.
Truly a pleasure to live as an American in Japan.
I’ve read many of your articles which leads me to search and discover rare finds (split labels, donuts, and GCF’s…oh my), and the ease of which most can be attained is rather astonishing. WT 8-year 101 is so readily available I’m still surprised to find 1L for less than $24 at current exchange rates.
I enjoy tremendously the blog, brother! Take care, and kanpai.
I’ve made two small 8 oz batches of the LongBreed and enjoyed them both. The blend was a great sipper on the rock(s). I’m considering blending two CYPB of LongBreed soon. Cheers
Mr. Jennings. Thank you for not only sharing your journey back in March with us, but also this fine bottle of bourbon. I purchased a bottle (203/246) a couple of weeks ago and have been enjoying every sip. Well done on the selection. Cheers…
“I’ll happily welcome any addition to the Russell’s Reserve family” – oh that we could find any of the special Russell’s bottlings here in Michigan, without having to deal with the scammers in the secondary markets!
WT started with arguably the best Rickhouse in their arsenal of historic flavor enhancing facilities. I’m not sure how the next single Rickhouse release can possibly complete with the granddaddy of unique flavor, CNC. Although CNA or S or McBrayer B would certainly be intriguing options.
Sounds like an amazing pour! I likely won’t get a chance to purchase this bottle in TN. Hoping some bars and restaurants will have decently priced pours
Yes, I read that comment above about when it was bottled, but my bottle doesn’t have a date anywhere, so how do I know?
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Gotcha. Look for a laser-etched code on the lower side of the glass. A flashlight sometimes helps. Refer to the bottle codes page on this site. 👍
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Well, I’m just found two of these bottles at a retail store (LOTTE MART) in Gumi South Korea for $95.23 (129,800 KR). I’m happy to report that they are both safe and sound in my possession and one will be heading back the Texas this coming February. Thanks for flavor profile and nose. I’m be comparing them with what I get when I open the bottle.
-Marc
This was an excellent read! You choosing the 13-year, and me subsequently re-reading your March 2019 review of a bottling of it, made me realize that I—a person living in Japan—haven’t seen it on shelves nearly as frequently these past few years. Then, just last night, I went to the nearest branch of my preferred liquor store to get some red vermouth. I saw a bottle of 12-year Distiller’s Reserve. It’s at 101 proof. It’s 700 ml. It comes with/in a keepsake box. It’s ¥6600—$45 at this prolonged inflation rate. I didn’t get it, as ¥6600 is still quite the splurge for me. What do you know about this?
This was an excellent read! You choosing the 13-year, and me subsequently re-reading your March 2019 review of a bottling of it, made me realize that I—a person living in Japan—haven’t seen it on shelves nearly as frequently these past few years. Then, just last night, I went to the nearest branch of my preferred liquor store to get some red vermouth. I (finally) saw a bottle of 12-year Distiller’s Reserve. It’s ¥6600—$45 at this prolonged inflation rate. I didn’t get it, as ¥6600 is still quite the splurge for me. Serendipitously? I saw—and re-read—your post on this bottling, which had the effect of making me reconsider my frugality!
Apologies for the near identical double post! The original one didn’t seem to go through, and in the interim, I recalled your post about the new 12-year, changed browser & email address, and made some edits. Oops. Anyway, if I do get a bottle, I’ll report back.
Well said. I only ever bought one bottle of this (mistake) as in my journey I was on my way up the proof ladder. Now that I have descended that ladder, I take great joy in what is left of this bottle. I always put it back in the box to make it more difficult to reach for. Because I know…once it’s gone, it’s gone.
I’m surprised nobody has hooked you up with a bottle, or at least a sample!
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Not yet. But it’ll happen. Got plenty to sip on in the meantime!
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Proud to call Jimmy my friend. I first met him when he was 54 years old and I was responsible for Wild Turkey sales in Kentucky and Tennessee. He is a true living legend!
Hi DJ, great review, thanks. You blog was a first place where I found out about new 101 release (big fan of Turkey bourbon). What are your thoughts about 101 12yo compared to Rare Breed? Is it worth to spend money & time to get your hands on it? It’s pretty easy to find rare breed here (EU) but I’m afraid we won’t get 101 12 yo here anytime soon. The only option is to find someone who can take it from a trip abroad. Is it worth such efforts? Cheers, Andy
Thanks for this article. I’m not a bourbon drinker but I’ve been researching this release. I grew up visiting the Wild Turkey distillery where my grandmother worked for decades. She mixed mash and I have countless memories turning wheels and pushing buttons for her as she let me “help”. This bourbon would be the last available that she would have mixed the mash for. I wish I had realized this when it was originally released as $600-$1000 for a sentimental moments is a bit much for me. Either way I enjoyed your review.
I agree – $600+ is way too much. It’s a fantastic whiskey, but I’m not sure that any whiskey is worth that. So nice to hear about your grandmother. Thank you for sharing that.
Sounds Fantastic! Reminds me of an extravagant blend that I have of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and 4Roses Small Batch Select at 50/50 plus one drop of water. Incredible pour for someone without access to highly allocated releases and unlimited budget. Cheers Rarebird 101!
This may have been a good idea at launch, but it isn’t selling, and just gathers dust at every store I’ve been to. Doesn’t it make sense to update it to Longbranch 101? Simple to do and stays in family. Maybe at the higher proof some of the flavors become more intense for $40. The biggest threat to Longbranch is WT 101 at ~$25 (picked up a WT 101 for $20 today) and say Rare Breed at ~$55. For $15 more, Rare Breed is a no brainer.
Also, Russell’s 10 is also ~$40 and you allude to this above.
That’s all up to Campari. If anything it’s going down in proof based on the TTB filing a year or so ago. It’s already 80 proof in Australia. I enjoy it in the spring and summer, but if it went away, no complaints here.
What’s the best way to contact Wild Turkey for answers to such questions? I went through Facebook a couple times, but get only an automated response and no answer.
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Have you tried asking on social media? Maybe try their Twitter or Instagram account.
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I currently have 2 of these bottles left and soon to be 1. I’m taking one to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving (2022) in a couple days. I believe mine are from 2002 and they do have some dusty notes. I bought a case of these dusties back in 2013 for about $30 per bottle. Sad to see that I’ll only have one left but happy to share with friends kind enough to have me and my family over to celebrate with them. I almost don’t want to know what they are worth today. I bought them to drink and share.
You’re spot on in calling all “batches” special. I too found there to be very little distinctions between each of them. JD. JL, KE are all special. If you need a taste of the May 2022 release I got you. Cheers to great reviews of spectacular whiskey 🥃
Why the big increase in price for MK series? See the rickhouse bottle will be 250 (with charity component) but very curious. Can send samples of first 13 year and this years release if you’d like. Hit me up.
Campari was leaving money on the table and adjusted their prices accordingly, I assume. They’re not sitting around, so it’s hard to argue it was a bad decision on their part. Thanks for reading and commenting, Stephen!
if you’d like the RR13 samples, contact me, in Lexington SC, we met at Eddie’s motor supply luncheon a few years back, you were very generous so happy to return the favor.
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Thanks Stephen. I should have a bottle in the next day or two. But I truly appreciate the offer.
Great review and opinion piece as well. I just ordered several bottles of this from an overseas retailer and cannot wait to taste and enjoy it. Thank you for your informative, erudite and passionate writing. I was fortunate to meet the great Mr. Jimmy on my first trip to Kentucky, and it was a thrill to be able to tell him how much joy he has brought to my life. A true legend!
Congrats on your vision becoming a reality. Big shout out to whoever created those labels. That is some nice art work. I will keep my fingers crossed on procuring one of these bottles. In the meantime I have a Rare Bird 101 Private Woodinville Rye pick to enjoy. Cheers.
Congratulations DJ! Like your books, it is very obvious that this is a labour of love and you must be immensely proud. Please send some to Australia! =D
Have you heard of any plans to reopen the private barrel program for Russell’s Reserve SiB Rye? I know they existed years ago. Maybe 2015/2016? I’ve never had one, but I remember seeing them around.
RRSiB Rye is clearly the more complex whiskey, as mentioned in the review. But the 6-year rye isn’t something to knock. It’s better than other rye whiskeys in its class, like Sazerac for example.
I have given thought to getting a few Russells single barrels, and barrel picks. Even though they cost more than they did a year or so ago, I believe they are going to be costlier in the future. These are for my enjoyment of course.
I have a recently inherited bottle of 1986-1989 wild turkey. Someone down the line mistook it for a twist top and broke the cap off the top of the cork, then gave up on it (I guess no cork screw) and shelved it away. Now I have it. I’m not a whiskey connoisseur so it’s wasted on me. I don’t drink it so wouldn’t know good from bad. And I don’t have friends that drink it either so I’m looking for suggestions to put it in the hands of someone who would appreciate it. To be clear it’s unopened still have the cap just cork top broken and seal still intact. Thanks Thom
Unfortunately, with a broken seal and stopper, I’m doubtful you’ll find many buyers – at least buyers willing to pay what it’s worth. I’d pull that broken cork out (as it’s likely not 100% airtight) and enjoy it while you have time. Cheers and good luck!
How about producing more and distributing it widely? ECBP has no problem selling its 12 year barrel proof for $65 nationwide. Wild Turkey could do the same!
HH also has multiple mash bills and far more brands using up that warehouse space…they don’t have twice as many rickhouses devoted to Elijah Craig than WT does to RR! WT seems to have no problems keeping RR10 on store shelves and how long ago did they change to label color? I still regularly see both labels available…sometimes at the same store. There are other brands as well that don’t have trouble keeping 12-15 year juice available…knob creek 12 and widow jane lucky thirteen right off the top of my head…
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Heaven Hill has three stills. Wild Turkey has one. Also, many of Turkey’s rickhouses are considerably old – McBrayer, Camp Nelson, and probably a third of Tyrone. Many were made for 50 gallon barrels and have very low storage capacities in comparison to Heaven Hill. Beam is a monster and cranks out far more whiskey than Turkey could even dream about at present. As for Widow Jane, they source their whiskey. That’s a whole different ballgame. But all said and done, unlicensed individuals are profiting off the backs of distillers. Producers have the right to charge whatever they feel like they should – especially if money is being left on the table so obviously.
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I forgot to mention that WT fills about 560 barrels a day. HH fills about 1,300. Pretty big difference in operations.
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Even at 250, I don’t think that would help much with finding it on shelves, when’s the last time you saw Knob Creek 18 on a shelf, and if you do find it, most stores will be charging 400-600 for it…a price increase is fine but it needs to be combined with a larger production release as well. Widow Jane The Vaults is an excellent high age whiskey and if I want a bottle, I can be back home in 20 minutes with one bought at retail price…not only because it’s 250 but because there is enough of it that the vultures can’t pick the bones clean, so they don’t even try and stores sell it at SRP…even the online sites like caskers an frootbat only get around a 50 dollar price gouge on it.
Maybe, maybe not. But producers should charge what they feel is best for the markets they occupy. Widow Jane uses sourced whiskey for their age-stated products. So that’s its own thing, compared to a distilling producer using their whiskey exclusively for all of their products. I agree that WJ is good stuff. Expensive, but delicious. And you can find it. Hopefully higher prices on RR13 will mean we’ll see it available more often. Hard to say. Only time will tell.
I don’t disagree, producers make it and SHOULD be getting the lion’s share of income from it…and I don’t mind paying higher prices if it’s a fair price for a quality product (WT is always high quality)…I have more $200+ bottles than I care to admit…but unlicensed bootleggers aren’t the only problem, they may have cut the path but unscrupulous licensed retailers have turned it into a highway and in many ways are now driving the problem by charging as much as 10 times or more what the distillers want their products sold for. They want $300 for the “privilege” of letting you buy a $30 bottle! Becoming a licensed retailer should include a provision that the retailer agrees to manufacturer pricing strategies…in any other industry a manufacturer would be able to pull their products from that retailer. Firearms uses a very similar three tier system with one exception, retailers have to become authorized dealers for each manufacturer they carry…maybe that’s part of the answer…it might also help if the ATF remembered there were two other industries they are supposed to be providing law enforcement for as well, but that’s whole other discussion.
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Some very good points here. I think when it comes to retailers there’s a range of rhyme and reason. I think some are clueless and just Google Wine Searcher, get a price, and set it at what they assume is the going rate. Others are more keen and price at rates that pretty much guarantee the bottles will never move. So many factors to consider, but the three-tier system isn’t always a good thing. That’s for sure.
Besides the human impact you discuss, people forget that there were so many fewer products available that were aimed at enthusiasts. Now there are barrel proofers, single barrels, and private selections available for almost every mash bill from the major distilleries. But it wasn’t that long ago that you couldn’t even buy Four Roses straight bourbon in the United States, to pick just one example. So I certainly don’t wish for a true glut. But I do wish that distilleries would do a little less chasing of fads and introducing of new labels and a little more focusing on the availability and quality of their existing releases. Wild Turkey has done a commendable job of this. While the Russell’s Reserve LEs probably fall into the category of things you are unlikely to find at the already significant MSRP, they have maintained quality and availability of most of their bourbon and rye portfolio.
Agree that it can seem like there’s too many trend-chasing expressions out there, but I appreciate the variety. As you stated, some producers are better than others.
Wow! What an awesome experience. Sounded like the perfect trip, expecially with Jimmy and the michters barrel bottles! Some day, I’d like to theif my own bottle!
I have been following the profile shift for a few years now as well. I have remained largely unimpressed by anything distilled post 2011 but I have had some more recent picks that are an improvement. I think your hypothesis is correct on the still. If you look at post fire Heavenhill compared to prefire you see a remarkable difference. Neither is bad but they are different.
But the numerical ratings still help many ( maybe not all ) wild turkey friends or those who are new to wild turkey a lot. For example, I’ve read all your rare breed reviews and learned that the 2015 with 112.x proof is really problematic or even bad with a 2.5/5 marks comparing to other rare breed from different years. Although readers can still read the wordings bad, disappointing, crying for your wallet phase for the 2015 112.x proof review so they probably know that is a not so good bottle comparing to other rare breed but number really show a much more clear reference comparing to pure wordings and I don’t think a reasonable bourbon lovers will just judge your review purely by the marks only. So the advantage of taking the mark away is much smaller than showing that for a reference in my opinion and I hope you can reconsider giving a simple 5/5 marks as the total is just 5 instead of 100 and it’s pretty much a vague rating system already which will not draw too much argument or too difficult for you to give the mark.
A lot of online reviews on internet and youtube give huge credit and recommendation for that 112.x proof rare breed and you are the only one who point out that version maybe a bad purchase with the not so harsh wordings and the 2.5/5 ratings( really useful if the readers read your review of other rare breed too) so it really give an objective and useful indicator to other wild turkey lovers who are going to purchase rare breed from different years and help them to pick the better ones instead of reading all the reviews without a mark and go out blind hunting as it’s safe and fair to say you have more turkey exp than the average turkey lovers so review with a mark do help.
By reading your review together with your mark, those who really love wild turkey/other bourbon can do the tasting and compare to your review notes for each bottle and their own easier thus know the taste difference between you and each individual readers and be able to brush up their tasting skill faster. It’s not easy to do so without the mark but just tasting notes which reader may not be able to find a solid and objective reference point sometimes so please reconsider to let us know what you think of a wild turkey bottle with a x/5 scale after your detail tasting notes. Many thanks and looking forward for more reviews and sharing from you in the future!
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First, I truly appreciate your detailed and thoughtful reply. I see your point and understand that numerical scores help many folks. That being said, I have a hard time reconciling the fact that I’m rating/ranking a Wild Turkey expression when I have my own independent bottling about to drop. It just feels like a conflict to rate one Turkey over another with that in perspective.
I can promise you that my reviews will stay honest. It will require individuals to read the full post to understand where I’m coming from, but I’m okay with that. Will it make the site less useful on the fly? Possibly, though I’m hoping that the true Turkey fans stick around for the content and not just a quick skip to a rating.
Thanks so much for commenting. Your points are noted and I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
All the best,
dj
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Something I have always wondered… what is the primary purpose of these types of export and travel-retail only releases? Would a non-age-stated WT101 not sell well in the overseas markets where WT101/8yr is sold? And if not, why not? For something like you have described (WT101/8yr selling for $22), it doesn’t seem like there is always a price premium attached to the product (WT 101/8yr) over what we get in the domestic market (WT101 NAS selling for ~$20) — so what drives the different offerings? Doesn’t the need to produce separate WT101/8yr and WT101/12yr batches for export markets add needless complexity to the production and packaging process? Clearly I am missing something, because this happens for a reason (probably numerous reasons)… but would love to hear more what those are!
When bourbon was all but dead in the 1980s, the Japanese market helped to turn things around. For Wild Turkey, they’ve essentially kept the same expressions – 101/8 and 101/12 (with a 13-year version taking the 12-year expression’s place briefly). Why take those away from them when it sells well as is? That’s the way I look at it.
Fair, I suppose. But then how does that sentiment (“Why take those away from them when it sells well as is?”) square with the removal of age statements on some domestic bourbons in the last decade? I’ve always gathered that age statements were removed on some bourbons in order to sell more / meet rising demand — so I guess my question is, is there a notable difference in the tastes of consumers in these export markets (like Japan), where a NAS bourbon would actually sell worse than the 101/8? Is the age statement a more important factor there? Genuinely curious, and maybe it is as simple as you’re suggesting.
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Yes. Traditionally, Japan has been known for their appreciation of age statements.
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RR13 and the craziness around it is the main reason I stopped following bourbon. Still enjoy it but I can’t handle the “Hype Train” that is bourbon now. As long as I can find WT101 & WTKS I’m good. Keep up the good work DJ.
I decided to do a similar side by side comparison with what I could find on store shelves near me — a RR Rye 6-Year from July 2022 ($50), and a RRSiB Rye from March 2023 ($90). Could just be the batch and barrel of each that I got, but I find there is a pretty massive gulf between the two. I found the standard 6-Year Rye to be pretty thin, dry, and hot even at only 90-proof, while the RRSiB Rye was really well rounded: sweet, a little spicy, some nice orange-y citrus, and just the right amount of oak, plus a nicely creamy mouthfeel. Unfortunately, at $90, the RRSiB Rye is a bit cost-prohibitive, and there are other options (e.g., Wilderness Trail Rye) that I like better for less money. But still… the RRSiB Rye is quite good.
Different strokes, different folks. The good news is there’s a Turkey rye for everyone. If you haven’t yet tried Rare Breed Rye or 101 Rye, definitely give those a go. And thanks for reading!
I like both WT101 Rye and Rare Breed Rye — the latter is a little better, in my opinion, but not enough for me to justify spending twice as much on it. That said, I think RRSiB Rye is easily the best expression of the bunch — it seems like just the right proof and the NCF gives it some really nice body. (I haven’t had the 81-proof WT Rye but I actually don’t think I’ve ever seen it on the shelf.)
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I agree that RRSiB Rye is the best of the bunch. This particular barrel just didn’t hold up to past barrels. Probably just a single barrel thing. The 81 rye is fine for a low-proof cocktail, but that’s about it.
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Well I ain’t that long winded but if regular old Wild Turkey 101 ain’t good enough for you then you just ain’t drinking enough of it! Shady
I just don’t understand why they do this? Why not sell in the US? Heck I live 15 minutes away from the distillery I’d go there to get it! I’ve also heard their Rare Breed Nonchilled Filter is better than our Rare Breed and it’s only available overseas as well. I just don’t get it…
You’d have to go back 30+ years ago. A lot of history is in play. When bourbon sales were grim in the US, the export market kept some distilleries in the black. Hell, one could argue it kept them in business. Exports were age-stated then, so they’re age-stated now. The Rare Breed NCF is a travel exclusive, similar to what Beam, Maker’s, Heaven Hill, etc. do (as well as virtually any major Scotch brand). It’s honestly not that different from domestic Rare Breed. The good news is, we have much cooler stuff here in the US, despite a small handful of exports. Cheers!
I am very much looking forward to the domestic NCF RB, it has to be coming, there is no earthly reason to go to the bother of CF when no one in the domestic market wants it and in fact seeks out NCF releases as preferable to CF versions.
Regarding Japan and as a whiskey drinker going on 40yrs and a WT fan for that entire time, I assure you we turkey fans are just as attached to our age statements as our friends abroad, we had it, they took it away, we are still no happier about that than when it happened.
It is this turkey fans wish that one day production catches up to demand to the point that our age statement is restored, std 101 is certainly a gem but the age statements need to return, and yes we are keeping KS and RR too LOL!!
The only reason for Rare Breed to go NCF was to give travel-retail something special. I’m confident that when that deal ends, we’ll see NCF Rare Breed in the States (fingers crossed). And for what it’s worth, Rare Breed Rye is NCF.
It’s not that U.S. Turkey fans (or bourbon fans) didn’t appreciate age statements then, it’s the general public’s lack of appreciation that mattered more. The general public here didn’t care back in the glut era – for bourbon or its age statements. The general public overseas, however, did. For large brands like Wild Turkey, that’s who buys the bulk of the product – the general consumers, not the whiskey enthusiasts.
Turkey has age-stated products here: Russell’s Reserve 6, 10, and 13, as well as private selections and limited editions. Many foreign markets don’t see those expressions. But regardless of an age statement or lack of one, 101 remains a solid buy (thank goodness).
No argument from me. Always your choice as to what’s worth a purchase and what’s not. I’m fine with $150, but understand that others won’t be. Thanks Marcus!
$150? Geeze, I paid $70 for the first one. Come to think of it, the 2nd release cost me $99 I believe. So the MSRP has doubled in price in 2 years? Wild Turkey/Campari are some greedy sons of biscuit-eaters!
Secondary value is $300-$400. Campari is still leaving money on the table. I wouldn’t call it greedy at all. Hell, $150 for a blend of 13- to 20-year bourbon at barrel proof (NCF) from a heritage distillery is a bargain nowadays.
Ok DJ, but how do you explain the 2021 msrp of $69.99 at launch? Are we supposed to assume they were just being generous? Or did they adjust the price upward afterwards based on demand? If the latter, then that is greed, is it not? “Greed” can be a loaded word for some, so pick the euphemism of your choice. Also RRSiB PS msrp has skyrocketed lately as well.
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It’s not greedy, and I don’t blame them. No reason they should leave that much money on the table out of the goodness of their hearts. If this year’s is anything like last year’s, then it’s priced fairly in my book.
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It was underpriced to begin with. They’re simply adjusting to the market (like any business should). If you’re not happy with the new price and you happen to see it on sale for $150, just pass it on by. No one is forcing anyone to buy it. 👍
Sure, no one is forcing anyone to buy anything. Which is irrelevant. Ok, we will all stop complaining about 100% prices increases on here then.
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You’re free to comment as you wish. You apparently think it’s too high of a price; I think it’s a fair price. I don’t think either of us are going to convince the other differently. I’m simply saying you can vote with your wallet and I support you – and anyone – who does the same. It’s your choice to buy or not.
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As always, great review! I just got a RR CN-B 5th floor 08-xx sent to me from a friend in KY. Very excited to try it after reading your review.
is the new RR13 that dropped on Reserve Bar last week the only one from this year? Or was there one already released as batch 4 and then this recent one will be batch 5?
It could be any batch in theory. It all depends on what the distributors send the retailers that Reserve Bar works with. No guarantee of bottling dates.
Copy that. Thx RareBird101. I’ve been hearing conflicting opinions on the recent batch as far as quality compared to the previous ones. I heard it looked substantially lighter in color. Maybe it’s more a true 13yo vs older stocks 🤷♂️
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For what it’s worth, it’s 13-, 15-, and 21-year bourbon. Can’t taste color! 😉
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That’s cool, wondering how you know the barrel ages? have you tried the new batch 4 or 5 yet? If so, what’s your thoughts on it compared to batches 1,2, and 3?
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Through my distillery connections. I haven’t had the 2023 bottlings yet. Hopefully soon.
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copy that. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the new batch. Also, is there a better way to get your content? Are you on Facebook or YouTube?
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Thanks for asking, Bryan. Most of my content can be found at Patreon.com/rarebird101. Join for as low as $1/month. Cheers! dj
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Copy that. Will keep that in mind. Do u by chance know which rickhouses the barrels came from? CN or Tyr? Or mix?
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Both Tyrone and Camp Nelson.
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I just got 2 from Reserve bar. Not a big fan of it so far, but it was a neck pour. Ill give it another pour next week after it has some time to breath. Never had last years so I cant compare. Got lucky with a JD10 same day and I kinda liked it a lil better.
Not to get off topic, but yea that 12 next. I’ll come back next week to see if I feel dif about my RR13. I really want to like this. Friend in Tx calls it the French kiss.. We’ll see and yes, I agree about the dif strokes thing, but the major consensus is that RR13 should be better than what I think it is. Im curious if anyone will post a review with last years vs this years.
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Haven’t had a RR13 that wasn’t stellar. Everyone will have their own opinion and that’s a-okay.
This is really a great interview. Completely agree with Bo that 101 is the most underrated Turkey, or in my opinion, any bourbon today. Really should have asked his opinion on the 101 12 year, and if there is any interest at Wild Turkey of producing it for the U.S. market.
Man, Frank was definitely a great addition as a contributor! Great interview! I’m going to have to take Bo’s recommendation and grab a KY Spirit for this summertime! Cheers!
I came to this review, because I had a 2015 bottle ( same label like the 2013) and I didn’t like it. The overall flavors where not full, some could call it “bright”. I still finished the bottle however so at my next trip to the liquor store I found a 2019 bottle ( bottle code LL/HE). I loved it! It has everything I’m looking for, balanced sweetness and spice, zero bitterness and that sweet char that I love so much. When the glass is empty, the most beautiful smell remains in the empty glass ( thats what I call sweet oak) . My interpretation is that the 2015 was to young, and the rye spice wins over the sweet oak. The same happens on the other end, I have a Master’s Keep Decades and I find the wood spice to be too much for my taste.
I went back to the liquor store and I was able to find another 3, 1L bottles of LL/HE !
I know taste is personall preference but if I can enjoy a 25 euro/dollar more than a 250 euro/dollar, I call that a win!
No more chasing the weller’s for me, I’ll stick with 101!!
There’s definitely some variance between bottlings over years. The good news is, you’ve found what you like. And 101 is always an excellent value. Cheers!
I’m sure it will sell out at that price. People are buying age-stated Crown Apple. Besides, considering all the flipping, Campari is leaving money on the table.
I just bought a bottle at a local retailer today for $120. They usually charge at or slightly over retail, so I wonder if $150 is really more the Reserve Bar price rather than the MSRP. I would have happily paid $150, though.
I really enjoyed this interview. Frank’s questions, I think, helped Bo’s great personality shine through with his answers. Welcome onboard Frank! One small note: The rapper KRS-One and his group released an album named Edutainment in 1990. I believe he coined the phrase. 🙂
Any tips on blending? Do I pour in the same bottle and tip the bottle up and down? I’m assuming a normal shake will introduce oxygen which would not be desirable.
Thanks
I learned a trick from Shaylyn, who used to work as a blender and taster at Wild Turkey. You simply invert the bottle once and then back to right side up.
I have a bottle and I find the nose to be too woody. It doesnt have any sweetness in the nose, which I don’t enjoy.
For my taste WT 101 2019 is perfect. I really enjoy RR10 2020 even though I find it a bit bitter on the finish, the nose is divine.
Rare breed I find too woody, perhaps its the upper floor 6 yr barrels. When I blended it with RR10 2020, that woody smell went away, and whats left is a very nice complex pour.
I haven’t tried WT 101 12 yr yet. I hope is not as woody. Im assuming there must be barrels from the lower floors in the 12 yr and it wouldnt be too woody/smoky
I did not know this was your first time on a Russell’s private selection!! and it sounds like it was truly unforgettable! I’ve never participate in a Russell’s private selection, so reading this certainly makes me long for the moment I can experience my Wild Turkey “Firsts”. Great write-up, Frank!
Always enjoy your your work, Frank. With both you and Taylor doing Turkey picks with David, I like my chances of securing a bottle picked by three people whose opinion I highly respect.
Thank you so much, Tony. And I agree. Frank is an incredible talent.
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Looks like one heck of a time! As my journey through bourbon has evolved, I seemingly enjoy the bourbon history and stories and relationships far more than I enjoy the actual liquid in a glass or bottle. And this seems like it was at the top of that kind of list for you, too. Congratulations!
I have 1/2 of a handle bottle of Wild Turkey that was bottled in 04/22/93 at 8:58am at Austin, Lawrenceburg Kentucky and Marked as Old 8 Brand. It was packed away in a box in my garage until I found it recently. It tastes much better to me than the new bottle I have. I have read that it does not age in the bottle so I am wondering if you know if it was made with a different recipe. It still has the price tag on it of $24.99. 🙂
Not a different recipe, but there are differences in how they were made. Old distillery versus new, changes in water source, changes in barrel-entry proof, age of the whiskey, etc. Lots of factors, and not a phenomenon exclusive to Wild Turkey. Try searching “dusty bourbon.” I’ve written a few pieces here about it. Thanks.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have often wondered how much variation there is between barrels so I am going to select a commonly available bourbon with enough sales that the barrel serial number will change regularly at the stores near me. When a have collected a few (say 10) I will gather some of my friends for a tasting. I am thinking that a medium priced bourbon that is likely to have more variation and would be more fun. What would you suggest?
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Not necessarily. But if you want a higher chance of variation, try to find bottles a few years apart.
Looks like a beautiful bottle; sadly, it and any others in the $275 price range they represent simply don’t get my attention. I can afford it, but WHY?
No thanks. I hope my local store doesn’t hold one back and call me about it. If they do I’ll have to turn them down, which would be a first for any WT product.
Does WT say why it costs so much? It’s a 10 year whiskey finished in rum casks at $275. Compare that to Balvenie Caribbean Cask which is 14 years, aged in rum casks and sells for $100.
This does not compute.
6-year Willett Purple Tops are $300. Secondary for most past MK releases are $300+. I think it’s just Campari not wanting to leave money on the table. It’s a business after all.
Regarding “For the record, I’m no expert in distillation or still construction, so please take this hypothesis with a grain of salt. But it only seems logical that any change to a major process, in this case distillation, will introduce subtle differences to the final product. And since you have to wait years to taste the fruits of your labor, the full impact of these differences aren’t easily detected.”
I just have to wonder if, after several years of running the “new” still, it will “break in” after time. I mean, that still is now 12 years old so maybe the copper has had some time to settle in.
I’m lucky enough to have a bottle of RR13 in the cabinet (which will be opened as soon as baby Forosisky is here, any day now!), but as long as I can find Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel for $55 I’ll ride that train. Absolutely cannot be beat for the price.
It’s my favorite $50ish bottle, hands down, and I always have at least one shelfer on-hand and open, plus the private picks that I’ve got in the bunker.
David, Thanks for the review. I purchased one a couple of weeks ago. I have not opened it yet. Couple of local stores recently had Kentucky Sprits, CN-F and TYR-G and single barrel picks, CN-E and CN-A. All 2013 distillation dates. I’ve been enjoying those the past couple of weeks so that has delayed my Master’s Keep opening. Regarding the pricing, yes, a $100 increase over the prior year is significant. That being said, I would venture to say that less than 40% of individuals are able to get the Premium Turkey releases at retail. Most would be happy to get a Master’s Keep on secondary at that price. Maybe, this will have the effect of slowing the price escalation in the secondary market. We shall see. As someone who looks for older releases, bourbon and scotch, on the secondary market, I have witnessed the exorbitant prices individuals are willing to pay. The days of getting premium Whiskey, of any variety, being readily available and at a price near retail are gone for the foreseeable future. Anyway, I have rambled on long enough. This was an excellant review as always and I will compare your tasting notes with mine when I open my bottle.
Thanks for commenting, Greg. I recently saw a screenshot of a secondary post of Voyage for $375. My local had it for $350, so I think your logic makes complete sense.
I just cracked a bottle of the new Russel’s 10 year. It’s been close two years since I purchased the bottle. Try as I might, I thought the old version was just too oaky and I never developed a taste for it. The new version is much more to my personal liking, and I think will be more appealing to most drinkers. The old version did make for a great cocktail, though.
Great post. I said similar thing on Reddit and a Facebook post complaining about prices going up and/or secondary market prices and flippers. Right now demand for stuff like R13 far exceeds supply which is the only reason the secondary market exists. As you said, I said it was only a matter of time before shareholders wanted to take advantage of the demand their products generated and start raising prices.
Thanks for reading, Teddy. Right. It’s a bourbon business, so it was only a matter of time. And frankly, I don’t half blame them. Leaving money on the table repeatedly isn’t a good strategy for a publicly traded company.
I find myself really enjoying my bottle of 2021 101. When tasted side by side with my Poor Man’s Saffell 101 ( 59% RR10, 41%RB), its not as complex but equally enjoyable as a neat sipper!
I accepted your invitation: a recent find of Kentucky Spirit, CN-F (bottled JUN 2023). The Turkey distribution gods let a gem slip through out here in “Upper Left Corner” for a change!
For Sting Like a Bee to stand victorious amongst that flight is an exhibition of how great that single barrel is. Shoutout to KOBBE on the pick. I was fortunate enough to be able to try Sting Like a Bee amongst other great bottles during that same party; it left a lasting impression with me as well. Glad it made its way to the best site to talk about turkey juice! Cheers
Not an employee, though I am compensated for my time. They’ve invited me to share my story and the research I’ve done on the history of the brand. I did some of these sessions virtually during Covid, as well as Camp Runamok last year. It’s a lot of fun connecting with fans of Wild Turkey on a consumer level, as opposed to a more typical rep-to-consumer level.
Like the choices. I’d probably exchange the Rare Breed Rye with the Single Barrel Rye and get a .750 of 101 instead of the 1.75. But I don’t have any nits to pick really. Great lineup.
In Europe the list changes slightly. I’m in Cyprus and I can get 1 liter bottles of 101 all day, every day for 25 euros . I can get Rare Breed for 55.
In Germany, Rare Breed can be found as low as 35 euros ( for a 700ml) and in Italy Russell’s 10 for 42 euros.
I’m currently stocked up on Rare Breed travel exclusive 1 liter bottles which I got for 50 euros per liter .
Russell’s single barrel is harder to find.
Based on your “in conclusion” paragraph, are you telling me that you can find Russells Reserve 13 for $160? The first/last bottle I saw around here had a $300 price tag on it. I’d definitely grab one at $160!
Great choices! Have you noticed a price increase for RR10 recently? In my entire region, every store has started charging $44-$47 for RR10. Bit odd since the Rye is still $40, and RR10 has a lot of competition at that price!
Hi. I recently procured a bottle of this. At least, I thought it was this. A friend was traveling through Heathrow and I used the Select & Collect offer on World Duty Free products. However, the bottle doesn’t mention 8 years anywhere on the label. Have they stopped printing that? Or, did they pass the regular bottle off as the 8yr old?
To say that the asking price of this Generations is disheartening is an understatement. I have purchased Master Keeps several iterations but the asking price of Generations is way above what I am willing to part with. Unfortunate.
I said the same thing about Russell’s 1998 for $250 in 2015. I regret that decision now. But if you don’t want to pay $450 for this bottle in 2023, don’t.
Agreed. They are now insanely greedy and commercialized. The quality is less, the price is more. Their RR single barrels have been sub par for the most part, esp some of these warehouse M ones.
Hardly. Jimmy’s name is on virtually every bottle – 101, Rare Breed, Russell’s Reserve, etc.
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The pricing of the their premium products has gone off the rails. Stick to their core offerings and ignore this garbage from Campari’s marketing department.
If you don’t want to pay it, don’t buy it. There’s only 5,000 bottles anyway. It’s not like you’ll see this on shelves everywhere. Regardless, plenty of affordable quality Turkey to be found.
That’s really an unfortunate response. It seems like you are becoming less independent and more a bit of a mouth piece for WT. I guess those expensive dinners don’t come cheap. Hope you enjoyed Generations and the freebies.
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Did you read what the event was actually about? It was a celebration of family. I think you’re missing the big picture.
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Someone needs to bring the Russells down to earth a little bit, the pricing on this bottle is laughable. Three Russells team up to pick barrels and that deserves a $450 price? Isn’t picking barrels their job in the first place? Shame on Turkey, much respect lost after this. And no, you can’t blame Campari, the Russells obviously signed off on this mess.
The Russells are employees. They don’t set the prices on Wild Turkey products. Period. And if you don’t want to pay it, don’t buy it. It’s that simple. There’s no reason to be disrespectful to the Russells. Besides, there’s plenty of quality Turkey out there.
Matt, sorry but the reality is the bourbon market and flipping that is going on. Distilleries are taking their rare releases and increasing the price point to eliminate the secondary value. No one is entitled to top-tier ultra premium anything. The distillery like any business is trying to protect their investment and make that profit themselves.
As with everything else that has been said, if you can’t pull the trigger… don’t. We don’t all drive expensive cars, we can’t all buy expensive ultra premium whiskey.
JT, it’s not about can’t and all about won’t. Don’t make silly assumptions.
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Excellent review and a great read! I read a press release somewhere that a few bottles might be coming down under? Can’t wait and I’ll definitely be getting one.
Speaking of which – both Eddie and Bruce are touring Australia next month. Hope to see them and share a pour together!
I’d agree that the price is something that might be a hard pill to swallow, especially for those who are used to spending more than half the price for the annual Master’s Keep releases or even spending less for the recent Single Rickhouse releases. However, there’s a certain uniqueness and “having a piece of Wild Turkey history” appeal to this release, that makes me excited to try and get a bottle.
Some people will be disgruntled; some people don’t care at all; others will enjoy some amazing pours from this bottle (according to this review). I hope to be the very latter. Cheers, Frank!
It’s a bottle of whiskey. With all due respect, nobody with their feet on the ground considers it a historical piece.
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Are you saying that no bottle of whiskey can be a historical piece? Most folks in the whiskey community would disagree with that viewpoint.
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Maybe those folks in the whiskey community need to gain some perspective.
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I, as well as many, was surprised by the price. Like it’s been said, there are only 5K bottles, so you probably will never see it. But, as it will look great on the ‘Turkey’ side of my bar, I’ve placed my order today and look forward to the first glass (whenever that may be). Now I just need to figure out how to tell the wife! 🙂
Well said, JC. I, too, placed my order today. I’m an American living abroad and was uncertain if we’d see this WT iteration arrive in the Far East. As an example, we receive WT 12-year, but not RR13. We also no longer (since maybe 2012…(?) receive WT 101 Rye or Rare Breed Rye. It’s unfortunate.
In any event, I received this morning an email confirming availability, supplied a shipping address back in the U.S., and was confirmed for sale.
I’ll return to the U.S. for the holidays and return home with Generations and a run-of-the-mill Rare Breed Rye after the new year and a blessed start to 2024.
Enjoy that dram, brother, and wishing you the uniting power of the brotherhood in that impending conversation with your missus. Kanpai! 🥃
I support your site, bought your book, merch etc. I feel like you are now in the inner circle of WT and that you are making excuses for tripping pieces of RR13, and now with this.
I am a huge Wild Turkey fan but frankly they are really pi*ING me off by only catering to rich people lately. Not cool. Hope it backfires. But it won’t. Yet another way a company decides to screw over their supporters.
By the way paradoxically now that WT is charging insane prices, the secondary on these has crashed and I have seen rr13 and voyage sitting on shelves or being sold on secondary for retail.
When you cut out the enthusiasts and collectors, you only cater to a very few people. Sadly greedy WT/Campari are shooting themselves in the foot. I read that campari wants to make Rare Breed $90-100. What a horrible way to make money.
Appreciate your past support and apologize if you misunderstand my position. I’ve always been an advocate of Wild Turkey and the Russells. That’s what this blog has been about.
In regard to the secondary, I don’t care about it. I’ve never been on Facebook. If black market sales crash, fine.
No one is being “cut out” from Wild Turkey. Limited editions are exactly that (and are increasing across most companies). Bourbon brands can charge a premium if they’d like. It doesn’t mean you, I, or anyone else has to buy them. There is plenty of quality, affordable Turkey in liquor stores everywhere. And i’ve heard nothing about Rare Breed bumping up to $100.
I’m sorry you’re upset, but I believe you’re taking it out on the wrong person. All the best to you, Jeremy.
Hey David, I always enjoy your reviews and I think I did have a bit of collection envy as I just purchased one of these for 200. I think I may have overpaid a bit because it was an auction but I still look forward to trying it.
Hey David, I came across this after I purchased one at auction today. It was about 200 so I don’t feel too bad but I am hoping I enjoy it as much as you two!
I really like the “affordable, limited edition” item on the wish list, especially if it’s during the week of Thanksgiving. I was just telling Frank how Campari should lean further in to the inclusion of Wild Turkey as part of the spirited culture surrounding Thanksgiving. Having the affordable limited edition bottles at the gift shop during Thanksgiving week, so that people can grab their special “Turkey Bottle” would certainly be the right step in that direction!
Russell’s 13 Year . . . . Now $150
Single Rickhouse . . . . Now $300
2023 Master Keep . . Now $275
Generations . . . . . . . Now $450
2024 Russell’s 15 year . . . Can’t imagine it being less than $250.
And those are the MSRP prices. I’m sorry, but it is getting ***king ridiculous with the pricing. Campari is on the brink of alienating what was once their core supporters. And they are not the alone escalating pricing on their premium offerings at a very rapid pace. The bourbon market was in the dumpster in the 80’s and 90’s. If the large holding companies of these brands think it can’t happen again, they are sadly mistaken. The Federal Gov’t is $34 trillion in debt and it doesn’t have and extra $5 Trillion to throw out like it did in 2020 and 2021. A lot of individuals spent copious amounts of that money at their local spirit shops. Every discretionary item has a breaking point when it comes to it’s pricing. Bourbon is rapidly approaching it. Just my 2 cents. Hope everything is well with you David. Cheers.
I think RR13 at $150 is reasonable. $275 for something like MK BiB … wouldn’t complain about that one bit. Generations and Single Rickhouse … no one has to have those. If you want them and don’t mind paying, all good. Too expensive, just vote with your wallet. Plenty of affordable Turkey out there. In fact, the grand majority of Turkey is available and affordable. Cheers Greg!
While Camp Nelson has produced some decent selections over the years, the best bourbon has resided in the Tyrone site inside of K warehouse. This is a little known fact outside of the distillery. I have personally collected many samples for the private selection process and know this first hand. The samples from Camp Nelson are good but none have come close to eight year barrels from K warehouse.
It’s all personal preference. Most of the modern sought-after releases have been Camp Nelson: 1998, 2002, 2003, MK BiB, SR CNC, SR CNF, Generations (with a very small portion of K in it). K is great, but it’s a wildcard from my experience.
Thanks for all the useful back info and history into this bottle.
I just picked up a litre bottle at COSTCO Korea for 49 USD.
Tasting my first dram now… 🙂
I read all the comments before leaving one to make sure this is in context, though the opinion will still likely be unpopular.
Wild Turkey (and by virtue of association, Campari) resisted price trends for a long time before caving. That’s commendable.
On average, I think they’ve also corrected in line with the industry which is expected if unfortunate. This bottle is an outlier and I agree with the viewpoint in the post. In the end, it’s a business in an industry, not a whiskey club on an island. The best I can hold WT to is that you get the quality you pay for (which in this case seems to be the case) and let the market and our price limits set the rest.
I hope it comes back to earth at some point, but either, whiskey has been undervalued, flipping is driving up prices, or both. And until those factors change, part of this we’ve done to ourselves.
Above all, I hope WT continues to focus on quality and offering an available, accessible portfolio with things like rare breed (both expressions), RR SiBs, etc. I’m more than willing to forgive the hyper-limited hyper-priced top 5% if that doesn’t change – that’s the DNA of Turkey.
Brian the point you make about the core lineup being solid and affordable and serious bang for buck is unquestioned, it’s why we’re all on this forum. WT built a solid rep for making good quality whiskey that most people could afford. But now we have these $400-500 Generations/PoAC products that kind of mock the ethos that made Turkey so admirable. Inevitable in the current climate? Yeah. Let it pass w/o complaining? Naw.
I got a second bottle of 101 2021, and it’s not as good. I think something that is not often discussed in whiskey is oxidation. This second bottle has a loose cork and I live in a sunny and hot climate
No, the fill level was fine. It tastes as if it has lost some of the aromatics. It’s still drinkable,
but I’m suspicious of sunlight exposure. At the same liquor store I saw some other bottles with the label discoloured ( like it would if left out in the sun)
I have 2 new bottles of RR10, I picked up from a recent trip to the US from TotalWine in Houston. 2023 bottlings. I wonder if the “chocolate” note you are describing is the same as what I’m calling a “malty” note. I call it “malty” because it reminds me of scotch and it totally puts me off. I don’t like scotch at all and that is partly the reason I love bourbon so much. So you can imagine my shock when I got that note in one of my favorite bourbons!
I wouldn’t say it’s a Scotch profile. It’s definitely a bourbon profile. It’s just a little different from what it used to be. Overall, it’s still Turkey to me. Thanks for commenting!
A wonderful review! I take even more gratitude for being able to enjoy a pour of this with you, after understanding more of what inspired you to go on your hunt for this bottle. Aside from the sentimental aspects, I agree with rich dark chocolate foundation and the layered, elegant spices. Truly a bottle that bourbon enthusiasts should try if given the opportunity. Cheers!
How much do these bottles sell for? I have an unopened bottle #2999. Worked in marketing for this run to be shipped overseas.
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I don’t have an exact figure, as I don’t do the secondary thing, but last I heard they were well over $1k. Hell, they could be $2k now for all I know.
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Well I didn’t buy This one yet but did buy the GENERATIONS and Masters Keep Voyage with only 5000 bottles made of the Generations, I figured it would be Worth 4 grand next year at this time.And that there can buy me a lot of Rarebreed.As for the Best Bourbon Wild Turkey Ever made I Say it was Stampeed the finish on that Bourbon was like silk and at a price of 3 Bottles with tins 99.00 @107 PROOF you could not go wrong.Things sure has changed the Generations at 499.00 and up Don’t even have a box? Unreal and not even a bottle with a raised Turkey head just a printed bottle.Well maybe I will get to taste it when I resell it next year.If not I will still Enjoy my Rarebreed.
Highly doubt Generations will be worth $4k. Personally, I think buying bottles as an investment is a bad idea, but that’s an individual call. Rare Breed is cheap enough and more than available to purchase whenever necessary. Stampede is no doubt solid, though it’s only 500ml (and 105 proof, not 107). There are much better options for the money IMO, such as older Rare Breed batches. Thanks for commenting!
Great write-up! I agree with the baking spice and confectionery sweetness as prominent notes coming Tyrone T, as the BBR x OC Bottleshop pick (that came from the same Rickhouse) has those similar notes.
My bunker has dwindled quite a bit, both because I’m drinking less overall and because the new addition means money is allocated to diapers and formula, but when I see a RRSiB Private Selection, it’s an automatic buy.
I loved the 2018 Tyrone D picks I had (sadly now all consumed), but these 2023 Ds sound right up my alley. Definitely going to keep an eye out!
These are private selections from 2020. Very likely sold out years ago. You should, however, be able to find more recent comparable selections at liquor stores online and across the country from time to time.
I was recently lucky enough to purchase an 8 year old export from ‘96 and this sounds almost identical. It was my first dusty Turkey experience and I was not prepared for the profile at all. The musty oak is very present it almost reminded me of some rums I’ve had.
Ha! I remember our phone conversation when you had discovered that bottle sitting on the shelf at Seven! Love the history lesson tied into this review and learning about Wild Turkey. The question that begs an answer; if ‘82 started the year of Wild Turkey using their own distillate, is that the precursor of what brought forth the raved 8-Year exports in the late 80s, early 90s?
I do appreciate ratings with a review because they tend to remove any guesswork on the part of the reader. Some reviews I read get me thinking that the whiskey will be a 9/10 banger, only to discover it was a below average 4! Others I get to thinking the whiskey is nothing more than bottled pond water but the score ends up fantastic. Reading reviews the notes all seem to bleed from one into the next so a final objective measure is always appreciated. My $0.02 on the score topic.
As for this series, I’ve really learned a lot about the different locations across the WT properties. I appreciate the time you and Frank put into doing it (and covid is whiskey enemy #1).
Thanks for reading, Tony. I’m glad you’re enjoying the series. As for ratings … With Turkey, especially modern expressions like Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, the quality is so consistent that I find myself splitting hairs over a quarter point or so. I’ll promise you this, if I don’t like a whiskey (including a Wild Turkey expression), I’ll be sure to let you and other readers know it. 🙂 Cheers and all the best!
Dope review! And I like how you compare notes to what Rare Bird had mentioned for other Christmas Ryes released in earlier years. And Near is such a Time Machine when it comes to experiencing whiskey in Louisville!
As I’m reading this post in 2024…I can’t begin to express how grateful I am that the days of this post are in our rear view mirror.
But, the content is squarely in our windshield! Classic turkey was great when we didn’t know where we were going, but it’s also great when we do.
As I have read quite a few classic turkey reviews of yours tonight, one note I always get that I haven’t seen you pick up is cherry (throat drops, crumble, juice, any and all really). Another is barrel char – it’s what made Wild Turkey 101 stand out to me in 2010 when I was discovering bourbon.
Anyway. Just wanted to share my findings. Great blog, rareBird.
Thanks so much! Notes are fickle as palates change and dusty Turkey is very batchy. I have found some cherry in a good many Turkey expressions – especially bourbons from Camp Nelson F and E. So much variety to explore. That’s one reason why I love this brand.
Awesome article! Incredible insight into something I’ll never do myself. I appreciate the whiskey reviews, but stories like this provide immense value. Thanks for sharing!
I find it interesting that they included the Wilderness Trail story on this site. Is it because of the Campari ownership tie-in? Do you work for Campari in any capacity? Should we be expecting future coverage of other Campari owned brands? I mean, Four Roses distillery (not owned by Campari) is just down the road from Wild Turkey distillery, so why not a Four Roses story instead of Wilderness Trail? Plenty of Wild Turkey enthusiasts also really enjoy Four Roses, because of some of the similarities in spiciness of their bourbons.
This blog is dedicated to Wild Turkey. I’m not an employee of Wild Turkey (or Campari). I was simply writing about my trip to Kentucky – the entire trip – and you’ll find similar posts from past trips featuring Maker’s Mark, New Riff, Rare Character, Starlight, etc. Plenty of posts for you to explore, Larry!
I agree wholeheartedly with your view and review. A few years back I was looking for HWMWD and couldn’t find it. This was sitting in abundance and I picked one up. High West no more for me. This stuff is incredible and has become not only my Holiday rye but my year round pour. Plus, I can purchase 3 bottles compared to one HW. Drink on!
Haven’t tried many ryes, but haven’t liked any of them. The flavors are not appealing to me like bourbon notes. Love Breed bourbon, but think I’ll pass on the Rye. Don’t care 4 scotch either, so maybe it’s just my palate. Been drinking bourbon for 4yrs & I love it. Have about 15 bottles. Maybe my tastes will change over the years.
Rye isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. When I first got into whiskey, rye was for cocktails only. Now I love it as much as bourbon. You never know where your whiskey journey will take you!
Will, I was once like you, a naysayer to rye. I don’t know why it took me so long to at least try Wild Turkey ryes (I think my first was RRSiB), but I found that Kentucky ryes, with 51% rye, were not only great mixers, but great sippers in many cases as well. If you come across Wild Turkey or Knob Creek rye in a bar, it would be worth a try. It may surprise you.
As for Rare Breed Rye, I’ve been on it since 2020 and a manhattan doesn’t taste right without it!
Hey David , just thought I’d ask you I just found some Kentucky spirit here in Australia TYR G from 2023 and a warehouse G …which one would you want to try in terms of is more rare or harder to come by or which would be better In your opinion .cheers in advance been trying to find some reviews on TYR G but can’t seem to find
I just picked up “Paristown Point” Ty Q
from K and L Wine and Spirts here in So Cal. Bought a Ty K called “New Louisville” but the Q is my favorite of the two. I’ve got a CN E called “Country Backpacking” soon to arrive on special order. I was without any store pick Russell’s for awhile and when offered these treasures I simply couldn’t resist! Thanks for all your insight into all things Turkey!
I have a bottle of the 8year but am having trouble dating it. Even the company can’t help me. I looks like the bottle you have pictured on the tp right but it’s a 1 liter bottle.
One of the bottles I have collected has a black label marked ME 83-1 P and is signed by the master distiller. Is there any significance to the black label?
Just picked up my 3rd Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel store pick from K and L Wine and Spirits here in So. Cal. It’s an 8yr 6mo CN-E floor 4 called “Backcountry Camping”. It doesn’t disappoint as it’s better than either of the other 2 picks. Dark fruit and spice are nicely balanced. Camp Nelson has done it again!
“Gone are the nutty characteristics that often dominate Wild Turkey single-barrel releases from 2020-2022.”
This is great news! Wild Turkey is my favorite distillery and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel is my favorite expression. But for a couple years there I was getting a burnt nutshell note that I did not like. If that’s done or diminished, I am thrilled and ready to roll! (I just had a pour at a bar the other night–I didn’t get the date, but it was a new bottle at a new bar, so I think it was 2023 or later. It was delicious!)
So now I’m going to go buy a couple Russell’s Reserve bottles, and I have a question I’d love to run by you. How should I think about the difference between store picks of these and standard shelf bottlings? Is one option better than the other? Do the store picks get first dibs? Or are they just off-profile? Does it have to be a known genius store picker to beat the shelfer, or are most store picks better than the shelfers? Finally, should I be looking for certain rickhouses among the shelfers, and if so, which ones?
Thank you for any thoughts you may have! I’m excited to buy some more of these, and I’d love your guidance. (In the past, I’ve bought a few store picks (Total Wine and Virginia ABC) and multiple shelfers. All were great in different ways, but I haven’t tried enough to know what the patterns are with these, and I’d love any insight to guide the next purchases!)
If 2023, the shelfers have proven themselves to be just as good as picks, though more “core profile” Turkey. Picks will showcase more uniqueness, as they’re pulled for the barrel program for that exact reason. All depends on the individual, but I doubt many folks will be disappointed either way. Thanks for reading!
I hope they don’t pull another Generations cash grab on us. Cornerstone, in my opinion – really hit the mark and at a reasonable price tag. All these bloggers and fan boys have priced the regular Joe out of the market.
I think Master’s Keep Bottled in Bond going for $300+ and RR13 going for $400+ on the secondary back in 2020 & 2021 did this. Bloggers didn’t do this. Whiskey enthusiasts did this to themselves. Campari just doesn’t want to leave money on the table. No company does (or should).
Couldn’t agree more! Wild Turkey’s ryes are seriously underrated. I have a cabinet full of ryes and bourbons, but lately I’ve been feeling like I don’t need anything besides 101 Rye and Rare Breed Rye. It’s great stuff by any measure, but when you factor in availability and price it’s phenomenal.
great article, i just had to acquire a bottle after reading this was Jimmy Russell’s favorite masterpiece. I was extremely fortunate to get a bottle from an auction. Its going to be a great pour for special events with select company.
Wow. It’s interesting that nobody has left a comment yet. I have my ideas as to why, but they don’t need to be said our loud. Thanks for a great writeup for this whiskey – I’ll likely never see it, but I can’t complain because I didn’t see Cornerstone when I saw it everywhere.
Great article and review on the Triumph, for a few reasons:
1) The history on the inclusion of Maryland Rye Whiskey during the earlier years of Austin Nichols
2) The side-by-side comparison of the Triumph and the Cornerstone
3) The proclamation that there’s two predominant lanes of rye whiskey; zesty, vibrant, “bright” ryes and richer, mature, “dark” ryes. And your alignment to those lanes affect how much you like a certain rye. Because I have been a fan of the recent Parker’s 10-year rye, Michter’s 10-year rye, and the Blue Run Emerald Rye, I got a feeling I would love this Triumph
I can find it locally for under $50 pretty consistently, and sometimes on sale for $40. It’s an automatic buy at that price, and a good value regardless.
Not an everyday pour, by any means, but great to have in the cabinet.
Maybe my pallet is changing but I found the new bottle of rare Breed to be a better pour than my previous bottle. Just a little more balanced and closed to a Russell’s pick.
Funny thing is, it’s just a label change. I think some folks are equating that with a profile change and that’s just not what I found (outside of minimal batch variance).
I’m kinda new with bourbons and whiskey. I finally picked up a bottle of Rare Breed along with a bottle of Larceny. I had to mix them together to get them palatable for me, and the two of them together actually turned out pretty good.
Campari is cleaning up! Everything Wild Turkey has gone up in price! (And yes I know it’s just how it is these days)
But the prices on MK, RRSB store picks, and RR 15 has tipped the value scales for what’s in the bottle. Still love everything you do David!
Well, expressions in the core portfolio, like Rare Breed, are still very affordable and available. And for perspective, Russell’s 15 is essentially the same price as RR 1998, and 1998 came out in 2015.
It’s vintage so it’s hard to say. I don’t do the secondary thing. I don’t think I’d pay more than $500. So much quality Turkey out there priced cheaper.
Hey RareBird,
I keep hearing people say there are at least 50k bottles of RR15. I heard someone say 300 barrels. Knowing that after 15 years there’s prolly only 1/3 of the barrel left (of course variably depending on rickhouse location n whatnot), I would think there’s only like 25k bottles or so. Do you have any info you can share on this? Thx!
At present, they’re only rumors (I’ve heard other numbers thrown out as well). I’ve yet to receive any confirmation from Campari on this information. As of my last inquiry, the bottle count was officially undisclosed. Thanks Bryan!
You expected an incompetent retail experience? I expected more. Not asking for much, just the bare minimum would be nice. Didn’t get it.
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It’s easy to point fingers at an entity when the reality is individuals were selling bots on Facebook to target Reserve Bar. I’ve also seen screenshots of folks trying on multiple devices with multiple browsers on multiple windows each. Now, factor all of that into a sale of an expression of limited supply (of which a fraction was available online) with insanely high demand. Is there a system that can handle all of that perfectly or even just smoothly? I’d argue there is not. You can be upset at Campari, Reserve Bar, or even me for just stating the obvious, but that emotion is largely misplaced. I’m sorry you didn’t get a bottle. I didn’t either. Cheers and all the best.
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I’m not actually upset. I am sure I’ll get a bottle from my local retailer eventually, probably for less than the website would have cost me.
I’m just pointing out how incompetent their process is. It needn’t be that way.
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You’re right. It doesn’t need to be that way. Instead of doing rare drops online they should just stick with standard distribution and save themselves the trouble. Few online systems can handle this type of scenario – none perfectly (yet that’s what it appears many were expecting). I sincerely hope you’re able to find a bottle. I’m on the hunt myself. And please keep me updated either way. Cheers!
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Good luck to you too DJ. Cheers!
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I was an Old Gran-dad BiB and Knob Creek guy. Then I left Beam products and was looking for some new >80 proof alternatives. I tried WT 101 and Rare Breed. Both are excellent, so I’ve stopped looking. I’m having a Rare Breed with a couple rocks right now… just delicious! $55 here in western NY state. This is a great blog, cheers!
Hey, David – I always appreciate your articles, insight and expertise. I wanted to delve into RR15. Curious as to if there are already different “batches” of RR15 on the market? I ask because I have seen a couple of RR15 on the “secondary” sites with a code showing LL/JD. The code on my bottle shows a LL/MD, and was bottled April 12, 2024. Have you seen of or heard of any different possible batch dates yet, or, know of any insight on why the LL/JD versus LL/MD engraved/stamp dates?
No constructive commentary relating to RR15, but just wanted to take time to say thanks for writing this. I’m really appreciative of comparison articles like this because, after all, who doesn’t love having options? Keep up the good work.
I’ve only been sipping since 2022 but I have tried to thoroughly explore the shelfers regularily available in my area. I have enjoyed a lot, however Wild Turkey just seems to be the profile I’ve loved most. I’ve had three bottles of Rare Breed and they have all been delicious. Rare Breed and RR SiB are my favorite pours and always available in my very rural area. WT101 is a great everyday sipper as well, great value. The 2 bottles of KS ive had are good but didn’t compare to RB for me. I don’t really mess around with bottles over $100 but someday I hope to try one of their limited releases. Anyway I recently discovered this website and its just awesome.
Consistancy is great too. I had 2 bottles of Knob Creek 9 Sib Reserve that were fantastic. However my 3rd bottle was maybe half as good, tasted like a Bookers lol. However I picked up another Russells SiB and Rare Breed this week and both are again, just delicious. Ive been pulling away from trying to hunt allocated and 100+ bourbons and retreating to the things I know will be reliably great.
Was able to secure this pick and found it to be even more impressive than I anticipated from this article. Absolutely stellar. But I don’t have the experience with the legends as you do here so maybe that’s why.
I always enjoy these WTMK reviews. Picked up a bottle of Triumph today. Can we get your rating though as with the previous? Keep on enjoying that Turkey! 🙌🏼
Surprisingly, I did actually get this bottle. Your review actually makes way more sense now. This isn’t just a unique WT rye, this is a unique rye altogether. People balked at the price so I had to blind it against other 10+ year old ryes I had. (Knob Creek 10, Bulleit 12, Michters 10, Old Overholt 10, as well as OFSBBP and JDSBBP). Yes … Triumph is truly unique. Not my favorite amongst the bunch, but it stands alone in the character it brings to the table.
I really like my bottle of Triumph. This is the first Master’s Keep that I’ve purchased since 2020’s BiB 17 year. I purchased every release before that, but the recent releases haven’t been all that compelling to me personally.
It was tough to pull the trigger on the elevated price for Triumph, but the reviews gave me the confidence to give it a try. It’s a very nice rye whiskey.
You state that the 101 aged statement of 8uo was dropped in the us only? Does this mean that all 101 everywhere around the world are 8yo but onlyncertain counties state it? In the Netherlands we also do not have an age statement on the 101. Does this mean it is 8yo nontheless?
It’s tricky when it comes to exports. I’ve seen non-age-stated 101 sold overseas, including countries that carry the 8- and 12-year versions. I’ll edit my post. Thanks!
Is this already on the store shelves?
Did you find this locally?
I will be looking for it!
And YES, hats off to Campari for not putting a high price on it!
I believe it was just released today. My bottle came from Campari, as disclosed in the review. But you should be able to find it without too much trouble. Cheers!
Sorry I missed where you got your bottle.
I’ve checked a few places and no one even knows about it. I south of Indy. Don’t have time to run down to WT.
Also, great review!!!!
Think these write ups have just gotten more and more bias over time. Any release they put out you praise. They aren’t all perfect and you make them out to be every release so it makes it where it’s not worth even reading your reviews.
Hey, David – According to Bo Garrett (@FirebirdBo on X), he posted specifically about this 70th bottle, “The big bird has landed at WildTurkey! 8 & 9 yr old Bourbon from all of the mighty Camp Nelson warehouses!!” So, it’s apparently all CN and not Tyrone? Interesting.
Found the 2023 at a local retailer for under 50. Love it!! Ended up getting three bottles to keep a supply. Doesn’t seem to be moving at this retailer. Lots of bottle competition.
I was a Wild Turkey aficionado from the age of 18 (1989; I lived in Vermont, and that was the legal age) to sometime in the mid 90’s, when I got into brewing, and stopped drinking liquor to any extent. I never bothered to buy any other whiskey. I might drink mezcal or rum on occasion, but Wild Turkey 8yr 101 was my standard. My late brother Leon (RIP) would give me a bottle every Christmas. One Christmas, our older brother Conrad asked for a shot, and commented, “It smells like corn silage!” Corn silage is chopped whole corn plants fermented like sauerkraut in a huge silo. We were a dairy farming family, so that was a solid reference for us. I sniffed it and replied, “Yeah, it does.” No surprise, as it is corn whiskey. Years later, I developed a fancy for rye whiskey. One day, I buy a bottle of 101, no longer displaying the 8yo label, and it tases like rye whiskey. The fermented corn smell is nowhere to be found. Apparently, there has been no change to the mash bill, but the current offering is much more towards the trendy rye whiskey buyer, not the old corn whiskey lover.
All of the Single Rickhouse releases so far have lacked an age statement. Eddie has stated publicly that barrels selected for this series are 10-15 years.
last week I got a sample mini-bottle from a friend, containing 13 year old Russel’s Reserve bottled last year.
Pretty good stuff. Comparing it with some great Bourbons from the past might be unfair – but I have done it nonetheless:
I picked three contenders, two from the same destillery:
– Wild Turkey Kentucky Legend (0,75 L ; 50,5 % ; no age statement ; bottled about 25 years ago in the late 1990s/early 2000s)
– Wild Turkey 8 years (0,75 L , 50,5 % ; bottled 1977, destilled 1969 or earlier)
– And one from Bernheim/Heaven Hill: Old Charter’s Propietor’s Reserve 13 years old (0,75 L ; 45 % ; bottled in 2001)
The Kentucky Legend is a little bit more fuity, slightly more aromatic, a whiff more complex; similar body, similar final – just 0,5 barrels ahead of the Russel’s Reserve 13 of today, which is nearly in the same league.
The Wild Turkey 8 years destilled before 1970 is a different thing, a very different thing:
The destillery famous honey note is here in full flight, much more intense and prolonging than in the two later expressions.
There is more fruit and more compexity, also the aftertaste stays longer.
It’s easily one full barrel above the Kentucky Legend – and at least 1,5 barrels above the Russel’s Reserve 13 in every significant category (nose/taste/final).
The Old Charter 13 years from Bernheim/Heaven Hill is not as full bodied as the three Wild Turkeys, but the most complex of the bunch: a long-lasting interplay between fruit and oak, also with some mineral notes which are usually hard to find in an American Whisk(e)y.
It has not the famous honey note of the very best Wild Turkeys, but compensates with other values.
So I place Old Charter 13 only 0,5 barrels behind the Wild Turkey 1969, rating him the second best of the four Bourbon bottles in this particular flight.
In 1982 in Heidelberg-Neuenheim in Germany opened a little Wine & Whisky shop called ‘Macha Weine & Feines’. The Shop owner, Stephan Macha, focused in the following years more and more on American Bourbons and expanded his stock continously.
Ten years later he had the majority of Bourbon & Rye brands on the shelf and even got some licenses for importing a few bottlings exclusively for Germany. Including some pretty rare and today highly sought after Bourbons under the brand names ‘A.W. Hirsch’ & Boone’s Knoll’, which were destilled in 1974 in the original old Michter’s destillery and bottled 1990 after 16 years of barrel aging.
Mr. Macha also imported several Wild Turkey expressions: Kentucky Legend, Kentucky Spirit – plus this Green-Label ‘Christmas Rye’.
I bought my first and only bottle of this particular Rye during my first visit in the shop in 1998, so presumably it might have been the 1997 expression. The price was just 55 DM (about 30 Euros today)
A month later I went back for a second bottle – but the Green Label Rye was already out of stock: a total of 120 bottles had been sold within six weeks – one regular customer alone reportedly grapped 48 bottles for his juke joint in the Heidelberger Altstadt called ‘Sonderbar’ (still existing today).
In the following three years Mr. Macha had not gotten any additional Wild Turkey Ryes – I had to wait until 2002, then he got a shipment.
The new bottles did not have a Green Label anymore; the proof was lower, and the taste very disappointing: no more waxy-honey notes which the Green label sported prominenly, rather one-dimensional and flat by comparison.
In the next years I tried to get some Green Label Ryes in Whisk(e)y auctions and elsewhere, but I was not successful. It was much easier to find some older bottlings from the 70s and early 80s of the regular 8 years old 101 proof Wild Turkey, of which I found nearly a dozen over the years (14 years ago I got my last one for 90 Euros in the monthly Krüger whiskyauction – meanwhile the prices went up crazily, easily doubled or tripled since 2010).
The late nineties Green Label Wild Turkey Rye show up very rarely in Whisk(e)y Auctions nowadays, even if someone is willing to spend plenty of money for a bottle (not me, of course) he had to be very patiently…
I love reading your blogs. Interesting, funny, but mostly hitting the nail on the head. Regarding American Honey Sting, I love it as a side shooter with beer in the cold months. Carry on.
The Macha Wine & Whiskey Shop in my neighborhood in Heidelberg-Neuenheim had always Wild Turkey Kentucky Legend & Kentucky Spirit in stock.
After the shop closed down in 2012, it was rather difficult for me to find those bottlings elsewhere in Germany (for an affordable price).
Kentucky Legend is meanwhile discontinued, and todays only one Geman merchant (in Berlin) has the Kentucky Spirit online for sale.
Last week I ordered one big bottle: 1,0 Litre / 75 Euros.
In the last three days I tasted it back and forth together with an older Kentucky Legend.
Both with 50,5 %, the Kentucky Legend is more ‘offensive’: more fruit, more oak, more honey. The Kentucky Spirit is a bit subdued by comparison, but very very smooth and still aromatic enough. In the beginning I preferred very much the Kentucky Legend. But in following sippings the Kentucky Spirit catched up and came close – while the Kentucky Legend now tastes sometimes a bit rough and intrusive.
I don’t know anything about Wild Turkey’s different barrel warehouses, which certainly have some impact on the final outcome.
I’ve attached two snapshots of my current Kentucky Spirit, which was bottled last year in March.
Maybe the label says something to the experts… :->
Single barrels will always carry a degree of variance. Wild Turkey uses traditional wood/clad rickhouses with no climate control. Each season brings its own elements of change. I suspect that’s the primary factor of difference.
Looking online for other retailers in Europe who have Kentucky Spirit bottlings in stock, I found a merchant in Italy who offers the 1,0 Litre bottle currently for 65 Euros – free shipping to Germany if I take four or more bottles.
These bottles are from an older stock of 2020 – label photo below:
My question above is only focusing on the specific bottle label – maybe someone has already tasted this very bottling of 2020 from this very warehouse/lot/barrel and can give me a hint if it is a good, very good or maybe even a great Kentucky Spirit bottling….
I’m super old fashioned: no Twitter, no X, no Facebook… not even a mobile phone.
Luckily I’ve found at least this place for some more in depth Wild Turkey discussions.
Yesterday I’ve ordered three Kentucky Spirits from a large Wine & Spirit seller in Prague – only 50 Euros for one big 1,0 L bottle plus 30 postage, making ist 180 Euros in total for alle three bottles together. This was the lowest price I was able to find online all over Europe.
When the parcel arrives next week, I gonna take a photo of the bottle label. Could be some older stock bottled two or three years ago…
My experience with Kentucky Spirit has been quite positive over the past few years. I’m willing to bet you’ll be more than satisfied with those acquisitions.
Have bought my last Russel’s Reserve 10 over two years ago, it was okay but not a special favorite of mine.
In Germany I can find only two online-retailers which have the RR 10 currently in stock (the RR Single barrel is easier available in Europe).
I mailed them this morning about the lot numbers, one responded 20 minutes ago:
He wrotes that he has 0,75 litre US Export bottles with the lotnumber: LL IC270838
Says nothing to me, but maybe some regular Russel’s Reserve 10 customer can narrow down and rank this particular lot in comparison to others…
Alright, so I need both bottlings. Thanks for the hint.
Just searched for the cheapest price in Germany of the 12 year old Export bottlig of 2022 (for the Japanese market) – and find one seller who offers the bottle for 99 Euro:
I have tried the LL/ME 2024/05/20 and the LL/ME 2024/05/17. While both are very good, I like the LL/ME 2024/05/17 even a little better. Not sure what is in both of those bottles, but it is not what I have tasted in previous bottling. Richer, more savory and definitely more oak driven. Buy either is you see them on the shelf.
After investing some more time in the online price search within Germany for this particular Wild Turkey 12 years Export bottling of 2022, originally created for the Japanese market, I finally found & bought one half an hour ago for 89 Euros – including free delivery.
The retailer is spcialised in re-importing bottles from Japan to Europe, and he as also some other Wild Turkey Export bottlings in stock:
I live in Columbia SC but I picked one of these up in Florida on a work trip after watching Jason with the mash and drum on a live stream talk about this particular laser code, which he mentioned he heard about here first, and then discovering that a Total Wine in FL was selling this bottle with this laser code for $31.
I’ll be honest, I just miss the proof. This is delicious, smooth whiskey with a lot of old whisky notes, lots of leather and tobacco and oak. But there’s very little spice and to me good turkey needs spice. At $31 though I sure don’t regret the purchase. I may pick up another bottle of this on my next trip and experiment mixing this and rare breed.
While I appreciate barrel-proof Turkey, sometimes it’s just nice to chill with a complex easy sipper. This checks that box for sure. Cheers and thanks for commenting, Josiah!
Love your blog, first time poster but I’ve read just about every post in this website. I’ve become more and more of a whiskey snob over the last 10 years and wild turkey is far and away my #1 distillery.
Soo, today I had the 10 year LL/ME by itself and I got more spice. It’s excellent whiskey. It just falls flat in a blind. I blinded this bottle with a 101 handle i picked up in FL that is some of the best 101 I’ve had in 5 years, a rare breed, and a rare breed rye. For me the Russell’s finished last. The texture was watery and it lacked flavor vs even the 101. The rare breeds blew it out of the water for me, not even in the same class.
I get a bunch of cherry in the Russell’s 10 that is not my favorite note in a whiskey. So my personal pallet may be part of the issue.
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Sure. It’s all about what speaks to you. Nothing wrong with that at all! Cheers and thanks for reading and commenting, Josiah!
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DJ I’m lovin this! Secret codes and turkey hunt? Especially something that is obtainable and a return to the profile I missed oh so dearly? This is amazing news cheers!
I have an LL/ME17. Im going back and taking home whatever they have left on their shelves. Its got so much cherry on the palate, with a little bit of cinnamon and a heavy dose of vanilla.
The finish is where it really shines. More cherry, then you get barrel char and leather with a hint of citrus.
Today my parcel from Prague arrived with three big bottles of Kentucky Spirit.
All 3 are from warehouse TYR-K – Rick no 21.
Two are from barrel no 2486, one from barrel 2490.
All were bottled on March 23rd in 2023.
One bottle of Kentucky Spirit which I had bought two weeks ago in Germany (TYR-G – Rick 9 ; bottle no 2327) had also been bottled on the very same day in 2023.
I have the LL/ME 20 and the LL/ME 17. The ME 20 is really good. I haven’t cracked open the ME 17 yet, but it’s good to hear other reviews that it may be slightly better than the ME 20. I also, picked up a RR SiB with a laser code LL/ME 07. It’s freaking fantastic. They had 2 left on the shelf for $64. This is a steal.
Just picked up a LL/ME17 and will concur it’s better than the last bottle I had which was at least 2 years old or so when I got it. Thanks DJ!!
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Very welcome!
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Happy to have read this. While I was doing so I thought about the recent bottle of 10 year I opened having been much better than my last. I walked over to my cabinet to check, and wouldn’t you know it, ME20! Now to find another as I bought that one a few months ago.
I have an unopened bottle of Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit botteled on 9-28-15, barrel 2602, warehouse O, rack 2 I purchased this at the distillery after a tour.
Haven’t touched the bottle of barrel # 2490 so far, but tasted back and forth the bottle from barrel 2486, Tyr-K (purchased recently in Prague) and compared it over the last three days repeatedly with the bottle from barrel 2327, Tyr-G (bought some weeks ago in Berlin).
Well, the bottle from barrel # 2486 (Tyr-K) is the clear winner: more flavour, more fruit, more oak, more intensity; both very smooth.
Glad I got two bottles of this particular batch & barrel # 2486 :->
Last Friday I got my 12 year-old from the German retailer specialised in re-importing bottlings exclusively launched for the Japanese market.
Yesterday & today I’ve compared it with an European import bottle of Wild Turkey Legend, old stock from the late 90s, no age statement, same strength (50,5 %).
The Kentucky Legend has a bit more of everything: more fruit, more honey, more intensity, and – surpisingly – also a whiff more oak; fuller, oilier body and longer aftertaste. Clear winner over the current 12-year-old.
Afterwards I’ve compared the 12-year-old to my latest Kentucky Spirit (Barrel # 2486, Rick 21; TYR-K).
The 12-year-old is oakier – the Kentucky Spirit smoother and a little fruitier; similar body, similar intensity. No clear winner.
Got my bottle of the 12-year-old (700 ml) for 90 bucks, including postage. (Prices might rise, based on the limited supplies.)
But I can constantly find the Kentucky Spirit in the big 1,0 L bottle for about 65 Euros all over Europe – so money-wise it’s a favourite.
Willing to pay in rare occasions (about two times each year) up to 200 Euros for an exceptional Wild Turkey Bottle, I won’t pick any of the current line-up (especially no Master Keep expression) – hunting down instead older Kentucky Legends & Kentucky Spirits, bottled before 2005.
Highly doubt that’s affected as it’s not a batched whiskey but a single-barrel product. Private selects have been in the 8-10-year range for years now. The standard retail bottles are made up of barrels deemed not unique enough for the private barrel program, but consistent in profile (and
excellent nonetheless). Cheers!
I picked up the LL/MF since I could not find the ME. I love WT but I’ve only had 1 RR10, about 1.5 years ago, and it was underwhelming, prefer the rest of their lineup. The LL/MF does indeed taste like it has older whiskey in it. There is a lot of cherry and leather/oak and it’s a little drying. Far superior to my first bottle imo. It’s still thin but has some deep flavors. I may have to keep on the shelf if they keep up the quality.
I’ve reached a point in my drinking journey now that if I want a bourbon, then it’s Wild Turkey. I have other open bottles at home and I tried to finish them, but they just don’t do it for me anymore. I’m beginning to understand those older people that have their brand of choice and stick to it. I can still appreciate quality but there’s always something missing: It’s not my drink. My local liquor store got some Russell’s Reserve 10, which was a surprise to me since I’ve never seen it before in my country. And it was priced at 43 Euros!! I picked up two bottles to try before going for a case. It’s from February 2024 ( MB).
Tasting notes;
I get cherry, oak and vanilla. Really enjoyable. Certainly better that a 2023 I picked up from a trip to the US last year.
I didn’t find a bad bottle yet post 2014 distillation! My theory ( which I hope I’m right!) is that we can expect this consistently good profile until they do something to change their process.
Around here I can get RRSiB for the same cost (or cheaper) than Kentucky Spirit, which is the main reason I don’t pick it up often. Back in the fantail days I’d grab a bottle any time I found a store pick, but even that was few and far between.
Now, with the Jimmy 70th release and the return of 8/101, I don’t see a huge reason to keep KS around, or on my shelf, anyway. Glad to see it isn’t going away, but it doesn’t captivate me compared to the rest of the lineup.
The only positive is that it gives you the rickhouse, whereas RRSiB does not. More often than not RRSiB wins the fight, but it is nice to know what you’re sipping – especially if you want to geek out and take note of the differences. Cheers Scott!
This should be 35 bucks. No hats off to Campari. Knob Creek is 9 years old and 100 proof’ and that’s what it costs. If Beam can do it, Wild Turkey can too. Hard pass. I’ll stick to the OG 101 to scratch my Turkey itch. Or Rare Breed for the same money.
Love the information here! What a fantastic bourbon this is. Only thing better I’ve tried recently was some 132 proof Blantons from 2016. Thank you rarebird101 😉 I found a couple of ME/17 bottles and I’ll be looking those 20’s.
Wasn’t sure where to reach u. I found a couple bottles of wild turkey 81 proof from 2014. Wondering if that is considered a dusty/has that old wild turkey profile?
I recently found an ME17 RR Single Barrel. Based on how WT bottles on any particular day, I am curious if it is possible that any of the older barrels were bottled individually on the same day as the RR 10 batches purported to have older juice were bottled. Or, are those RR 10 batches created weeks in advance and it’s not likely any older stocks slipped into the single barrel bottling that day. Any thoughts?
I’m not sure how often RR10 batches are bottled, nor the batch size or timeframe for bottling. I know that 101 is roughly 1,000 to 1,500 barrels a batch a week (per Eddie Russell in 2019). All I can say for certain is that ME17, 19, and 20 taste amazing. Cheers!
Thoughts on Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel from Camp Nelson with the LL/ME laser code? I stumbled across one at Spec’s yesterday.
Per Wild Turkey…
“Wild Turkey distillate enters the barrel at 115 proof. Depending on the warehouse location and floor, the proof of the whiskey inside that barrel fluctuates and can often drop below its entry proof. Sometimes, during the single barrel selection process, a barrel that’s earmarked to be a Russel’s Reserve pick falls below their bottling strength of 110 proof. In these cases, the pick can become a Kentucky Spirit single barrel bottled at 101 proof.”
Any chance they were RR15 barrels that dropped below proof and were bottled as Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel?
There were no RR15 barrels in LL/ME RR10. That was purely speculation on my part (as noted in the review). There is, however, older whiskey in the batch. Kentucky Spirit is a single-barrel expression aged 8-10 years (but closer to 8). It’s highly unlikely that a barrel that choice would end up as a Kentucky Spirit bottling. Not impossible though! Cheers!
Just to clarify here, since this is being cited on YouTube, by “no RR15 barrels in LL/ME,” I mean no “leftover” or “rejected” Russell’s 15 barrels – as in, barrels allocated for Russell’s 15. I’m not saying there’s not 15-year whiskey in Russell’s 10 LL/ME. There is, in fact, considerably older whiskey in LL/ME.
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What month was this Bottled? What is the date code on this one? The reason I ask, on a RR10 from Oct 2024 I just saw a new code convention that started with LA instead of the typical LL/. Do we have any information on this new code yet. Any information on why they changed it?
Yes. It was on every single one, maybe 8 of them. Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo of it, and the store I saw them at is a few hours away. I’ll try to get a photo next time I see one like it again. But I figured you all would have seen it by now if they changed the code in Sep or Oct…
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I’ll keep an eye out. Thanks!
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You are correct. I asked around and it turns out someone posted one to my Discord server back on November 16th. I’ll do a little more digging. Thanks again.
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I know I’ve seen LL/MG, and LL/MH used. I don’t recall seeing an LL/MI yet. Which is why I figure the new code started in Sep or Oct. I wonder if there is any underlying significance to why the code changed.
Campari has a state of the art bottling plant in Lawrenceburg. They bottle SKYY vodka there as well as Turkey. Could be something as simple as changing a bottling line (there are multiple lines).
Thanks for the great article and comparison. I recently found a 2016 bottle I haven’t opened yet. Need to add a new one and compare (and go back and see if there are more lol!)
Morning David! It’s 6:30 am here, I’m drinking my coffee and reading your article.
As you know I’m a big Wild Turkey nerd, so let me offer my experience which I think will add to your article:
In my area until recently the 101 batch available was JJ (October 2021). I’ve had a number of bottles of that batch and I can say that it’s excellent “Jimmy whiskey”. The sweetness is so balanced with the spice and the alcohol that makes it very drinkable, you want to keep drinking it. The new batch in my area is KH ( August 2022) and it has the new profile. My palette gets similar tasting notes as yours. Grainy, sweetness off balance. It doesn’t make me want to pour a second glass.
So the transition must have occurred between those two dates.
Another product that I get quite regularly and I have seen a change is the Rare Breed NCF. As you know I’m not in the US so I don’t get regular access to the Kentucky Spirits and RR’s but I have been lucky to get Rare Breed NCF for 2021,2022 and 2023 so far. I also can find a few times a year the Japan Wild Turkey 101 8 year. The 2021 Rare Breed was good, the 2022 exceptional and the 2023 average. In the 2023 I’m getting alcohol on the nose and not so much caramel, however when I blended it with RR10 (Feb 2024), it sorted itself out, which leads me to believe that the 2023 blend leans more on younger whiskey.
Slight deterioration in profile with the Japan 8 year 101. A 2022 bottle was excellent. I recently picked up a January 2024 bottle. Good , but not as good as the 2022. This Japan 8 year is an “Eddie whiskey”. Bruce Russell mentions it in a recent interview ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghYl4AkZMBs ) and my experience confirms it.
All of the above for me just means that I’m still on the hunt for a regular offering of a “Jimmy whiskey” 101!!
The last NCF Rare Breed I purchased was during Covid. It’s excellent. Same with the 101/8s I have, but again, they’re earlier than 2022-2024. I’ll have to dig a little deeper. Good news is, other expressions are really shining lately, like Russell’s 10, Kentucky Spirit, and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel. Maybe it’s just a matter of time. We’ll see.
Great review, not so good news.
Lately the 1L 101was not available so I did not buy the .7L, 101 is equal to 1L to me.
Reading this makes me sad, I am not gona have the 101 that made me love WT so much, add to that that 81, Longbranch and Rare Breed are the only WT available to me so the situation is getting worse.
What is next to receive that treatment? Rare Breed ? Then Wild Turkey may go extinct for me and for many others!
Quest for premium stuff to sell has 1 side effect, they are going to upset the true believers , 101 fans that made them who they are.
WT was all about that extra value for me, a league of their own, now they are joining the ranks of many.
Ask for some extra cash do not lower the quality.
Actually nowadays .7L price is higher than 1L used to be, so more money for less quality.
So many brands are going for extra cash, no worries, they are not on the worth buying list anymore.
Cheers!
I wouldn’t sweat it too much. There are other expressions that have really impressed me lately. Russell’s 10 from this year, as well as Kentucky Spirit and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel. I know Kentucky Spirit can be found overseas, but can you find Russell’s 10 and Russell’s Single Barrel easily?
RR10 is readily available in Italy, some shops offer Europe wide delivery but not many. The problem with online shopping is that you don’t know what batch you get, until you get it!
Switzerland is the land of RR Single Barrel for some reason! They have a bourbon society and they also do barrel picks. Not available for delivery though, it will have to be worked into a trip to the Alps!
Kentucky Spirit, Italy and Germany also available online
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No, Russel stuff is not available, Rare Breed is scarce nowadays, 1L 101 same, 101/8 n/a, WT is an endangered species these days as all the bourbon.
Checking the inventory I have bottles from 2018 to 2020, that is a little comfort.
Cheers
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Interesting. You live outside of the US, correct?
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I just bought a bottle of rare breed bottled April 2024 that is downright undrinkable. It’s cloyingly artificially sweet with almost none of the older bourbon notes (leather, oak) that I normally get in rare breed, and very little spice. Turkey 101 has always had lots of variation batch to batch as you note here, but this is the first bottle of rare breed that has suffered in my experience.
Gotta think the proliferation of limited releases here recently is killing the quality of the shelfers overall. Us turkey fans might have to start sharing laser codes of batches that are still drinkable for shelf products.
I’ll start: Turkey 101 LL/ME with bottling dates of may 20th, 24th and 28th are excellent.
The 2023 I have isn’t the same as some older bottles I have open, but it’s perfectly fine for Rare Breed. Nothing off-putting. I do think that Rare Breed is more “batchy” than it used to be. I’ll have to try a 2024 bottling. Thanks for commenting!
Nice props for the great Jimmy, and Wild Turkey. The only other person I can think of that’s on the top of his field after 68 years, is Warren Buffet. So Jimmy has even him beat. Cheers!
Great write-up! I had Tradition at a dive bar in Seattle maybe a decade ago, before I’d really started my bourbon journey. I remember loving it, but definitely didn’t appreciate it fully at the time.
I bought a bottle of the 101 private selection when visiting the Visitor center in May. CNF 4th floor. LL/ME. Bottled 5/24/2024. Distilled 9/30/14. Will this have the qualities of the rare breed last year with that LL/ME id?
Doubtful. Russell’s 10 is a batch and LL/ME had some special components. 101 Private Select is a single-barrel expression. The specs are provided on the front label and are likely the typical 8-10-year bourbon, but give it a look (and taste) to know for sure.
Thanks for the insightful article! I found the Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old to have a rich aroma of caramel and aged oak, with a palate that offers notes of green apples and baking spices. A well-crafted bourbon!
I had the fortune to purchase a LL/ME 17 before all the reviews came out and thought it was unusually better, although I heard the LL/ME 20 was even better. I purchased a LA/MK 08 0347 about 3 weeks ago and thought it lacked the typical RR flavor, in fact, its weak on flavor period. Its also developed a weird funk. There’s about 1/3 bottle left. I tried using it as a mixer and the funk is even more pronounced when mixed. I’m on the look out for a bottling after Nov. 2024 to compare it to.
I’m a straight whisky drinker, found the bottle helping someone clear out a home they’d bought, he doesn’t touch liquor so I brought it home.
Not knowing the brand I had a search, found you, realised what it is.
Not sure I want to open it and sour it with my Irish malt taste buds though, seems like a sin.
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Cool find! I think you’ll love the flavor profile.
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Great article, and l really enjoyed watching you with Jason and Bruce on Mash and Drum discussing this as well. I’m going to throw out an observation/speculation on this that I haven’t seen raised – based on all of your respective analysis, I’m led to believe that the RR10 LL/ME may actually be 15yr old Buff Turkey juice. The timing of the distillation and bottling would seem to line up, the difference in flavor profile from other RR10s would be explained, and the fact that Bruce had indicated he ‘couldn’t’ discuss the juice in it rather than ‘wouldn’t’ would lend credence to the belief the BT/WT agreement would likely have been covered by an NDA. So, is LL/ME actually 15 yr Buff Turkey juice?
I think it’s fun for folks to speculate but it’s too easy to draw conclusions that aren’t there. My guess is the buff turkey juice is off profile enough (and showing up in others NDP releases) that they likely sold it off. The LL/ME was definitely a better batch. But you still have to be a RR10 guy to appreciate it. (101 is more my speed).
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The Russells only want to use their own liquid. The decision to contract with BT was a Pernod call. It was purely a safety net – a safety net that simply wasn’t needed.
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Bruce straight up said in that interview that they never used it in any of their products because it was so different.
I mean, how could they use something that is entirely different than their standard product? It would completely throw off the profile.
And the RR and WT labels clearly say “distilled by the Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY.” The Buffalo Turkey was bulked out for a reason, that reason being the Russells didn’t want it.
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Makes perfect sense DJ. I remember Bruce saying that now in the mash and drum stream. I’m more excited about 8 year 101 being available 😎😎
I have tasted, and I believe! Blew me away actually, compared to the relatively thin and sharp character of a bottle I’d had years before. You sure piqued my interest regarding what’s in this one but having a bottle to sip will be enough.
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It’s fantastic!
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I have a bottle of Wild Turkey American Honey that’s several years old but never opened. It seems to have sediment in the bottom. I never noticed this when I bought it. Since it’s never been opened, is it still good? The sediment floats all over when the bottle is turned upside down.
LL/L J19 0049 – 2023/10/19 is my bottle laser code. My bottle also (like yours) has the secondary front label in a maroon colour – not white. RR10 is always a good ordinary sip and maybe – just maybe – I am not imagining a little extra softness in this incarnation. 🤞
You may just have a softer experience since that bottle is older and possibly open for a few months? Whatever the case, the ME20 is farrrr better than any other RR10 I have had in the past few years and it is NOT close. ME20 is simply markedly better.
Bruce Russel himself said in a recent interview that the ME bottles are special and he said so with a strong emphasis. While he wouldn’t reveal all the specifics, the reverence with which he spoke was very real. He wanted us to know there was something unique about them without any ambiguity despite the lack of actual specifics.
Just to clarify, the bottle is fresh.. anyways, thank you Matt for giving me the impetus to take my magnifying glass with me on my next sojourn to every goddamn liquor store known to mankind that is going to have the misfortune/jackpot of my forensic acquaintance!
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Here here!
Like you said, Mr. Jennings, tasting is believing!
I am lucky enough to have the 17 & 20. The 20 just has something extra to it that is quite remarkable. An extra few mph on the fastball, if you will 😎
A product of increase in aged stocks catching up with a slight decline in demand? This is a great development as long as the Regular NAS 101 doesn’t suffer a slip in quality.
If that’s the case, then the new 8 year might cannibalize the NAS 101 to the point that they eventually get rid of the NAS, leaving the 81 proof NAS as the only budget bottle. If that were to happen, there might also be some downward pressure on the 8 year price. This hypothetical scenario would probably only happen if bourbon demand decreases.
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I doubt it. You can get a handle of 101 for less than a 750ml of 101/8. Most folks buying 101 aren’t whiskey enthusiasts. We are but a small fraction of Wild Turkey’s sales. 101 and Honey pay the bills. But it would be nice if all 101 eventually had an age statement.
They made more of these? Why? These have been a failure. In my area the 2018-2019 Batch 1 has been sitting on shelves for years. No matter where they place the WB it doesn’t sell. on the shelf or behind the cash register with other 375mls no one wants it. I think most buyers don’t even know it has ties to WT. another store put it on sale for 25% off and it moved a little. WT should drastically lower the price on these or just discontinue it ime.
It wasn’t the best concept, I’ll admit that. That being said, the original Saffell (2018-2019) was stellar and worth every penny. This one is nice, but doesn’t quite measure up to the original. FWIW all Saffell bottlings said “Batch 1” until last year, so it’s hard to say exactly when those you’re referring to were bottled without checking the laser code. Cheers!
Interesting read DJ, I just found out today that there even were multiple bottlings of the “Batch 1” Saffell…after digging out my bottles, two of them have a bottle code from 2022 and one has no bottle code at all…which I suspect is the original Saffell bottle that I bought with a Bond & Lillard Batch 2 when they were first released. I can’t be absolutely sure though, I bought three bottles a couple of years ago and gave one bottle to a buddy…I just don’t know if I gave him one of the newer bottles or the one I already had. I can say that the front label seems to be slightly different on the bottle I have with no code…the lettering is slightly raised and the artwork seems to have more relief, where the labels on the coded bottles have flat lettering and very minor relief in the artwork.
I guess I’m going to have to open the bottle with no code and compare it with the my opened 2022 bottle to find out definitively if they are the same or not. All things considered, I guess it’s a pretty good problem to have!
Thanks Kevin! Comparing is really the only way to know. 2018-2019 have been the best I’ve had so far, though I’ve yet to try a 2022 bottling. If you do end up trying that comparison, please let me know how that fares. Cheers!
I saw what you did there, “101% OK with the price”. Great write-up, and I can’t wait to go get myself a bottle. I’ve got two of Jimmy’s 70th and will compare the two… just because! Cheers.
The press release states April as the nationwide release date. That said, each state and distribution network is different. Let’s hope you see it soon. Cheers!
And that’s why I keep it simple and filter out the noise by buying brands and bottles I know. Trying new things and hunting can be fun, but the rabbit hole is deep and it’s easy to get lost in it.
Not all BuffTurkeys are equal. The good ones are absolutely worth the value – and even though there were rumored about 900 barrels produced, the supply is limited in that they are not barreling more of those. That’s what drives the values up imho
I’m sorry, but no one can convince me that any of these are worth the same or more than Russell’s 1998 (and many others). It’s just not going to happen. That said, it’s your money.
As far as how many were produced, we’ll likely never know. There are a lot more out there to be bottled, however.
Do you mind elaborating a bit more on why you distinguish pre-2016 RRSBs? Did something change about them after 2016? That was one of my favorite bourbons, but buying one (a standard off the shelf version) after a bit of a hiatus has a different flavor profile than it did in my memory (and unfortunately not in a good way). Curious if you have any thoughts. Thanks!
It’s not so much the bottling year as it is the distillation year. Anything distilled in 2009 or earlier is the old still. 2010 could be some of both. 2011 onward comes from the new still. Through 2019, all RRSiB and WTKS were old still. 2020 is when the new still stuff started hitting the market as single barrels (likely in batched products before then). Some Camp Nelson picks in 2020-2023 are old still. You just have to know the distillation year. Cheers!
Crazy the provenance on POAC came out to $500 more in retail than the retail of some of these 15+ year NDPs.
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Rare Character is free to price as they please to cover their expenses of doing business. I never once mentioned or expressed issue with the retail prices of “Buffalo Turkey” expressions, only the secondary values of $2-$3k+ for questionable provenance. The provenance of POAC is without question, yet the secondary values of POAC are one-half to one-third of the recent mysteriously sourced offerings. I’m not sure where you’re finding issue with my post.
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I’m a big fan of the page, but I’m gonna have to respectfully disagree with this review. Regular Wild turkey 101 as we’re all aware as a blend of 6, 7 and 8 year-old juice for $25 a bottle. This is 8 years aged stated for $45 which is basically double the price. Do I think it tastes better than Nas 101? Sure, but not for almost double the price not even close. Furthermore, I can get Rare Breed for $49.99 readily available in my area. if I’m gonna spend $45 for a wild turkey product, I’m gonna spend the measly extra $5 and get Rare Breed which is way better then 101 in every aspect.
Thanks for commenting, Rick. In the end you have to do what’s best for you. It’s your opinion and your money and I respect that. I don’t mind paying $45 for 101/8, but I can understand why some folks might take issue, considering the options.
I hear where you’re coming from and appreciate the response. I feel like it would’ve been better if Wild Turkey just replaced the NAS version with this one for $35 a bottle which in my opinion would’ve made a lot more sense from a price point/marketing point of view. Btw I picked up my first Russell’s reserve single barrel for $60 not that long ago and I would say it’s above average but not something I was extremely impressed by compared to the rare breed. Is there a big difference in the single barrels in your opinion because I’m wondering if I just got an average one and maybe should give it another shot with a second bottle from a different barrel??
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There is definitely variance in Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel. Try grabbing one with a completely different laser code.
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willing to bet most is aged 1 day over 4 years for regular 101.
From what I’ve been told, 101 isn’t less than six years. But, without an age statement the current label would allow for bourbon as young as four years.
Is it only the sticker on the neck that designates Batch 1 vs the newer product?
I just grabbed one from an online retailer at basically MSRP that has the Batch 1 neck sticker but I am a little skeptical that they’d be selling it for that price all these years later.
I’m happy with my first pour tonight either way. Thanks for the review(s) over the years!
All of the batches through 2023 (and possibly early 2024) say “batch 1.” The bottle design changed sometime after 2023. Personally, I recommend seeking out bottles with date codes of 2018-2019.
With products like Michter’s 10 (among many others) being younger and lower-proof for $150-$225, I can understand Campari not wanting to leave money on the table. I don’t love it, but I understand.
I’ve been chasing this bottle for 4 yrs now. I’m done. I mean I can get it on secondary for 500 but not worth it. I’ll just drink my EH Taylor it’s much easier to get.
I have several bottles that I bought in Pennsylvania through the State Stores (FWGS). They all have an LL\JF code which I decode as June 2021. I read through all your posts on Saffell and did not see any mention of that bottling date. I hope it conforms more to the early bottlings. The one bottle I have opened definitely seemed way above average for Wild Turkey to me (although I am not sure on the date code on that one). I even liked it a lot more than my bottle of RR13 LL\LC which many people will probably find hard to believe.
Just opened another bottle and it lives up to my memory. Very complex and layered with a wonderful finish.
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I’ve never been good at decoding much of anything. My July 2025 purchase has a poorly etched code, most likely LL/KE040815. Any help would be greatly appreciated. BTW, truly enjoyed ‘Wild Turkey Musings’. On my third reading.
And then there’s Private Barrel Selections, and boy-oh-boy do those vary! Black and White, where warehouse and floor can will make your head spin, then realize the genius of expressions such as Rare Breed, 8-year, and Master’s Keep. Huge palate range at Wild Turkey.
Picked up a CN-F Bottle today. Same date. 7-29-24. Barrel 3262. Rick 31. Pretty much spot on with your CN-F profile. These are just so good. Heading over to NC ABC store tomorrow where I picked up the bottle to get the other last two that were on the shelf. Only wish I could have tasted a small pour before they proofed it down. Cheers David.
Always fun to think about what it was like at barrel proof! That being said, there were a run of Kentucky Spirits from Camp Nelson A around 2023 that were so low they had to be bottled as Kentucky Spirit. We picked three, intending on Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, but the barrel proofs ranged from only 105-106. ABV only had to be reduced by 2+%. Very tasty barrels.
Wow, where they on the bottom floor of the rickhouse? That sounds like what happens in a Scottish dunnage. I could be wrong, but I believe scotch aged in certain locations has the alcohol evaporate faster than the water. Hence, you can get an ultra aged scotch at cask strength that is way below 100 proof. Found an older CNF WT KY Spirit today at a local store. Bottled 8-2-23. Is that around the time they were pulling barrels for Single Rickhouse CNF? Thanks as always for the replies. Cheers.
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They weren’t bottom floor. 4th, if I recall correctly. But Turkey’s barrel entry proof is 115, so not out of the realm of possibility.
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Has it been confirmed the 2018-2019 original W.B. Saffell bottles are laser-etched? Given that there have been a number of releases since the original release, how would one seek out an original release bottle? My thought is the laser code; but, have not see anyone comment if there are laser etching on the original releases. I do not want to assume. Thank for your time in responding!
Just finished reading all posts of “12 Rickhouses Turkey”. As a newbie, greatly appreciate your detailed survey. Makes me feel I have a bit of insight into the ethos of the Russells and Wild Turkey writ large.
Two tips of the chapeau: you’ve dropped numbers and prices. If only everyone reviewer and devotee would grow up; can’t agree more strongly with “it just takes a roll of the dice. Luckily, taking a gamble on Wild Turkey’s offerings is more often than not a player’s advantage.” My 4-month experience with these whiskies tells me we see eye-to-eye on many things.
My aromatic/palate senses are limited compared to many, and I am not alone in often feeling overwhelmed or ‘zoned out’ by long lists of flavor descriptors. You say tomato, I say tomayto. From a career in wine drinking, quality and nature are often best understood through texture and architecture. For me, this where an artworks soul resides (yeah, Turkey is commercial art equal to much we’ve dubbed ‘fine art’.
Long way of saying, THANK YOU!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Glad you enjoyed the series! I’ll have a review of a Tyrone R Kentucky Spirit soon. I think it’s the first review of a barrel from TYR for this blog, though I could be forgetting something. Cheers!
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 104 Proof. Laser Codes (hey, I don’t know which are meaningful & don’t have time right now to check the extensive posts on the subject) LL/M G150957 2024/07/15 B5027D0052
The Russells are adding better water than I can when proofing Rare Breed. Outrageous integration of alcohol, corn oils, rye, oak, that for alligator, simply has the char knocked out of it by the whiskies deep penetration into the red zone. Finishes ‘dusty’, not smoky. Am I tasting a tip of the hat to Jimmy circa 1974?
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A bit off topic but the bottle is genius.
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I know Rye never touches Jimmy’s lips, but really, this bottle is absurd. No idea why Daniel Perrelli isn’t coming up on these replies.
Not sure why, but my local store was only charging $140. Really enjoying this one. For me the LL/LC version was a huge disappointment, but this one is great.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 104 Proof. Laser Codes (hey, I don’t know which are meaningful & don’t have time right now to check the extensive posts on the subject) LL/M G150957 2024/07/15 B5027D0052
The Russells are adding better water than I can when proofing Rare Breed. Outrageous integration of alcohol, corn oils, rye, oak, that for alligator, simply has the char knocked out of it by the whiskies deep penetration into the red zone. Finishes ‘dusty’, not smoky. Am I tasting a tip of the hat to Jimmy circa 1974?
Late to the Party
Thanks for reading! I’m afraid the 10/101 expression has been discontinued for a couple of decades, replaced by the current 90-proof 10-year Russell’s Reserve. But keep an eye out for the tall, reddish wine-style bottle, you never know when you may run into one!
Got my 1st KS 101 SiB two weeks ago because it is a CN-F & also the lowest price I’ve seen at $55 no sales tax. It’s only 7 barrel #s off from the one reviewed here & same date;
Brl# 3258 on Rick# 25, Btld 07-29-2024…
Blinded it against 2 other WT 101s that I’m familiar with & enjoy very much;
WT 8yr/70th
WT 101 Standard/batched (old label) Btld 10/17/2017 (LL/FJ17)
Note: All 3 bottles here are 750mL.
Going in, predicted the 8yr/70th would win & the KS CN-F would be last…
The standard 101 batch from Oct 2017 won!!
It won mostly due to clearly having the best nose. KS CN-F was last of the 3 WT 101s, though good & MUCH better than any recent standard WT 101.
DJ, pretty sure you wrote that the new WT still went into service in 2011?
If that is correct, think there’s a good chance the 10/17/17 batch is all or mostly from the old still.
For referrence, also have a bottle of old label WT 101 Btld 01/20/2021 (LL/JA20) & it suuuckks compared to the Oct 2017 batch. The 01/2021 batch & any new label batch I’ve had, is just not even sippable for me. They all taste the same or very close. Though it is worth it for a mixer at $30/1.75L in 2024.
It’s not even close, or in the same league. The 2017 batch is a fantastic sipper & found it last summer (2024) for $22.50.
Thanks for all the WT info you put out, David!
See you on Patreon
Apologies for the late reply, as I’m traveling. I believe the 2017 101 is mostly from the old still, but could very well have new still whiskey in it. The new still formally launched in 2011, but it was functioning since fall 2010 (for testing). Since 101 has 6-year in it, and has for some time (the 2011 label states “up to six to eight years”), it’s likely a composite. It will take some breaking in to get the new still where it needs to be, but these 2025 single barrels are some of the best I’ve had in years – especially the latest ones from TYM. Cheers!
Great article! Wild Turkey has been my go-to for some time now, and with my recent purchase of Russell’s 6yr Rye, a new Rabbit hole has emerged. I was wondering though, where can I find that glass in the image at the top here? Would love to get a couple for my regular use.
Awesome write-up, DJ. I thoroughly enjoy reading your Turkey barrel pick stories. It takes me right back to May of 2019 when we picked a few – a memory I’ll always cherish, and one day hope to repeat.
My wife and I have been talking about a bourbon trail trip for ages, and one of these years we’ll make it happen. A Wild Turkey tour will be on the agenda, of course.
And noted on Taylor Belle’s! Pimiento on a burger sounds heavenly.
I spit and pitch on barrel picks. I’m also mindful of my consumption.
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Can’t agree more , I’m relatively new to sipping bourbon, but WT Rare Bird NCF is my go to. Best flavour for the money. 101 a close second. My 8 year 101 is great, but hard to find.
Jack Daniels no7 rye also very flavourful
Coming to this conversation a bit late (Sep 2025) and wanted to note that I just purchased a bottle of the 101/8 from a wine/liquor store near my apt in NYC yesterday afternoon. Cost was $45 for 750ml.
That shop has a more diverse selection of wines and liquors than a few others in the neighborhood, and their prices on the “usual” stuff is pretty much within the “range of error” with everyone else.
Tripped across the 101/8 article here from a couple years ago and started poking around the site and found this more recent review. Like OP, I recently paid $45+tax for a 750ml bottle. Thing is, that’s about $12 more than a bottle of the plain 101 at that size and from a liquor store on the UWS of NYC. So I’m wondering where Rick lives that he can get a bottle of 101 for just $25.
FWIW: The store where I just bought the 101/8 has the Rare Breed at $65+tax.
Hi,
I am new to Bourbon even though I am in my 60’s. I am so happy to have found this site which is a wealth of bourbon information! It is funny but I was a craft beer drinker (Imperial Stouts) But I am on a cycling vacation in SE Asia. They have no real beer here but I remember how much I liked Bourbon barrel finished beers like KBS or Goose Island.. So I decided to try Bourbon. Everything here is 2x the price in USA but I found a few. Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve & loved them all. Then I found this Wild Turkey 101 8 year(export version 700ML) …Wow I Love it! So smooth & tasty not astringent at all in Nose or palate. I am so happy to have found this. When I get back to Hawaii in December I am going to go thru other Wild Turkey offerings for sure! I have to say I think I am a Bourbon convert now 🙂 Thanks again for all your reviews
I suppose because the focus is on the aging location, as opposed to the age itself. Eddie has stated in the past that this series features bourbons aged 10-15 years. CNE definitely tastes older than 10 years.
Sometimes the mark-up on private selections steers me away, but I can always rely on retail RRSiB. I routinely find them for close to $50 down here, and it remains my favorite bottle in that range.
These single barrel bottlings are an overlooked gem. I always have a bottle and it’s an automatic replacement when I finish one. I find them to be earthier, leafier and darker than many of the other WT products.
Boy after Traveling in SE Asia for 90 days & the best thing I could find was Wild Turkey 101 8 Year export ( Which was Excellent! ) We are finally back in the USA Hawaii & got to try this Rare Breed. All I could say was so delicious! Excellent Vanilla Carmel Nose…Super nice palate with strong caramel & orange peel…Then that super nice loooong finish which I also though like you a fizzy cola & orange peel. So Nice! I was so happy to find this & hope I also can find teh Russel’s Reserve Single Barrel I wanted to try!
Thank you for another great & honest review/comparison.
I am new still & have not tried the RR13 but have loved every glass of Rare Breed. I did finally find a Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Private Barrel selection that I am looking forward to trying tonight on New Years Eve. A nice way to welcome 2026 I think !
Didn’t the early batches of 13 have significantly older whiskey in them? Wonder how much of the profile shift is due to this batch being “only” 13 years old.
Great article, I felt that change here in Brazil.
I always drank 101 and recommended it to friends, but from 2023 onwards (maybe I didn’t buy bottles in 2022) I noticed a significant change. Mainly the absence of a coconut aftertaste (which I felt on my palate).
Currently the taste seems more straightforward, reminding me of simpler whiskeys.
Truly a loss.
Whoa. The Specs pick my buddy sent me a picture of is identical to this one info wise. Barrel no. 25-0879, CNA, 4th floor. Bottled on 9-9-2025 vs the 9-10-2025 date. Everything else is the same. Methinks I’ll get the same tasting notes. Can’t wait for dry January to be over.
I have finally found one of these for myself & am enjoying it.
Mine is 4-26-13 & dumped 10-17-22 & 9 years in Barrel
Barrel 22-0016
Warehouse “A” Floor 4
Does not say CNA
I was curious would this be Camp Nelson? Not that it matters as I said I love the bourbon. Happy to have found it!
Greetings – less than four years into my whiskey journey after being a beer snob. First bottle of KY Spirit was purchased late 2023 and it is: bottled 08/29/2023 Barrel 3339 CN-E Rick 37. It made such an impression on me, I went back to same local liquor store and bought their last two bottles. I have one left – unopened. I simply love this bottle! Thank you David Jennings for your site – and I do have your book! – Kevin from SE Missouri USA
I just picked up almost the exact bottle, only thing different is, is that mines barrel #25-0906. Everything is the same but different barrel, I got my bottle up here in WA State, and lower puget sound area specifically… if you know Washington.
I comment because it has me curious how many barrels they actually used for this CNA-8yr pick from the fourth floor.
All turkey is good turkey, but mine is a TW pick… I hope it’s as good as yours!
Cheers brotha!
I have a 2009 bottle, and my notes are pretty similar. I don’t put it on the same level as the ’91 101/8 you sent me a sample of, but it’s more complex and reminiscent of dusty WT than any currently available Turkey product (and I like the RR SiB bourbon and rye a lot).
Amazingly complex and interesting bourbon, clearly much older than 8 years. Almost tastes like a port-finished whiskey with that yeasty/musty in the finish.
No, not hip enough, cool enough, or expensive and rare enough.
Just flavorful, high quality, and bold.
Please, keep talking WT 101 down.
Thanks for commenting. Nothing to do with cool – I mean, let’s be honest … hype goes to plenty of other whiskeys before Turkey. I love Wild Turkey, regardless of cool. And I’m not talking it down – I just wasn’t impressed with this bottle over others (and I’ve had A LOT of Turkey). A C-range rating is not bad. Just means average on my Turkey scale. Thanks for reading!
You’ll enjoy that ABC Barrel. But the Total Bev (Colorado) barrel from the same floor, same warehouse as the Davidson’s here is also terrific. Almost a dead-ringer for the 2394.
Really? I’ll definitely have to check that one out then. Thanks!
Every time I see WT 8 YR, it reminds of 1993 rage against the machine concert in demark. I made my girlfriend at the time sneak in a couple of bottles in the mini 33 cl size. What a great time, and the best whiskey a poor airmen could afford at the time. Cheers
Thanks for posting this, I’ve been trying to find an idea on age for these. I’m assuming the laser etching is MMYY ?
Navigate to my “Other Sites” page and find the date code link. That should help tremendously. Thanks for checking out my blog!
Oh man that is perfect! Mine isn’t as old but I’ll happily drink it. Cheers!
OMG! searching for a picture of my Wild Turkey to find its age and found your site. My bottle is a exact copy probably 1992. I recently acquired this from my uncles old collection along with a Cutty Sark 1992 anniversary bottle Christopher Columbus. Yes these bottles bring back good memories but back then was mixing it with coke!
Glad I could be of service. Old WT 101/8 is excellent bourbon. Enjoy it!
Where does one find a vintage bottle of WT? I’m being offered one. Don’t know what to think.
You really have to be careful. I’d recommend a licensed vintage whiskey vendor like Justins’ House of Bourbon.
I just got one from my granny. Its in the wooden box and has a yellow paper around unopened bottle. Any idea what its worth
Tax strip or foil over the cork? Also, there should be a two-digit bottle stamp on the glass bottom – that’s the glass manufacture year. Finally, if you can make out a bottle code (probably on the label or foil at that time) you can get the fill date by using the date code link in my “Other Turkey Sites” page. As for value, I’m not that kind of website. I can tell you that it’s worth what someone is willing to pay for it. In this case (if the juice is in good shape – clear and free from debris or discoloration), it’s a lot greater than the original retail price. The problem with the box Turkey’s are a lot of folks left them on their side (which is bad – real bad over time). The cork falls apart and ruins the whiskey. Hopefully, she stored it right-side-up. Nice find!
i have an unopened bottle of W-T-01-99… located in chicago area. i wonder where i might be able to sell it and for how much?
Eric,
I’ve had success (through friends and associates) finding W-T-01-99 “in the wild.” At least six bottles or so in the last few months, all at retail price. I also find batch 03RB quite frequently here in the South. It is, however, a rather tough find so a premium is likely warranted. I’d suggest opening it and finding enthusiasts in your area willing to swap samples. You might just get to try something even tougher to find!
Great analysis. Love Wild Turkey but Rare Breed confuses me, I keep changing my mind about it.
Which batches have you tried? Rare Breed varies in profile from batch to batch. In general, the older batches are more sought after. I’ve heard batch 03-RB is Jimmy’s personal favorite.
Thinking about cracking my lafeyette, I could send a sample along for a review. Let me know.
Well kind internet stranger, I assume you mean the super rare export 101/12 from ’90 or so? Oh, that would be a treat! I’m assuming it will taste about like ’89 BD or ’90 CGF, so the extra rarity is likely in the packaging. Something to consider before breaking the seal. If you do decide to pop the cork, please send me an email to let me know how it turns out!
Reviewing the very first dram from the bottle?
Campari PR impatient?
Seems like it would be wiser to write from the bottom of the bottle. An easy task, given it’s a 375ml.
Actually, no. Don’t let the picture or my use of present tense fool you. I spent several days (at least four) with multiple pours and notes throughout tasting. This is my standard process unless I’m reviewing a sample (depending on the sample size I may have 1-3 tastings – sometimes against references or SBS). But you make valid assumptions. Thanks for commenting!
I just scored a few bottles of these Pewters and I am looking forward to trying and comparing them. My barrels are from 9/94, 2/95, and 1/99. Any idea when the first barrels of WTKS were bottled? The earliest I can find is September of 94. Thanks.
1994 was the first year – typically in a collector’s box. Great scores!
Say I have a bottle from this year how much would it be worth?
Well, to me Wild Turkey expressions are only worth what one is willing to spend to sip it. I realize you’re probably not looking for that type of answer, though. FWIW I recently saw a 1979 WT 101 on Master of Malt for $379 (plus shipping from the UK). That’s likely a good reference starting point.
Talk about a parallel universe…. I saw this 116.8 rare breed for the first time today and thought to myself let’s try it…and I am very pleased with the new addition. I’ve been sampling the Russels’ Reserves, Knobs, etc.. and then this Rare Breed appears on a shelf in a Montgomery County, MD. run liquor store!!!!! The bourbon has a beautiful vanilla candy scented nose…it is just delightful to breathe in.. the neat 116.8 bourbon in a snifter!! Wow! The initial sip just dissolves in your palette and lets you know this is a luscious complex bourbon. The hints of barrel, fruits, and spices are appropriately blended to give a super clean finish, leaving one smacking their lips wanting for another sip of this 4.5 star gem from the distillers of Wild Turkey.
Glad you enjoyed it. Have you tried Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel? If not, it should be the next thing on your list. Arguably the best core expression coming out of Wild Turkey right now. Thanks for commenting!
I certainly have tried the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, it is as you write, an excellent expression of the Wild Turkey spirits at this time. It is good time to stock up on these two, who knows how long they will be available.
I have been enjoying Wild Turkey 101 since 1963. Recently picked up a bottle of Rare Breed 116.8 and found it to be with a fine personality even at that proof. I personally drink it NEAT.
Neat is the way for me as well. But really, however one enjoys their Turkey is perfectly fine with me. Glad you’re liking the latest Rare Breed! And I agree – it sips very easily at 116.8 proof.
Love the 101 Rye! Up until a couple of months ago it was still pretty difficult to find in my area, really happy to see it showing up on the shelf more often
I hope you can find it more easily now. Very pleased with this latest batch!
Just tried the 2017, very happy with it. And as luck would have it I found it at a 25% off locally so how could I pass that up. I will enjoy this bottle through the Holiday season with a smile on my face
That’s a great deal for a great bourbon, Michael. Cheers!
Man, this sounds amazing. I’d kill to try some dusty Turkey, but beyond paying secondary prices I don’t know how I’ll find any.
Avoiding the secondary is recommended. Instead, seek out communities on social media that discuss the enjoyment and appreciation of old whiskey. I promise that in time, if you are genuine in your pursuit, you will meet those willing to share. A great start would be Reddit’s r/bourbon. Thanks for commenting!
I’m a lurker on r/bourbon for sure, and am in a couple bourbon facebook groups. I’ve considered r/scotchswap but haven’t taken that plunge yet.
I’ll keep my eyes open and see what I can find. Thanks for the advice!
Anytime!
I have a bottle unopened from 1983
That’s a nice one to have!
I salute you. I’ve never managed to not open a bottle, from any year.
You hit the nail on the head on this one. I have been crazily trying to find another square labeled 116 to no avail. I sampled it in the store and my sales guy let me have the rest of the bottle. It’s fabulous juice for sure!
Glad you’re liking it and thanks for commenting. RB 116.8 is definitely a step in the right direction from RB 112.8. Cheers!
BTW, how does one obtain a Rare Bird Glencairn?
Here you go:
https://www.glencairnwhiskyglass.com/rarebird101/rarebird101-glencairn-whisky-glass.html
Thanks!
Gotta get one of these soon!
You should. Great whiskey!
Any idea where I might purchase a bottle dated 2000 and what is a fair price
Apologies for the late reply. Are you looking for any WTKS in the 2000’s, or specifically the year 2000?
Well done! Great comparison with interesting information.
Wild Turkey 101 and Evan Williams Black Label are my everyday pours. …..And always will be ! Great values and top quality!
Thanks Joel! As much of a Turkey fan as I am, in no way can I deny the tremendous value for quality that Heaven Hill puts out. Their BiB expressions, especially. Thanks again for your comments!
I am not positive the place you’re getting your info, but great topic. I must spend some time finding out much more or figuring out more. Thanks for magnificent info I used to be on the lookout for this info for my mission.
In general, my info comes from various publications (print and online), research with other enthusiasts, materials published by the distillery, and sometimes I even ask the Russell’s or Campari directly. I’m not an authority – just a fan. My goal is accuracy but we’re all human. Thanks for commenting!
Nice weblog here! Also your site so much up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link on your host? I want my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
For blogging I highly recommend WordPress.com.
Wow, awesome weblog layout! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you make running a blog glance easy. The overall glance of your website is wonderful, as neatly as the content material!
Thank you! I spent a few years writing reviews for other forums. I started this blog over a year ago. WordPress.com handles most of the design aspects.
Thanks again. I truly appreciate the compliments.
Great list! I’d love to see throw-back labels, permanent RRSiB stickers, 101 Proof RR10, Rare Breed Rye, and ESPECIALLY a new WT12 bottling. Probably not going to happen, but we can dream, right??
Thanks! Yes, we can dream! I’m hopeful that some of these can happen down the road. We’ll see!
Great ideas. Personally I think anything would be an improvement over the current 101 label. I don’t think turkeys are the right bird for a close up… although it certainly hasn’t caused my consumption to decrease!
More info on RRSiB labels would be nice. And bringing back a 12 year expression would also kick ass. I think it could do well, even at a premium price.
Thanks for commenting and apologies for my late reply. It took a little bit for the big turkey head to grow on me, but I’m getting there. The actual sketch itself is “full turkey” (if I recall correctly), but for some reason the folks in design opted to zoom in and make it a bust pic. Campari has a great design team – just look at the Master’s Keep bottles and Whiskey Barons – but some folks have had a hard time accepting the “big turkey head.” LOL
Great article. I totally agree. My first venture into bourbon around 2002 was with Rare Breed and Russell’s Reserve. For years now every time I try another bourbon I compare it to something in the WT line. Lesson learned. I still travel outside the WT line but it is still my favorite with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel being my absolute favorite bourbon. Sometimes I wonder why I bother. Why have good when I can have great. But I do recognize that others have different tastes. I gift other brands all the time. More WT for rare bird and me!
Thanks Billy! I appreciate the feedback and agree – why have good when you can have great? Cheers!
first off, let me say that i’ve recently come across your site the last few months as i dive head first into whiskey and bourbon beyond the level of a casual enthusiast, and i want to say thanks for all the info, its been a great read and i’ve learned alot.
second, just picked up a bottle of this from my local store. my first dusty in fact, and obviously i was stoked to read your favorable review. based on all the info i’ve dug up online including your site my bottle is indeed one of the “first two years” bottles!
i recently had my first stip of Russell’s 10 yr from a recent release and while i found it tasty it came off a touch sweet – granted, it was one pour on one night so my opinion is liable to change the next time i try it – but how does this compare to recent releases? it’s probably a completely different animal but i’d love to hear your take…
Thanks so much for checking out my site. I truly appreciate you commenting as well.
As for Russell’s 10-year … 2005-2006 “non-embossed” bottles with the old black ink bottle code stamp are basically 101/12 profile KSBW. My belief is that they were simply batched from under-proofed barrels that couldn’t be used for export 101/12, so into RR10 they went. By the time the glass and code changed (to embossed and lasered) the profile had notably thinned out (possibly because they contained whiskey that was aged at the Old Crow stone rickhouses – another story altogether – see my WT Timeline). Post ’05/’06 RR10 is enjoyable as a daily sipper, but nowhere near what came before.
As for recent RR10, I wrote an article comparing it and modern WT101 a few months ago. Both are great daily sippers in their own way, but again … the very early RR10/90 are truly special.
Cheers!
yep, my bottle is indeed a black ink stamp, code L1226016 which I believe makes it a bottle from March 2006… can’t wait to try it!
For what it’s worth, I’ve liked the 2006 black ink, non-embossed bottles a little better than the 2005’s. Just a touch – and the color is a slight shade darker on the ones I’ve compared. Still, I’d take either year in the blink of an eye.
sorry, meant L1226061…
I walked in the store the other day to pick up some Ardbeg and I happened to glace down and see RR Single Barrel on sale for $39! I could not believe my wandering eyes. I picked up 3. New daily sipper!
It’s presently my favorite Wild Turkey expression. Love Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel! Always high-quality.
I’ve been on the fence about this as well, and like you, keep buying RR Sib instead. I really like the 2015 Bourye I picked up recently but still don’t know if I want to take the plunge on Forgiven.
Bourye is better than Forgiven. At the same time, Bourye is overpriced IMHO. Hard to beat RRSiB (bourbon or rye)!
I took a flyer on the Bourye at a local shop that had it on sale for $40. Definitely worth it at that price.
Definitely. I haven’t seen it below $70. Nice deal!
Ha! I wondered if you would ever review this one. Same price as RRSiB here so I have never taken the plunge. Good thing.
I feel it is my duty to try them all. For science, of course. 🙂
Wish i checked your page before i picked up batch 302
Cheers
HUNTEROLLIE9216
It’s not bad, it’s just young. And some folks really love it. Thanks for reading and commenting!
Congrats on 101! I love the blog, and I have to admit it has helped stoke my own obsession with all things Wild Turkey.
Cheers!
Thanks, Scott. I always appreciate your feedback and support. Cheers!
Can always trust your blog to deliver on any WT questions I may have! Recently picked up one of these and from reading your review it would seem I have made a good choice! Cheers Sir!
Thank you so much. I appreciate the support!
Bring it on. Wonder what the Russell’s 2002 will retail for.
The bottle count appears to be considerably low. I’d expect $200-$300 and would be very surprised if less. Unfortunately, there will be folks buying to flip instead of sip, which retailers often pick up on. Stay loyal and close to your local!
That’s about the range I suspected. Crossing my fingers my local even gets a bottle!
That about sums it up for me too. It’s a fine whiskey, just not one that was made for me. At $40 I’m glad to have tried it, but probably won’t buy it again.
And you’re right – no smoke or mesquite whatsoever. I didn’t want peaty Scotch, but was disappointed to not even get a hint of “Texas”.
Glad I’m not the only one feeling that way. If McConaughey is in this for the long haul – not a bad starter whiskey. But who knows? Maybe he’ll get into the dusty stuff and modern single barrels and then we might have something crazy good to look forward to! One can dream, right?
Maybe so. I started with lighter stuff like I assume most people did. It’d be cool to see a progression if he gets another shot at a signature expression.
Longerbranch 🙂
This could have been so simple. 12 year old barrel proof. Done.
I get where you’re coming from, but the barrel entry proof changed in 2004. So even a 12-year in 2018 wouldn’t be from the old 107 barrel entry proof. I also think McConaughey was aiming for exactly what he ended up with. Revival is around the corner, though!
I don’t know what to think of the Oloroso finish on the Revival. Seems weird for Wild Turkey, given that they usually strive to do things “the way they’ve always been done”.
Have they ever done a finished bourbon before…?
Yes. WT released a Sherry Signature export in the 2000’s. Very rare. It was lower proof. Never had it, though.
I am a big WT fan, love WT 101 and Rare Breed.
I am also waiting on the same thing as you are
I heard an interview with Eddie from a couple years ago talking about the Oloroso finish and how they almost couldn’t give it away at the time. Now he says they’d probably demand a premium price for it.
And Oloroso casks are very hard to find now, much less 20-year Oloroso casks. You’ll notice that many Scotch whiskies, famously cask finished, now state “sherry seasoned casks.” That’s fancy wording for “not really sherry casks.”
Just found and LOVE this blog! I love Wild Turkey in all its incarnations so this blog is a joy to read. Wild Turkey is , in my opinion, always a great product and always a fair price. I’m sure I’ll be reading every entry in this blog.
Thank you so much, Jon. I truly appreciate your support!
I love both tho I like , love, 101 a little more. Maybe it’s the history but it’s just perfect for me. I’m biased tho: it’s hard me to find a Wild Turkey product I don’t at least like and usually love. Great blog!
Thanks Jon. I agree, 101 should be a staple for everyone!
Great review. Wish I could go back in time and snag some of those old Turkey LEs when they were released!
At least we have RR SiB readily available!
Oh, me too! But I agree – RRSiB is a damn fine pour. It’s my favorite current WT expression for sure.
For 40 Bucks, I will take Rare Breed 116 proof any day of the week.
I agree. Rare Breed 116.8 is an excellent value for batched barrel-proof KSBW – especially with the increase on Booker’s.
Bought 2 bottles of Rare Breed in duty free at Dulles on my way back to Europe recently…..$33 each……What a steal !
Nice deal – great batch!
I love WT 101. Keep trying new stuff, but always come back to it.
Best Bang for the Buck in my book…..Quality and value will never go out of style!
Wild Turkey 101 should be in every bourbon lover’s cabinet. The staple of KSBW staples!
Very interested to know more about your statement that the 2018 bottlings (G laser code presumably) will be comprised of 7-10 year stock. Please elaborate if possible. Thanks, and keep up the amazing work!
Sure Evan! See the comments by Bruce Russell on this thread.
Awesome, thanks! If you need me, I’ll be the guy in the bourbon aisle squinting at the back labels of some WT101…
See you there! 🙂
I love the Single Barrel: I’ve gone through three this year. One was a bit off (I guess it happens with SB’s), one was really excellent, and the second was one of the best bourbons I’ve ever had. It’s always on my self.
Same here. I always have a bottle open. They typically range from “very good” to “holy crap this is fantastic”.
Yeah, you just summed that up perfectly,
You’re right. Single barrels are always hit or miss by nature, but in general (with RRSiB) the ceiling is high but the floor is far from low!
said it on your IG and I’ll say it here…
Amen on chill filtration. The more RRSiB I drink, the more I love it for the mouth feel that chill filtration robs from the experience. Hey, the bourbon industry has been known to respond to demands (somewhat), look at the boom of barrel proof options. Now its time they dig even deeper. NCF is the new barrel proof. Give us what we want!
#killthechill 🙂👍
Came across this comment from Bruce Russell on Reddit, a few weeks ago:
“We are currently and continuously fighting to get rid of chill filtration on all products over 100 proof. I personally think we should only do chill filtration on 81, LB, and AH but that’s it’s own battle. You will start to see some non-chill filtered versions of some existing products very soon. I can guarantee you that.”
https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/comments/8ddk2r/not_your_fathers_wild_turkey/dxndxxc/?context=3
I saw that. Very cool and I’m looking forward to it!
Hi,
I have an unopened bottle of ’94 KY Spirit in the box. What is an approx. value of it? thanks!
specific details 9-29-94, warehouse C, rick No. 41, barrel No. 8
Thanks again. Please refer to my previous response. Good luck!
Kathy,
Hello and thanks for commenting. Unfortunately I don’t speculate as to the values of old Wild Turkey bottles. I drink all of the dusty bottles I’m able to acquire. To me they’re only worth what I’m willing to pay to consume them. There are, however, plenty of secondary sites you could use as resources. I’d recommend searching whiskey auction websites. You might also try KY’s House of Bourbon.
I enjoyed the article very much, because we have something in common. I’m looking on my desk at a 1981, in the “original box” 8 year aged, 101 proof, unopened bottle of Wild Turkey. Is there anyone out there that can give me a ballpark figure what its worth? The box is is in average to pretty good condition. The bottle and label are in excellent condition. Reason why I’m so forward on asking is I live modest in a small town in central Texas, near Texas A&M University. My mother is is sick and is not going to be around to much longer. While she can can still walk (she has major breathing problems) I would like to sell this bottle and take her on a weekend trip somewhere, just for the memories of course. That’s it in a nut shell, or whatever! THANK YOU FOR TIME! Eric
Eric,
I’ve edited the personal/contact info out of your comment. Apologies, but I value your privacy. I would try the House of Bourbon, see:
http://www.thehouseofbourbon.com
Very sorry to hear about your mother. All the best.
Does anyone know how much a unopened 1981 8 year 101proof, with original box of Wild Turkey sells for ? A ballpark figure is all I want, thank you.
Great informative review. I liked the info about it containing all three entry proofs!
Thanks! At least somewhere around 2011-2013 it’s very likely.
Jon,
I always appreciate your comments. You should check out my Patreon page if you haven’t already (simply click the “become a patron” button). I have exclusive content there – recently a post about “tornado-surviving” Wild Turkey. You also get early access to all of my blog posts and numerous other rewards. I think you’d enjoy it.
Cheers!
Another review chock full of information!! I know it’s what’s in the bottle that counts but I LOVE that bottle! I’m going to have to check out Stoll and Wolfe. My local package store is pretty responsive: maybe they can order a bottle for me.
Thanks! I’m itching to try Stoll and Wolfe myself.
Great review! Thanks for all the informative history!
Thank you! I appreciate the chat!
I hope this isn’t too naive a question. Where did the bourbon Jimmy Russell distilled at Ripy Bros/ J.T. S. Brown end up? Was it bought by various bottlers?
Exactly. Before the 70’s, most distillers simply provided whiskey to wholesalers that then filled bottles for various labels to retail. There were exceptions, like Jack Daniel, but the further you go back the more this wholesaler & distillery relationship existed.
Thank You! That’s what I thought but was never sure.
Anytime!
I love it! As you said Russells Single Barrel is more compelling but there’s something wonderful about the 101 also. I found a 1.75 liter last month~ it doesn’t pop up much around here (Connecticut). I guess they save their rye for the six year and single barrel? Those actually are pretty consistently on store shelves.
Wild Turkey produces significantly less rye in general. I’ve never seen a 101 Rye handle. Were you referring to WT 101 KSBW? Thanks for commenting!
Like you I’d rather have the big easy to find selection we have in the States. The CT. store I go toalmost always has all four Russells and they bought a barrel of the Kentucky Spirit so it’s always in stock! Still, I’m jealous you have this!!
You’re honestly not missing anything. RRSiB is better – even the standard non-select releases. The ‘17 101/8 is a cool bottle to have, but nothing new on the inside. Thanks for commenting. I always enjoy your input!
Thanks you! I always love your blog!
Thank YOU!
I’m sure it’s amazing! I’m jealous! When you get a Russell’s single barrel winner they’re so hard to beat! Along with a Four Roses (OESV) barrel proof the one I bought was my favorite bourbon last year. And both were under $80!
A phenomenal single barrel blows away most allocated bourbons any day of the week. Best value in whiskey for sure!
That’s what I think. People go so crazy over hard to find bottles (which I understand) when there’s some single barrels from Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and all the majors that are incredible.
Exactly!
RR Sib store picks are the absolute best buy in bourbon. I’ve never had one I regretted picking up and some have been just fantastic. Definitely my favorite sub-$50 bottle.
They’re a steal of a deal under $50! Some places charge $55-$75.
I’d probably pay up to $75, but have been lucky enough to find them around here regularly for $45-$50, even for store picks.
I typically see $55, but I’ve heard folks in NYC (and other areas) pay $65-$75. Barrel depending, it may be worth it, though $50 or so is more ideal.
Wild Turkey 101 is indeed solid! Quality and value !
I agree with you totally!
I lough at people who don’t know how good Wild Turkey 101 is.
It’s unfortunate that some folks haven’t discovered its beauty … yet. I’m working on changing that! 🙂
5 and 6 ….definitely.
Wow! This sounds great! I have to check and see if my local store is getting or can get one.
They should. If not, send me a gobble and I’ll track one down close to you. Cheers!
Thank You!!!!
Very welcome!
I’ve asked around at a couple local spots but haven’t found one yet. $150 is hard to swallow, but this sounds worth it.
I’d shop around a little. I purchased for $135 and I’ve heard at least one person find it as low as $125. Send me a gobble if no luck. If you like sherry-finished whisk(e)y you’ll love Revival.
I’m happy Master Keep still sells for its retail price. I saw a bottle of Four Roses Limited Edition Small Bath at the store I frequent and they want $999! I’m keeping my fingers crosssed Wild Turkey doesn’t become a “in” brand.
I agree, though I guess I’m not helping that. 😉
I just found out about them: I would have loved this. I read their business base is in Guilford, CT where I spend part of the summer each year. Wish I had known! And thanks for the great information on the Rickhouse K and D. I didn’t know that!
Anytime! Be sure to register as an SCN member. It’s free!
I have a bottle of this rare bird. Would anyone be interested in it. Found at estate auction.
I’m sure someone will want it. Have you tried Justin’s House of Bourbon in KY?
Great article! Thanks for the info on barrel proof entry. I actually like (love) 101 the best; it’s only available around here (West Hartford, CT) off and on. The two Russell’s are almost always in stock. Maybe the history of 101 is swaying me but next time it shows up I’m buying every bottle!
Not to mention I love all the Wild Turkey rye expressions though. I’m not a fan of what I guess are ‘sweeter’ ryes, like the youngest Sazerac.
I think Baby Saz suffers from dilution. Handy is a much better pour from the same recipe and age. But then, RRSiB Rye arguably rivals THH, especially when you factor in availability and price.
And thank you as always for commenting!
They’ll be making more, so don’t worry. WT has really amped up rye production in the last few years. Hopefully we’ll see some well-aged offerings in the future!
I picked up a bottle of RR single barrel yesterday: always really good! That’s a interesting point about the baby saz being too diluted. Unfortunately the Handy never turns up here : if it does it will most likely be $800!
Yeah, another good reminder of why it’s great to be Turkey fan! Sorry BT fans.
I’m so glad I can find 101 rye around here. I still prefer the RR Sib, but the 101 can’t be beat for value.
You’re absolutely right. The price for 101 Rye makes it a better deal for the money. And, I’ve really enjoyed the last two modern 101 Rye bottles I’ve had.
Interesting review as always! It pretty much sums up my feeling: I enjoyed the half dozen bottles of Kentucky Spirit I’ve owned but never as much a Russell’s single barrel. I guess the Spirit seems more refined (?) but I love the bolder spicier (to my palate) tastes of the Russell’s. I actually prefer the regular 101 over Kentucky Spirit: it’s a amazing price and has the tastes I associate with Wild Turkey.
Yep, it’s tough for WTKS to compete with WT 101 for the money and RRSiB for the profile. I’m curious if they didn’t chill filter WTKS how that would translate. Hmm …
Do you think there’s any chance they go non-chill filtered for WTKS in the near future? Like you said – Eddie seems to be against it. It’d be nice if they dropped it altogether, or at least for the 90+ proof offerings.
Actually, I think Eddie is all for NCF. The trick is convincing the suits that it’s the right thing to do. At least that’s my take on it.
Right, right. I meant that Eddie is against chill filtration. I really hope they go that route.
Right and right!
I wish Master Distillers could call the shots. Jim Rutledge said in a interview that he had wanted to produce a Rye but Four Roses wouldnt green light it.
Exactly. And look what happened to Jim :-/.
I certainly appreciate your review. I think it is far too ‘pricey’ for the delivery. I do have one nagging question though. Did Jimmy Russell serve as the Master Distiller for this bottling process? Or Eddie?
Neither were directly involved with the 2017 Whiskey Baron releases; however, the bourbon used was WT-distilled, and as such both Russells were technically Master Distillers in charge of the distillation and maturational of these whiskeys. I agree, they are priced too high.
Great review! I loved the info about the rickhouses: I only knew about Stone Castle. If it was bring sold in CT (it won’t be available here) I’d buy it. $250 is fair given it’s how few bottles are available. I think that’s down from $350 suggested for the 98? And when Four Roses (my second favorite distillery) Small Barth Limited Edition goes for $999 here and Van Winkle 15 year for $1999 it’s a bargain!
I see your point though: Revival is a genuine rarity and 2002 a created one. It doesn’t make a lot of sense for 2002 to list for more but I guess that’s marketing. I’m happy Revival is $150 though since it leaves me more money for other Wild Turkeys!
Last comment! I’m also wary of that Pappy sounding press release. I hope Wild Turkey isn’t trying to edge its way into that market. I can take or leave most Buffalo Trace bourbons, so crazy prices don’t bother me. I’d hate if WT started getting priced out of my range.
Amen. Exactly!
I mean, I kind of see where they’re getting $250 for 2002, but with near 10-year Jewish Whisky Co. bottles retailing for $100 (and far less of them), $200 might be more reasonable.
It’s reasonable at $250 for its age and being NCF barrel proof, but certainly not worth secondary. Thanks Jon. Always appreciate your comments!
The only bourbons I’d pay much more than $150 (thank God WT is keeping Masters Keep in that range) are ‘historical’ bottles: like a 70’s era 101 or a Brown Forman Sputnik commemorative issue. I don’t think wine but I think that’s how it works in wine circles: the super high prices are for old dusty bottles?
I totally agree. Vintage bottles are a completely different thing altogether. A nicely kept sealed bottle from the 1970’s *should* be valued greater than a 2018 bottle (speaking generally).
Revival is a revelation! I’m glad that it will sit on shelves so I can lazily buy a few extra bottles. It’s already $125 at the big box stores in my area. It’s unfortunate that Revival will not get the regard that it deserves. I wonder if the 96 points from Wine Enthusiast will have any impact. This bottle really has to make some end of the year Top 10 lists considering Jack Rose’s Pick of Belle Meade Sherry Cask Strength was on Whiskey Advocates list at some point and that was juvenile in comparison.
When I taste Revival and I taste Dusty WT, there are some overlapping notes there that no other newer Turkey has hit just right for me. I enjoyed Decades but this really is the next level.
I have a bottle of RR2002 that I have yet to open. I don’t want to be let down by it but even at retail, I feel like I have to open it in the company of other turkey-heads and not just by my lonesome.
Thank you for the honest review. It would have been awesome if RR2002 was 10,000 bottles and could have hit more states. I’m glad I got one but I’m saddened that most of my locals did not have a shot at all.
All so very well said. Thanks for commenting. I was nervous that the return of 101/12 would be a finished offering. Oh damn was I surprised. Eddie knocked it out of the park with Revival. One day it will be sought after. That’s for sure!
I’ve always thought WIld Turkey Rye was 51% rye. I’ve read on line commentors saying its in the seventies and one that it was 67 %. Any idea why these claims keep popping up? Maybe I’m wrong about the 51%.
Jon,
WT doesn’t disclose their mash bills, but trustworthy sources state the modern rye as 51%. The PA and MD rye that was sourced through the 70’s was notably higher. The IL rye is unknown. My WT Timeline has the PA and MD percentages. Also, a great source for modern mash bills is Bourbonr. See:
http://bourbonr.com/blog/wild-turkey-mash-bill-breakdown/
As always, thanks for commenting!
Thanks!!! That’s really helpful!
You’re very welcome!
Great informative review as always! I wondered why Wild Turkey changed their barrel entry proof! Your speculation makes a lot of sense.
Thanks Jon. I’m pretty sure the entry proof changes had a lot to do with barrels proofing lower than desired (per the Russell’s). It just doesn’t explain the variance with 2000’s WT expressions. That’s something I’ll continue to research. You can count on it!
Quite an interesting review! I’ve had RR 10/101 before but not he 10/90. It was interesting looking these up on secondary. It seems like some folks have been very on to what they have for a while and were trying to get $150 a bottle at some point for these while other were going as low as $50 somewhat recently. I guess it’s a tricky bottle in that way as it just appears like and old RR to most folks.
Doesn’t seem like they come up too often. I wonder if there are just sitting in peoples “collections” not really knowing what it might be.
I’ve been fortunate to find these at retail – others through associates. The most important thing is looking for the two primary identifiers. Outside of that, modern RR10 scratches a similar itch. But once you taste ‘05-‘06 RR 10/90 you’ll see what I’m talking about. Worth $150? Possibly not. But then, it *is* a delicious pour – that’s for sure! Thanks for commenting!
I couldn’t find a appropriate place to ask this, sorry! I saw on the timeline that at one point Wild Turkey distillery switched from cypress wood to steel fermentation tanks, Is there a generally agreed opinion as to if this has any effect on bourbon produced?
It’s certainly thought to be one of the causes. I highly recommend this article by bourbon historian Michael Veach.
Thanks! I’m going to read it now!
You’re welcome!
Great and interesting article! And thanks again for the link to the Veach article on how bourbon has changed. Very informative!
You’re very welcome!
I’m with you – I can’t bring myself to pay premium for older expressions when modern WT has so much to offer.
There are a few, such as CGF and Donut, that will always pull me in. But 2000’s 101 … very cool for a different profile. Certainly nothing to pay a premium for, however, with so many killer RRSiB selects out there.
That’s how I feel about the 2005 101 I have open. It’s different but not necessarily better. Truth be told I prefer the modern profile 101 to the 2000s 101.
I am a collector of Wild Turkey Products. I recently purchased the Russell’s Reserve 2008, but unfortunately did not have the box, information card and the insert that holds the bottle in place. I am looking to purchase the box. Can you help.
Thanks,
Don
Good morning, Don. You stated 2008. Did you mean 2002 (or possibly 1998)?
Interesting review as always! And I like the decision to use quarter points in ratings.
Thanks Jon. It was a struggle, as I prefer a simple scale. But with all the top-quality pours coming out of Wild Turkey lately, I had to do something to narrow down differences more accurately. Very glad you approve!
It’s fascinating to learn about the differences in the bourbon depending on the warehouse. And that Unicorn art is cool!
Construction, elevation and seasons have a lot to do with it. It’s quite fascinating to me as well, as each year brings new potential.
Great review! I also really wish Wild Turkey would do another single barrel, barrel proof someday! Have they ever done a single barrel, barrel proof Rye? I’d love that.
No barrel-proof rye, but there is a single-barrel rye (Russell’s Reserve). A BP Rye would be awesome though!
I love the single barrel rye! Hopefully a barrel strength single some day. I’ve actually never had a single barrel barrel strength from any distillery. They don’t seem that common.
Whistlepig barrel selects, some MGP sourced offerings, but outside of that there’s really not many options. Very good point.
And hopefully in that great looking bottle!
Donut bottles are so cool! Agreed!
Wow, great story! I loved reading that! And it’s great how Master Distillers and Distilleries cooperate!
Thanks Jon. It was fun to write. Glad you enjoyed it!
I have two bottles of Wild Turkey bottled in 1989 … [edited for content]
Chris,
Apologies for the edit. Please contact me via Send a Gobble. I’ll try to assist. Thanks!
I appreciate any help I can get thanks
Try reaching out to Justin’s House of Bourbon in KY. If that doesn’t work, email me and I’ll send some other suggestions. Thanks!
Wow. Thank you very much. I am kind of blown away by your quick responses and the recommendation. It’s greatly appreciated.
You’re very welcome.
Local store, MSL Liquors, just got in two different barrels from rickhouse B – floors 5 & 6. Looking forward to trying both to see the differences between the two.
Great review! Informative as always and interesting to read! I have to start looking into acquiring older historical bottles sometime!
Thanks Jon. I always appreciate your comments and look forward to them each week. Cheers!
Fantastic review.
I have worshipped Tribute for years, and used to get it sent to Australia from Japan for $300 – $400 AUD.
The price has gone through the roof in recent times.
In fact it now sells occasionally in Australia for between $1500 – $2000, but bottles are as rare as Hens teeth.
I must try the Kentucky Legend Donut, (also rare) as you have made it sound too good to pass up.
Can’t wait to read a review on Wild Turkey American Spirit.
Thanks for the great site and informative reviews.
Thanks Andrew. Yes, Tribute is fabulous but certainly not worth a mortgage payment. Donut would be my first recommendation to come close to the export Tribute. The 2006 MDS 14-year would be another, but that’s rare as well. Cheers and good luck!
When did the label change occur? Great site!
For RRSiB, 2015.
And thank you!
Interesting review! I mean to try this tho I know it won’t replace the 101 as my daily drinker. As Wild Turkey is my favorite distillery I’m interested in trying every one of their exressions.
It’s definitely a mixer-level KSBW. It’s a great whiskey to sneak into a Beam White fan’s glass. Probably surprise them in a very good way! 🙂
Any chance you found and tried any 2018 bottles? Are they popping up on shelves yet?
I haven’t, but someone just messaged me that they found a May 2018 bottle. Should have some feedback tonight!
I remember a camping trip I took with a mate.
We gave the small batch Beams a good go around the camp fire. Next morning, my poor head … I have not touched Beam since. Good to see Tribute in the Rare Bird top 10. Have you sampled American Spirit yet?
While I can appreciate Beam, I completely understand your preference. 😉 Yes, Tribute is fantastic! As for American Spirit, not yet. Very soon, I hope. Cheers!
Looking forward to listening this week!
Thanks Jon!
That’s wonderful! Congratulations to both!
Very cool indeed!
Interesting! I have to order that book.
It’s a very fun read!
How can I purchase one of these? Nobody, so far, will sale me one as I live in the USA.
Is anybody out there that will help me purchase a Masters Keep 1894.
Thanks for your help.
David Goodman
normsgts@comcast.net
318-470-5078
It’s AUS only. You’re likely going to have trouble shipping in to the USA. Maybe reach out to some Turkey fans in Australia via social media? They might be able to help.
A shelf lined with 12 year 101’s – that would be wonderful! Hopefully, someday. Great article!
Thanks Jon. Yes, it seems a crazy dream. Maybe one day!
Another great review, I am headed to Japan next year. Who knows maybe I will get lucky.
I hope you do! Good luck!
I live in Japan, and the only Blue Label I’ve found in physical shops is marked up pretty severely – like $100 give or take. Not a bad price but not the same as finding as MSRP of course. But who knows – maybe someday I’ll get lucky and do just that…
$100 is a very fair price considering the cost of Master’s Keep. Don’t wait too long!
In context, though, I can usually find W-T-01-99 RB for around 40 bucks. Any 12/101 is really good, but 99 RB is probably right on par with 2010s 12 year.
True. Enjoy life in Turkey Camelot!
Yeah, between that and ’90-ish Blanton’s at that same approximate price, my “everyday drinker” box is definitely checked!
My previous experience with WT-99 is a 2004 bottling (which I got in trade, a 375 in fact) which was great. I just popped (literally – natch, the stopper exploded) one about 3.5 years older (Jan ’01) that I bought here. And it’s definitely even better – I did a SBS and the Jan ’01 is richer, more buttercream/vanilla on the finish, a tad more refined. My nickname for ’99 RB is “sugar and spice and everything nice” because that’s what it puts me in mind of – it’s an amazingly balanced bourbon.
Great piece! I can’t bring myself to pay secondary for this stuff but your review has me teetering.
It’s a fantastic pour!
I have enjoyed 12 YO Turkey from various periods, and to be honest I have NEVER had a bad one.
I have a bottle of the last batch of 12 YO on my shelf unopened, as well as a genuine Split label with the Turkey on the bottle looking straight at me.
Can’t wait to compare the two.
A couple of years ago I was blessed to crack a bottle of pseudo split label, and it was totally faultless.
Perhaps 12 YO is my personal favourite apart from the sublime Tribute and American Spirit.
I agree Rare Bird, a regular run of 12 YO would be a huge step in the right direction, though I suppose the flavour profile from the 90s which I love so much is gone forever.
The old profile might be a memory but the whiskey Wild Turkey is making now is just as awesome, barrel depending. I, like you, hope for the return of 101/12. Fingers crossed we’ll see that down the road as more stocks come of age.
Well, I’m willing to purchase an empty 1894 decanter & box to solve the customs problem. This would complete my collection. I would need it to be in like new condition, though. Could be profitable for someone.
Thanks for anybody willing to help me accomplish my goal,
David Goodman
normsgts@comcast.net
David, I’ll ping someone that may be able to assist.
Thank you very much. Your help is much appreciated.
Are you on Facebook? If so, check out the Aussie Wild Turkey Collectors or the Wild Turkey Rafter.
Great write-up and review! While 12-year WT is discontinued, because this was the most recent label, it is the most likely one to be found in wayward shops in Japan (or in exorbitantly overpriced ones).
It’s interesting how the 12 year evolved over time. With US demand for Bourbon ramping up, it’s easy to see why this label was discontinued. With any luck, the powers that be will see the attractiveness of a throwback label to cash in on the nostalgia factor.
Hey there stranger! 😉
It is very interesting how the 101/12 profile evolved, much like the 101/8 profile (in relation to change, not taste). I’d love to see this show up again, but until then I’m extremely grateful for the bottle I have. If I’m able to secure another down the road, awesome! If not, great memories!
Cheers and all the best!
Thank you for that bit of info. I will check it out and let you how it comes out
David
You’re very welcome. Good luck!
I’m getting skun on secondary prices for Dusty Turkey in Australia.
I can’t help myself.
When I’m old and munted, I’ll probably look back with feelings of regret over all the old classics which I didn’t try, so I’m all in.
I just absolutely adore old profile from early 2000s
Licorice, Apricot, Leather, Apple and even custard in American Spirit.
I would love some feedback on American Spirit, as it is not overly popular with many Turkey fans.
I love it and thought it absolutely murdered Tradition.
It’s on my list and I’m looking forward to it as well. Cheers!
I never heard of the club either. It seems a bit on the haughty side. On another note is the single barrel Russells being produced in smaller numbers? Last winter there was always a bottle or two here but I haven’t seen one for months. Connecticut, at least my part, is a pretty small boubon market though I think. George Dickel is bottled in Norwalk though these days!
Jon,
I wouldn’t call 1789b haughty, though I understand where you’re coming from. I kind of felt that way initially myself, but after watching Bourbon Pursuit and exchanging emails with Reid, I think they just have an agenda that other clubs don’t. Which is fine for them. Plenty of other clubs out there, that’s for sure!
As for Russell’s Reserve SiB. I don’t think less is produced, I just think it’s more popular now. Have you talked with the manager of your local? Maybe there’s something going on in distribution to/in your state? Curious to know what you find out. Cheers!
I’m going to ask at the store today. They’re quite friendly and helpful. Trying to see if they can get a bottle of the Jim Beam High Rye Harvest for me. Thanks again!!!
Anytime Jon! Cheers!
Thanks for the advice! They said it’s getting hard to find but they’re saving me the next bottle of the Russells Reserve single barrell bourbon! Oh and I have a question I can’t find a answer to by googling. What does it mean when someone says a bourbon is ‘grassy’? Jim Beam gets that description.
You’re very welcome. Glad you’re getting proper treatment!
When I hear grassy, I think young and grainy.
Thanks!!!
Anytime!
Interesting comparison of the two vintages! It’s $29.99 around here and I think that’s a great buy!
Thanks Jon. Yep, that’s a great price!
David,
I very much appreciate your honest, objective and well thought out reviews of our group selections. Like most everything in life everyone is a bit different as are their palates with whiskey. Keep up the great work!!! Reid
Thanks Reid. I greatly appreciate the opportunity. Should you ever find yourself at Wild Turkey picking more barrels, I’ll be right here waiting – happy to review again!
Hey Rarebird you’ve mentioned in your reviews that Jimmy puts aside certain barrels for WTKS. Any chance he stores in spots where these typically come out the barrel below 110 proof and closer to the classic 101 proofing? I’m a RRSB guy but if they are using good barrels that don’t make the 110 proof but hit close to 101 out the barrel I’d like that.
Hi John! Eddie is doing more of the barrel selecting now. He’s learned Jimmy’s profile and does it all by taste. My guess is he’s not looking at specs so much as targeting flavor. I’ve seen modern WTKS from a range of rickhouses and floors, so that makes most sense to me. Thanks for commenting!
Great article! I didn’t know there were two batches. And WOW~ $80 for a bottle! Lucky!
Thanks Jon. The lowest I’ve purchased one for is $90, though I’ve heard of a few places with Decades on sale as low as $80. Crazy good deal.
Does the packaging obviously state which batch it is, or is there a laser code to look for?
It’s on the bottle neck label. Thanks for commenting!
Great post!
Thank you!
Wow, this sounds fantastic. Where are you confirming ‘98 – is there a date code, or just the glass stamp? I often don’t see bottle codes on Japan bottling from the 90’s.
This one has a date code on the neck. 09/09/98 … an awesome pour. Thanks!
Interesting points! I wish it were possible to determine if there is some of the 12 yr in this bottle. Personally, as a novice, I have at times wondered if distilleries put higher priced/older bourbons in releases when they have extra barrels. It’s most likely a big stretch but I wonder if this is why batched whiskeys taste different to me from bottle to bottle. 101 sometimes is, to my taste, spicier or sweeter depending on the bottle.
You are correct. I know this practice has occurred, and still occurs at Wild Turkey. Eddie has confirmed older age-stated releases had older whiskey in them, particularly Glut Era bottles, and Bruce confirmed on Reddit that batches of 101 just this Spring contained some 10-year barrels.
Nice review as always! Wish we had a store round here that picked such great barrels!
Thanks Jon. Have you reached out to your state’s Campari rep? You may have some closer than you think. Feel free to shoot me an email and I’ll happily help.
Thanks!!!!
Anytime!
That sounds delicious. I’m with you on the bold, earthy preference but a change of pace is always welcome.
I haven’t found nearly as many RR picks this year so far as I did last year. Here’s hoping this fall proves fruitful.
There’s been a lot this year, though not evenly spread geographically. Fingers crossed for you!
I couldn’t agree more, Lincoln Road does some phenomenal picks. I wish they were closer. I have made that 10 hour drive twice. What you described is a bottle full of greatness.
In DFW sadly its mainly big chain stores that do RR picks and I don’t find them as good. On the brighter side, I will be visiting Lincoln Road again over Christmas.
I agree with your observations. It’s hard to beat a store like Lincoln Road. Passion for their barrel selections and their customers as well. An excellent combo!
In Australia we never even hear of these offerings from independents.
We have to take what we are given off the shelves.
One recent experiment was to try the Pikesville Rye 110 Proof.
it was absolute perfection, and at $135 AUD we were able to eat that week.
Just scored and cracked a bottle of the 14 YO Distillers Selection for the Japan market.
It was sublime, but no where near American Spirit or Tribute.
I have noticed a mini glut of Tribute and 17 YO 101 on Ebay.
Sadly this has not driven prices down.
$2000 per bottle in good old Oz.
Now i’m off to pick out the bits of cork from my glass of magnificent 14 YO…
Yes, we’re quite lucky in the States. Dusty Wild Turkey is often amazing, but honestly I could live off these single barrel private selections just fine. Fun to find, sip and share. I found the 2006 14-year export to be stellar. Comparable to the export Tribute, though a nice step above the domestic (US) Tribute IMHO. $2000 is ridiculous and I’d avoid that like the plague. Cheers mate!
Fascinating history! I already knew the generalities but not in such detail. Great article!
Thanks Jon! Glad you enjoyed it.
What a great read!
Thank you Scott!
Great read, I am always learning something new.
Thanks Avi. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Michael Veach’s blog. Loads of quality information there. Cheers!
Great article. I love hearing the history and learning more about my favorite pour.
Thanks so much, Jon!
That mineral note… I get it in my ’80 8/101 too, though I find it burns off with about 15 minutes of air in the glass. It’s not my favorite dusty WT note, to be honest – too much and it’s downright off-putting. Fortunately I usually don’t get it at all and almost never in excess, but the fact that it shows up in varying degrees over several years leads me to believe it’s a matter of something in the profile from those days, rather than sourced whiskey.
That lines up with my 1979 101/8 notes and would be from the same/similar “season.” I agree – I don’t think it’s sourced, but rather something that pops up from time to time. The only thing I can relate it to is maturation, since the recipe hasn’t changed. Thanks for commenting!
I usually get Rare Breed but just picked up my first bottle of 101 in several months. It’s not the 70’s 8 year but I’d forgotten how good it still is! Wish it still had the four color label tho!
Russell’s Reserve Rye 6-Year > most every other rye I’ve tried (which is less than 15)
Pikesville > Russell’s Reserve Rye 6-Year
Just bought a bottle of Russell’s Reserve Rye Single Barrel while in Louisville last week, so that judgment will have to wait….
I think you’ll find that RRSiB Rye to be impressively good!
I liked the 101 Rye the most. I prefer the sweeter taste over the, to me, spicier RR single barrel (which I love also). It has, to me, this great black licorice taste and a very long finish. The only aspect I don’t like is that both aspects fade a bit too quickly after the bottle is opened. I have what must be a idiosyncratic reaction to the six year (I’ve looked at a few reviews and no one else experiences it). It to me had this odd aftertaste I dislike. I’ve noticed it in both bottles I’ve bought. Apparently it’s a quirk of my taste buds!
Thanks Jon. I don’t get an odd finish with RR6, but I totally agree – WT 101 Rye can’t be beat for the money!
Great post. It is interesting that they dropped it down to 100° and went for bottled in bond; as you stated, their usual “signature” is 101 and 15 years is certainly older than the required four years for BiB. I was listening to one of the Bourbon Pursuit podcasts yesterday (episode 42, April 2016, where they interviewed Matt Gandolfo, brand ambassador for Wild Turkey [at the time, not sure if he is still there or not]) where he mentioned that Jimmy was somewhat reluctant to go with barrels that were older than 13 years. This one must have been exceptionally good to go against his rule of thumb.
Great article! I really have to start seeking some historical bottles. These articles have really got me thinking in that direction. Maybe as Christmas presents to myself!
Gotta treat yourself every once in a while!
The comparison to Diamond makes me want to pick one up. One of my locals has it for $79 and I’ve been waffling for a while on whether it’d be worth it. Like you I gravitate towards bigger, bolder Wild Turkey expressions, but it sounds like it may be a nice “change of pace” bourbon.
$79 for Diamond is at least a one-time buy. Great price!
Very well written from the heart… Hope the whiskey world takes heed….
Thank you very much, David.
“Every single barrel in the state of Kentucky has unique properties. Most will be good, some will be exemplary, but not a damn one of them will change your life. Stay mindful, stay careful, and most importantly, stay informed.”
Perhaps the wisest words spoken about what’s happening with the whiskey world. Well done!
Thank you, Gary. Very kind.
Appreciate the notes and the write up. Its amazing to see how the interest in bourbon (and Turkey!) has skyrocketed in recent years, but along with it the unfortunate side effect of flipping/re-selling. Fortunately there are many Bourbon fans who just want to share the experience and knowledge of whatever it is they may be sipping, whether its a mass release, or a limited edition. A few bad apples can’t ruin the overall community.
Thanks Cojirob! You’re absolutely right. We still have a fantastic community. I’m not going to let this get me down one bit. Cheers!
Hi David.
Very interesting read. I am particularly impressed by the balance of the article above. I can certainly empathize with your frustration. I have adored the Wild Turkey distillery for over 20 years, and have been increasingly shocked by the prices jimmy Russell’s magnificent products are going for on the secondary market. I have always despised greed. One of the things which I admire so much about wild Turkey is the prices of their new releases. Not over the top. Simple as that. Even the Perfect Tribute and American Spirit, to name my two personal favorites, were very affordable when released. And this price stood even though they were not readily available in every corner bottle shop.
Now on the secondary market there is the potential for financial massacre. Now I’m the first to admit that on occasion I have paid outrageous dollars for certain rare old dusty bottles, but I just can’t bear the idea of dying wondering. That’s just me. I certainly agree with your sentiments on sky high prices, which i’m sure neither Jimmy, Eddie or any of the good people at Wild Turkey intended when they released their peerless limited editions. Crafted to be enjoyed by average everyday people who love fantastic Bourbon.
P.S Thanks for the excellent American Spirit review. You have just about tried them all. Where to now….?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Andrew. The secondary isn’t by nature a bad thing, I just wish folks would think about the true value of what they’re buying/selling. As for the future … plenty of expressions to cover. I’m looking forward to it!
Very informative and well written article. I would never, except for charity, pay substantially over retail for the reasons you described. Old bottles are of course different. For me price gouging retailers are even worse than flippers: there’s a $800 bottle of Four Roses limited edition and a $2999 bottle of Pappy’s 23 ( I’ve only had the 15 at a friends and was less than thrilled) at the store I frequent. It’s crazy!
That’s right, Jon. Secondary isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but flipping a fresh-out-the-case $60 bottle that’s no more or less (subjectively) better than any other RRSiB is, well like you said … crazy.
This right here is why i love reading your posts. It is refreshing to see you put words to everything i feel is right and wrong about this bourbon craze.
Thank you very much, Kelly.
I told my wife a couple years ago – if I can’t find that bottle I’d like to have for my collection at retail, then I guess I just won’t be able to have that bottle. Never had Pappy, but knowing all the pricing silliness surrounding it, I’m content with not having it (nor likely EVER having it).
That being said, I’d like to know where I can find a Russell’s Reserve 2002!
Thanks for another great article, Dave!
What a wonderful story this was, thanks very much for posting. It is odd, despite never meeting Jimmy or Eddie Russell, whenever I think of them, read an interview with them, or see a video of them, they feel like family to me. Heck, I am not even from Kentucky, so I am betting that sounds cheesy. I can’t explain why I do feel that way, but that warmness I feel towards them always carries over when I am enjoying their whiskey.
Thanks John! Not odd at all. The Russells are as genuine as their whiskey. It’s one of the main things I love about Wild Turkey. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
I totally agree with you on this one! Great review!
112.8 is good, but the new 116.8 really “knocks it out of the park” (way better).
Only just now showed up for sale here in Europe, and a steal at 30 Euros!
The best Bang for the Buck (or Euro for that matter) !
Yep. It’s an excellent deal. Thanks for commenting!
Wow, thanks! I was hoping you would do a lists of the characteristics of WT”s rickhouses. Great!
Thanks for the review of the bottle none of us will see. Thanks for being obsessive over rick houses and floors. Thanks to the distiller for issuing so many variations on a theme, so many brands, special issues, anniversaries, special picks, and on and on. It all creates cult followings, price increases, private sales,
Yikes! You sound a little unhappy. My apologies. I’m only trying to share my honest opinion – on this and so many others. There’s plenty of reviews on this site featuring retail bottles. Maybe give those a try? And I’m always happy to answer any questions directly. Shoot me an email if I can help. Thanks!
I enjoy the single barrel reviews. Certainly most bourbon folks have dealt with ‘fomo’ at times. That is what is fun with single barrels, find a good one and load up. I think RB101 does a good job with his reviews. The rickhouse guide is handy. You may not be able to get ‘Fight Me’ but if the B profile sounds good to you, seek some out in your market.
There are reviews of all mainline WT offerings here, can’t expect RB101 to review Rare Breed every 6 weeks.
Glad you liked the post, Jon. Thanks for the feedback!
Good stuff as always. I know what you mean about wanting private picks to be unique or spectacular. Nothing wrong with the middle of the road standard Russell’s Reserve Sib profile, but if I wanted that I’d just grab a retail bottle.
My thoughts exactly. Thanks Scott!
Sounds absolutely delicious! I’m really looking forward to opening my sample.
You’re gonna love it!
Sounds amazing! Enjoy it!
Thanks Jon. Shoot me an email sometime!
Finally bit the bullet and bought one. Couldn’t take everyone raving about Donut anymore, ROFL.
Looking forward to your thoughts!
You’ll get them on the 17/101 first – that’s a split, so it’s getting opened this week without me having the chance to agonize over it. Donut probably early next year sometime.
I just figured if one was going to call themselves a gobblehead, they had to buy a Donut sooner or later.
Sounds like you’ve got some fantastic pours ahead!
Great critique! I just picked up a second bottle since September: it pops up from time to time here and I either get lucky or it’s not popular. The last bottle had the nicest black liquorice taste and curiously a really long finish. My only slight complaint was after a month or so it changed in a way I didn’t care for: those two qualities seemed to diminish, Still, I drank it daily so it didn’t last long: most of the time it was great!
Love the stuff! Luckily I can find it pretty easily around here. And you’re right, something about it just screams “Christmas drink”.
Well… I had honestly intended to wait a bit, but it arrived tonight and there was a tiny it of leakage around the seal and I figured it would be best to open and strain it ASAP. So there you go – decision made.
I’m going to give it a couple days to settle before I review it but… It’s pretty fracking amazing. I was expecting something more… savage? But it’s actually incredibly refined. Drinks below the proof (115.4) and the finish goes on for days.
Donuts are amazing indeed! Glad you’re enjoying it. To be honest, I often prefer Donuts over CGF.
It really was a great year for Wild Turkey! I just picked up a second Revival, which I’ll keep a while before drinking. And for some reason, at least to me, the 101 bourbon I just picked up is the best I’ve ever had. I’ve never had the 8 year age statement. It has this added ‘leathery’ quality I never noticed much before but love!
I need to grab another Revival myself. I had a sealed second … not sealed anymore. 🙂 And yes, some of the recent 101 batches have been excellent. You’re not really missing anything with modern export 101/8. The dusty stuff, however, is just different altogether. Not necessarily better. Cheers Jon!
Great Job David… I think it is plain hard to beat the value the readily available OTS WT 101 Bourbon brings to the table. They should also get the award for most improved as just a short time back this was pretty mediocre whiskey and in some cases just plain poor whiskey.
I the days when folks are paying crazy money for pretty average whiskey why not just settle in with a case or two of 101 for less than folks are paying for the latest and greatest bottle which is most likely just sourced MGP….
Happy holidays, Reid
My thoughts exactly, Reid. And thank you. There’s wisdom here.
I have a bottle from 2017, and the first 2 pours were distinctive, but nothing suprising. Letting it sit for 2.5 weeks and now at the label, it’s fuller, it was initially very light, now medium creamy with caramel and those herbal notes, at one point like a spearmint mouthful. Wow, very tasty and quite enjoyable neat, hard to believe it’s 101. Mixed with ginger ale will be an amazing summer drink. Have some 2018 on the way. A great bottle will try with old fashion and Manhattan next.
Glad you’re enjoying it Mark. Such an underrated pour. Thanks for commenting!
So I did a sbs with the Export Tribute (which Jonathan R. brought me a sample of). When I tasted the 17 I remembered it as being very similar and on-par with the Tribute, and while I do think they’re on-par they’re more different than I remembered.
The Tribute has slightly more dusty elements to me, and the 17 more classic (which is interesting as the 17 is older both in age and vintage). More spice and musty wine barrel with the Tribute, more sweet, burnt sugars and vanilla with the 17. Still, very much in the same branch of the family tree – more alike than different, If you forced me I think I’d take the 17, just because I think the finish is unmatched in any WT I’ve sampled. But I don’t think I’d say it’s “better” – both are superb. I think it’s just a matter of which profile you prefer.
Sorry for the late reply. Been a busy time of year!
Thanks for the insightful comment. I love both expressions and it would certainly be a hard choice, but like you I’d probably go with the 101/17. Such amazing whiskeys forgotten for far too long. Cheers!
Cheers!
“Happiness quite unshared can scarcely be called happiness; it has no taste”
Charlotte Bronte
Great quote!
Glad you chose Wild Turkey! Great articles always!
Thank you Jon!
Glad you put the regular 101 on the list, 2018 is solid, maybe the best in over 20 years. Why anyone chases stuff like Weller Special Reserve when you can buy this perplexes me.
Thank you and Amen!
Thanks for sharing such great info with us. Your site is one of my favorites! I have a couple of the 2018 101’s ready to do a tasting LL/GG and LL/GH!
Thanks Jordan. I appreciate the feedback. Please let me know how your tasting goes. Cheers!
I have a bottle of the 50th anniversary tribute. Kept it in a conditioned room for quite some time now. Probably will sell it.
I’m sure someone would buy. Good luck with that!
Interesting conjectures! I’m curious also about Camp Nelson barrels in Kentucky Spirit. I picked up a bottle last week, after a years of not buying any, and liked it a lot. It was the type you described as on the sweet side. It as I think you suggested reminds me of an old (in years, not date of distillation) 101. And with that bottle it’s a great gift!
So the WTKS you picked up was from Camp Nelson as well? Glad to hear it was a nice barrel/bottle regardless. Cheers!
One really nice thing about this particular bottling of RR6 Rye is that it still sits on the shelves of many stores here in Mississippi, and often at nice stale pricing. Picked up 4 bottles recently at $27 per.
A step or two above Rittenhouse and Baby Saz to me and if you can stock up on these older bottles around $30, well, that’s a good thing in my book. I encourage others to do a little young dusty hunting (the ones I bought were legit dusty) if you like this one.
Appreciate the review!
Excellent summary, John. I agree completely.
Excellent write up once again. I have unfortunately not had the opportunity to try any aged stated WT 101’s. After reading this I was thinking, why not start up some kind of petition. We have a strong community with technology on our side. You definitely have connections with other bourbon communities out there (Bourbon Pursuit, Breaking Bourbon, etc.). Come up with some kind of link that people can electronically sign saying they want to see aged stated 101 back, at least for annual releases as you mentioned. We could get tens of thousands of “signatures” I’m sure. The bourbon community is strong and this is something I think plenty of us could get behind. Taking 2 minutes to click a link and sign your name would be easy, especially having the chance to influence a company to push for an annual age stated 101. Worst case scenario they don’t do it but hey, now they have been made aware once again but this time they have a community collectively coming together asking for something they can actually provide. If enough voices sound out together it will definitely weigh on the minds at WT, and might help push this idea over the fence to actually happening. We will never know unless we try. I say it’s worth putting together and giving it a shot, especially with the connections some of us have. Happy Turkey Tuesday!
First off, thank you for commenting. While a petition isn’t necessarily a bad idea (I attempted one briefly in 2017), once you understand how the system works you realize they’re not nearly as effective as one would think. A petition is like a single explosion. It hits hard, fast, suddenly, yet briefly. In order to enact change in the industry (be it with a single expression or entire brand) you need many voices speaking consistently with appropriate volume. Slow change. That’s how it is in this industry. Always has been, (probably) always will be. Just like barrels aging in a rickhouse, it takes a lot of time.
I for one fully agree.
I adore the massive flavour of Wild Turkey 12.
I have tried various vintages, and have never been let down.
Perhaps only the peerless Tribute, and American Spirit are a notch above, and of course that’s just my personal opinion.
Liquorice, Turkish delight, Apricot, thumping grains.
It’s all there on the nose and palate.
I still buy 12 Yo Turkey from Japan, though not cheaply.
If I could see the 12 Yo as a staple in quality liquor outlets again it would be a triumph of good sense and sanity, and I could die happy.
P.S. I found the 13 Yo horrendously dull.
A most unfitting replacement.
Though how do you replace perfection?
Very well said, Andrew. 101/12 isn’t cheap now, but it’s still worth it for a once (or twice) a year special purchase. And I agree … the 13-year isn’t all that much better than RR10 from the early 2010’s.
I also recently had the chance to taste ’07 12/101 thanks to a generous friend in bourbon (thanks, Rob) and yes, it was fantastic. So close to Split Label as to make it the better QPR proposition, IMO.
As much as I would love to see 12/101 reintroduced (Japan-only would be fine by me, ROFL) I don’t think it would be on-par with this stuff. I mean, pseudo split all went into oak at the original 105 entry proof, and any 12-year released now wouldn’t have that going for it. I’m sure it would blow 13-year out of the water, though.
I should say 107 entry proof, sorry.
I know you know! 😉
Regarding modern 101/12 … Revival was amazing at 101/12. Sure, it was finished. It gets me thinking though … probably would’ve been pretty damn good without the Oloroso character as well.
That was listed as “12-15” years old, was it not?
Prove to me that 15-year isn’t in BD, CGF, Split, or exports. 😉
Touche’…
Can’t get Revival in Australia at all😟
As in not now, or not ever? Yikes!
The Masters Keep 17 Yo was readily available in Australia, as was the 1894, and Decades.
I found the 17 and Decades not too bad at all.
Haven’t tried the 1894 yet.
After reading your glowing review of Revival, I thought, “I’m in here for sure”.
The end result of my search was ” Wild Turkey Revival is a US and Distillery only release.
I could of wept, but I’m not giving up.
I’ll eventually get one on the secondary maybe.
Probably have to sell my Wife, kids and house though.😀
The irony of it is that most Americans don’t appreciate Revival. Those red boxes collect dust all around my area. A 12-year, 90-proof Van Winkle? $500 and sold in minutes. Revival … just sits there at $150.
Revival has turned up in Japan. I’m kind of on the fence. Wish I could try it first but I haven’t found it at a bar yet.
I can see a trip to the States one day for sure.
Great arguments and I totally agree. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of limited special releases (the concept not the product) and much would prefer older (12 & 13 & maybe 15 year old) issues on a regular schedule. It’s hard to believe (tho I could be way off base and wrong) that the distillery hasn’t enough barrels for those products. They have so many barrels!
Great review of a great product! Really an incredible value. I agree with your review completely!
Thank you!
WT 101 Rye is so underrated. For something special, I prefer Pikesville Rye over this one.
Fair enough. You love what you love!
What a great article! This Brand is doing everything right by not changing a thing.
Just let the Russells continue running things!
p.s. Met Jimmy R. at 2018 Kentucky Whisky festival in Bardstown. What a great guy, and what a great legend of a Bourbon Distiller!
Thanks so much, Scott. I really appreciate the feedback.
WT 101, WT Rye 101, Rare Breed 116.8 fan boy here, so I had to try it. … I was not impressed with this product.
Nor was I. It’s fine, but you’re better off with Russell’s 10 for the money and hassle.
First time posting, but long time reader and love the blog and your reviews. I have been wondering for awhile why Wild Turkey doesn’t release an aged stated 101 domestically. Great timing to see your post about this 12 year. I get how aged stocks are depleting and all, but Buffalo Trace can still release Eagle Rare with a 10 year age statement. Up until a couple years ago HH was releasing EC at 12 years and they still have it on the BP. It’s not like WT is some small craft distillery. Why can’t they set aside some 101 and at least release an 8 or 10 year? If sustained noise is required to get Campari to pull their head out, then why not do a petition every year? Maybe we just need to track McConaughey down, and tell him to advocate for it!
I think if they would do an occassional release it would also be a good middle ground pricing wise between 101 and KS/RB/RRSiB, which all are in the $40+ range. WT needs something in the $30 range (yeah I know, RR10) but an aged stated 101 in the $30 range would be huge.
And please, when able, review the 2018 batches of 101! I know you have it on your list to do, but bring it to the front of the line! These 101s are a step above the last couple years. As has been pointed out, there is older stocks in them, and it shows. The RB is the same way. I believe it was Bruce or Eddie Russell who pointed to the older stocks being put in a few of the lines for 2018 (and hopefully ’19!).
Thank you for commenting (a great one too)! I apologize for the delay. I trust you saw my post today and I hope it helped. As for 12-year Turkey, I’d love to see it. I could care less for having 8-year 101, as the current export 101/8 isn’t that much different than domestic NAS 101. But if we had 12-year … heaven! Thanks again for posting and welcome!
Great write up David. I agree with you and what is interesting is that 2 years ago I would have never paid any attention to WT 101…this has been an amazing turnaround for their hallmark product. Question is can they keep this great run of 101 going????
Thanks Reid! The short answer is yes. The not-so-short answer is that it depends on how much it matters to Campari. 😉
Any way you cut it……WT 101 is the best “Bang for the Buck” out there!
p.s. Once again, great article and review. Keep up the great work!
I am always interested in learning more about my favorite distillery.
Thank you Scott!
Oh man, I love liquor store scavenger hunts, looking forward to scouring the shelves for late 2018 bottles codes and trying a taste-off with the 2017 bottles I have at home, preferably blind.
I am in total agreement with your 101 sentiments – it is one of three bourbons that are mandatory residents on my shelf at home (Evan Williams Bottled in Bond and Old Grand Dad 114 being the other two). My local retailers often have 750 ml bottles of 101 on sale for $19.99; what more could you possible want? Without naming names, I often shake my head as I see bottles that sit near 101 on my retailer’s shelves that are double or even triple that price that don’t come close to 101’s quality and enjoyment to my tastes.
Well said and I agree completely. 101 is so undervalued by folks chasing the hype bourbons, yet fervently loved by those that appreciate 101’s quality profile and remarkable value. Thanks for commenting, John. Cheers!
Is there a list of the 2018 codes? Thx sir
Not really a list of codes, just a list of code prefixes. Codes are printed as bottles are filled. So with 2018 bottles, they’ll begin: LL/G, with G meaning 2018. A will be Jan, B Feb, etc.
Thanks for the great review. I had almost the exact experience as you report. I saw the Reddit post so grabbed the first 2018 batch I found (Jan. or Feb., I think) I did a SBS with a 2017 batch and, to me, they seemed nearly identical. I recently found some Aug. ’18 and, wow, what a step up! The ’17 is good but, in the ’18, the flavor is deeper, richer and creamier and I pick up some mustiness (not in a bad way) on the nose. I’ve never had dusty Turkey but I’ve heard it had that element. Anyway, I went back and got a few more bottles for $19 ea.+tax. I can’t believe WT can put out a whiskey this good that retails at a supermarket for under $20.
Glad you had a similar experience. The core stuff Wild Turkey is cranking out lately is excellent. Glad I’m not the only one thinking that. Cheers!
I second your comments. The August 101 is where something changed. Like you, I noticed an immediate “mustiness” on the nose after opening the bottle. Luckily, it was some good ole’ Turkey funk and not bad whiskey, as the taste was better than expected.
Definitely a top-notch 101. Best in years!
Great timing on this review! I had just left a comment on the latest 101 12 year review, asking, nay, begging for you to review the 2018 101 releases. Sho ’nuff, you delivered! Great review.
I’ve been a whiskey drinker for over a decade, and always liked WT. In fact I credit RR10 as one of the “gateway” bourbons for me, where I shifted away from Scotch and more towards bourbon. WT has always been in my top 5 and I always had a 101, RR10, and RRSiB stocked. It was only in the last 6 months that something changed slightly in my taste preference, and I became a card carrying WT cult member. I mean, I always liked it, but now it is THE distillery profile I can’t get enough of. These 2018 batches have been lights out. I wonder if we should bunker these? It seems silly, because they are readily available, but so was 101/12 and 101/8 not too long ago. The comments I read about the aged stocks indicated it was only going to be for a short bit (but who knows, maybe that’s just a marketing bit to get us to buy more WT). Oh, and when able, take a look at the 2018 RB batches. I believe they have older stocks in them as well, and seem notably improved. 2018 was a hell of a year for the Russells!
It’s hard to know exactly why – multiple factors to consider. But the good news is, as you’ve mentioned, is that it’s out there. And who knows? Could get even better! Cheers!
Good informative review! I was wondering a couple of months ago if it was my imagination of if the late 2018 101 really was better. I’m reassured that you agree!
Thank you Jon!
Rare Bird! First – I always enjoy hearing you on Bourbon Pursuit! Okay – maybe only twice? Still, good stuff! Second, I’m new to reading bottle codes and do understand the turkey codes except I’m struggling with the year code and how it aligns with the year it references. It’s early here, I’m not done with my coffee…..help a WT fan out. Thx!
Thanks for commenting, Charlie. There’s a code guide here on my site, which also links to a Reddit post that explains in greater detail. When it comes to the modern laser coding, you mainly want to look at the first four letters – more specifically the third and fourth letters for year and month. Thanks again!
I just ran out and found 4x 375ml GH bottles. I also grabbed a GJ 750ml. I cracked the GJ and it is musty, toffee, caramel heaven. Drinks like the proof is 80. We really are in the golden age of WT101. I might bunker a few cases for longevity. Thanks for the heads up. I hadn’t bought any 101 other than a few minis in the last 2 years. I might be done chasing unicorns. Why should I when I can get Lawrenceburg Gold for 19.99$!
Amen Mike! And thank you for commenting and sharing your thoughts. I truly appreciate it.
How do we date the mini 50ml bottles?
Modern-era minis have the same codes from my experience. Occasionally, you’ll have a bottle with the code missing.
Very interesting. I have yet to try blending but plan on it soon. Not Wild Turkey but I read a interview with former Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge saying that sometimes by blending a mediocre whiskey with another mediocre whiskey that you could create a exceptional one! Maybe I’ll get lucky!
Never hurts to try!
Ok I am interested in blending more. As part of the blending process, time is a factor. Have you toyed around with different times it takes for the whiskey flavors to actually come together? I blended larceny and Maker’s cask a while back and noticed the profile changed over time. At least to my untrained palate.
I’ll be honest, I’ve never noticed much difference in letting it sit. It may just be that the bottle is being sipped down (more O2). That I *have* noticed a difference in.
The only WT blend I’ve ever done was by blending equal parts CGF, “donut”, ’94 Rare Breed, and ’07 WTKS. It came out pretty well but I don’t know if the sum was better than the parts going in.
Doubt they would be with those already phenomenal pours!
Thanks for the great review. I’ve been a WT 101 fan since Thanksgiving 2012 when my dad brought a handle to our house to celebrate the holiday! Funny how it led me on the bourbon appreciation trail (trying numerous other brands/proofs) but I seem to always return home to the kickin’ chicken as Jimmy says … Best bourbon out there, especially for the price! Will have to grab some late ’18 vintage, to see how they may have improved the “unimprovable!” Thanks again for the reviews and great information.
Thanks Todd. I appreciate you commenting. Be sure to let me know what you think when you pick up a 2018 bottle!
Man am I happy I scored a bottle of Kentucky Spirit. By me these are very hard to come by. I wonder if there are differences between the warehouses or between the barrels? The store I found this in had 2. Both from warehouse K one bottled in Oct 2017 the other In Feb 2018 from different barrels. I wonder how different they are. Didn’t have money to buy both.
Good news, Dean! Yes, there will be differences so long as the barrel is a different number. Sometimes the variance is minimal, sometimes world’s apart. The only way to know is to try. But don’t feel pressure to buy them all. There’s plenty more where those came from! Cheers!
David, thanks so much for the review. It came just in time! After doing a Russell’s pick with Eddie yesterday, I was able to snag an LL/GI 750 from the gift shop. Looking forward to tasting that one alongside one of my earlier bottles.
Awesome! When you do, please let me know what you think.
David, Jason from the “Mash and Drum” was over today and we were able to taste the LL/GI side by side with an older 2015 liter I had laying around. It was a nice surprise. The nose on the 2018 stood out and brought back fond WT memories (not mentioning my age). The palate was more rounded with a wonderful buttery-toffee-spicy sweetness joining in the mid palate and carrying though to the finish. I kept reaching for the LL/GI till it was gone, but finished the 2015 as well. Both are delicious, but the late summer, early fall 101’s are a little special. Thanks for letting us know!
Anytime! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m a big fan of Mash & Drum!
David, am I safe in assuming something bottled in November ’18 would be of comparable age as the July, August, September that you tasted for this review? I was in the right place at the right time today when I walked into a store to kill 10 minutes and walked out with a handle of 101 that cost me $30. We turkey heads sure are spoiled with the availability and price of this stuff.
I haven’t had November yet – but – 101 is always a quality buy!
My sense is GG to GJ all have 10 year old. A store near me only had GK. So going to another.
Hopefully the quality will stay high through 2019!
You could put RR S Barrel in a plastic jug and I’d be happy with it.
LOL
Excellent review, and I couldn’t agree more – Mom and pop stores are the way to go. That’s how relationships and friendships are made, and it’s nice to support the little guy.
Right on, Scott!
We specifically drove to Lincoln Road last August from New Orleans. We live in Maryland and flew there so that we could visit friends and get to the store that we had heard so much about from you and Dixon Dedman. We were not disappointed. We walked away with 8 different barrel picks if I’m not mistaken. None of which we were able to taste ahead of time. We purchased on reputation, recommendation and having had just one taste of one of his other picks before. none of the ones we got that day have disappointed. Of the RR there that day, there might have been 4 choices. We picked two and thankfully this 15th Anniversary was one of them. It’s been a while since we tried it, so I will revisit it tonight, but I do believe our assessment of it was in line with yours. We only have 5 store picks of RR and 2 are Jamie’s. We’re planning on making the trip again for sure.
Kelly, wow – what a quality comment! I believe there’s two 15th anniversary bottles. Might want to check if your notes don’t line up. Cheers!
Man!! You are right. Mine is Rick K, fl 5-45-3; barrel 16-349. Still think it is a great one.
Jamie almost always picks great ones!
Damn, where was your review when this was still available, LOL.
Sorry buddy!
Sounds wonderful! Picking up a bottle of whatever one they have at the package store I frequent. I’m ordering a case of 101 bourbon to put aside for the future: just it case it falls from the incredible quality it currently is. I wonder how many put aside case of the 70’s expression. Lucky them!
Thanks Jon. It’s funny you say that. I’ve had more than one person tell me they’ve done the same (bunkering a case of 2018 101).
Hey David,
Thanks for the awesome content. I saw that Eddie commented on Reddit that the older stuff made its way into 2018 Rare Breed too. Have you had a chance to try any summer/fall-2018 Rare Breed to see if it was noticeably different?
I believe that was Bruce, but yes. And it’s fantastic! I tried an LL/GG.
Picked up a bottle of batch 2 tonight. Love the mouth feel and the finish. Unfortunately, this bottle was right at MSRP. If I found this at $80-$90, I’d buy two on the spot!
Still a respectable pour even at SRP. Glad you’re liking it as much as I am!
What Rare Breed codes should we be on the lookout for?
As for 2018 I’ve only had LL/GG and it’s delicious!
My store only has LL/Gk
Worth a shot!
Sounds delicious! I’ve been wanting a birth year bottle for a while now, but I may jettison that idea and just pick up a mid-’90s split label instead.
I think you’ll be happy if you do!
Got any thoughts on Cornerstone? Sounds pretty exciting.
Only that I want it!
Okay, so I’ve been a fan of WT long enough that it’s time I splurged on one of these classics. Where do you find these? Online auctions? Can you recommend some places to watch?
Search online whisky auctions, hunt at old liquor stores, join communities on Facebook, etc. That said, it seems the best bottles are found through friendships developed over years. Regardless, always pay attention to your country’s or state’s laws. 👍
Worldwide Whiskies in Japan have a fantastic selection of ultra rare Dusty Wild Turkey.
I have purchased from this site many times and had them sent to Australia.
No problems at all.
Go get!!
At least one CGF just sitting there waiting for a loving home.
I would buy it, but have destroyed my Turkey allowance on recent purchases.
I’m sure folks will greatly appreciate this comment!
Fascinating history! I keep meaning to and find a 12 year: any label. CT has some crazy regulations tho about shipping spirits to individuals so I need to check into it more. For instance a Total Wine in Alpharetta Ga had a bottle at list of Rock Hill Farms (around here it’s 4-6 times retail): they are not allowed to ship to Ct tho. I’m thinking maybe the package store I frequent could do a WT 12 ( or Legend, Donut, 70’s 101) for me.
Yeah, it’s a shame we’re living in a time when things shouldn’t be that way. Maybe join a bourbon club with members that could assist you in finding hard-to-get bottles?
I might give that a try! Thanks!!!
Anytime!
Great points! I buy it once in a blue moon only: mostly I buy it as a gift for non bourbon fans. Personally, I’d rather save $20 and get the now exceptional 101 or spend the same for the excellent Rare Breed. I’d hate to see it go though.
Hate to see it go too. And maybe it won’t, but if something isn’t done … afraid it’s headed that way.
Agree about the “rest” part. Going with the new bottling – okay, I get it; I like the look of the bottom label, but that bright gold main label looks like something from the 1970’s – reminds me of avocado and harvest gold appliances at the Brady Bunch’s house! Maintain the flavor profile as best as possible and move on.
In the meantime, I’ll go to local spirit sellers here in Michigan and grab the old tail-feather bottles for $57 to tuck away.
Yep. The gold sticker and lack of a distinctive bottle are the worst parts of the new design.
Interestingly, I see that Kentucky Spirit is marked down by $20 and listed as “closeout” on the Virginia ABC website.
Maybe for the old style bottle?
True, that may make more sense.
As a new turkey drinker I’ve come to love 101 by the handle. Next is the regular RR for when I want to be a bit more refined. Then I go with Rare Breed for that special occasion. I see no reason to spend more for Kentucky Spirit other than to have a souvenir bottle when I finish it. Hopefully it is marked down where I am.
It’s somewhat depressing, as I’ve loved WTKS for years. It just took me looking at it without bias to see that it’s simply not necessary at this point in time. It could offer more – and should – but that ball’s in Campari’s court.
But when you find that sweet sweet private selection/store pick…. all worth it. I’ve bought at least a dozed of one in particular, and it just sits there like a shelf turd… meanwhile the same store has done 3 RRSB picks in the same time frame
Sounds like my experience with a WTKS Total Wine private selection from a couple years back. The RRSiB was just fine, but the WTKS – a personal favorite. And yes, it sat and sat and sat.
I agree on all accounts. The one bottle of this product I purchased (about 2 years ago) was darn boring compared both Rare Breed and the Russell’s offerings I have tried. KS is sorely in need of a makeover.
I’ve had a few modern WTKS that were hands-down excellent, but not as many as I’d like considering its price (not to mention RRSiB being in the same price tier).
The change in entry proof turned the tables decisively away from WTKS and towards RRSiB. If they want to keep it alive, the best way would be to release it NCF (as you said) and at a higher proof. But then what would there be to distinguish between it and RR? Geeks like us can obsess over one being the “Jimmy profile” and the other the “Eddie profile”, but to the average drinker that’s a meaningless distinction.
Or two barrel-entry proofs, amirite?
It’s a nice dream.
I think you’re right. KS is going away soon- it does not sell well and it’s too expensive. Keep your “could be” suggestions and add a price adjustment to compete with 4R SiB in the $40 range or even better, in the $30 range. I’ve always thought WT needs to have something in the”Jimmy” profile in the $30 area to compliment RR10.
It’s painfully obvious with the new bottle design that Campari wants to kill it off. Instead of discontinuing the tail-feathers version now and suffering PR blow-back, they give it a nondescript bottle that will ensure it’s demise naturally.
I love your idea of having KS go dormant for 8 years or so while they distill and age some lower 107 entry proof whiskey. They could bring it back to much fanfare as a regular but low volume premium NCF top shelf expression, with the original bottle design. As a kicker, they would also set aside some of that special 107 entry proof distillate and age it for for an extra 4 years, to be released as their special annual fall “LE collection” (2 special bottlings every fall): Wild Turkey 12 Year 101 NCF and Wild Turkey 12 Year Barrel Proof NCF. Allocated in very small numbers, critics would love it and people would chase it like BTAC…
Thanks … but … we don’t want folks chasing it like BTAC. LOL
Haha, no we certainly don’t. But I bet Campari would like to create a buzz
Shhhh
Can you please stop talking about this Wild Turkey product?
They will jack the price, if it ever becomes popular.
I love this stuff as much as I love WT 101. ROI is unbeatable !
With the new $23 Old Forester 100-Proof Rye, a price raise on WT 101 Rye would be incredibly foolish. That said, it would keep it on shelves for a while.
David, awesome article, I absolutely love Wild Turkey 101. The minute I got home I looked at a couple of bottles that I had not opened yet and one was a LL/GH and the other was a LL/GK, I can’t wait to sample these. Is it safe to say by reading your article that the July, August, and September will all be the same quality. Do you think months after that are also great?
Chuck, thanks for reading! I haven’t tried any bottles after Sep yet, but WT 101 is always a deal. Not much risk in trying and buying – especially with half pint and pints readily available. Go for it and let me know. Cheers!
Chuck, have you compared the GH and the GK to see if the GK has some 10 year old in it? I got a GH and can definitely tell a difference. Lots of GKs in my area but I have not bought yet hoping to hear from someone else their finding. Thanks.
Great review. I agree that this batch is superior to the last one. Perhaps you can answer a question about it that I couldn’t get a direct answer from Campari. Will every bottle of each release of Rare Breed be the same batch? That is, is 116.8 all one large batch and will every bottle with that batch label be the same? I’ve heard some claim that there are multiple batches of each proof release and that WT waters them down to 116.8, 112.8, etc. Campari says RB is barrel proof and uncut but, as I understand it, those are not legal terms. Thanks.
Thanks for commenting! See my review of Rare Breed 2009 v. 2012. All will be revealed!
What the hell is wrong with most of you, I drink wild turkey 101 because of its unique flavor. It’s very distinctive flavor sets it apart same as Jameson and jack Daniels have their unique flavors. Once u taste any of them u known them forever. I don’t care what shape their bottles are or what their labels look like, I just want them to taste like I remember them. Some I like straight and some I want mixed with water or ice or even soda. My most favorite straight (neat) would be Woodford Reserve. Drink for the taste (what u like) not for the price or hype.
Did you read the article? Looks were just one small factor.
I’ve only tried one bottle of KS a few years ago and was unimpressed. I enjoy 101 and Rare Breed and think KS is an inferior product to these two. It is definitely not worth the price point. When I saw this post I was not surprised. Bottle shape has nothing to do with it. What matters is what is in the bottle.
A few years ago WTKS was clearly a cut above 101 and RB 112.8. Things have changed in the last year or so.
And yes, the bottle redesign is just one more thing to cope with. It’s not as important as the bourbon itself (true), but it’s most definitely a factor when it comes to sales and keeping it around.
I’ve really liked exploring the Camp Nelson bottles this past year. Any idea which rickhouses/location are next up in rotation?
You’ll see a lot of Camp Nelson this year. Maybe some D and K bottles that were picked last year. That’s all I have at the moment, but stay tuned!
How do you know if it’s from camp Nelson?
In this particular case, it’s on the sticker (see picture). 👍
It just says f. There’s no rickhouse f at wild turkey? Or only at camp Nelson? Which rickhouses are at camp Nelson? Which are at WT? Thx
The sticker (not tag) says CNF. There were no Tyrone F barrels last year. WT has about 29 rickhouses. Most at Tyrone, some at Camp Nelson, and some at McBrayer.
Very nice review David, especially your perspective on life changing whiskey at any price…. But week after week someone pays thousands of dollars for a single bottle of whiskey…I am lost on what they expect for that $$$. Can something really be that much better to be 80-100x the cost of a WTRR???
Thanks Reid. And Amen!
Great info: I love reading about the different warehouses. I’m jealous your part of the country has so many different single barrels avaliable!
Well, it helps to have a lot of bourbon friends! Thanks Jon!
Sorry if this has been talked about before but I purchased a bottle of rare breed 116.8 early in 2018 and wasn’t impressed at all. I just purchased a 116.8 rare breed early 2019 and it is totally different. I would have to go as far to say one of my favorites. I typically only drink anything allocated but being able to get this anytime is huge. Am I imagining this taste difference or is something else going on here?
The Rare Breed’s in my area are still 2017, but someone sent me a Jul 2018 Rare Breed sample and it was excellent. I hope to review very soon. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I saw this when I stepped inside the gift shop in January. I took a photo and hoped to find a review before I purchased. Now I have one. I was also leary because of the last two. I hope it is still there when I revisit in a few weeks. Thank you.
Anytime Kelly. I think you’ll really love this one.
Great review!! I skipped the last Whiskey Barons release mostly based on your review of it. The WT fan in me wanted to try it just for completion’s sake, but I think I made the right decision.
I hope to see this one around me soon, and I’ll definitely pick up a bottle or two when it does.
Cheers!
Thanks Scott. This one is definitely a cut above. Let me know if you don’t have any luck.
Great review! Fascinating history: I hope this turns up in my neck of the woods!
I hope so. It’s damn good!
I had a July one. Fantastic. My liquor store owner also mentioned how great it was compared to the older version.
Absolutely!
In the last few days I found some LL/GG and LL/GH pints, and some LL/GI 750s on sale. Gonna stock up and bunker while I can. Can’t hate on delicious, available, and affordable bourbon.
Nope. Can’t hate on that! Hopefully, the trend will continue – maybe get even better?!
Have a bottle from then don’t know if I want to drink it or save it a little longer
At least you want to drink it. That’s what counts!
I thought Eddie has said earthy and herbal notes come from the low floors? My recall ain’t what it used to be so there’s a good chance I’m wrong.
Possibly. It’s interpretive. To me, earthy is soil, heavier herbal spice (clove, sassafras, etc.) tobacco, dark chocolate, etc. Lower floors create lighter notes from my experience – more white fruits and floral notes.
Interesting comparison: always great to read your articles.
Thank you Jon!
curious if you think these are worth chasing to bunker or if you feel the standard 101 only warrants buying what’s available when its available? i know it may seem silly to bunker given the price point but i’ve only really been drinking Turkey and 101 now for about 5 years and this latest LL/G batch is the best ive had so ive got 2 stashed away.
Personally, I’m not bunkering modern 101. Drink, yes. Bunker, no. I have only so much room in my cabinets and most goes to dusty WT or RRSiB. That said, I completely understand why some folks would and fault them not!
Being fairly knew to Bourbon (Whisky in general also) I’ve only had the 112.8 and the 116.8 – enjoy them both, though the 116.8 more. I’d love to see it more 8-12 years. I read somewhere (maybe here) that those are Jimmy Russels favorite ages for Bourbon. I think I read also that 6-12 were Booker Noe’s favorite ages. It would be great to bring Rare Breed to Jimmy’s favorite ages. Great article!
Oops – I meant 6-8 for Booker Noe. Hence Booker’s age.
I gotcha. 👍
Thanks as always, Jon! While there’s no way to know the exact percentages of ages in Rare Breed, I’m either tasting more 6-8 – or – 8-12 from lower floors (hard to say). But yes, I’d love more 10-12 – particularly from mid to upper floors.
Great write up and well made points, but I disagree with you on this one. The LL/GH or GI etc have been a step up in my opinion. May I suggest trying a few later vintages i.e. GI and later? I haven’t had any RRSiB GH, but have a F bottle RRSiB that I compared the RB GI to and I like the RB better. So, for $35 out the door, RB is becoming my go to WT pour.
Your opinion is just as valid as mine. Now go grab a Saffell (a 6, 8, 10, and 12-year WT batch) and you’ll see what I mean. 😉
Would love to try the Saffell, but haven’t seen it yet. I checked out a liquor search site and the only one that came up- $125 for a half bottle. Cue sad trombone…
Don’t spend that. Got it from Campari today – nationwide release. You’re wise not to fall for price gouging!
I disagree, the LL/GI was great; spicy and sweet, with a fantastic mouth feel. I went back and purchased 2 more bottles, 4/5 to 4.25/5 in my humble opinion, especially after 3+ weeks and that baby starts to oxidize. Cheers!
I respect your opinion and thanks for sharing!
Also, do you know if the Saffell is being released in Chicago-land? or Illinois for that matter?
It should be. That’s a large market. I’ve been trying to get details but no luck yet.
Interesting… Just picked up a WTKS warehouse D floor 5. I’ll use the above for reference
Let me know!
Great review. When I see a 375 that sells for around $50, I start questioning if I really want that, or if I’d rather spend the money on a Rare Breed or a Russell’s Reserve and get twice the juice for around the same price.
On another note, you mention the various warehouses often. Is there a decoder ring for which warehouses are at which facilities? Are they all designated with a single letter and are certain letters at certain facilities? Or is there a warehouse “A” at each facility? Is there a map anywhere that shows the layout of each facility and warehouse?
Keep up the fantastic work – love the site.
I’m not sure how McBrayer is categorized, but Tyrone and Camp Nelson are alphabetical starting with A. There is no rickhouse J as it burned in 2000. Oh, and Saffell is so worth it!
Nose has the vanilla spice, caramel drizzle, and cherry/orange soda you picked up on before.
Taste: burnt vanilla, caramel, molasses, faint tobacco & pepper but very silky with the char filter
Finish: medium-long but not necessarily “robust” like other RR SiB I have tasted before – I do seem to have a presence of toasted caramel, vanilla extract, sweet oak, maple, clove, leather, black pepper, diminishing citrus & herbal spice.
My palate is not nearly as good as the RB101 but it would be neat to do a side by side taste.
Let me know if you want me to send a sample!!
Sounds great! Really appreciate the notes. Very easy to relate to.
I’m sipping a 2017 bottle that’s very good and exceptionally better than 101. Maybe it’s just my particular barrel or batch. Only complaint is price at $57 here in AL.
Haven’t seen the new bottle yet but good to know it’s worth a pass.
Single barrel so it makes a difference. I wouldn’t necessarily say pass on the new bottle. Price is the real issue. I’ll be reviewing it soon!
What about the F warehouse? Thoughts on that? Is that the only Camp Nelson warehouse (F), or are there others? I know very little about CN. I would love to see a stand-alone warehouse details post. Would also be much easier to reference/link to (aka many more clicks/site visits!).
Honestly, it’s hard to say. There’s a Tyrone F and a Camp Nelson F. WT has owned Camp Nelson since Seagrams left the rickhouses. Wish I had a date. It was when they started using Cox’s Creek, I believe. Only in mid 2018 did WT start labeling CN (and not for every pick either).
Gotcha, thanks. I have an “F” warehouse RRSiB, but don’t know much more than that.
What year?
Purchased today. Laser code: LL/GI040013 (that’s an “i”, not a number one) B0607D0089
2018 so CNF. I like CNF!
It’s very good. The A warehouse I picked up recently has also been excellent. Can’t go wrong.
Just tried a GA vs a GJ. The GJ was preferred. Lots of toffee and caramel and more balanced.
Have to agree!
The GJ abs GI bottle are disappearing. I’m seeing bottles with H codes now. What does that mean?
2019 buddy!
Tom, Glad to hear this. It seem most months through the end of the year are probably good. I wonder if anyone had had anything from 2019.
I enjoyed the WT Christmas Rye when I had an opportunity I had to sample it a few years back with another WT fan. Our discussion included the opinion that this may not be a Kentucky rye. The label mentions its bottled by WT and only refers to it as a straight rye, not a KY straight rye.
It depends on the year. Austin, Nichols sourced rye from MD, PA and IL for WT 101 Rye until they purchased Boulevard (1972). Sometime after, Jimmy started distilling rye with his own recipe. Pretty much anything bottled after 1980 was produced at Boulevard.
As for the Xmas Rye … the back label clearly says distilled in KY (like the bourbon).
Based on your review I have to pick up a bottle of the 2019. It was the first WT I ever bought but have avoided it lately. It always seems a bit toned down to my taste. This sounds good tho!
Hopefully the store I use has picked an equally good barrel!
More often than not I find private selections generally better – at least more unique. If you get one, let me know!
I think the Camp Nelson profile works well bottled as Kentucky Spirit. Definitely worth sampling or perhaps purchasing if the price isn’t an issue for you.
I have to agree with your initial assessment and what I assume mostly still stands after this review. I did a single barrel pick at WT a few years ago. Once our barrel was picked, Eddie told us we could do it as a chill-filtered, 101 proof under the KS brand or a non-chill filtered, 110 proof under the RR brand and it was a no-brainer. More flavor and a higher proof usually means a better experience. Granted, I’ve had some excellent KS picks, but at the new price range I’ll be reaching for RR picks every time. Cheers!
Exactly!
I have to agree. I think it’s very likely they will finish off the Kentucky Spirit brand with this pricing. Unless this is a prelude to RRSiB becoming an $80 bourbon.
Oh, no! Didn’t think about RR possibly going up. Let’s hope not.
$65??? WTH yo?!? Sorry, but that’s a pass for me. I’ll pick up the last of the 2017 KS’s on the shelves for $42.99 and then stick with RR or plain ol WT101.
Could be a regional thing … I hope.
I just bought an old style bottle of warehouse A bottled in Jul 18. Debating whether just to bunker it because of the bottle. Do you know if the warehouse A’s from 2018 are from Camp Nelson? KS was the WT that really turned me onto the brand, so I’m hoping they keep it around, but the pricing is indeed hard to understand. $40 is about right for this bourbon
2018 A is most likely Camp Nelson. Nice find!
$65? Lordy!
Let’s hope that doesn’t become the norm, or it’s RIP WTKS, indeed.
Yep. Not a good thing at all.
Man, was this written by an accountant? That’s a load of numbers, brother! Nice work. I also am a huge Rare Breed fan and can still get it at one store for … wait for it … $38. I should clean the shelf off but there’s no shelf space on which to stuff it at home. Good, thorough review.
Thanks Stephen! Glad you enjoyed it.
Is there a way to determine what exact year bottling of Russell Reserve 101 I have. I know it’s pre 2005 as it’s still at 50.5%.
Regards, Gareth.
If there’s no date code you’ll just have to go with “about 2001-2004.”
I have tried a few Kentucky Spirit vintages.
All quite good, but none of them in the same stratosphere as Russells Reserve at its best.
The tall 750ml bottle with the gorgeous etching.
I don’t remember the exact release date, but I remember the complete perfection.
It was a hot day in Melbourne and a mate and I had the bottle in the car while we worked.
When we knocked off we poured a good shot each.
It was literally warm, and the complexity near killed me.
It was indescribably perfect.
I haven’t had anything since apart from Tribute or American Spirit, and we all know what they cost.
I’m not optimistic when I consider Kentucky Spirit down the track.
I have a bottle of Platinum top just sitting there.
I might as well crack that and enjoy the reverie.
Even now, I reckon Russells Reserve is pretty decent stuff.
In Australia we have absolutely no access to independent bottlings from small outlet’s in the States, so it’s standard RR releases or nothing.
Not that I’m complaining.
Also I’m a huge fan of non chill filtration.
Excellent comment Andrew. Hell, this is a mini post! LOL
My heart goes out to you Aussie’s. Thankfully I’m aware of a few RR private selections making it your way. Hopefully there will soon be many more!
Thanks David.
I was wondering if you are able to shed some light on this:
Is all Wild Turkey chill filtered unless otherwise indicated, for example RR Single Barrel Bourbon and Rye?
Secondly. Why chill filter in the first place.
Isn’t good Bourbon all about flavour.
I for one love a good old gutsy Bourbon full of sediment, and that’s why my second favourite Distillery on earth is Ardbeg, because of their mindblowing un-chillfiltered peaty monsters.
P.S I enjoyed your rant regarding R.I.P Kentucky Spirit.
Honest and balanced.
Wild Turkey has been (unfortunately) chill filtered now for many years unless otherwise stated (such as RRSiB and Decades). Ardbeg is a personal favorite, and I suppose NCF has much to do with that. I can say that if Eddie had his way there’d be a lot more NCF WT expressions. Campari would be wise to listen. 😉
Interesting reference to it’s similarity to the 10 year. I like that one and find it quite underrated. I didn’t care for it at all at first (too low proof) but it’s grown on me. Not great but I like it!
oops~ sorry for the double post. I thought it hadn’t posted so I rewrote and entered it again.
I caught it. All good Jon!
Wow that was fast! I think the 13 year is a good whiskey, but I would rather reach for something aged a bit higher in the rickhouse. Very interesting comparison to the RR 10 year as well.
Thanks buddy! It’s fine at retail. Outside of that, plenty of better Turkeys.
While in Japan, I had an opportunity to get the WT13 but passed due to lukewarm reviews like yours. Thanks for helping me avoid the remorse of missing out!
It’s fine at $45 or so. IOW a small premium over RR10 and that’s about it.
No “debatably” about it – plentiful. As in, just about every supermarket sells the stuff.
That’s what I was thinking. Appreciate you confirming!
As I work in a liquor store in West KY, I often recommend RR 10 to customers, in fact, we have it on sale at this time. I have enjoyed the Wild Turkey branded whiskey for over 50 years, it never fails to satisfy.
I think RR10 is an ideal bourbon for folks just starting to get serious about whiskey. A good intermediate/intro bourbon for sure.
Good comments.
I’ve said it before and i’ll say it again, Wild Turkey 12 yo is absolutely magnificent.
I will even go so far as to say that Russell’s Reserve effortlessly slaughters the 13 YO.
I found the single bottle I purchased dreary and one dimensional, and I haven’t the courage to go round again.
The 13 YO is certainly not lacking age, and the 45% ABV is passable, so how could they have got it so wrong?
Ironically, the 13 YO is readily available in Australia, and quiet affordable.
I feel sorry for us Aussies as well David.
Give the single barrel another shot. Especially private selects if you can find them in the AUS. I think you guys are starting to get a few now.
I will say that I’ve had two bottles of it that were sensational, and two that were profoundly blah, from different vendors here in China. I pay less than $40 a bottle so it is totally worth it, and it makes me sad to think of someone passing up the one that is good… but just as sad to think of someone believing the other bottle is the best it can be. Sad all around, I suppose, especially once the vendor of the preferred bottle runs out!!
Under $40 is an appropriate price for this bourbon (I’d buy). In the States, Russell’s Reserve 10 is about $35. They’re quite comparable IMHO. That said, I think the 2014 Wild Turkey 13 may have been a little closer in profile to WT Diamond Anniversary. At least that was my observation years ago.
So where I live we only have county stores. In the 750 ML I can only find GE café which no one has reported on yet. But I found a 375 ML size today with GH. I must admit I have only had wild Turkey 101 from a bottle last year and finished it earlier this year. I thought it was good in mixed drinks because of the proof but I personally found it a tad harsh to either drink need war with one or two rocks. I just tasted a small amount of the GH I just bought and while I am no expert I can definitely tell that is smoother with practically no bite. I have a bottle of Hudson baby bourbon which cost me $50 and is not half as good as the one I just bought. Unfortunately they only had the one bottle. I would’ve bought more even though it was more expensive than the 750 ML size. Hopefully someone will try the GK and report back as to what they found is compared to earlier versions they may have had. The clerk in the store could not understand why I was looking at codes and I explained it to him so he understood.
Finally caught your Mash and Drum appearance, great show. Reminded me to pick up some 2018 RR10. That, and I need to find some of that Saffell
Thanks for watching! Yes – highly recommend Saffell. Get it ASAP!
Interesting! I have a friend in Austin: I have to encourage her to try it. Wish they would release a 12 year that’s nationally available: it’s frustrating !
Thought you might like this tidbit RB. I was sampling Saffell at NO Bourbon Fest and the fella pouring for the WT booth at the tasting said that when Eddie walked in that night it was the first pour he requested. Really good stuff. Just wish it was $35.
Not surprised one bit. Eddie’s quite proud of Saffell (as he damn-well should be). Cheers!
Am I crazy, or is this a regular WTKS with a Tribute back label slapped on it?
https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p679321691
Actually just a WTKS with a Tribute box, ROFL.
Yep. Dumb. Good catch BTW.
Major red flags. Pass.
Oh, never even considered bidding – just making sure I wasn’t nuts!
You’re not. He is! 🙂
So is J (GJ) the last letter of the year?
The first letter after LL/ is the year. So LL/H would be 2019. The fourth letter, or second after LL/, is the month. So LL/HA would be Jan 2019.
LL/GJ would be G-2018 and J-would be October.
Right
How big is this release? Widely available like the first two releases?
Per Campari, it will be a nationwide release.
Thanks for the info. Keep up the great work!
Thank you!
I found two bottles of WTKS at a local store today, both bottled in 2017, one from Warehouse B and the other from D. (Aside, the one from B was selected by “Oklahomans for Oklahomans” I’m not sure who is in that group, is there somewhere to research that?) I’m anxious to compare them.
Meanwhile until I can taste, do you have a comparison guide on general differences between various WT warehouses? If not online, will that be in your book (which I’ve backed and can’t wait to receive!)?
Not sure about the OK group, but check out my review of “Fight Me.” That may help! Thanks for commenting.
I found a WTKS WH A floor 5. Bottled Feb 2018. Is this Tyrone on CN? CantCwait to crack it open
Yep. That’s most likely CNA. Enjoy!
Sipping a Rare Breed bottled “GI” (it’s been open for a few weeks plus). Sweet maple oak hey-sus! This is probably the sweetest barrel proof bourbon I’ve tasted.
Very well rounded. I’ll be looking for more at this price point.
Love that 2018 Rare Breed!
Just give me Russell’s Reserve picks for $55 all day long. Having tasted a few dusty offerings I’m more than happy spending money on modern Turkey, especially when price is taken into account.
Amen sir!
Great thoughts and notes, Id say our thoughts line up pretty well on this one. This label has a rich/dusty profile but lacks the deeper complexity of age stated labels from that era. Given the disparity in secondary price between Tradition and the more desirable bottles (especially with the great leap in prices of late), it can be a nice change of pace once in a while.
Agree completely. It’s not bad for a dusty pour, it’s just no CGF, Rare Breed, etc. And thank you!
Wow Dave! Time to update the top 10 list? It’s very good. I don’t get the creamy flavor I taste in WTKS, which I’ve become attached recently. The nose is great but do think the finish stops just a tad short? It’s really good without a doubt. Your tasting notes are really spot on IMO.
You know … I might need to update that. Hmm … Thanks Jason!
Great Knowledge Y’all!
So what is a LL/GK?
🥃Cheers/Salud🥃
Nov 2018
I have not seen anyone report on Nov 2018 and whether 10 year is in it.
Just trust your palate. If it tastes great, it doesn’t matter if it has 4-year or 20-year in it. 😉👍
I saw a bottled in Nov 2013 bottle on the shelf at a store today, and have to ask- do you think that will have the 107 entry proof juice in it? I’ve read WTKS is anywhere from 8.5 to 10 years old, so if it was bottled in 2013, and 10 years old, it would have been distilled 2003 which would be the 107 entry proof. But if it’s only 8.5 year old, then it’s probably a 110 entry proof. Either way, you think this is worth picking up?
Probably not. More likely 110. I’d buy!
So does WB Saffell get the full compliment of 3 McCougnaghy’s?
Actually, it gets the rare 4 “alrights.” 🙂
Not a bourbon expert by a long ways but this reminds me a lot like wild Turkey decades.any thoughts?
Not getting a Decades vibe – but – definitely an LE vibe!
Only thing I’m disappointed in is the store wouldn’t let me buy 2,I hope this isn’t a one time thing and they make more.
Not sure. Possibly a batch 3.
I saw bond and Lillard for 29.99 bottle today,would that be a good buy?
Batch 1 or 2?
It was the batch 2 version
Apologies, I meant a second batch. Got it confused with B&L, which is on batch 2 now. Thanks for the correction!
I regret not tasting this at Justin’s House of Bourbon today! Ended up with the Justin and Cassie wedding pick though – it’s amazing. It had a richness that took me by surprise.
CNF
5 34 3
They pick great barrels! Visited both WT and JHOB today.
I’m surprising my wife with a trip to Kentucky, including a Wild Turkey Distillery visit, for our 25th wedding anniversary this month. I can only hope our WT visit is as magical as yours, David.
I’m sure it will be, Bill. What a thoughtful gift!
Perfect encapsulation of a fantastic weekend, DJ. I just want to rewind time back to Saturday afternoon and experience it all over again. Thank you again for the opportunity!
Somehow missed this comment, Scott. Apologies. Yes, it was amazing! Looking forward to the next time!
Sounds like a true dream come true. How lucky you are to have met the Master and had such a wonderful conversation. Started drinking WT101 back in 1970 and visited in mid1980’s. dream come true for me. Great reviews keep up the good work.
Thanks George! I hope to go back real soon. Cheers!
Russell’s Reserve SiB used to be my go to but recently I have been trying other bourbons. I should rectify that soon.
Yes you should, Michael. 🙂
Thanks for the kind words, this one was a slow starter but picked up over the last year. We really enjoyed it and are glad you did, too!
It was a pleasure.
How does one read the Floor portion of picks, i.e. “3 70 1” or “6 2 3”?
First number indicates floor/rick it appears, what do the next two numbers represent? Or am I misinterpreting this?
Thanks!
I’ve always interpreted as floor, rack, sequence. Eddie told me one time, but I was tasting barrel-proof whiskey. 😄
Great story and well written,I’m sitting back reading this sipping on w.b. saffell and wishing their was a part 2 to the story,very informative. Thanks
Thank you! Part 2 is my book! 😉
The WT Reserve 13 Year did not impress Me at all. I think I don’t like any WT at 45 % alcohol. If the Japanese like the hype, then they can have this product.
I’ll have to agree that WT13 lacks impressiveness. I don’t mind Wild Turkey at 45% for a casual sipper, it’s just not my preference.
I’ve had this bottle on hand since it’s release! Down to just a few pours left, it’s only gotten better with time – whatever that magic is. Great to see a local pick done good!
They sure did. Crazy those bottles sat around so long.
I found this to be very informative (no sarcasm), and it makes me look forward to opening the 2010 bottle very soon! Thank You.
Anytime! Glad you enjoyed it.
What’s “NCF”? I get all the other acronyms (BTW, the excessive use of them, to me, is annoying, and sometimes telling of poor writing — what’s so hard about writing out a full word? — oops, my bad: I used “BTW” instead of “by the way”).
Non-chill filtered. 👍
Just curious…you alluded to vitriolic comments addressed to Josh and Jason. For what exactly? Limited access to Jewish Whiskey Company’s product or something else (anti-Semitism). I’m not a Facebook user, so I’ll leave it to you to give some context to your comment. Sounds like delicious bourbon, and I’m going to sign up as a Single Cask Nation member.
Folks were *very* upset about server timeouts and shopping cart errors when these were on sale (lasted 2-3 minutes). It got quite nasty. Since these releases, they’ve moved to a lottery-based system for popular bottles.
I’m down to 1.5 bottles of G4 bottle 45 from Crown Wine & Spirits in Miami. The one I have opened is now about 4 months old and keeps getting better with every pour.
Unfortunately, I’m told that I have bought up the rest of Crown’s stock for friends and family so it will be a sad day when this barrel reaches its final pour.
Good news is – should be getting G picks again by 2021.
What a wonderful, memorable experience! Just looking at the picture of the old railroad bridge and the lush green surroundings makes me long for the chance to visit.
Thanks, Bob. You really should visit. It’s beautiful.
One thing that has been bouncing around in my head since last year: In a Bourbon Pursuit podcast involving a barrel selection tasting at WT, Jimmy Russell mentions that the rye used at WT comes from Germany. I thought it odd to have rye shipped that far. If I had known you were going to chat with Jimmy, I would have primed you to ask why. Any idea why Germany?
Yep, their rye comes from Germany. I’m pretty sure that’s been in place since Pernod’s ownership (if not earlier). Jimmy doesn’t like change, so it wouldn’t surprise me if that stays in place. I’ll do some digging.
Just found two of the tail feather bottles this past weekend and snapped them both up. I really like Kentucky Spirit. I actually like all Wild Turkey products and always have back ups. I will miss the bottle and I know Campari was just trying to keep the label forward on the barbacks of America’s bars. But, this much new bottling and label shuffling hurts brands and surely marketing should understand this as well. I know that Bruce has a real sense of pride about this product and I hope he will listen to the suggestions you’ve made above. I’d hate to see it go anywhere.
I think the back bar argument is pointless in consideration of Longbranch. The real reason the WTKS bottle changed was that it was expensive to manufacture. I get it. But to go to a cheaper bottle AND charge more? Not nice. Congrats on the finds and thanks for commenting!
Agreed on the CNAs. I have a Kentucky Spirit CNA that was so thin and astringent I ended up blending the second half of the bottle with some 101. Massive improvement.
I could see that working for sure!
a great article and well written…..happy huntin!!!
Thanks David. Glad you enjoyed it!
Really entertaining stuff, Blake. As someone who didn’t like Turkey, but who saw the light and fell in love with it, I loved seeing your flavor chart comparison. The tobacco and leather notes you cited in the old Turkeys were what I didn’t like years ago. Now they’re Turkey trademarks to me, and I love them. Funny how one’s palate changes like that.
Agree completely. But I’m David. Not as cool as Blake. 😄 Thanks for commenting!
I recently purchased 8 Wild Turkey 101 proof decanters of which 5 we’re still full. I have taken the bourbon out of them and placed it in glass decanters dates on the bottom of the decanters 1980, 1981, 1982 and 2- 1983 I considered these to be heavily dusty. It was a great find and I really like the decanters. I’m still testing the bourbon 🥃. You never know what’s out there. Just keep your eyes open.
Wow! That’s a lot of decanters! And yes, I’d consider those quite dusty!
Right now I’m finishing off a bottle of 101 from 2016 – right after the latest label change. Even tho’ not a dusty, I deciphered the code and snatched it right up. (It was sitting there all neglected among some newer bottles.) Very tasty stuff!
Glad you’re loving it. Cheers Bob!
I’m sold on the newer 2018 101, having tasted it in a bar and thinking it had to be Rare Breed. Bartender showed me the bottle, LL/GK, so I bought a bottle. Told a friend and he also tracked one down, texting me that he thought it was maybe better than RB. I did a HTH with a RB with GK code and still found RB somewhat better. More complex. Bad news is a RR10 I bought with GI code was not very good at all. Hmmmm.
Glad you’re liking modern 101! RR10 is a different profile altogether. It’s not everyone’s jam. Wasn’t mine for a while. Now I appreciate it regularly.
David- trying to find your breakdown summary of warehouse profiles but can’t seem to locate it. where was that at?
Also, can you explain the Camp Nelson vs Tyrone locations?
https://rarebird101.com/2018/11/27/russells-reserve-single-barrel-ksd-fight-me-2018/
At least it’s an attempt!
As for Camp Nelson … I find CNA to be very modern Turkey. Sweet and spicy. CNF is quite complex and varies greatly from barrel to barrel.
Awesome, thanks!
May I recommend a post or link heading for your blog that delves into profiles at each warehouse at each location? And what the rotation is i.e. 2018 was CN, 2019 is…
Thanks for the work you do, you are a true rare bird!
Love to do that one day!
Great write-up as always. For me, at least, Tradition is what I want a stand out or different 101 experience to be. It is my kind of Kentucky Spirit, although I am aware that is antithetical to the purpose of KS. I would say 4/5 is a fine rating with exceptional bottles at maybe 4.25. That being said, I would love to see you do a comparision with a 1993 or 1994 Tradition and a 1992 Kentucky Legend. In my experience it seems to be more of a re-branding than anything else. These bottles are by far the worst cork design I have come across.
I’d love to do a comparison. Just gotta find some bottles for a decent price (getting crazy by the day). Oh, Longbranch’s cork fits Tradition perfectly. 😉
They are getting exceedingly hard to come by. Pricing have been shooting up everywhere. Really? I’ll have to give that cork a go. Also, I’m not sure it counts as labeling , but “Kentucky Straight Bourbon” is embossed on the glass and written on the carton.
Nice catch with the embossing!
Nice piece. All well said.
Thank you, Stephen!
If cornerstone is anything like bookers rye l know I’m all in.
Don’t blame you one bit.
YOU ROCK!!! One of the most well written piece on the current contrived “whiskey crisis” due to increase in disposable income and the internet hype of the moment. It will take an economic downturn to correct this “whiskey bull” just as in 2008. And only the rock-solid whiskeys will survive.
Thank you, Hugo. I’m no expert but it only makes sense to me.
Yes, definitely what Hugo said!
Thanks Bob!
Bravo (as I stand to applaud)!!!
Thank you, Gary. Too kind!
Nice piece David. I’m happy to ignore the market shenanigans from the other distilleries. Hoping WT does as well.
Thanks so much. I sincerely hope so too!
As mentioned in a more recent post,
…WT will also be repackaging, repricing some products to accomodate for increased production costs.
I prefer a price increase, to a quality decrease,
especially with WT.
Sure. So long as it’s not a 266% increase like HHBiB. Something reasonable would certainly be justified.
I was fortunate enough to get a bottle of American Spirit maybe 10 years ago or so and unaware of how few bottles were actually released. Only 6000 here in Australia. Although I haven’t had the fortune to sample too many limited releases this and the old Russell’s reserve pre 2005 101 proof are my very favourites to try on a special night.
The 101-proof 10-year Russell’s Reserve is a special pour for sure. I prefer it over American Spirit, though both expressions are of high quality.
Another great piece David. I completely agree with your thoughts.
The industry at large is not helping itself with regards to integrity when decisions such as those made by Heaven Hill are revealed.
As a side note…Beam will be positioning Baker’s as a single barrel. This is exciting as I’ve always had a soft spot for this unsung expression.
Happy 4th!!
Thank you, Mark. And Happy 4th to you as well! 🥃🦃🇺🇸
Great review as usual! I just finished a bottle of Jan. 2019 WT101 and it was fantastic! Distinct from and, IMO, a bit better than its predecessor, an Aug. 2018 bottle. It’s amazing that bourbon this good is always available for under $20 at my local supermarket but I have a feeling that this party may not last forever…
Thanks Fred. I agree. I’m nervous about prices as well (hence my post the week before). Thanks again!
I’m a fan of Kentucky Spirit, but reach for Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel way more often. That might change were there a 12 year version.
I don’t know why Canpari wouldn’t be all over a 12 year, 101 proof release. Like you said, it’d fly off shelves.
The only thing in their way – at least right now – might be inventory. That’s something I didn’t think about when writing this post. Probably not near as many well-aged barrels as there are younger ones.
Thanks for the follow-up review. I have been curious if the quality has been maintained. Even if new stocks are preferred over last summer/fall, I am not tossing the bottles in my bunker. But I will be adding to it. WT101 is what a great daily sipper should be. Thanks again.
Amen – very welcome. That’s what I’m here for! 🙂
I’ve havr bottles of GI, GJ and GK, and they are all wonderful. Have GI and GK Rare Breed, and noticed a slight difference. The GK had a noticeably better nose, but the GI was maybe a smidgen better in the palate. Personally I’m thrilled with both, as you can really taste the age in both. Plan to pick up a HB next week to see if it continues or if I should bunker GK’s.
FWIW I’m really enjoying the March 2019 I have open. Highly recommend it!
I saw a Bruce Russell post from about a year ago saying that he believed all 100+ Pf WTs should be NCF. We’ll see what happens. I agree that more dedicated bourbon drinkers will be their customers for >100 Pf brands and they will not be turned off if their whiskey gets a little cloudy when an ice cube is added.
https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/comments/8ddk2r/not_your_fathers_wild_turkey/dxmrzj5?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x
As always, nice review.
I so wish they’d go NCF on 100+.
Your patience in reviewing bottles after a couple casual tastings and giving the bottle a bit of time to breathe is appreciated.
Thanks Greg. It’s sometimes hard to do when excitement takes hold, but I try!
I bought a Virginia ABC Private selection last year It was from warehouse G and it was delicious.
I bet! G is a personal favorite.
I stumbled across your site recently and have really enjoyed your articles. I’m a relatively new bourbon enthusiast (a little over 3 years now) and have largely avoided Wild Turkey until recently (darn stereotypes)…. now it’s quickly denting my bank account. I tried Rare Breed about 2 years ago and didn’t particularly like it. However, the RR SiB VA Private Select I tried a year ago blew me away (from rickhouse G). It was awesome. I plan to revisit WTRB, as my palate has certainly matured and I definitely appreciate higher proof bourbons now.
So, being a Wild Turkey newbie, and after reading a few of your musings on WT101, I went to my local ABC store and stumbled across a small bottle of 2017 WT101 (LL/FG) and another small bottle of WT101 from 2018 (LL/GF). I currently have a liter of 2019 WT101 (LL/Hx) at home and it’s a great pour. So, tonight I’m doing a side by side comparison of the 2017, 2018, and 2019 bottlings to see if I notice a difference. Now that I have a few years under my belt tasting various bourbons, I think it’ll be a worthwhile exercise.
Todd, thanks so much. Glad you enjoy the blog, and more importantly, Wild Turkey. So how’d the comparison go?
First off, the distinct Wild Turkey flavor is present in every bottle. It’s unmistakable. Side by the side the color was the same between all 3 years and the nosing was very similar, which is not too surprising. The 2017 bottle tasted “younger.” It had a spicier bite and not as sweet on my palate. The 2018 and 2019 bottles were very similar to each other. Compared to the 2017 bottle, they are noticeable smoother and perhaps somewhat sweeter. They also had a more refined oakiness in the background. Both 2018 and 2019 were very pleasant and noticeably different than the 2017. Not that 2017 is a bad pour – it was very good. But the 2018 and 2019 bottles were easier to enjoy neat. A must have on my shelf! What an incredible value.
David, about a year ago I bought a RR SiB VA private selection that came from rickhouse G (delicious). Today I found another private VA selection that is from rickhouse A. Any way to know if either is from Tyrone or CN?
If it’s 2018-2019, A is CNA with only two exceptions that I’m aware of … Moonshine Grill’s “Cheesy Gold” and “Stay Thirsteen.” Those were tucked away in Tyrone A.
Great review! Can’t agree more on sharing vs selling. The best WT I have had was a sample of a 1984 decanter, shared with me by a total stranger. It’s always more satisfying to kill a good bottle with friends than to make a couple hundred bucks selling it.
Thanks Scott! My thoughts exactly!
Good advice I reckon David.
Last month I cracked a my last bottle of Tribute Japanese edition, and my last 17 Yo Japanese edition as well.
Firstly, a good friend and I enjoyed them around the campfire deep in the Australian wilderness.
On returning home, I invited a couple of other Wild Turkey worshippers around to my home to enjoy them as well.
One friend was almost in tears over the 17 Yo which he declared the finest Bourbon ever.
I’m not sure I can even argue with him.
Of course both corks were completely stuffed, so it needed electricians tape to secure the bottle tops.
David, I’m telling the truth.
Tribute, and 17 year old Japanese Edition are without a doubt the absolute greatest.
They have ruined me forever.
Completely perfect, and I don’t use that word lightly.
Now last month as well, I finally secured a bottle of Revival.
I wasn’t over excited by the 17 Yo Masters Keep.
It was ok.
The Decades was just ok, and the 1894 was rank.
I wasn’t overly positive about the Revival, but I remembered your positive review.
So in I went…
Well Im completely shocked.
Revival is the finest Of the Masters Keep range by a mile, and the finest recent release in years.
Complex and just so well made.
I’m in heaven.
And I’m all the more happy, because now I’m sure Eddie Russell can make great Bourbon just like his Legendary father.
I am dying to get hold of the Cornerstone Rye.
The wait is killing me.
Thanks for the fine Wild Turkey musings David.
Keep up the excellent work.
Andrew.
Wow. Thanks for the amazing comment. Yes, the 17/101 and Japanese Tribute are legendary pours. Possibly never to be topped. And Revival … with the Sherry influence, may not be for everyone, but for me (like you) … incredible. Have you tried W. B. Saffell yet?
Haven’t had the pleasure of trying the W.B Saffell yet.
As soon as I find it, I’ll buy it for sure.
I was grateful to finally find the Revival as I was sure it wasn’t going to reach Australian shores ever.
$200 AUD but worth every cent.😱
I think you’ll love Saffell. And yes, Revival is worth every penny! Cheers!
I have two bottles of Saffell and several different rock houses of WTKS tail fan bottles waiting for the right occasions to open and share them. They may not be dusty, but I know they’ll be exceptional when the right people and moments present themselves.
I honestly believe W. B. Saffell will be one that folks will regret not buying more of. Killer bourbon and an excellent job by Eddie.
I have a Kentucky Spirit 2018 A4 that I just purchased and I’m looking forward to sampling. David, thanks for your all your work. Looking forward to buying your book.
Thanks so much. Very excited to share what I’ve been working on!
Would you buy a 1987 wild turkey 80proof for $180? It’s got to be better than a Weller 12 fetching the same price on secondary markets? What’s your thoughts?
Vintage bottles are inherently rare and warrant a premium. Off-the-shelf Weller does not. I’d say buying dusty Wild Turkey, provided the transaction is legal and fair, is never a bad idea.
As for valuation, I think $180 for 80-Proof 1980’s Wild Turkey sounds high. But then, the market has changed rapidly in the last 12 months. Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re going for that.
Great review! Your description of the finish is what has me most excited to try Cornerstone – “intense vanilla, zesty citrus, and a sly, sugary lace that weaves through layers of licorice and faint ginger beer”. Give me that all day long!
I’ll probably end up with one, just because I love rye and I have had the other Master’s Keep releases, but at $160ish it sure is a hard sell. I’m looking at it as a one time expense though, and not something I’ll keep coming back to, even if I could find multiple bottles. And once it’s gone, I’ll have no issue going back to RRSiB Rye.
Hopefully this does well and WT decides to release more LE rye down the road. There’s certainly a market. And I agree with you, thank goodness for Bruce and his influence! The future of Wild Turkey is bright!
Scott, apologies for the delay. You’re always so thoughtful in your comments. I truly appreciate that. If you can find one and have the extra money, I’d recommend it. If you miss out, don’t get too upset. I honestly think RRSiB Rye is the better value. Cornerstone is the better whiskey, but not 3x better.
The best thing about Longbranch is it uses up the 8-year barrels so that the 10-year barrels can be put into 101. Score.
I like your logic. 😎
If this doesn’t reach Australia, I’m coming to the States.
Maybe I’ll pop in and say G’day mate.
What do you reckon David?
Sounds like a grand plan!
Mancrush?
Ryecrush
This is a regular on my shelf since I went through 2 Virginia store picks the past year. I do wish that the regular RR SiB’s had the rickhouse and barrel on the label. I like knowing what rickhouse locations I like best.
I agree. That was on my Wild Turkey Wish List a year or two ago.
Great review! Man, I sure wouldn’t mind trying this, but at $175 a bottle that’s out of reach. Plus I could get a few bottles of the RR Rye SiB for that price. That being said, if I came across a bottle of this, it would be tempting.
Cornerstone is the best modern Turkey rye I’ve had to date, but yes, that price is tough to swallow. And as you said, you get a lot more return on investment with RRSiB Rye.
Well, it’s only available through lottery here in VA and I didn’t get picked. Apparently over 3000 people signed up for 282 bottles. LOL.
Yikes! I know they’re out there. You might have to branch out a bit. 😉
I’m still new to your site, so I’m gradually reading through your reviews. As a relatively new WT fan, I just picked up a bottle of RR Rye SiB yesterday to add to my collection of WT101 and RR SiB. I have a bottle of 101 Rye on hold at my local ABC that I hope to pick up soon. I digress..
I really enjoyed this review and was very interested in reading your tasting notes. I have to say that RR Rye SiB might be my favorite WT offering so far. I sipped a glass neat for the first time and my palate shouted “peppery cinnabon!” I’m not great at picking out specific flavors (which will come with time) but this one hit me immediately. I think my cinnabon captures and packages your more experienced tasting notes perfectly.
I look foreward to tasting this side by side with 101 Rye.
If Eddie and Bruce continue putting out ryes like this, sign me up.
I do wish WT would put the rickhouse and barrel numbers on these SiB offerings and not just on the private selections.
Thanks for commenting, Todd. Glad you liked the post. Sounds like you’re on track with tasting notes to me. Peppery Cinnabon makes total sense. Keep working through the Turkey catalog and if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email (or message on social media) at any time. Cheers!
Great review of the 17-759 bottle. I was fortunate enough to win the opportunity to purchase one in SCN’s lottery. Very well balanced, sweet, spicy, a touch of oak. A very spicy (for me anyway) finish with floral notes and that splash of cherry cola. Definitely a fun bourbon. Keep up the great work. Your passion for Wild Turkey absolutely shows through in your writing.
Thanks so much, Chris. Oak and cherry cola are excellent descriptors for the rickhouse D barrel. Glad you lucked out.
Interesting, as I do many blends myself. Curious, why didn’t you call Longbreed, Rarebranch?
Because Longbreed sounded alright, alright, alright!
Alright…I think they both sound terrific.
Well, I went out yesterday to buy my first bottle of Longbranch just to do that 50/50 mix with one of my 4 bottles of Rarebreed that I have sittin’ around. It really is quite delicious. I think I’ll do a SBS with some of my 101 LL/GH and the Longbreed next week sometime. Have you tried that? 101 vs. 101.4…Cheers!
Haven’t done that SBS but I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!
Wow! What a fantastic experience. Rare Breed Rye? I’m in. Please, tell me more.
So, how does Wild Turkey pair with crab cakes?
And those cocktails sound amazing…. can you share recipes?
Rare Breed Rye should be a batch of 4, 6, and 8-year whiskey. I sipped a barrel-aged Manhattan with my crab cake sandwich. It was great, but next time I’d probably pair with 101 or Rare Breed on the rocks. I have a picture of the cocktail menu. Send me an email (or DM on IG or Twitter) and I’ll shoot it to you.
Such a great experience. Bourbon fellowships are one of a kind. Can’t wait to try the Rare Breed Rye.
Yes they are. And I can’t wait to taste RBR too!
I’ll wildly guess the other great Master Distiller would be Jimmy and then Freddie Noe?
That 107 entry will be waited for with baited breath. I’ve sadly never had a CGF.
One of two … that would be Jimmy and Eddie. 🙂 But I like Fred as well.
Rare Breed is a Kentucky straight bourbon. WTH is Rare Breed Rye? Oh, wait they really mean barrel proof WT rye, correct? I assume they are just leveraging the established Rare Breed brand name to hawk a 4 year rye whiskey at a premium price. Hmm…
Correct in that Rare Breed Rye will be a batched product – likely 4, 6, and 8-year straight rye whiskey at full barrel proof. It’s not a product to “hawk” – it’s a project Bruce and Eddie are very excited about. It just hasn’t been done before, as Jimmy’s not a big rye fan.
I’m sure it will be tasty so I didn’t mean anything really negative by it, but at the same time, the cross-branding that these companies are doing is kind of sketchy. I don’t blame the Russells at all by the way.
What’s really sketchy is how Campari is bastardizing the established (and legally required) practice of labeling an age stated product by referencing the youngest aged whiskey included in the batch. This will be a 4-year age stated whiskey, not a “4, 6, and 8 year” as you call it. Similarly, Rare Breed Bourbon is a 6 year bourbon, and calling it a “6, 8, and 12 year” product all the time is just marketing spin. I expect more from anyone who considers themselves as editorially independent. Otherwise it’s slippery slope for a reviewer, especially when an independent writer like yourself has so closely and exclusively aligned with a particular product, you have to careful.
Where’s Chuck Wade when we need them Lol.
I still love your blog though! It doesn’t sound like it but I’m a huge Turkey fan and a huge Jimmy and Eddy fan.
I understand. There’s sketchy things going on in whiskey, but Rare Breed isn’t a good example. Nowhere on the bottle, website, or any recent official marketing information that I can find states the ages of the blend. That information comes from interviews with the Russells, whom I trust greatly (sounds like you do too). Non-age-stated whiskeys are just that – not age stated. I try to give as much information as possible, so long as I feel it’s accurate. If Eddie or Jimmy tells me something I think readers would like to know, I consider it accurate, and therefore, I publish it.
I’m 100% honest and very careful about everything I write, and if I’m wrong, I acknowledge and correct ASAP.
I follow Chuck Cowdery and Wade Woodard and respect their work. I also exchange information with them on occasion. I’d like to think if I were doing something I shouldn’t – promoting info I shouldn’t – they’d be there first to let me know. In fact, I’d expect nothing less.
Glad you enjoy the blog and I’m glad you’re a fan of Wild Turkey. Cheers!
dj
Looking forward to RBR! Also, the 107 entry is not going to be next master’s keep but a separate release? Will those be 15-16 year old?
Correct. Very limited – not a Master’s Keep (think RR 1998 and 2002). Not sure on the exact age, but most was distilled in 2003, so around 15-16 is my best guess.
There are still a few bottles of this here in Virginia and I want tot try it, but at $62, I think I’ll stick to the RR SiB.
I completely understand your thought process.
Excellent overview. Speaking of relocation, I’d like to relocate some of this expression into my liquor cabinet.
Ha! Love it. 🙂
Does a whiskeys price figure in to your ratings because that’s the only way I can figure out why this isn’t rated higher.i absolutely love this rye.after following your reviews for some time I thought my palette was aligned similar to yours but this rating throws me off.
No. Price was not a factor. Grab a few RRSiB Rye bottles from 2017-2018 and taste against Cornerstone blind. Love to hear your opinion afterward. Also, scores are subjective and relative to the reviewer. If you’re honest, you’re never wrong. We don’t have to agree on everything. That’d be pretty damn boring if we all did.
For me I think the old design of the bottle didn’t help with sales. It always made me think of Crown Royal. I can still get the older bottle for $54 when I want but the Rare Breed is so good. I do think WT should just end the Kentucky Spirit line. When I look at the line up it just seems so out of place.
All fair points. I’ll be talking about Kentucky Spirit again next week. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts afterwards.
Just opened a bottle of 2019 Rare Breed (LL/HF). This bottle is fantastic – rich and so smooth.
Glad you’re loving it!
I look forward to your thoughts. This bottle is truly outstanding.
Excellent tribute to a great man. God bless you, Jimmy. Here’s to 65 more years with you at the Wild Turkey helm!
Excellent tribute to a wonderful Wild Turkey distiller, bourbon ambassador, and man. God bless you, Jimmy Russell! Here’s to 65 more years with you at the helm of Wild Turkey!
Cheers to Jimmy! 🥃🦃
Well said! Here’s to Jimmy and his legacy!
Cheers!
To Jimmy! 🥃🦃
I’ll be raising a glass of Rare Breed to Jimmy tonight! Here here!
Same! Cheers! 🥃🦃 #JimmyRussell65
There are not enough kind words that can be said about what Jimmy has done for the whiskey we love!!!! Thanks for your energy, thoughtfulness and creative drive Jimmy!!!!!!!
Well said! 🥃🦃
So, you state that Jimmy Russell had settled on the JTS Brown distillery by 1971 as the source for 101. Is it therefore reasonable to infer that the JTS Brown drunk by Fast Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) in The Hustler (1961), was a direct progenitor of WT 101? Or do they change recipes as often as you change underwear?
Fats: “Preach, go down and get me some White Tavern whiskey, a glass and some ice.”
Fast Eddie: “Preacher, go on down and get me some bourbon. JTS Brown. No ice, no glass.”
Fats: “Preach, get it at Johnny’s.”
Forgive the demented interest, but that brief exchange always stuck in my head. P.S., I finally got hold of a pint of JTS some time in the early 2000s. Never tasted anything so one dimensional and uninteresting.
I posted this exact observation to Patreon a few months back (and have a private selection named for it in the works – see my article “Bourbon, Brunch, and Barrel Selections.”) Yep. That’s all Jimmy (at 86 proof)!
I finally picked up a bottle of this (my ABC got their own barrel before the bottle change and they still have tons) and I liked it. I just didn’t like it $35 more than the 101. It is a profile that I haven’t gotten from 101, but I wouldn’t call it a better profile, just an equally good different profile. Lots of dried spices (similar to the smell you get when you first open your spice cabinet and get a little note of almost every spice in there)…and on to the bottle. I thought it was bad before I saw it in person, but seeing it on the shelf it is absolutely one of the ugliest things in the store. I always thought the Tailfeather bottle was a little on the kitschy side, but you immediately identified it as a Wild Turkey product. This non-descript bottle and plain labeling remind me of a local craft whiskey trying to look classy. Quite possibly the biggest downgrade in packaging/labeling in the history of bourbon.
Glad you tried it! The ceiling can be pretty high on Kentucky Spirit, but then the floor is sometimes equivalent to 101. I’ve learned to “accept” the new bottle, but damn do I miss the old one!
September 10th is my birthday. I just turned 50 years old. That means that on the day that I was born in 1969, Jimmy Russell was celebrating his 15th year at WT. I used part of my birthday bonus from work this year to purchase my first bottle of Kentucky Spirit (tail feather bottle). It is delicious. I believe I’ll drink a pour tonight in his honor.
Happy birthday! And cheers! You were born on an excellent day. 🥃🦃
Nice you found a good and older bottling of the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel. I think these get left on store shelves based on price and the stigma of Wild Turkey. Currently a Single Barrel Russell’s Reserve hovers around $65 at Total Wine. With some of them being up and down most patrons will just go with WT 101 or Rare Breed. I too like going to smaller out of the way stores if I can. 2 weeks ago I found a 2015 Wild Turkey 101 gift set. it was the older label with the jar and oak stave to make cocktails.
I’ve seen that set before but passed since I probably wouldn’t use the stave and jar. Still a cool find!
Man you beat me to it. I found a 2015 bottling that looks to have the transitional label. I only paid $25 for it. I was going to compare it to a much more recent WT 101 bottling. I’ll keep RareBird’s thoughts on this one when I do my comparison. It’s Bourbon Night on Youtube was also ones who have said to get the older bottlings of WT 101 if you can at retail. It is fun going to the old Mom n Pop stores to see if they have the older stuff.
Thanks! I’d love to hear your thoughts on the comparison.
Man, living in an ABC state sucks. Virginia is about as boring as bourbon gets. I live vicariously through you fine folks so thank you!
Hate that for you, Todd. Do you ever travel outside of VA?
I’m doin’ my best with the almost impossible to find store picks that are within 300 miles of me. Have a couple 2-3 year old picks from Hilt All-Star liquors picked by Jed, Marcella and Eddie. One is Rickhouse O, Floor 5 and the other is Rickhouse G, Floor 5. The Rickhouse G is a bit better, but both are fantastic.
G is a personal favorite! Have you checked out online vendors and clubs that may ship to you?
Man, I’m in Oregon, so it’s verboten. I guess I could try to get past the authorities, lol!
I can’t give legal advice, but I’m willing to bet you wouldn’t be in short company.
A friend of mine and I were enjoying Wild Turkey Wednesday last night. We poured ourselves a little 101 and exchanged the knowing looks that we were almost getting away with having outstanding whiskey at a discount. After a couple pours I decided to go inside and grab another WT expression. I almost reached for a store pick of Russel’s Reserve, but hesitated and decided to break out the W.B. Saffel as it had been awhile since I’d last tasted it. I poured us both a nice pour in a glencairn and took in a nice deep breath through the nose. The nose on this is amazing. I could sit and sniff this four hours. I took a sip and looked at my friend and said, “Ohhhhhh…you know, as good as 101 is…” She said before I could finish that thought, “Yeah, this is sex.” That pretty much summed it up.
LOL! Incredible story. Thanks for sharing this. You put a smile on my face.
The 116.8 has been legit since release, and seems to keep getting better. At $40/bottle I’ll always have one around.
Now just NCF the damn thing!
Cheers,
Scott
Exactly. Always great but seemingly getting better and better. #NCF2020
No laser code from this tasting?! How else am I going to go clear the shelves? Ha, /sarc. Re NCF of RB, please ask Eddie next time you speak although I’m guessing this is a Campari decision
It’s a June bottle. 😄 I’ve heard there’s an NCF version coming to duty-free/travel-retail markets. We’ll see!
so one assumes HF
That’s right.
I wonder how a low proof dusty (1980s 86 proof comes to mind) would pair with a modern Rare Breed (112-118 proof). If lucky maybe one could experience something of those dusty funky notes but with a robust proof, without dropping the cash needed for a 8/101 from the dusty era.
I have some lower proof 90’s. I could try it for kicks.
Went on sale last month at my state store (Idaho) and I only bought 2, drank 1 already. Should have bought more, darn budget 😉
I’ve got a feeling they’ll be making more. 😉👍
Best deal in KSBW, indeed! I think Knob Creek 120 comes in a close 2nd.
Yup…NCF2020, or bust.
Knob Creek fan here too!
The KC single barrels in the 13-15 year range are far and away the best value in bourbon right now.
For readily available, standard issue products, it’s Rare Breed under $50 and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof under $75 in my book.
I lean towards the 9-10 year KCSiB from my experience. They’re a damn good deal if you’re a Beam fan. That’s for sure!
My guess…it’s chill filtered because that’s how Jimmy wants it. And we all know that Eddie has far too much respect for his father to go against his wishes while that wonderful man is still with us. I think Eddie would like to do a lot of things differently and probably try some new things. I think they’re likely on the back burner for now. Patience, Jedi Master…patience. 😉
Possibly, but I doubt it. They’ll both tell you the best whiskey comes straight from the barrel. Ain’t no chill filtration happening with that experience. I’m sure there are concerns on the corporate side in regards to cosmetic appeal. I respect those concerns, but would rather see an NCF version (at least for enthusiasts).
I’m with you. NCF the Rare Breed and Kentucky Spirit in 2020.
Didn’t this start the whole date code thing? https://youtu.be/O3v4OsYlRA8?t=2607
Possibly. Who knows? I was hearing rumors in the summer of 2018. I believe that episode was recorded in Sept. Codes are cool and fun to compare batches, but the rumors of older whiskey compositions must be taken with a grain of salt.
Thanks for saving me $46.99 plus tax. I was in a small store and saw they had WT Rare Breed in the old label. I saw the neck and it said 112.8 proof and remembered seeing something about it mentioned before here. Glad I checked. Left that dusty bottle on the shelf.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not a fan of 112.8. You’d be wise to grab a 116.8. 👍 Glad my review helped!
Man oh man.. I have to run back to the small hole in the wall store where I just found the WT Diamond Anniversary. I didn’t have good signal and couldn’t check here for a review so I didn’t buy it. They had it for $130 all in.
That’s a fair price. 👍
Thanks for chiming in. Over the weekend I got back to that store and got lucky. I was able to get the WT Diamond Anniversary at $130 and found they had WT 101 that was bottled in 2012 with an MSRP price tag. I found a new WT 101 honey hole. Thanks also for the bottle code guide. It has helped me interpret the codes and select better. One store clerk makes fun of me because I look at the date codes.
I always get looks for code inspections. 😄
Great article. I love Rare Breed. It’s my favorite Wild Turkey product, but one thing about it has always flummoxed me. Why do you think they pick a proof and force themselves to blend every batch to that proof? Can they add some percentage of water to get the proof to 116.8 with “barrel proof” on the label? It seems by forcing themselves to blend to a proof it would complicate them blending batches to match a consistent taste profile. It’s my favorite product so I’m asking out of curiosity rather than being critical.
Could it be they don’t care that different batches of the same proof taste different as long as they’re good? I’ve never had blind side by sides of different batches of 116.8 but the research needs to be done ;). Perhaps a Wild Turkey enthusiast blogger will one day!
This post may shed some light: https://rarebird101.com/2018/05/15/wild-turkey-rare-breed-wt-03rb-2009-v-2012/
Well that answer came much faster than I imagined! I’m not sure how I missed that last year. Thanks!
I came here to ask basically the same question: do they really use a bottle proof like 116.8 to aim at rather than a flavor profile that can vary significantly in ABV? Is printing and clearing new bottle labels with an updated ABV really that difficult (assuming that’s a factor as well)? I guess ultimately the question is HOW much variance are they allowed with the ABV that they state on the bottle?
The TTB allows for a .15% tolerance in the label’s stated ABV. The ATF allows for a 1.0% tolerance to state a whiskey as “barrel proof.” I’m no expert, nor WT employee, but my guess is that they batch slightly over 116.8 and add as little water as needed (under 1%) to reach 116.8.
But like you I wish they’d just opt for new batches every year or so like it was in the 1990s. And … no chill filtration. Rare Breed is awesome, but it could be better with some simple changes.
Sorry if this is a dupe post. WordPress is acting funny on my phone this morning. Part of me wonders if the WT 101 Rye shortage is due to Bruce’s new Rye whiskey based on the different mashbill. I can’t find new WT 101 Rye anywhere by me. Only 81 proof Rye is available along with the Russell Reserve SB Rye. I talked to some small store owners and they said they can only get WT 81 proof from their vendors. Another great article. I like the idea of a small craft WT distillery. Their 1st batch from there should be called Joretta’s batch or WT Freeman.
No worries! Keep in mind these are just my personal suggestions (I don’t work for WT/Campari). Joretta is so humble I doubt she’d want anything named after her. And Bruce wants to experiment with additional rye mash bills, but to my knowledge that hasn’t happened (yet). Let’s hope!
Joretta for President!
I’ve got an unopened LL/GD of this so it’s the April, 2018 stuff. Bought it only 3 weeks ago and looking forwatd to opening it soon. I won’t pay $175 for Cornerstone either. Thanks for the fine review.
You’re very welcome. At least find a sample of Cornerstone to experience it once. It’s a damn fine pour. Just expensive. Cheers!
Where can I find the laser code on RR bottles? I can’t find it on my bottles to save my life. I wonder if it’s under the lower label?
Also, do you know the origin of using green as the official color for rye labelling/packaging?
Lower side of the glass (not underneath). Sometimes using a flashlight helps.
OK, literally on the side of the base of the bottle – found it. Wow, easy to miss (which I obviously had!). Thanks!
Anytime!
Interesting thoughts! I would love to see a different style Rye from WT and with the current trend in Rye, I think its a no-brainer. And speaking of a smaller craft experimental distillery, do you know what they did with the old WT distilling site? Maybe with some light renovation, this could fit the bill.
The old distillery was torn down. It’s original still is in the Visitor Center. They’ll be some pictures of it in my book!
You state that the private rye selections you’ve tried are from warehouse E. I didn’t even realize that WT offered RRSiB Rye store picks. I rarely even see the regular version. Have wanted to try this one for awhile but haven’t jumped on it since it’s more than Pikesville or Knob Creek SiB Rye.
Yep. There’s a few reviewed on this blog. Unfortunately, no recent RRSiB Rye picks, as those barrels likely went into Cornerstone. I’m sure they’ll come back soon, though.
Hmm. This was rather interesting write up. I just checked my Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbons and I may be able to recreate a comparison like this. I’ve got a 2016 store pick from Warehouse G vs. a 2014 retail bottle that I found a month ago. Thanks for the inspiration.
Anytime. Go for it!
Is there a difference in flavor profile from the different floors? I just found my 2016 store pick from Warehouse G like the one tasted here but from floor 6 instead of floor 4. I don’t know if this factors in too but the barrel number of the pick I got is 3101. I’m guessing these warehouses are huge to have over 3000 barrels. Thanks
Yes, floor can make a huge impact. Lower floors have cooler temps and lower the ABV over time. Higher floors have hotter temps and raise the ABV over time. They affect flavor in different ways as well.
Where I am quality Bourbons at MSRP fly off the shelves. To me a dusty is a bottle that has a bottling code of 5 years ago. Hell some Wild Turkey Rare Breed’s from 3 years ago some would consider dusty by me. They pretty much get scooped up and if something is left over it is an oddity. Now I’ve found some Scotches that have sat on a store shelf for 10-13 years. The thing that stinks about buying those bottles is the damn cork rot. I’m finding if the spirit has been sitting in the bottle for at least 10 years just be ready for the cork rot.
I’ve opened 20- to 40-year-old bottles numerous times. Breaks? Absolutely. Rot? Never once. As long as it’s kept upright and not laying down, should be a-okay!
I really hope this expression isn’t missing from my LLS shelf six months from now. Thanks, Fred M. for the review alongside the BTAC. Sigh…
In all fairness it was blind. Can’t blame anyone for that! 🙂
Not laying any blame. He’s making his living and I don’t begrudge him that. He does a great job. I’m thinking more selfishly.
You love your Turkey. Can’t blame you either! 🙂
Great story and I think it’s fantastic that your brothers name was Russell…can’t make that stuff up.
Cheers.
Thanks. He was a good kid.
What a great story. I love this part of the country and the people in the bourbon world are some of the best you’ll find!
Thanks Kat!
Just got mine this AM and figured…why not, it is almost noon. In this regard we always try to do barrel selections in the AM when the palate is very fresh…. In any case my thoughts ROTT ….. very unique RR. Nose is bright with very fresh fruit notes, dark brown sugar, no alcohol with subtle spice cake notes….gorgeous nose! Palate is soft yet has a chewy note to it as the mouth feel is viscous. Lots of fruit, cherries, burnt sugar and spiced wafers. This drinks well below its abv! Beautiful entry, a very long transition..it just lingers… near perfect balance and deep flavor concentration. The finish is long and fall spice notes emerge. IMO opinion an exceptional turkey…hats off to the pickers!!
Why do they call this export bottle a pseudo split label? I know the US version is in fact pseudo, but the one in the photo appears to have a detached bottom strip.
Because the true “Split Label” has a different design, different Turkey (facing forward), and is 750ml (not 700ml).
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
🙏🙏🙏
Good work Son, always enjoy your posts.🦃🦃
Thank you, Brad!
Look forward to hearing more about this book that you mentioned. Put me down for one signed copy please Sir.
Excellent! Will do!
I enjoyed your post and do agree. Personally, I would extend your sentiment of “I’m only saying that a single blind tasting is prone to mood and error” to include all tastings. For me personally, I am continually amazed that there are occasional nights where my reliably favorite whiskeys are ‘just okay’ to me only to rebound to toe-curlingly good a few days later.
A funny and related aside – My much better half has had a few pours of the 116.8 Rare Breed and has always casually described it as ‘good’. A few weeks ago, passing through the kitchen, she noticed I had a pour of something neat but did not know what it was. She smelled, then took a sip and proclaimed it to be outstanding and immediately inquired what it was. You guessed it, it was our 18-month old bottle of 116.8 Rare Breed that we occasionally uncork and enjoy. Personally I never embrace or reject a whiskey based off one pour alone; like any relationship, it takes time to understand your dancing partner so to speak.
Thank you! Very good point. You are correct, which is exactly why I’ve moved from reviewing samples to reviewing primarily bottles (there are exceptions, of course). The cumulative time spent helps provide a better idea of an overall sipping experience. Cheers and thanks for commenting!
I almost never find KS picks around me, but when I do it’s pretty much an automatic buy (especially if it’s the old bottle style).
And I second the notion that maybe you should do a KS pick next year. It’d be fun to branch out from RRSiB.
I think so too. It would have to be the right barrel, but I’d love to try something different.
I just passed on a KS pick in a Reno Total Wine. Dammit..Never had a KS pick before.
However, I should be forgiven as I spent $340 on some Smoke Wagon and Knob Creek CS Rye and a Barrell #17.
Sounds like you picked up plenty!
Just came across this interview online from Whisky Advocate from about a year ago with Fred Beam and Jimmy. At about 4:30-4:40 Jimmy says that Rare Breed is un-chill-filtered.
https://youtu.be/6oIsJ1GTUm8
A slip of the tongue, perhaps? Or maybe they are now not filtering and just aren’t saying so on the label?
I covered that on Patreon earlier this year. Yes, Jimmy is allowed some room for error at his age. Rare Breed is in fact chill filtered (presently). Love Jimmy though!
Gotcha. Thanks for the follow up. Here’s to hoping that changes!
Cheers to that!
Not a Wild Turkey, but recently received several decanters of Jim Beam from the late 70’s. They were all full, even had tax stamps still on them. Opened one and cork broke. We strained out the cork and enjoyed some very fine bourbon. Taste profile is completely different than the current Beam.
In Sam Cecil’s book he mentions that Beam is a possible source for pre-acquisition WT 101.
I purchased with high expectations, found it not to my liking. Mixed a Manhattan…sublime rest of the bottle I thourghly enjoyed. Thanks for the review 🙂
It really is a fantastic bourbon for cocktails.
Well I have a special place in my heart for this bottle because it was the whiskey that first opened my eyes to decent bourbon and got me to writing down notes and thinking about what I was drinking.
I thought that was a Negroni on the coaster until I realized it must not be with that RR10 sitting right next to it. I know who the r/Bourbon guy is you write about. He is very passionate about his opinions and I agree with him about a lot of things, but about the RR10 being swill…that’s really off base.
Love the Hackell idea…
Definitely don’t want to call anyone out, but it sure ain’t “swill.” Very close to a Negroni BTW. And yes – do try the Hackell next to Saffell. I’d love to hear your opinion if you do.
I enjoy the barrel proof offering on occasion, but most of them become quickly overpowering for me. Ive found that I like a proof range of about 90 to 110 and RR10 fits into the low end of that range nicely. Its not really the proof that I like about the bottle though, its that the flavor is full and vibrant with a great balance between sweetness, oak and spice. Absolutely a workhorse in cocktails and in my opinion offers an additional layer of complexity and richness over the standby 101. Barrel proof is not the end all be all of bourbon, and even low proof bottles absolutely have their place. This has been a topic I wanted to see brought up for a while and I am happy to see it come up here.
Hey buddy! So naturally, I have to ask … Have you compared RR10 to WT13? How about blind? Can you tell a difference?
I have had both (although admittedly my RR10 is from a few years ago, it languishes on shelves around here), and while I have not tried them blind, after going through full bottles of each over several months I think the profiles are very different. RR10 comes across with a lot of maturity, loads of soft oak, baking spice and caramel while the WT13 has a lot of fruit notes offset by darker wood. If I was a betting man, the main differences in profile would come from where they were aged in the rickhouse, I wouldent be surprised if the 13 is aged low and slow, while the 10 is more of a mid simmer.
I tried a 2017 WT13 (thanks to a generous traveler 🙂) vs. a 2018 RR10 blind and found them far more similar than different. Give it a try!
For the hackell, you say equal parts, but what’s the volume or is it exponential? And would you recommend a specific expression to bottle it in?
Essentially 25% each of the four expressions to make 100% of the blend. Make as much or as little as you want. 👍
And how would one come across the camp Nelson a and f Russels? Just crate digging or are they now impossible to find?
Virtually all the private selects right now are CNA and CNF.
I absolutely love the Rare Breed version 116.8 ! But I am predjudice towards Wild Turkey products….Wild Turkey….Across the boad is an honest value for the “Working Man”.
Amen! Preach on!
Don’t let the hype monsters get you down. This is an amazing blog, and I can’t wait to get my copy of the book. This type of hype can be found in other “collectibles” and there will always be the “necessity” of having whatever it is. But what really does owning a bottle do to your experience? Most people I know who have one haven’t even tasted the juice. Seems stupid. Reminds me of the story Freddie Johnson told to somebody who pointed out that he had multiple pappys. I recommend it if you haven’t seen it.
Anyway, keep doing what you’re doing, spreading the good word on good bourbon, experiences, and good people.
Ps – I ran out to my local store (VA unfortunately) and made sure RB wasn’t going the way of McKenna. Seems the hype wasn’t “big” enough for those fans. And I’m 100% ok with that.
Thank you so much. I’m fine with it, honestly. I don’t seek out the highly sought-after products any longer. If I lucked up on them at retail – absolutely, I’d buy. But outside of that … I’m 110% happy with Turkey. Thanks for all of the support and I’m glad you’re looking forward to the book (I am too!). And thanks for taking the time to comment today. dj
I listened to the Bourbon Counterfeiter podcast and came away completely frustrated.
1) Why invite him on if you werent trying to spread detailed information for the community of what to look for in order to spot a fake?
2) Asking for more “remorse” was a joke. No one who was not personally affected by him cares if he is sorry enough now. It was something that happened in the past what relevance does his adequate remorse have now?
3) Glossed over was the substance abuse aspect of the counterfeiter. That seems like something this community specifically should look into fully and discuss how his actions were fueled by his addiction, and became self serving a d all encompassing. Acting like he was just a bad person for defrauding the illegal marketplace of bourbon seemed like a strange high horse to get on when a larger issue that affects many of the bourbon community was thrust right in front of their faces but all they could muster was “I don’t think you’re remorseful enough”
4) Why was Fred so intent on this guy turning himself in? Seems like a bigger issue would be if he admits that he sold a bunch of counterfeit whiskey then he is going to have to tell the authorities who exactly he sold whiskey to, thereby incriminating people that were already ripped off by this guy… That’s such a short sighted thought process by Fred, even though I don’t think his intentions were bad.
5) Again, I come back to why have this guy on unless you wanted to learn how he did it, or dig into his underlying addiction issues. Either of those topics would have been infinitely better than just berating him about not turning himself in and being properly remorseful
Screed over
Your thorough comment deserves a response (and thank you for taking the time to post, BTW).
1. That was my thought going in. I kept waiting to get the details, and outside of eBay (no mention of which label), it never came. Transparency is a good thing. We’re not talking about dirty bombs here.
2. Yeah, I could give two flips about “John’s” remorse.
3. Honestly, I think it would’ve taken us even further off the bourbon path. They should’ve just kept it focused. But that’s only my opinion.
4. Turning himself in would only expose an even larger field of legal issues.
5. It could’ve – should’ve – been more informative. There should’ve been more takeaway. That’s only my opinion. I guess it was about remorse and redemption, not counterfeiting. We need a solid counterfeiting episode.
I completely agree with what you said, and agree that talking about the substance abuse would have gotten us further from actual bourbon related information. My only reason for even considering that tract was that the podcast seemed not to care about the bourbon related information and instead focused more on the personal retributive aspects of the person. I felt that ignoring the personal retributive path of addiction and substance abuse while also ignoring the actual bourbon counterfeiting information seemed like missing all the boats for me. No information, and no understanding of what drove his actions. It just seemed like a greatly missed opportunity.
Good point. If you’re going to go down the personal/redemption path (which I’d rather they’d avoid, BUT) then that was a missed opportunity. Yes.
The total avoidance of the addiction was disappointing. Was it opiates or something similar or alcohol. If it was alcohol it should have been discussed. That elephant is almost totally ignored in bourbon culture. I wonder why?
That could be fixed with an edit of the intro. Also, checkout Ralfy’s “Great Taboo” on YouTube. 👍
I’m sorry that you feel our interview was a low point and “useless” Our motive in the interview was to highlight the emotional pain and suffering that this individual and his family had gone through as a result of defrauding individuals with his counterfeit. We hoped that highlighting the suffering and consequences would deter anyone from doing it again. Yes we could of gone over more technical “how to spot a fraud” but like Fred said in the interview, that changes rapidly. and to be honest I don’t think his methods were that advanced. Yes Fred was very angry and it even became uncomfortable throughout the interview. I feel he was taking the voice of the people that had been defrauded. I don’t think he was coming from a point of “moral
Superiority” or I’m better than you. We are all
screw ups and make mistakes and we all understand that. He was trying to voice the anger of those that had been frauded. We really thought we were trying to do the community a service by exposing the consequences of trying to defraud the community. We had no ill intentions and I’m still amazed and disappointed by the negative comments and feelings about this episode. You have to understand that we pondered on this forever and had a criminal invited into Kenny’s home to share his story. It was a very uncomfortable interview that we all three hated doing. But we felt it was too important to let it go uncovered.
Ryan, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. To be completely fair, I never said “useless.” I did say “low point,” and I stand by that. Just as I’ve criticized some of Jimmy and Eddie’s hard work (don’t forget you guys do product reviews too), I sometimes offer my opinion on bourbon-related matters. I respect your hard work, but let’s be honest – they can’t all be winners. That goes for me – for everyone.
As for specifics, I never once commented on Fred’s (or yours or Kenny’s) emotions. Fred’s admitted he would’ve handled it better in hindsight, so that’s that. And truthfully, I really appreciated your angle – but – this ain’t church. This ain’t daddy’s sit down. This is Bourbon Pursuit. It didn’t feel like Bourbon Pursuit. Look, it wasn’t fun writing this post. In fact, I sent it to several friends saying, “Should I even do this?” But the fact of the matter is it’s the truth – at least the truth with how I feel. Jimmy and Eddie don’t get a pass. If they produce a flop, I call it a flop. I admire what you were going for, but it didn’t translate for me. I’m very sorry. You guys do great work. You’ll do even better work in the future. I have complete confidence in that.
All the best, dj.
I was replying to everyone not just you David. Sorry I should have clarified that. I appreciate and welcome the criticism, I guess I just don’t understand it. The “bourbon” information that everyone was wanting us to stick to and extract was shallow and to be honest would have only lasted 5-10 min. It literary was as simple as him buying bottles off eBay, refilling them with Weller, and heat sealing them with a hair dryer. Podcast over. I understand you want the show to be just fun bourbon stuff but I feel it’s very short sighted. Our bourbon hobby, and life is more than that. It’s very emotional to us and something we are very passionate about. This individual took a piece of that away, and we didn’t want that to happen again. There’s a dark side to everything and if you don’t shine light on it then it will remain hidden and will resurface again. This will be my last comment on this and I’m sorry it didn’t translate for you and that others don’t agree with our intent. I still don’t regret it and think it was the right decision. Now back to having fun.
Thanks for replying and clarifying, Ryan. I thought about addressing some of your points here, because I don’t want you to assume that I only want “fun bourbon” topics. That’s certainly not true. But I’ll take a step back. It’s your episode to defend, and … well, you should. You put a lot into it. You deserve the last word. You deserve the closing argument. I will say that I think with some crafty editing you could have a much stronger, even more meaningful episode. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to hear my ideas. (Honestly, I wish I’d thought of them before this post because I probably would’ve sent them to Fred, as I often “over-message.”) I’d be happy to give you my cell. Other than that, I hope we (including Fred and Kenny) can leave this matter as bourbon friends. I respect you – all of you – and your hard work. Take care. dj
With all due respect to BP, the episode was very bad. It’s that simple. I understand their purpose for wanting to do it, but it was poorly, poorly executed. I actually feel bad for Ryan and Kenny. Fred was awful through the entire episode. The self righteous “holier than thou” act was ridiculous. I truly believe that since he has joined the show, the content and purpose has taken a wrong turn.
And above all, YOU are allowed to have an opinion. People don’t care to be criticized. It makes them uncomfortable. I’ve also learned that people defend intentions, NOT actions. The BP guys may be doing just that.
David you have a gift with this bourbon thing. And the way you express it is entirely up to you. But, please don’t ever compromise that because someone may not be able to handle truth and criticism.
Drink on Turkey man! Cheers!
Thanks for your support. As I said, it was a low point for me. I don’t place blame on Kenny, Ryan, or Fred, but rather the episode in general. I think it could possibly be improved with some content/time editing and a new intro. But even so, it is what it is. Life goes on. Thanks again, Bryan.
Glad I wasn’t the only one that felt this way. I was listening on my headphones, just cringing as Daddy Fred spanked the counterfeiter. Had to just turn it off.
I don’t really feel bad for guys that bought bogus juice. What do expect when you’re sending PayPal f/f to some schmo in Kentucky.
And to bourbon pursuit crew- this hype bs that makes bottles impossible to find is on your hands too. Cough cough McKenna…
Great write-up, DJ. Man, what a fun day that was.
I’m eagerly awaiting my “Swan Song” and “Russell the Muscle” so I can share them with fellow bourbon loving friends. Best part of the hobby!
Thanks Scott. A fantastic day! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on these (now that they’re bottled).
Can these be purchased and shipped? Thanks!
Unfortunately not. I believe the store has a few left if you have friends in SC that could help you out.
Couldn’t agree more. Fred was angry, and felt 100% fake. Ryan and Kenny did an amazing job with the interview. The only low point in the whole thing was Fred, and his holier than thou turn yourself in BS. Worst episode ever. At this point, the whole thing would be better without Fred. I pulled my support, and rarely listen anymore. Again, Ryan and Kenny, ya’ll do a great job.
Fred has publicly expressed his dissatisfaction for how the interview was conducted on his part. I respect that, so I left it out of my post. Is what it is at this point.
Just so you know, I enjoyed your bourbon pursuit interview, and that’s where I learned about your blog which I read regularly now. Thanks!
Awesome! Not hating on Bourbon Pursuit, just to be clear. Just wasn’t a fan of that episode.
I’m completely in love with the private selects. Y. U. M.
Yeah, listening to Fred say over and over “to turn himself in” just had my eyes rolling. We get it, he did a terrible thing. But it was illegal. And so was purchasing those bottles from him. Is one crime worse than another? Was this not an assumed risk for ANYBODY choosing to get there bourbon in this manner? I don’t condone what the man did, but I understand what he did and why he did it. The episode spent far too much time dwelling on his feelings. I still don’t care about those. I just wanted to know what bottles, how he did it and what to watch out for. As you stated, “It’s not like we’re talking about a dirty bomb”. Also, I don’t feel he was honest about how many he counterfeited. The math didn’t add up when he said how much he sold for and how much he thinks he made. I think he just copped to what he was definitively caught for. It was a delicate subject and they should have been far more prepared going into it. Not all of the episodes are going to be winners. I’m glad I’m not alone in how I felt about it.
That said, the Pappy 23 vs. The Field tastings were fun to watch. I ordered more W.B. Saffell and a bottle of Woodinville. Cheers to you, Dave. Always enjoy reading what you have to say. I find your rant pieces are quite entertaining. 😉
Does anyone here know how many bottles of Decades batch 1 were produced ?
Mine is # 72336 Bottle ( seems high ) code: LL/ EE 310719 Bought in Germany 700 mL
I didn’t know there were 700ml Master’s Keep bottles. Very cool to know. Not sure how many bottles (tens of thousands surely). There were two batches.
Bought from a reputable German Distributor company. Was very expensive, very special for- to Me.
It’s an excellent bourbon. Glad you were able to find one.
I feel like I remember hearing that barrel proof Russell’s Reserve single barrel was happening. Am I wrong?
As for the rest of the list, my top three would be NCF, 12/101, and more RR Rye picks. The “off the shelf” RR Ryes are rock solid, especially the recent ones, but I’d love to taste some private picks just to get some off-profile variety.
Either way it’s shaping up to be an exciting 2020 for Wild Turkey!
It’s supposed to, but it’s staying on the list until I see it. And I’d love to not only have RRSiB Rye selects, but pick ‘em too! Is that greedy of me? 🙂
101-12 for the upvote. Come on WT, you can do it!
So for “Barrel-Proof, Single-Barrel Wild Turkey KSBW” you mean to say something under the Wild Turkey brand name? Like a single barrel Rare Breed, basically? I suppose in order to see the main line flavor profile at barrel proof as opposed to the more curated Russell’s barrels? I imagine they probably think Russell’s Reserve single barrels satisfy this desire, but I can agree with you that it’d be fun to see a WT branded one—perhaps at a slightly lower price??
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon is 110 proof; rye 104 proof. I’d like to see private selects of those undiluted.
Either brand name is fine with me so long as it’s barrel-proof, single-barrel, and NCF.
Agreed! I wonder if/how many WT barrels get upwards of 60% ABV given the relatively lower entry proof they use. It’d be fun to try some of those if they exist (assuming they make the grade quality-wise).
A good many actually. Depends on the floor. I’d say most are 115-125. I’ve seen as high as 132 or so.
Solid list, I concur with everything.
Most important to me is the Non-Chill Filtering. Do it to the 81 if you must, but everything else should be NCF.
If Russell’s Reserve 10 year was 101 proof and non-chill filter it would sell through the roof.
You would think NCF would be the most attainable- Eddie & Jimmy want it, enthusiasts want it, and it would actually save the company money.
Hopefully we see that change in 2020.
As always, thoughtful and insightful. I’m on team NCF, but I have a feeling the 101 flagship brands (101 Turkey and 101 rye) will not be considered for it because they are mass market appeal bottles while things like Rare Breed and Russells Reserve are more geared to the enthusiast.
Im excited about the Rare Breed Rye, and while WT typically escapes the bourbon hype machine of today, this label is generating some noticeable buzz in the Reddits and discussion forums, which is nice to see. This actually makes me think back on how well WT has handled their stock and product lines in the current market. You already know this, but if you want a particular WT product, its usually as easy as heading to your local store. Even limited editions are pretty easy to find if you want it (I was happy to find a local store stocking Cornerstone even in Japan). The same cannot be said of other major producers such as Buffalo Trace (the worst offender), Four Roses and even Brown Forman. Beam and maybe Heaven Hill have done better, but certainly have their limited products that you just cant find. WT on the other hand is always there for a reasonable price, and with the Rare Breed Rye, I know there will be enough to go around when it is released.
As for the other points, I hope 2020 sees them all come to light! Its a new decade and a great point in time for WT to really step up their game in the modern whiskey world.
Thanks so much! And thank you for taking the time to comment.
Yes, I doubt 101 and 101 Rye will get NCF … but it doesn’t hurt to ask! 🙂
Rare Breed Rye has a lot of promise on paper. We know it’ll likely be younger in comparison to Rare Breed (KSBW), but rye can really shine in that 4-8 year area – especially at full barrel proof. You make great points about availability. Hopefully, things will stay this way.
Cheers!
Haha, maybe I spoke too soon! I was listening to the Bourbon Pursuit interview with Eddie from almost a year ago, and there was a ton of great information in there. I usually expect such Q&As to be quite limited in terms of historic/technical information, but Eddie was very honest and forthcoming in his answers. From the underlying reasons of the barrel entry proof increase to why they chill filter so many of their offerings and the lack of single barrel-barrel proof, he hit on a ton of issues. He also made it very clear that if it was up to him they wouldent chill filter anything but the ~80 proof offerings. Maybe someday we will get the 101 NCF!
That is a fantastic episode. I like the Russell family one as well. Also, check out One Nation Under Whisky’s time with Bruce, as well as Dads Drinking Bourbon. All great podcasts.
Just bought a 2009 Austin Nichols WT 101 on the way home. Thank you for your science.
Thank you for reading!
What a great article/ a great read!
Jimmy is such a legend, not only for building the Wild Turkey Brand with excellent products.
And look what Eddie Russell doin…
It’s the hard work and values as well as some stubbornness which impress Me.
Jimmy defines what ” doin it right” is all about!
I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with him a few years back.
“Just a Country Boy from Kentucky”……?
To Me, He’s a living Legend!
Greetings from Germany……Just snagged a case of Rare Breed 116.8 LL/ HA bottles at
Euro 27.80- per bottle. What a steal !
Thank you! Yes, Jimmy is a gift to this world. A remarkable fella in so many ways.
Hey Rare Bird….Recently cracked open a bottle of Decades.
This stuff is Ambrosia/ Nectar of the Gods Level for Me!
Eddie is doing great work !
Absolutely! I love Decades.
RB is BP, but CF. RR SiB is NCF, but proofed (who doesn’t love whiskey acronyms). It’s like they want to leave us wanting more =)
Just got my first bottle of RR SiB! Was wondering about the different aging locations—I’ve seen and heard talk about Camp Nelson and also maybe Tyrone. When the labels only list a letter (like my bottle’s “A” that was dumped and bottled in September of 2019), is there any way to know which site it may be from? Does each site start with A, so there are two (or more) different A rickhouses—one for each site? Or is each letter a unique rickhouse across all of Wild Turkey’s aging stock and there is only one “A”?
There are two As: Tyrone and Camp Nelson (three if McBrayer has letters – never seen a SiB form McBrayer, though). Being a Sep 2019 release, it’s most certainly Camp Nelson. CNA and CNF are “in season” this year. It’s up to the Campari rep to fill out the tag with location detail. Some say A; some say CNA. Either way it should taste delicious!
I don’t think I’ve ever even seen a Spiced on the shelf around here, and I’ve certainly never thought to seek one out. Glad to see it works well as a cocktail component though, and that eggnog recipe sounds fantastic!
My experience is limited, but it works. That’ said, so does the 101 and the Armagnac. 🙂
SWEET!! Thanks for the helpful review. Now I’m even happier I found a 2012 and 2013 bottling of this. Scored them for around $45 each. Sometimes you gotta love those small out of the way stores. They can yield some good finds. Can’t wait to taste them and compare notes.
You’re very welcome!
I enjoy whiskey. I am a sipper. I decided to try Rare Breed 116,8. I was very disappointed. How can any one comment on the flavor sources? The harsh bite of the alcohol ruins any chance the whiskey has. Wish I had my $ 65.00 back.
James Woodall
Thewoodalls@aol.com
Plenty of folks happy to finish that bottle for you. 😉 In all seriousness, give it some time and come back to it.
Thanks. I will do that. Obviously you like it?
I do. Stay tuned for Tuesday’s post. 😉
Happy Holidays. I am a new bourbon drinker. My first was WT101 this spring. I am a 49 year old sole provider and live paycheck to paycheck providing for my family of a wife and couple kids. I’ve always been an IPA beer guy and never considered bourbon.
My first sips of WT 101 were mixed. My taste buds were not used to it. I was still interested as I knew this was a long cherished tradition of sipping bourbon. So I kept drinking. I went from a 50ml sample to a fifth. My appreciation for WT101 continued to grow more and more with each drink. I learned how to savor it. I mainly drink it neat or with a splash of water or a cube depending on the mood.
I have tried some other bourbons in the same price range but none of them have the complexity or taste I have grown to love on WT101. Here in Seattle we have ridiculously high liquor taxes so I cannot afford anything over WT101. Even this is a stretch for my budget. I do drink two drams a night, sometimes three on weekends. I would love to try Rare Breed or others in the WT line up but it’s just not possible. Maybe one day. I am just thrilled WT101 is so well respected and a drink I can enjoy every day.
I enjoy reading your reviews and appreciate your enthusiasm for Wild Turkey. I’ve watched all the official YouTube videos from WT and am happy with what a great family tradition the distillery is founded on. I look forward to learning more from your blog. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Michial. Without doubt, Wild Turkey is the everyman’s champion. So much integrity and flavor in an affordable offering. You hit the nail on the head. It must be tough as a sole provider, so I can understand the need for a budget pour. Might I recommend Russell’s Reserve 10-year for an occasional splurge (should you have the ability)? It won in a blind tasting over 101 last night (and three other bourbons), which in some ways surprised me. I think you’ll find it’s worth every penny of $30 (should you find it priced appropriately). Cheers and Happy New Year to you!
I have a bottle of Wild Turkey, 1991, 101proof. What is it worth.
Contact Justins’ House of Bourbon in Lexington, KY. They can help you. (859) 317-8609
When was the RR10 from this review bottled?
LL/HI so Sep 2019
Thanks for the quick response. I have had both successes and disappointments with RR10. One of my local liquor stores has several cases of RR10 LL/HI on sale for $30 (usually they charge $40). I bought one yesterday and will make a point of giving it a try soon so I can possibly buy more at that price.
$30 is a solid price. I can’t think of the last time I saw it for less.
Ahhhhh, ’74 – my high school graduation. Wasted all my spare change on Budweiser, Gallo Burgundy and Annie Green Springs. Oh to go back and grab a boatload of the WT101 8. Only in my dreams!
If we could all go back! Cheers Big Bird!
A few years back my brother in law found a bottle of WT 101 8 yr from the mid-70s at an estate sale. I determined it’s approx. age from the label style which was identical to this one, except it was a regular fifth. It was the best bourbon that I’ve ever had. I too graduated HS in 1974 and in college I was drinking Jack and Jim Beam. I wish then I had tried the “old man’s bourbon” back then.
We all learned … way too late. 😄
I’m currently working on a KS from Feb 2018 from Warehouse A Rick 4 and have been really enjoying it. A nice cherry on the finish. I’ll be picking up another bottle of this from my local store that still has a few from this barrel left. KS doesn’t seem to fly off the shelf and that’s ok by me. More for me.
Amen to that! Couldn’t agree more.
$ question here. While I agree with your assessment of 112.8 vs 116.8, I’ve come across a stash of 112.8’s in the 375ml for $17 per. I do like 112.8, but not at $50+ a 750. Thoughts on thos buy at the equivalent of $34 a 750ml??
Personally, I’d take 101 over RB 112.8, but that’s only a personal preference. $17 for any Rare Breed 375ml is a steal, though.
For me just to know the difference between WT 101 vs Rare Breed 112.8 vs. Rare Breed 116 I’d buy those Rare Breed 375mls for $17. In my area a 750ml Rare Breed sells for $41 so for 750ml of that 112.8 Rare Breed is $34. $7 difference. Worth it to me to try and see the difference or to get the experience.
Great advice. Never hurts to try. Besides, some folks really like 112.8.
I was given a sealed 1983 WT 101 8yr Flying Turkey decanter last year. I think the purpose of these decorative decanters were to sell excess whiskey to non-whiskey drinkers. They sure weren’t made for pouring out whiskey. Of course the cork broke, so I decanted it (well most of it) to a newly emptied 101 bottle. Though concerned about possible lead contamination from the glaze, I have been slowly sipping on it and it is Dusty and Funky. It’s so different from the current offerings. I have to be in the mood for da funk to reach for it, but I do enjoy it. I wouldn’t rate it in my all-time favorite bourbons or Wild Turkey offerings, but there is lots of stuff going on in there.
The decanters were an attempt to sell more bourbon – definitely. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out in the long run. You’re right, decanter whiskey can be excellent (not always, but frequently so if stored properly). Lead glaze is a concern, so I typically avoid them. A little here and there is probably okay, but I’m not health expert. You can buy lead testing strips if you want more peace of mind.
Great review. I’m fairly certain I’ve got an “M” pick in the cabinet and this post has got me itching to try it.
And yes, Wild Turkey is indeed magical!
Thanks Scott! Bet it’s good!
great read, and “better” news for us far from the distillery who will never see (and worse, taste!) the bottles. I wonder if the Russells will ever make way for a master taster? You have definitely got the pedigree and then some. cheers
Way too kind. I’d jump at that opportunity! But seriously, I think Bruce will do a damn fine job in the years ahead.
Hey RareBird ! Just cracked open a bottle of 101.
LL/ GJ291136 (29 Oct. 2018) Best bottle of 101 ever !
But Why?
Because of the Longbranch 8 year old stock drain ?
It’s one of many possible factors. I’d like to think Eddie just likes making damn fine bourbon (show off). 🙂 Cheers!
WT 101 as so amazing ! Decades…WOW ! Rare Breed 116.8 Superb ! I love Wild Turkey …..
You and me both!
Totally on with Wild Turkey stepping up their Rye game.
Remember the times when WT 101 Rye was not available/ allocated ? ….2012 ?
Eddie and Bruce should make it happen…A long term Rye strategy.
Interesting I’m sipping on a barrel selection from F, floor six bottled on the 13th of 2009. This is from one of the more established 10+ years bourbon bars in Houston that’s been making selections from WT I believe since the inception of the barrel program.
A really solid pour, those F’s are really killing it.
Agree. CNFs are consistently excellent this past year.
THE BIG CON. The smell of funny business was revealed with greater and greater clarity for me as the number of private selections and store picks grew. At this point I believe I should only need to point out that the number of privileged retailers, retailers with proper tasting ability, friends, business ‘opportunity’ contacts, media boosters, clubs and groups in private tasting sessions, far exceeds the number of available special quality barrels in the output of any distiller.
And just to cast even more doubt, allow me to point out that you’re picking 100th (?), two hundredth (?), one thousandth (?) in line from a facility that produces barrels in the hundreds or thousands, So what are your odds? This ain’t Coca-Cola after all.
People are more likely buying average or sub-quality for a $10-20 dollar premium and a bottle sticker that supposedly assures them of extra quality. It’s time to cut the shit. The bourbon drinking public is throwing money away on imagination. That special barrels exist, I have no doubt. That you’re going to be able purchase a special bottle after all the obstacles is a fools hope.
Eddie Russell takes great pride in the barrels selected for the private selection program, virtually handling every single one to date. While your experience may apply to other distilleries, Wild Turkey IMHO doesn’t adhere to flippant standards. There were about 500-600 private barrels last year. Some better than others, but all excellent and priced very well for the specs. Also, taste is subjective. A stellar barrel to one may very well be a subpar barrel to another.
I see no con here. Not with the Russells. Not with WT. But, I respect your opinion and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.
DMV area Wild Turkey Fan Here, any info about WT store barrel picks?
New to the hobby/addiction
Which state (apologies)?
I was hoping you would not lapse into defending you favorite manufacturer as my comments were intended to apply to the industry as a whole. I also view the “taste is relative” argument, while applicable in some circumstances, is also used as a general excuse to defend against sub-par product, results, beauty, and taste, across all human behavior. It is essentially meaningless, equivalent to the “well it’s your opinion” defense.
None of it answers the problem that thousands of bottles are picked and labeled as ‘special’ when supply, picking position, abilities, and motives are only guessable from the consumers point of view.
I love Wild Turkey. It’s what I do. 🙂 Single barrels are inherently unique, as such, special is a relative term. Whether or not you appreciate each barrel is up to the individual. So long as they’re priced accordingly, what’s the harm?
Great post! And probably spot on regarding price. I have regularly picking up a 750 of WT101 for 17.99 at Kroger. Even NOT on sale it is only 19.99. While there are lots of other awesome bourbons out there that compare, or maybe even have a better taste, there are none like 101 below $20 IMHO.
But I am perplexed by the label/bottle change. Wouldn’t going to a Longbranch style bottle be just the opposite of what they did with WT KS? The dig on the ole “turkey butt” bottle was that it doesn’t fit in the well at a bar, and is usually sideways on a bar shelf. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the old KS bottle…but why switch the product that has the most chance of being in a well or on a shelf when they just moved their premium offering the other way?
Thanks Phil. WT 101 has been undervalued for a good while now. It’s probably due a slight price increase, though nothing extraordinary. As for the design change, one reason might have to do with how similar it presently looks to WT 81 on a shelf. Enthusiasts like you or I know the difference, but to the average liquor store shopper it’s not as obvious. The new labeling may be a way to set 101 apart and give it a little more class (class one could argue is surely deserving). Thanks for commenting!
Interesting…I hadn’t thought about WT 81. I rarely see it! But your comments make sense. If 81 is the well drink, then by all means, separate 101 from it and maybe bump the price a tad.
I’m blessed to be in KY so most “traditional” restaurants/bars have Jack, MM and Jim Beam white label. If I see either Bulleit or WT I feel like I’ve scored! Most around here are 101 but I can see those across the country being more of the 81.
Keep on writing. Much enjoy the insights and discussion!
Thank you. Will do!
Wish list: RR SiB Rye store pic. Ideally 7 years and 107°. I can dream.
Works for me!
What is this “shiny wrap” you speak of? I have a 2000 bottle of WTRB but I don’t recall the wrap looking any different from my 2004 bottle.
Shoot me an email and I’ll be happy to send a pic!
Roger, thanks – email sent!
Haha guys and girls, us everyday joes and janes in Australia have never seen a WT private barrel, they are unicorns. The upside is the WT brands including RR bottles are readily available and reasonably priced by Australian standards the equivalent of USD50. I did try to get some of the more popular stores to ship to Australia and it was $30 per bottle minimum of 6 bottles. So I wouldn’t be complaining too much…
Very fair point. Y’all deserve better, honestly.
Picked up a bottle of KS the other day. Old style bottle. Warehouse K Rick #4 bottled in 2017. Haven’t tried it yet.
I remember you saying something about warehouse K being special. What was it?
Awesome! K is the wildcard rickhouse. Full of surprises!
I recently opened a bottle of 01-99 and it is incredible stuff. It features a degree of maturity you just dont find often in current bourbon. It almost has a sweet oak-perfume note to it, which is unusual and very satisfying.
With any luck, down the road we will see some more refined Rare Breed releases as the label hits its stride with maturing stock. (I cant wait for that Rare Breed Rye either).
Agree 100%! And Rare Breed Rye … that’ll be something else! By the way, does the bottle in the pic look familiar? 🙂
Hehe, I knew that bottle was familiar! Its the old school hang tag that offers “A Rare Opportunity”, unfortunately I dont think they are accepting mail in offers to join the Rare Breed club any more.
Never liked the present label with the overblown turkey head.
WT does change their labels rather frequently. I don’t blame WT for making packaging changes as an excuse to jack prices, if everyone else is doing the same.
WT is seriously the best bang ofor the buck…..any way you slice it.
p.s. just snagged a case of 101 for 20.- euro pro 1 liter bottle.
I love WT 101.
I do like the new proposed label. Cleaner, clearer design
Definitely not ugly.
As I mentioned in the post, I’ll withhold judgement until I can see it for myself. I’m not opposed to a quality design, though. Agree 100% about its value.
Has a new 101 Rye label popped in the TTB listings?
Just checked. Still only 101 (bourbon).
Great Article !
Age statements are finally coming back !
Why?
Maybe after years of ramping up production capacity and increased supply/ stock, the Apex of the latest overhyped “Boom” has been reached?
I do think there are producers, such as Beam and Heaven Hill, that have the stocks necessary to make those happen worldwide. I don’t think 101 is there yet, but you can find 101/8 in Japan.
I’ll for sure miss the CNF picks when they’re gone. Haven’t had a bad one yet, and like you said, some are pretty special. Luckily I have 4 or 5 bottles left that I can milk for a while.
That being said – bring on the Tyrone picks! Super excited for A (should that actually happen), and the return of G.
Amen! Can’t wait to taste those new barrels!
So well balanced, so cohesive. Bold, flavorful, exquisite. Everything about this bourbon just works. Pretty much one of, if not the best, permanent expressions of any distiller out there. Maybe only second to RR SiB. Maybe.
I agree. For a barrel-proof batch product it’s hard to beat (especially with Booker’s price nowadays). Thanks for commenting!
So you haven’t tasted the 3 yet, eh? You’re killin’ me here!
Saving it for my patrons! 🙂
I’ve personally never felt like I was missing out on something not having a barrel proof offering under the RR label, as the proof of RR Sib is perfect for me, but I definitely understand why that would help drive more enthusiasm for the brand. An age stated 10 year barrel proof offering under the RR label would sell like hot cakes I imagine. I actually kinda like the idea of it being batched as well. No doubt single barrels keep things interesting, but I like the consistency of a batched product too.
Right. After having this Foundation, which is actually mostly 11-year, a batched BP RR10 could be incredible.
1 barrel of 9Y9M in Batch 3 is what I hear, most of the rest being 11+.
Four Gate Whiskey Co. was on the Bourbon Lens podcast and shared similar info. Sounds right to me!
A RR10 Batch Proof sounds sooooo damn good.
PLEASE!
I know, right?!
Just found a bottle of this, sitting dustry on the shelf. Owner gave my 10 dollars off. Same store sells Stagg Jr. for $100 and Dickel BIB for $129. I felt a tad wise leaving those behind and instead with some wonderful Turkey.
Congrats on the Diamond. It’s a shame those others were priced so ridiculously.
They all seem like such simple, no-brainer moves, especially the NCF Rare Breed. It makes you wonder what’s standing in the way.
Why would Campari risk falling (further) behind the other major players?
My thoughts exactly. Here we are in 2020 and still no concrete signs that this area has been recognized. At least we get Rare Breed Rye, I guess.
And really, since RB Rye is NCF then it shouldn’t be any issue at all to go NCF for RB Bourbon. They KNOW it’s a selling point or they wouldn’t have made it a point to note it on the RB Rye label. Doesn’t make much sense.
I am looking forward to the RB Rye, but it doesn’t get my blood pumping like a 10+ year batched barrel-proof KSBW release would.
Good stuff Mr. Bird. Some fine ideas in there. My latest favorite blend is a 50/50 mix of Rare Breed and and Knob Creek SiB 120p. A tasty bowl of warm, funky nuttiness. Cheers!
Thank you! 🥃🦃
A wonderful post with some supportive thoughts and ideas – thanks!
Thank you, Bob. Cheers and stay safe! 🥃🦃
Seems Seelbach is sold out, anyone have suggestions of where to look?
Check with Justins’ House of Bourbon.
Corkdorks in midtown Nashville had batch 3 a few weeks ago when I was in town. I’m so glad that I picked up a bottle because it is DELICIOUS!!!
Hope to try batch 3 soon. Glad you found one!
Well said David. There’s a place and time for any decently made whisky.
Have you noticed if the profile has evolved at all over the last decade or so? Or is it locked in at this level?
I’d say since 81’s introduction (2011) it’s been generally consistent. At 81-proof there’s not a lot of fluctuation from bottle to bottle, though I’ll admit I’ve enjoyed the last two years’ releases more than the ones that came before.
How would you say this compares with longbranch? The difference in ABV is small, but the price difference is quite a bit larger. I keep meaning to give longbranch a try, but the lower proof and higher price point have so far kept me from taking a chance on a bottle.
Longbranch definitely has more complexity than WT81, but honestly if you’re going to spend $30+, try Russell’s Reserve 10-year. 👍
Value is a killer for KS at the current price point. I purchased one before the ill advised bottle change and unfortunately, as sometimes happens with single barrels, mine did not meet or exceed std. 101. That beautiful tail-feather bottle though?, that is a keeper and a fine decanter for my handles of 101. They need to bring that bottle style back.
Better design, kill the chill filtration, find more slightly off-profile barrels, and adjust the price by a few dollars = back in business.
Agreed about KS vs Blanton’s. It’s got to be about the bottle design and the whole “must horde everything out of Buffalo Trace” mentality.
When judging solely by what’s in the bottle Kentucky Spirit has much more to offer.
Couldn’t have said it better. 👍
I know that older whiskey is not really the Russell way, but if they wanted to keep the price point of Kentucky Spirit then at least maybe bump up the age to 12-15 years old or something like that to justify the price (like Knob Creek just did). I’ve never bought a KS bottle because the value ratio is so off. I’ve had a delicious KS pour at a bar, but I likely won’t be getting a bottle for myself anytime soon—not unless the price drops down closer to $30 or so. That seems like it’s be the right, fair ballpark.
Damn! That’s a solid, thought-out and honest review. How rare to see that. Nice work, David!
Thanks Steve. Means a lot coming from you!
I know some people have a nostalgic attachment to the old design, but it looks like tacky garbage. The new bottle is a significant improvement to consumers outside the COVID19 high risk bracket.
Hmm … I guess us old timers have a different opinion on what constitutes tacky garbage.
Agree 100%. Didn’t buy this before the change in bottle design. That old design was just wrong.
Interesting. So you didn’t like the classic “fan tail” design?
Warehouse G is my go-to. Haven’t had a swing and miss yet.
Amen
How do you think Campari internally justifies the price of Kentucky spirit? Any insight? My local TW sells their RR store picks for about 63, their Kentucky spirit picks for 60. And just the regular retail versions are priced the same. It’s just…odd. It seems the RR label is supposed to be the premium side of wild turkey, but the pricing on these bottles is inconsistent with that.
I’m not sure how they’re viewing it. I assume like other single barrels priced similarly, like RHF and Blanton’s. RRSiB is a much better value, as you’ve noted.
In my area, I can get it for $55 at the county liquor stores. Only carried at a few of them but I really like it. Of course, there is a 9 percent tax added. One of my favorites. In the non-WT world I recently discovered is Old Elk blended bourbon. Totally different with 34 percent malted barley. Still, I am a 101 bourbon fan for mixing and KS is my overall favorite with one or two rocks
.
I’ve heard interesting things about Old Elk. I’ll have to try it out. Thanks!
Fun fact…these are still there. Picked a few up today!
Cool fact!
I could not agree more about your review. I had the privilege of trying Lincoln Road 154 next to Lincoln Road 136. Both fantastic bottles. Still have several 154s unopened. I may go open one now!! Jamie and Misty are great folks and Lincoln Road is an awesome store. I love reading your reviews!
Thanks Lee! Multiple 154s? Lucky (or smart) man! Cheers!
Update! I opened one of my remaining bottles of this barrel last night. Better than I remembered! Did a LR tasting with 154, 136, and Misty’s Birthday pick. All fabulous!
Definitely. Jamie and Misty know how to pick ‘em!
What a generous thing to do for folk who where first in line to lose their jobs and may be last in line to regain them. A show of mastery of being a company that cares.
Doing what we can. 👍
Always been curious about the C.L., and while I don’t think I’ll ever be able to afford a bottle it’s nice to see it’s as good as you’d expect given the specs. If anything, seems like it has a touch more fruit than your typical CGF/BD?
I’d say it’s just as good as the best 101/12 I’ve had from the 1980s. IOW, stellar.
Great idea. Thank you for your support to the industry. How do we recommend someone? If thats an idea…
Thanks Kelly. I’m booked for the next few weeks but you can use my contact form on this blog. I’ll see what I can do. All the best.
Hi Rare Bird!
So I never thought I’d be able to pull off the exact Hackell recipe you listed above since I never thought I’d be able to find those exact bottles of Russell’s with the right rick houses and floors. I’d come across an A floor 4 last winter by chance, and I think I remember you saying that it was likely Camp Nelson. Well lo and behold, I just happened to find a Total Wine pick that’s an F floor 6! I presume it’s also probably Camp Nelson. I’m looking forward to trying the specific recipe for Hackell now!
I seem to remember that not too long ago you had a post breaking down specific rich houses and their general flavor profiles. I tried searching for it but couldn’t find it. Would you mind pointing me in it’s direction?
Thanks!
Absolutely! You can find it here: https://rarebird101.com/2019/11/05/russells-reserve-10-year-bourbon-2019/
Enjoy!
Hello again,
Thanks, but I do have that link to the Hackell recipe. I was actually asking about a post you made with like a cheat sheet for each rickhouse and their various profiles. I.e., G tends to be more floral, F more spicy, etc. Do you recall making a post like that at some point within the last few months? Thanks!
Apologies! You’re right. I totally missed that. Here was my attempt: https://rarebird101.com/2018/11/27/russells-reserve-single-barrel-ksd-fight-me-2018/
Awesome, thank you! That’s the one!
Interestingly, I found exactly same kind bottle in our basement unopened. Is it something rare?
They’re not common sealed.
I sent you pictures, I’m not sure if you got it. Want to know how much it’s worth do you think?
I can’t assign value other than it’s a very cool whiskey. Contact Justins’ House of Bourbon and they can help you. Thanks!
Classic. I really loved sipping along with y’all and some 101 for Whiskey at Home this weekend. One of the notes I got in mine (LL/HE) reminded me of the sweet, fresh cut oak smell I remember from splitting wood in the fall up at our family cabin. I wasn’t an immediate lover of 101 in my whiskey journey, but I always ended up coming back to it time and time again. I couldn’t deny the power of the kickin’ chicken, ha ha.
Thanks for watching and reading! Most folks eventually come back around to 101. It’s hard to beat!
So if one were to see 2 boxes of MK17 sitting all dusty, still for MSRP, at a local shop….And even though that unnamed person already has 2 unopened bottles of MK17……What would one do….
If you don’t want them I’m sure you can find friends who would! 😎
I have posted the details on a couple of local forums, yet months later….there they still sit. The shop is a little out of my way, and get by there about once every 3 months or so. I would bet they have been there a over a year, since I first saw them and purchased my second bottle. Still hunting the elusive (to me) Batch 1 of Decades.
That should be an easy trade for someone.
Awesome review as always! You did a great job on WFH. I get so conflicted inside when I hear you and others preaching the Gospel according to Russell. I want WT to get the credit and respect it deserves but I get worried about creating a hype train that is headed toward allocation town. Nonetheless, I route for the home team too and always get joy listening/reading you doing the same
Thanks Evan! 🥃🦃
Great list, DJ. You’re right that the best pours are those with an emotional attachment. I’ve got several of my own that I’ll forever cherish, one of which is the split-label from the Patron gathering. Still probably my number one Wild Turkey pour (even over the CGF that we also had that day).
Cheers!
Thanks Scott! You’re right. That split was notably better than the CGF we opened. Such a great time!
Awesome write up and great information! Cannot wait to try this one!!🥃🦃
Thank Campari for the words. I just copy/pasta! 🙂
Copying and pasta-ing is way more fun than copying and pasting 😉 , thanks for the info, David. Also good to know that “bottled-in-bond” doesn’t mean aged exactly four years, rather it’s a minimum of four years. (I should have known this by now!)
Thanks! We’re all learning. Very few experts in this world.
Hey thank you for the post. I’ve just made a promise to myself to pull the cork on the American Spirit I have – IF I can score at least one of these. Just wondering on the timing on this.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Open that bad boy! It’s Jimmy’s favorite.
Any timeline for when the book will be released? I would tear through a book about the best distillery in America.
Presale should be live next week. Thanks so much.
Where can I get 39 minis!? A friend is having 39 radiation treatments. I need 1 mini for each treatment day!
Check with your local liquor store. They should be able to order from your state’s distributor. 👍
Very exciting to hear your little labor of love is (almost) here! Congratulations David! Looking forward to getting my hands on a copy and enjoying it with glass in hand.
Thank you, Chris!
I have an LL/IB 1.75 if you need a sample for comparison. For what it’s worth I’m a WT fan and hadn’t noticed a difference and didn’t know of this “issue” until reading this review.
Appreciate it Cameron. I’m good for now!
What else can I say but, Woo-Hoo!
Thanks!
Just pre-ordered. Can’t wait for a good bourbon read, it’s been a few years.. Thanks for all your dedication and hard work. Cheers!
Thanks so much. I truly appreciate it.
Just pre-ordered mine! Congrats- know it’s been a labor of love!
Thank you so much, Clay!
Mazel Tov! Man would it be great to have a panel discussion (via Zoom I guess) with you and the Russell’s all sippin whisky and talking Turkey.
That would be fun!
The embossed glass bottle is really outstanding. very impressive. I strongly agree with your assessment of the bourbon inside the bottle too. We enthusiasts aren’t the target market for every expression. There are, however, a lot worse values on the shelf as well.
Exactly. Look at the new Peyton Manning whiskey. $200 Dickel. Makes Longbranch look like a steal.
I really enjoyed your post and I am a fan of WT Rye 101 myself and Russell Reserve Rye. I also pre-ordered your book. Best of Luck with your book sales/
Thank you, James. Really appreciate that.
This looks like a great book. We would love to have it available for shipping to Australia.
It will be on Amazon this Fall. Also, eBooks within the next two weeks. Thanks Brad!
I think this is the perfect sentiment for the day. Thanks for writing this now, as hard as it must have been. Not much into looking at social media these days, even at whiskey enthusiast sites. But this caught my eye and glad i read it.
Thank you, Kelly.
Appreciate this. Kentucky has a complex history (as much of our country does) when it comes to race and class and I take comfort knowing that over a glass of bourbon I’ve had many a deep discussion with folks about the myriad ways in which white and black working people are so much more alike than we are different, no matter what folks in power want us to believe.
No. This is this epitome of a entity/brand wanting to post something filled with empathy to garner affection and maintain their viewership, whether you work for them or not.
To start, it is clear you are white (fine, okay, nothing wrong with that), but nowhere in your statement did you once mention black people, or minorities of any kind. How can you “set an example” (as you say) like that? State something to be clear that you support people of all colors, not just “set an example” (of what?). It is not hard. It is not deleterious to your simple blog to make a clear statement.
“The crux of our hobby hinges on fellowship and sharing. Without both, we’re left with shelves of fancy bottles.” – Tell me, have you shared glasses and bottles with people of color? Do you have photos to prove it? So far, all you have shown on your blog is you (white) with many others of white complexion drinking whiskey. In the future, involve others.
While I’m not calling out any names, but think about the conversation you have started with your community. You say “that they are that are thoughtful and engaging, generous and open-minded.”
All of this sounds tone deaf, privileged, and ignorant. The fact that you say this isn’t the “proper forum” shows that you have an opinion but don’t want anyone to face you here on it. You created a forum, so be ready for anyone to express anything they want – that’s sort of the whole point.
I promise you that Jimmy, and others, DO care what you look like, so long as you are purchasing Wild Turkey.
I’m sorry, but you’ve taken my thoughts the wrong way. If you truly feel I’m posting something to maintain my viewership, then you don’t know me. The alternative would be for me to say nothing at all (which is not how I feel) – or – to say something fabricated by someone else (which wouldn’t be speaking my own mind).
If it’s not apparent that I (and the vast majority of the whiskey community) support people of all colors, then you’ve missed the heart of this post. Yes, I’ve shared with people of color. No, I don’t have pictures to prove it.
I can’t deny being privileged, but tone deaf and ignorant – well, you’re certainly free to criticize my writing as you see fit. It’s hard to be positive in times like these, but I’m damn sure trying. As for the proper forum, if you go back and re-read you’ll see that it’s in reference to politics and religion.
I’ve seen nothing but kindness and charity from the little time I’ve spent with Jimmy. He doesn’t do what he does out of a love for money.
Again, I apologize if you’ve taken my thoughts the wrong way. Feel free to email me if you’d like. I’ll listen.
dj
Needed to be said & thank you for sharing. Cheers 🥃
Thanks for reading.
kool take n it easy ,australia
Love the blog. You are very engaging writer and I look forward to continuing to follow your work. But I have one response to a specific statement you made.
“When I first explored whiskey enthusiasm, I learned early on (occasionally the hard way) that checking one’s political and religious beliefs (or non beliefs) at the door proved sound practice.”
I totally understand this sentiment. We all come from different backgrounds, religions (or lack thereof), cultures, etc. And it seems easier, less volatile, to talk about our shared interests rather than our differences. But I think ultimately this type of thinking is misguided. I think it’s critically important that friends and family engage each other over controversial issues like this. We have to learn to respectfully challenge each other. Otherwise we tend to retreat into our own political bubbles, insulated from differing ideas and perspectives. They aren’t always easy conversations, but they can be meaningful and constructive, especially if they start out over a shared bottle of whiskey.
Anyways, those are my two cents. Take care.
When you become friends, those discussions are great to have. But if you’re new to one another, political and religious topics often divide more than unite. However, this particular issue – equal rights and fairness – has nothing to do with politics or religion. It has to do with decency. And so, speaking openly from day one is a good thing.
Hear hear! Thanks for writing this, I share your sentiments entirely.
Thank you.
Any early reviews on the new 17 yr old masters keep yet,I’d like to wait on your blessing before I drop that kind of dough on it.
I posted my initial thoughts on Patreon. Also, check out Bourbon Blind’s review: https://youtu.be/qHkkwIG222Y It’s tasty! 😎🥃🦃
101 Rye has become a daily sipper for me. Like you I used to see it as mainly a cold weather pour, but something about the intense “lemon Pez” flavor once it heats up a little bit while enjoying on the back patio just screams summer.
I’m hoping RB Rye hits Texas soon. Sounds like it’s right up my alley.
Some folks might judge, but 101 Rye on the rocks with a slice of orange is a perfect Summer outdoor sipper.
Love WT Rye 101 with just an extra large cube….all year round !
Definitely. Hard not to find a good way to sip 101 Rye.
Great review, Dave! I look forward to the Rare Bird Rye making its way to Michigan next year (only 120 bottles allocated for 2020), and more importantly, getting down to the Lawrenceburg area to see what I might be able to find this summer.
Yep. There won’t be many this year, unfortunately. Get ‘em while you can!
And thank you!
Glad you got to try it out David. I Just got a bottle yesterday on my road trip up in Eugene, Oregon. Only 2 bottles left in the whole state. Woohoo! The owner came out from the back when he heard me talking to an employee about the rye. I got very lucky. They also had a store pick of RR SiB, 9yo, Warehouse G, Floor 4. Can’t wait to dip into these. Cheers!
Wow. That is lucky! Glad you were able to find it. You’ll love it, I’m sure.
A big, big congrats David. I was just reading Whiskey Advocate today and it mentioned your book coming out soon. I can’t wait to receive my copy. Cheers!
Thank you!
Thanks for your perseverance as well David. Can’t wait for my copy!
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
Congratulations
Thank you!
David, congratulations! That’s got to feel good to get your first copies….looking forward to getting mine. The cover looks great!
Thanks John. I’m very happy.
When is your book, American Spirit, going to be available on Amazon Prime? I can’t wait to read it.
Likely this Fall, but we’ll see. The Kindle version is available there for now. Thanks for checking in!
I just found an unopened bottle of this in my deceased grandfather’s garage. It’s still in the original box too.
What’s the value of this?
I’m not the best source for that. I’d give Justins’ House of Bourbon a call. They should be able to help you. 👍
Any idea when this will be available in Texas?
Pretty certain it already is. I know of a few Texans with bottles. They’re not sitting on shelves like past releases.
Thanks! Now the question becomes is it worth risking COVID to hunt down a 5/5 bottle.
Well, I’m no medical expert so I can’t give advice, but I masked up!
Great review and background as usual Dave! Sadly I’ll have to wait until it reaches Japan to see if it matches the “perfection” of the M.K. Revival in my whisky cabinet….
Completely different whiskeys, but I love both near equally. Thank you!
Many months later, I just got my hands on a bottle in Korea, so I’m sure it’s in Japan. I have to agree with all the notes, it’s a fabulously balanced and rich bourbon that has familiar Turkey notes but is also incredibly unique at the same time. Special product and great review!
Glad you found one, Andrew. Truly a special bottle!
Yes! It is available in Japan now but so limited. One web site so far. I’ll grab a bottle. Thanks.
Great review Dave! This will Almost certainly be a lottery item in Virginia (Cornerstone was) so cross your fingers and say a little prayer to the Russells for me when the time comes.
Thanks Brian. Hang in there!
Given that this is 17 years old, how much do you think this needed to be proofed down to reach 100? Since the original Master’s Keep was lower, I’m curious as to whether this may be nearly “barrel proof” (or “batch proof”) as well.
I’m not sure. The original MK17 spent time in brick rickhouses that lowered proof. My guess on batch proof for this release would be similar to RR2002 … about 115.
Congrats! So awesome and have been wanting to read this ever since I heard about it! Do you know when hard copies will be available for purchase? Gotta have a book in my hands 🙂
They’re available now. 👍 WildTurkeyBook.com
I have a 101 proof Austin Nichols wild turkey 4/5 quart seal is in tact. Does anyone know it’s value? Thank you
Contact Justins’ House of Bourbon. They can help you.
I was eagerly awaiting your review so thanks for writing such a nice one.
You teased it in the intro but didn’t really address it: how does this compare to dusty era Turkey of yore? I’ve heard everything from “it’s the closest they’ve come in a decade” to “not even close”.
Thanks! It’s not dusty in profile. Not to me. But it’s still delicious!
One of my favorite sippers. I do enjoy this bottling.
Cheers James!
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your blog. I’m sitting here really enjoying a Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel I just picked up as I read this. It has a real toasted pecan note on the finish that I absolutely love. Because I enjoy it so much, I can’t help but wonder how to figure out the identifiers. I’ve looked at the Bottle Codes explanation, but I can’t figure out if it carries over to the QR codes I’m seeing. Any thoughts on the QR codes on bottles these days? There are three different codes on the bottle, and I can’t make heads or tails of any kind of format. Cheers!
Thanks so much! And I really appreciate you commenting. Unfortunately, when it comes to standard retail bottles of RRSiB there’s no way I’m aware of to tie each to a specific barrel. In fact, multiple barrels were likely bottled in a single day. Your best bet is to run back to the store and grab another bottle with as close as a laser code as possible. 👍
You probably already found out, but the barrel# is on all the RR SiB (Picks & standard). RB101 even wrote about it.
On the bottom line of the bottle codes, directly on the glass, not the label, there is a code that starts with a “B”. The four numbers after that are the barrel#.
If you are looking for the same barrel, it’s best to go back to the same place you got the 1st one, as soon as possible. Then check the closest stores to that location.
You’re correct. Wasn’t always that way, however. But a great idea for recent releases.
I could not agree more. This release was outstanding, and I think the retail price is justified, which is rare for me. I loved the decades release, and thought cornerstone was very good, but this is a whole other level up.
Absolutely! Thanks for commenting.
I have a private selection that was distilled on 11/20/09 and dumped on 01/13/20. The warehouse is just listed as “F” rather than “CNF” as I have seen on some labels. I assume it is Camp Nelson. But I keep wondering why some bottles are labeled just “F” when there are multiple warehouse locations.
This one has charred orange rind on the nose and blood orange on the palate. My wife said “Grand Marnier” when she tasted it. My notes would have been very similar to yours for Bourbon and Banter 1.1 (which perhaps confirms that it is Camp Nelson).
This one puts my standard issue RRSB to shame. Great stuff! I am a believer in CNF!
That would be CNF based on the date. Hate that they’re omitting that info from the new labels. I bet yours is amazing. Haven’t been disappointed yet!
Your A and C were distilled on the same day and dumped one day apart…interesting. I picked up a Private Selection last week. 9 years, warehouse C, 4th floor.
Is it Camp Nelson C?
I looked closer and it’s G, not C (that’s another quirk with these, I needed a magnifying glass to see what it really was). Distilled in 2011 and dumped in 2020. Damn. Can you put out an article on how to identify Camp Nelson stuff? You make it sound like it’s not that easy anymore. I’ve looked over this site and can’t find any info. Thanks David. Cheers!
That makes sense. I have a similar bottle. I’ve notified Campari about the poor print quality. They were very receptive. Hopefully this is a temporary issue.
Yup, this is the one I have, that I was talking about last week. Delicious, but not top of the line. Well done and 100% agree. Cheers!
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. Cheers!
So can we safely say that this was distilled in 2003 by doing simple math or could it have been distilled in 2002? I know sometimes the juice is pulled and vatted in a holding tank for blending. Any confirmation?
I believe 2002, as I was aware of it in late 2019. That said, I haven’t confirmed with Eddie.
Thanks for the review! I have a bottle of the WT Austin Nichols 101/8 year circa 1988 and it’s unbelievably good. Just started getting into Bourbon 3 months ago and then found that bottle in my liquor cabinet which I was gifted by a friend in the 80s who owned a restaurant that was going out of biz. Sure wish I could find something today that tastes like it, and I’d forego any further hunting/tasting. Any suggestions?
Good luck finding a dusty profile in modern whiskeys. Pretty much impossible at this point. But, plenty of fantastic modern Turkey out there!
I just bought a bottle of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrell based on your enthusiasm and a good price at a liquor store I only get to infrequently. Dramatic pause. . . . This is really wonderful stuff! The date code is HH which I calculate as August 2019 (but please forgive me if the alcohol has befudddled my brain).
Okay, I just opened the bottle. Perhaps the contents will evolve and I will think differently in a week or so. But I’ve got to say this is one of the best Kentucky ryes I have had the privilege to drink. I can definitely taste the corn, but for me, that is a definite plus. Wonderful nose, palate, and finish, and all well integrated.
Congrats! Those single barrel ryes can be amazing. Never had a bad one! Cheers!
Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit needs a complete Makeover. Non Chill Filtered finished in used recharred barrels.
But then it would’t be a straight whiskey. I’m all for a makeover, though.
Sure it would remain a KSBW. A Double Oaked or Finished variation. Masters Keep Revival Oloroso Sherry Barrel Finish for example. I’m so curious to see what a Double Oaked Turkey would taste like.
You can label it “KSBW finished in …” but it’s technically not straight bourbon at that point. I like the idea of more finishes – even proposed them on a Zoom with Campari a few weeks ago. But you have to remember that WTKS is 100% Jimmy. A finished whiskey isn’t representative of his profile or legacy. But new expressions? Absolutely!
Respect to the Original. Just a little wishful thinking. Big Love Rarebird. Cheers!
Thanks! Your idea is a good one. Maybe just not for WTKS (though you’re right – a makeover is justified).
I actually just stumbled upon this bottle.. sent my buddy a picture of the tag and he sent me your article. Anyways…was stoked to hear it was Camp Nelson juice. I really enjoy this bottle…I found it had a ton of vanilla flavor…may have to pick up a few more!
And they only get better!
I can’t find the dating mechanism you mentioned on my 2020 handle of 101. I read the reddit but it’s too confusing. Where on the 2020 1.75 liter bottles?
You should see a code laser etched in glass. Sometimes a flashlight helps. Check the side of bottle towards the bottom.
Hello Rarebird, would you happen to know where a pick of RRSIB can be found in South Carolina with a Cherry Cola profile?
Not right off hand. Call around and see if they have any CNF private selections. Start with Total Wine since they do so many. You might also reach out to bourbon groups like the CBC (Columbia Bourbon Collective). Best of luck!
Thanks Rarebird!
Anytime!
I never had a problem with Longbranch, except its price. I now found it at $33, so I picked it up again, and I enjoy it for what it is. A very good sipper I can drink straight out of the bottle, without feeling I have to analyze it. I’m a WT guy, so I keep all WT expressions at hand (no RR though, as I want the bite). I enjoy other bourbons, and have those around, but always drift back to WT, especially Rare Breed.
Agreed. Longbranch is a great easy sipper. I particularly like it outdoors in the summertime. Nothing too fancy. Checks the main boxes it should. The price is tough, considering Russell’s 10 is a little cheaper, but at $33 I’d jump too. Thanks for commenting!
In the past months I have picked up 2 bottles of Batch 302 at a local store. My buddy was looking for a present for a WT loving friend, and I pointed him to a 302 bottle. And the store still has one bottle left (Sitting beside a WT Master’s Keep 17) that sings to me every time I walk by it. Great Stuff.
Yep. 302 is a quality whiskey for sure!
Picked up a Single Barrel #11 Rick House G Floor 4 today after listening to the ‘dusty turkey’ Bourbon Blind live and hearing Chad talk about finding some in a small town ABC store in Alabama. Irony is I live in a small Alabama town and found some in my local ABC store… true story 😁
They’re still out there! Cheers! 🥃🦃
8ball deluxe!
And yes what you propose would be a great addition to the turkey lineup. Even the nod to the 12 would be a nice fan move.
Cueball Wizard, but I think they shared audio clips. 👍
Been looking all over for this, and finally found one bottle in a store near the house a few weeks ago. Opened and tried it and realized I was in love. Went back and told the guys at that store I’d like another, if possible. I then hit 7-8 stores over the next week who said all stocks in the state were gone. That was hard to hear as I’d already gone through half the bottle. Finally decided to check the same neighborhood store, and voila! Another single bottle! Now I have to figure how to make it last till it’s back in stock. Good news is I convinced store to get 101 Rye, which has just come to my state. Now have 2 bottles (well, 1 1/2) of that. Both great whiskers!
From 101-proof up, can’t lose with Wild Turkey rye expressions! 🥃🦃
I purchased a bottle of Rare Breed Rye a couple months back and it got a “Wow” response from me, I love it! it’s my new favorite rye and I purchase another bottle today. Very complex and a wonderful mouth feel (thanks for the non-chill filtered). I also like 101 Rye and the hint of mint at the finish really does it for me. I did a side by side comparison to Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye and it wasn’t even close. WT for the win!
Amen, Cooper! Rare Breed Rye is fantastic! Thanks for commenting.
I’m also wondering what’s going on here—I’ve had a couple 8ish year picks from 2020 and none taste like bottles from years’ past. Delicious, yes; interesting, no. Is it the new facility distillate finally rearing its head, or just the fact that it’s 8ish years? Not sure what the average RRSiB age is, but I was always under the impression it was 10ish years. Not sure what gives.
RRSiB has always been 8-10 years. Different rickhouses/floors impart different flavors. Have you read my comparison between Lincoln Road’s 2020 Tyrone A (8 years) to the Bourbon Crusader’s 2020 CNF (10 years)?
I just did, and it’s definitely reassuring. Will continue to try dif warehouses/locations.
Sounds like a plan!
That mineral note is an interesting footnote in dusty Turkey. It seems to come from a very specific window of time (I have an ’80 8-year which has it, but the stuff I’ve had from earlier in the 70’s and 83-onwards doesn’t). And it even seems to come and go in my ’80 bottle – with a half-hour of air it sometimes (not always) largely dissipates.
Is it a flaw? Well, some folks love Dickel. I don’t. This ain’t Dickel but (as you note) it’s close. It’s enough to keep me from loving any of those old 8/101s that have that note, for all the other good things they bring to the table.
Definitely not a flaw IMO but I can get others not liking it. There was a bit present in the ‘89 I tried, which I expected to taste more like 1990-1991. That said, I found the ‘89 101/8 to be magnificent and well balanced between fruity and dusty notes. I think the main culprit is rickhouses adding their unique character. Just like they do now in different ways (Camp Nelson for example).
I don’t recall ever picking up the mineral note in any mid or late-80’s bottles, or anything but 8/101. Definitely gotten funk, but in my mind WT funk and minerality are distinct notes. A little doesn’t bother me too much, but the ’80 has more than I’d prefer (though it’s otherwise great).
Before I got it in WT I always assumed the multivitamin thing was due to Dickel’s yeast, like Beam peanut and JD banana. Now, I’m not so sure, since presumably WT was always using the same yeast. Possible a warehouse issue, as you say.
Rickhouses are my best bet too! But all factors combined make a difference. 👍
I would like to consider that the quality of the soil in that era being much better thus producing much better grain flavors, oils, and starch etc.
I think that’s a very reasonable thing to consider.
Rarebird101,
I have kentucky legend donut bottle from new,unopened,damage on box, numbers on neck fading and also signed by jimmy when he was in perth Australia in 1999.i am trying to find info on selling and prices.can you please advise me on best way to proceed.
Thanks and regards
Kelly Duncan
Reach out to Justins’ House of Bourbon in Lexington, KY. They specialize in these things. Very cool bottle to have!
Ordering mine, now! Thanks for this.
Thank YOU, David!
“reportedly a blend of six-, eight-, and twelve-year, barrel-proof bourbon” – Jimmy Russell told me this was true at a Liquor Barn signing several years ago. No longer “reportedly”
🙂 The bottle is non-age stated so I have to use this until.
Love the review. Agree that this 2020 batch is something special. Interestingly enough, 2021 will also be the 20th anniversary of Russell’s Reserve. Would be great to see Campari re-release a special 101 proof 20th Anniversary edition of RR10 to commemorate. 2021 could be a fun year for turkey fans!
You got my vote!
And thank you for reading and commenting.
Love your reviews as always..this is PNW Trent on Instagram that you turned on to the Saffell! Hoping for something special from Wild Turkey but the Masters Keep BiB will be a hard one to beat! How do you know the bottle date and if it’s a 2020 release for Rare Breed? I’m going to seek a May 2020 bottle out!
See “bottle codes” on my menu. And enjoy that Saffell!
Are all the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrels dumped in Jan 2020 from Camp Nelson? I have a 10 year distilled 2009 and dumped 1/31/2020 with a warehouse F floor 6. Btw have your book on order can’t wait to get it!
Thanks for ordering a book! If it says F in 2020, it’s CNF. If A, it could be CNA or Tyrone A.
I meant the single barrels dumped in Jan 2020 with an “F” listed as warehouse
Yes. CNF.
Thank you for the clarification!
Anytime!
I just got around to picking up a 2020 batch today(took longer than expected cause of the multiples of 2019 batches I was working through 😜). Can’t wait to crack it open to compare notes!
Let me know! 🥃🦃
Okay, cracked it open yesterday for derby day. Neck pour your notes are spot on! Definitely noses like it’s a little older than the 2019 batches, which was reminding me of some of my Russell’s picks I currently have. Really loving this expression. Like all Wild Turkey products, I find they get better after being open for a week or too so I can’t wait to see how it develops.
Was shocked to see that my liquor store has raised the price on this expression so I think word is getting out on how good it is. Deservingly so, still one of the best values in bourbon today. Cheers! 🥃🦃
Glad you’re finding similar qualities. And yes, it should get even better in the days ahead.
Doesn’t take those store owners long to catch on, does it? 😄
Great review, and thank you for the passionate plea to Campari for an attainable 30 year edition. You’re the voice of the people! Cheers!
Thank you, Matt. Cheers!
I have experimented with blending Russell’s 10 and 101 in the past. I love the notes of the 10yr, I just wish it had a little more punch to it. Now yes, most would say “just go get the single barrel,” which I have several and love, but I love experimenting. Just adding a little bit of the 101 to the Russell 10yr gives me the age I’m looking for with the little extra kick to it. My next thought when writing this is what would happen if you took Rarebreed and blended it with some Russell’s 10yr…….? Rarebreed CYPRB? 🤔
Check out some of my past blends. Many of them involve Rare Breed. Like Hackell, which I love. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I didn’t really like Longbranch. Loved all other Turkey products. At 2/3 of bottle left, I mixed the last glass and half left in a 101 bottle. Also mixed last ounce of WB Saffell bottle. I know wrong. Tuned out nice and bottle went fast.
Turkey blends well with Turkey. Bet it was great!
I just bought a handle of LL/IG. I’m a big fan of Wild Turkey, however mostly drink Rare Breed and Russell’s Reserve SB. Have had a few pours of 101 over the past few years and wanted to revisit, especially after reading this review and the comments, so I jumped in with both feet. It’s delicious. You nailed the review Rarebird101. I’m getting most of what you describe on the nose, palate and finish. I had OGD114 as my No.1 under $30, but I think WT101 just surpassed it. Kudos and keep up the good work!
Thanks so much, Tom! Glad you found a new value pour. Hard to beat 101!
He also has ‘Greenligh’ coming our next month.
Correct!
So, call me crazy but America seems to be in the throes of a light-whiskey rebirth. Unlike the rejection of more traditional bourbons in the 60-70’s this one seems to be fueled by a young crowd without a lot of money or experience with whisk(e)y who are trying to fill time during a global pandemic. They reach for (it hurts me to say this here) Buffalo Trace products because they are low heat, no bite, young and sweet bourbons. That affection coupled with an undersupply and rising secondary prices could make Longbranch look very appealing to these new bourbon drinkers.
Now Jimmy and Eddie just need to stage a “Stolen truck of Masters Keep” to create some Pappy-like hype and Longbranch and eventually all Turkey could fly off the shelves. All it takes is a correctly priced bottle (sadly up to $40 these days) and a light-whiskey with some name recognition and Campari might win over their market share. Where there’s money to be made, there’ll be whiskey.
Interesting points. I think a line of Longbranch, if done properly, could definitely cast a more successful net. I mean, someone has to be buying all that Basil Hayden’s. They key is keeping it cool both ways: okay with whiskey snobs and popular with everyone else.
now that it’s under its own brand, maybe they’ll do a second barrel finishing with Longbranch? Oloroso? Port? Rum? I would think that since Longbranch is marketed more as a more approachable bourbon, finishing it in a second barrel as mentioned, it might bring about even more sweeter/friendlier. It’s to offset the turkey spice and Longbranch light smoke you get from the Mesquite filtration. All speculation and thoughts of course, time will tell. Cheers!🥃
Could very well be. I’m thinking a line similar to Basil Hayden’s (with possible finishes), as mentioned in Tuesday’s post. We’ll just have to wait and see! Cheers Scott!
Scott, I think your thought is spot-on for what they can/should think of as Longbranch matures. As I always say in the car world (and it applies to other makes as well: “the Porsche Cayenne prints the money that allows Porsche to give enthusiasts and purists all those cool 911’s they love”. As in, there is nothing wrong at all with creating a side/parallel brand with the idea of branching out, while you keep the mainline stuff close to the original mission.
That doesn’t in any way imply lower quality (or taste in the case of a food or drink), but merely that a more “mass market” product line can serve a good purpose for the mothership.
Exactly! I would love to try Longbranch with second barrel finishes or even at Barrel Strength! Which I don’t think will happen again because of its target audience. But second barrel finishing seems like the more practical step for the brand
Basil Hayden’s does it. 😉
Interested to see where this one goes. I’m sick of being jealous of McConaughey…he does too many things that are awesome.
Ha! Well, I’m sure as long as Eddie’s involved it’ll be quality. 👍
Great idea, and I agree 100% regarding stressing over allocated bottles. I stopped hunting long ago. If I happen upon something cool, then great, otherwise I’m more than fine with readily available standards.
Give me a handle of 101 and a Russell’s Reserve pick ever once in a while and I’m good to go.
Well said!
Damn right, Scott. It’s silly really. And once you step back from the insanity, as I’m sure you’ve discovered, life gets a lot less stressful and a helluva lot more simpler (and fun). Cheers!
For me, Ardbeg 10 is one of the few whiskies I’ve bought extra of and have been saving. Was fortunate enough to find it on sale for about $35 about a year ago, which is a great deal around these parts. I find that I have to tuck them away in another room so that I forget about them, ha ha. But I really love the idea of specifically keeping some bottles as a time capsule. We know there will be great whisky still being made down the road, so it’s not out of a sense of worry that things will decline, but one of a fun historical comparison. Whisky operates in a unique space regarding this because other things like wine or even cellared craft beer will change over time so you can never truly do an A-B comparison years on the same way you can with whisky.
When it comes to Scotch, I love Ardbeg 10. That’s definitely one to add to my (non-WT) list. 😉
Geesh… I just looked at the list i wrote, Wild Turkey,1-10. When the time comes for the dynasty to end… stop by for a drink my friend….
You know I will, David. Cheers sir!
I was impressed when Jim Beam re-launched Baker’s as a single barrel, that they printed on the label the exact age and warehouse the bottle came from. I sadly did not like my one and only bottle of Baker’s single barrel that I purchased, but major props to Jim Beam for putting that info on the label. Just another example of how Campari is not letting Wild Turkey keep up.
It could be better, definitely. Though in all fairness to Campari, we have more barrel information now than we’ve ever had before. We just need more accuracy and across all products (not just private selections).
Not a lot of hope for me finding this in DFW, but I’ll keep an eye out.
Gonna be insane.
I’m sure the 10 bottles coming to the metroplex have already been spoken for. DFW is a wasteland for any allocated or hard to find bourbon, at least if you’re just a regular bourbon drinker. Sadly I think a lot of these bottles will go to people who don’t even drink Turkey products on a regular basis. It would be nice to see limited releases like this get sold in half-sized bottles to at least give us plebeians a fighting chance.
I hear you. Unfortunately, those would be flipped too.
What do you think of the stats RB? Interesting the proof dropped that much from 107 in the barrel. How does that happen?
Barrels on low floors lose proof. At some point these barrels were moved to lower floors to slow their aging. 2015’s Master’s Keep suffered from a similar condition. It was bottled at 86.8. Just under two points away from barrel proof.
Man it does look good. But $250 for 89.5 proof.. I’d rather have 5 bottles of Rate Breed
Note the proof is barrel strength.
I just recently picked up a Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel with the old split label and realized that it actually doesn’t say “Private Barrel Selection” on it like the new label does. This one had a neck tag, so I knew it was a store pick, but I thought it was interesting that they would add “private” to the new label–leads me to believe that going forward they will only be store/private picks? Or are they going to perhaps continue to use the older split label for the standard, non-private pick versions? Here in the Twin Cities I think I’ve only ever seen store picks, so I was actually kind of wanting to try the standard Russell’s Single Barrel for a point of reference. All tasty, regardless!
Right. The standard red label is still being used for retail bottles. Private selection labels only for selections. Love those older ones, though!
Well, I have a Kentucky Spirit from Warehouse A, bottled on 07/06/20. Barrel 1514, Rick #40. Since I’m not the infamous Rare Bird 101, is mine a Tyrone A or a Camp Nelson A? Inquiring minds want to know.
Cheers.
This might help. Only thing is, one of the barrels my group tasted last month was a CNA. It was only eight years, so I doubt it’ll have the prefix 19 when bottled. Regardless, good chance it’s Tyrone A. See: https://twitter.com/agmcclam3/status/1309462381584625665?s=21
Thanks man, that’s some thread you had with Amy. It’s never simple, but it should be. It looks like all 2020 KS is Tyrone A, to me. Or a great chance at least. Yup, mine has no 19 or 20 anywhere either. I just cracked mine an hour ago and I gotta say, It’s rockin’…I’m going with Tyrone A.
Great idea! I will be trying that soon!
My favorite mix is wt101 with ECBP. Looming forward to comparing these two.
Thanks Eric. Let me know how it turns out.
I have a decanter my wife got me years ago. This has been used primarily for my blends. Some people will do a “Infinite Bottle”, but I do not believe in them as it can be a ‘hodge podge’ of whiskey. Myself, I have stuck with 1 distillery blends, whether it be Beam, 4-Roses, Heaven Hill (EW, EC, FC…etc) or Wild Turkey.
My last blend was using open bottles of several offerings. It was RR10, WT101, RRSiB, RB & a very small amount of WTKS I had left. To say it was good is and understatement, but can also be very subjective. It threw my BIL for a loop when he tried it. His note’s were; Very complex, oak & spice upon entry, very sweet after entry with caramel, vanilla and sweet dates glazed in honey with a good amount of spice of nutmeg & cinn and a touch of orange rind. A progressively longer finish than normal with lingering oak and leather and add a kick of black pepper and a wisp of char/smoke character.
To his surprise, it was all Wild Turkey product in a blend. Needless to say this turned him around on most WT products.
Seeing your article reminded me of this, and I encourage anyone to try there own blends, but stick with same/similar distillate. Don’t mix from styles/profiles from all over the place. It can lead to some really weird results in the end of things. For the blender’s out there. It was about 1/4th bottle left of each with a small tracer of the WTKS on the middle of the blend.
PS, no Longbrach was ever used in this blend. I’ve had 1 bottle of this, and it will most likely be my last from when it was released.
Thanks for commenting. I tend to prefer all-Turkey blends myself, though I have experienced some success experimenting outside of the box. That said, the chances of failure are a lot lower staying within a single brand and/or mash bill from the same brand. Glad you enjoyed the article!
Good Afternoon.
I’m basically new to bourbon/rye, and have sipped a number of different distillery products. My first taste of Wild Turkey has been the 101. I usually sip everything neat. I viewed your various Turkey pours with Jason C. of Mash & Drum. I just ordered your book through your publisher, not Amazon. What are your suggestions for my next venture with Wild Turkey? I haven’t popped my Russell’s Reserve or RR Single Barrel yet, as well as the two Rare Breeds 112.8 and 116.8. Everyone I know say they really rely on the Wild Turkey products. Your insight would be much appreciated.
Respectfully,
Rich Cannon
Thank you! Sounds like you’ve got some of the best ones already! Pop those corks! 🙂
Nice to see you on Mash and Drum the other day. I had the chance to taste the Masters Keep 17 yo BIB and the 2003 Russell’s Reserve side by side. I really enjoyed both, the Masters Keep being more vibrant and spicy but I appreciated the mellow complexity of the 2003 RR as well. I’m enjoying your book. Cheers!
Thank you, Steven!
Lemon instead of orange peel for your standard old fashioned – care to comment why? I’ve always preferred orange peel myself. Perhaps because of my affinity for Sazeracs.
I like oranges too – but – generally speaking I prefer tangy cocktails over sweet. I’m a big citrus fan – have been since I was little (Five Alive over Sunny D all day long). Now, if I were using an Indiana rye, like Bulleit, an orange would help with the balance. Cheers!
Great article. I often use WT101 bourbon or rye in my Old Fashioned, but haven’t combined the two. I sure will next time, as well as trying your other recipes.
Have you reviewed that Stateline Elite Banks bottle (from the Don Valdez photo) here? I couldn’t find it, but have a couple unopened in my stash at the moment (and just picked up their lastest bottlings today). Would love to read your thoughts on it.
I wrote it up for Patreon a while back. I’ll have to dig up my notes. Very solid 2017 B for sure. Thanks for commenting!
Nice write up. That pineapple old fashioned is calling my name. I like the idea of using a lower proof sprit as the base.
And for an easy twist on the old fashioned, I really enjoy substituting the simple syrup with 1 tsp of maple syrup. It’s a subtle change, but it’s less sweet with more flavor. Cheers!
I’ll have to try the maple. Thanks!
I recently purchased a May 2020 bottling and will open it when my Aug 2018 bottle is finished. Happy to hear that it’s a good batch.
It’s excellent.
Wild Turkey 101 is a staple in my house. It’s always in my collection. A few years back at my nephew’s wedding i talked with some of his young friends and the talk turned to bourbon. They asked me my opinion of Maker’s Mark and my comment was it was a decent starter bourbon. They looked at me in amazement and said “Starter bourbon? What do you think is better?” My instant reply was “Wild Turkey 101”. They looked at me like I was crazy. I just said, “Try it.” Hopefully they did and are now fans.
Yes sir. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve had that same experience. When I tell folks I’m a Wild Turkey fan, I get a lot of strange looks and chuckles. 🙂
Two thumbs up for using the word: petrichor!
Wish I had some of this Turkey…
You noticed! Thanks for reading!
Very nice review. I could not agree more with the sentiment “Sometimes you just have to taste a whiskey for what it is…” We whiskey fans often can get rapped up in comparisons which can result in certain styles of fine whiskey being under appreciated. The Russell’s Reserve 2003 is like a soft warm blanket, not flashy but ultimately very satisfying. Cheers!
Thank you very much. Yep. I couldn’t find any flaws here. It might not be the champ in every flight, but on its on it’s world class.
World class is an understatement. I can only enjoy RR 2003 through your palate! Through a reliable industry source, this selling on the secondary market for over $1,000.00!!!!!!!! Yikes!!! Enjoy every last drop!!!!
Wow! That’s way too much. But it is good whiskey. 🙂
What are the chances that a January 2019 Kentucky Spirit from Warehouse A is actually a Camp Nelson – A ? Thanks for all the great reviews and insight.
Thank you! Pretty much none. Any A from 2019 should be Camp Nelson A.
Excellent transparency…”Stay Bonded”…cheers to 2021
Thank you.
WOW! Thank You! I love Rare Breed Bourbon 116.8, WT 101, WT 101Rye…..
I can’t wait for this to get to Europe ! I so hope!
p.s. Waiting for DHL to deliver your book…..Greetings from cold Germany!
Thank YOU!
Yeah! Bring out a commemerative 30 year Rye which is richer ( older ) than WT 101 Rye, but at a reasonable price.
I have to get some of this one !
Sorry, I wrote bring out a Rye.
I love the Rare Breed 116.8 !
No better bang for the buck out there !
Agreed.
30 years matured? That would be a little … woody. 🙂
Waiting for DHL to deliver !
Thank you!
“To do so and have it where a majority of enthusiasts can find it and afford it as a special occasion purchase is remarkable.”
Indeed these days are over. Whereas Revival and Decades could be found on the shelf for months and months after their release, BiB never even really made it to the shelf around me, immediately selling out. This is how things are these days I guess. Still, can’t complain as long as I can walk in at any time and get Rare Breed and Russel’s SiB whenever I want. Cheers.
It can still be found in some places, though at a small premium. I think this may be the last year that happens. Like you said, the sitting on shelves for months and months is over.
Thanks to here.
I’m a drop in the bucket compared to most sites. If anything, YouTube and reaches the majority of folks.
First of all thanks for the insightful post, as always. Just finished your book last night and this list will definitely help decide my next pickup.
I’ll likely grab another 2020 Rare Breed and finally try the Rye as well. May even grab a Russels Reserve Single Barrel to round out the trifecta.
If I manage to close out the year debt free, I might have to celebrate by relieving my local shop of their last bottle of Bottled in Bond to celebrate.
Thanks so much for reading my book. I truly appreciate it. Honestly can’t go wrong with any of those next purchases. Cheers!
I found an exact same example recently from 1991 and am wondering if I should open and enjoy or let it sit to make some money at some time…
Drink! Plenty of money to be made other ways.
It really is a nice bottle design. I’m a big fan of the change, especially if the bourbon inside and the price on the sticker aren’t changing.
Amen!
I like the refresh of WT101
Will price remain or increase?
Check that last paragraph. 👍
Oh. Duh. Well it’s kinda late for me. EST time.
On a side note do you think this redesign resembles Makers just a tad?
And….when will we see these? 2/3quarter ?
I think they’re moving in the direction of Longbranch. But, be sure to read the part about the tequila influence and follow that link. 👍
Wild Turkey 101 is among my favorites. Unfortunately, Safeway in my neighborhood no longer stocks it—a huge negative surprise. Had to walk 1.25 miles each way to Trader Joe’s to buy W.T. 101; worth the 2.5 miles of exercise.
Damn. That stinks!
This smacks of a Campari junior marketing associate looking for an emblem on their resume. 🙄
Glad you enjoyed it, Shorts. 😛
I meant the expression. Not your take. 😂
Aw, man. I wasn’t offended! 👊
Master’s Keep is such a quietly excellent series I have to admit this news left me scratching my head. One thing I will commend them on, however, is a willingness to experiment. Whether the aforementioned Revival or the rye Cornerstone, I appreciate that while this series is almost always stellar, it is also almost always a site for exploration. That those things tend to converge is a credit to Jimmy and Eddie’s mastery.
Well said. This is my least favorite *on paper* but we’ll soon find out. It could be a favorite.
I’m hopeful, and buy most of these master’s keep releases. In the end the Russell family has a lot of integrity, and often these MK bottles end up being ones I really miss when they’re gone. And more than any other distiller, both my lady and I end up enjoying these together, so sure I’ll bite.
Absolutely. I have faith in Eddie.
Very nice take. I like you am worried but also optimistic.
Thanks Michael!
Newish bourbon enthusiast here, since 2019. Picked up an old fantail bottle Kentucky Spirit store pick selected in 2014 by Market Liquors in Tallahassee (my favorite store). Just been sitting on the shelf for years evidently!
Never had Kentucky Spirit before but excited to see what this is like! Love your site.
Thanks Daniel. That should be a fine Spirit!
I just picked this exact bottle up in a random trade because of this review. I’ve had my share of old T RR and only on KY spirit. Looking forward to the bottle, T has been in my top 3 ricks along with D/H for quite some time.
Awesome! Please let me know what you think. This is no average T. At all.
Dan have you opened your bottle yet? If so we’d like to hear your impressions on this bottle.
I am a big fan of the dark brooding profile of CNF with that dark cherry note
Amen to that!
On your profile differences, I have noticed a lot of nuttiness on the G-4 picks from this year as well. They are also around the same age and that note could very well be from the new distillery, in fact it probably is. I just keep thinking about the beam “funk” and how it tends to disappear within KC SiB picks at around 12 yrs old. It seems that 2 yr period really does a number on that peanut note.
David I am a big fan of your reviews and am a WT 101 preacher.
Recently I have only gotten my hands on this elusive elixir (here in Australia) and have been reading up about BIB (we don’t get many BIB bourbons down under). I was wondering if Eddie specified the season (spring or fall) of this release as part of the BIB act.
I started to look up information online but couldn’t find much. It got me thinking – would a spring MK17 BIB taste different to a fall MK17 BIB?
Like yours my bottle has the same basic information and batch number 0001, but nothing on the months it was distilled. The lazer code on my bottle is a bit blurry but from what I can make out of it is something like LL\C240929 or LL\CZ40829
I then attempt to decrypt the letters and realized that C would correspond to the year 2014…..
Should I just stop asking questions and heal my soul with such concoction?!
Cheers mate.
I don’t think I’ve seen the season mentioned. I’ll check my bottle code in the AM and we’ll go from there. Thanks Jim!
I checked. Mine is LL/IC, which would be 2020. 👍
Thanks David. Yes mine has IC too actually, and C = March so we’ve got a spring batch baby!
Great article as always! Do you happen to have a listing of all warehouses used for RR? Trying to get a bottle from each. Thanks!
Thank you! Don’t have a list but since 2014 or so it’s been Tyrone A, B, D, E, G, H, K, M, N, O, S, T, W and Camp Nelson A, C, D, and F.
How can you tell whether It’s Tyrone versus Camp Nelson?
That’s the trick. No easy way. If A or F from 2019, Camp Nelson. If F 2018-2020, Camp Nelson. If A with a barrel number prefix of 19-, Camp Nelson. If A with a barrel number prefix of 20-, could be either and refer to the vendor.
Great read as always. Have a select 10 year CNF floor 5 best yet
Thank you!
Great write-up, DJ! I actually enjoyed the last pour of that ’99 last night. I don’t have terribly extensive experience with dusties (’84 decanter, ’97 export 8/101, a couple ’05 101s, the few we sipped at the Patreon gathering), but they’ve all been excellent. I was lucky to get them before the market went nuts last spring.
I still keep an eye out, but for the prices things go for lately I can just sip some Russell’s Reserve SiB and rest easy knowing I’m getting a premium Turkey expression for roughly $50. No complaints.
P.S. You and this blog are what piqued my interest in Turkey to begin with. Happy to be a supporter and to call you a friend.
-Scott
Excellent points. And you’re right – you can’t go wrong with RRSiB. Thanks again, brother. 🥃🦃👊
I’m enjoying tweetdrams. Keep it coming!
Thanks William. Will do!
Hi David, belated thanks and compliments for your insightful and eloquent writing. I was fortunate to pick up several bottles of MK17 sib and I’m happy I did because I’m almost through with my first bottle. It is everything you say it is and more. I bet this is a release that people will be talking about in hushed tones years from now. And even if they aren’t I will!
Thanks for commenting, Peter. I had to grab a backup myself. Such an amazing bourbon.
Great post Rare Bird! Actually vatted bourbon is all I drink. This gives me the best chance to drink something special without having to shell out hundreds of dollars on limited releases for I have a large family. One of my top blends was Knob Creek 9yr sib and Rare Breed. This one can be proofed down with Russell’s 10yr if necessary. This is as good as it gets for the money.
Thanks Larry! Don’t think I’ve tried KC9 and Rare Breed, but I’ll have to now. Cheers!
Awesome post. Always enjoy.
Thanks Daniel!
Thanks for sharing the Truth David! At the end of the day it’s bourbon. I refuse to chase after the wind.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Larry. And I agree.
Really loved your thoughts here on both the bottle and the secondary market. Agree with you wholeheartedly on the latter and I hope to pay a reasonable price and find common ground with you on the former. Thanks for sharing sooner-than-usual, David.
Very welcome. And thanks for sharing feedback. Really appreciate it.
Well said David. I think all the talking and discussion helps. I actually just read an article the other week on the subject – link https://www.whiskyadvocate.com/black-market-bourbon-feature/
It is not quite as bad here in Australia, but the scene exists as I would imagine in any country. Another reason why I love WT – easily accessible and affordable. I recalled your post on RR10 sharing the same pricing with Eagle Rare 10. Well over here ER10 is $95AUD and RR10 is $55AUD. And I paid retail price for that bottle of MK17 BIB which I wouldn’t otherwise for others (e.g ER17).
Thanks Jim. I just hope Wild Turkey remains affordable. Also, this Father & Son release states involvement with Campari Australia on the label. I hope y’all can gain access to it, as opposed to just travel retail. Y’all deserve a good one!
Great article as always. There are so many great options under $75 to choose from there is no need to chase anything.
Thanks Mark!
Secondary for me but not for thee? 😉
FWIW the secondary as a whole isn’t necessarily bad. The three-tier system gives it cause. My issue is bad behavior on the secondary.
I combined WT 101 and Evan Williams BIB roughly equal parts and was surprised how good it is. Dumb luck on my part,
Awesome! Always pays to try new things. Even if it’s just to learn. Sometimes you discover surprises.
Do you know why a lot of people dislike the Rare Breed bottle?
I suppose because it’s heavily used – Rare Breed, Rare Breed Rye, Kentucky Spirit, Father & Son. I think it’s fine for the Rare Breed line. Would prefer something different for Kentucky Spirit.
That sticker sure was interesting. Now I’ve got the Beach Boys California Dreamin song in my head from looking at that. It does make you look harder at the bottle and does have the relevant info although one does have to look at it carefully to fully see it. I’m happy they took a chance and did something different. I’d definitely buy a bottle of that if I could. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for reading, Dean! It’s actually missing the barrel number and dump date (bottling date doesn’t determine the age) but still awesome!
Just found 4 of these in small town Iowa. Paid $120 each (tax and deposit included). Hope to enjoy them all!
Congrats Gregory!
I found a flask type case with wild turkey 86.8 proof in it. The red seal on the cap has never been broken. Is this a rare find? Got it from my dad, he passed away 33 years ago. Just curious. Thanks
Certainly not common. How incredible. Maybe open it on a special day for you and your dad and sip in his memory. Should make an extra special pour. Thank you for sharing this, Brenda.
Thanks for the update David. Good to know that I don’t need to stockpile on the 2020 batch!
Btw my copy of your book finally arrived here in Australia last afternoon. Just holding the book I feel the labour of love and passion. I’m gonna pair the reading with some Russell’s 10, Rare breed, Longbranch, MK 17 BIB and finishing it off with classic 101. Cheers mate.
Thank you so much, Jim. I hope you love reading it as much as I did writing it. Cheers!
A Rare Breed Anniversary release would be in order. A blend of 7, 9, and 13yr. NCF. $80. Is that too much to ask from a blue collar perspective?
A Rare Breed LE would be great (and appropriate). Doubt we’ll see one anytime soon, unfortunately.
Well said! The CNF KS I’ve been enjoying since Friday is one that has made me a believer. I was pleasantly surprised about the balance and flavor being delivered. Well worth the $58 I paid.
Thanks Parag!
Fantastic point about Stagg Jr. and EHTaylor SiB. Cheers!
Thank you! There’s probably others, but that one stuck out at the time.
Since there were two barrel entry proof changes, in 2004 from 107-110 and then in 2006 from 110-115, then there might be some differences up to 2014 based on the eight year average. I have a 2013 I picked up a couple years back but haven’t had the chance to crack. Hoping it still retains some of the older characteristics.
That’s a good point and I should’ve caught that. I’ll fixer up. Thanks!
Looking back, it says 2012-2014 for additional dilution (more or less). Should be good. 👍
Yep, but I was referring to the closing paragraphs where you recommend not picking anything up unless it’s 2012 or earlier. “Unless the bottling date is 2012 or earlier, there’s no likelihood the bourbon will taste any better than a recent bottling.” So there was a couple years where it was 110 proof; just wondering if you noticed a marked down turn in KS after the first dilution or only the second.
Gotcha. Well, I’ve had 2013-present that were very much modern WT, a few that I’d argue as classic, and one that’s pretty much straight dusty. But I stand by the 2012 or earlier with likelihood as the key word. That doesn’t mean a 2013 or latter bottling couldn’t be special, just trying to say that 2012 or earlier is where you hit barrels of the original BEP as well as barrels not competing with (pulled for) RRSiB (2013-present).
And you never know! Check this out: https://rarebird101.com/2020/11/04/dusty-wild-turkey-from-2015/
Completely unrelated, but congrats on the Whisky Advocate article!!!!!
Just got my copy in the mail yesterday.
Thank you!
I have two bottles from Warehouse G (2020 bottlings) and they are only 3 barrels away from each other but they taste totally different. The one bottle I would take over the WT17 BiB offering, it is that good. The other one is very good but nothing special. It’s wild how different they are.
The one bottle has me hooked and now all I want to buy is Russell Reserve picks.
Always a cool thing to hear about! Did you notice any spec differences? Age? Distillation date? Those are fun things to examine.
The best one had the date info on it (about 8.5 years) and the other bottle only had the barrel location, floor, and warehouse on a tag (lame).
I purchased them about 3 months apart and in the same state (probably the same distributor is that matters for store picks?).
The one tastes like a PB&J with quality ingredients. It has me hooked. The flavors linger for a long time and reminds you how good the barrel pick was. I can’t believe I only paid $53 for the bottle. The only disappointment is that I only have one bottle of it and I will miss it when it is gone. I enjoy it so much that I’d pay some of those prices for another bottle that you mentioned in your post.
Wow! Sounds delicious.
I recently came into one of these – Not the US version (sorry no help here) – Now that it is 2021, I am going to do a blind side by side with WTMK BiB 17 year. I wonder how intriguing that may be… I will report back.
It’s fun. (Saying from experience. 😉)
After reading this post, I finally jumped off the fence and headed out to one of my favorite local stores to buy a bottle of Tyrone E Floor 4 that has the same distillation date (09-19-11) as the Martin Wine Cellar pick that you liked so much. Have not opened it yet, but excited to see if it mine has the same Dickel notes.
What container/flask is that?
Aged & Ore Travel Decanter. It’s awesome. Highly recommended!
You’re right on with the JHOB. That sucker is straight candy bar and I love it.
So good!
Great article! Thank you for convincing me to grab a bottle of KS, picked one up today. It’s warehouse G, rick 33. I’m guessing that’s Tyrone correct? Any opinions on KS that you’ve had from Tyrone G?
Haven’t had a 2020 G Kentucky Spirit but I bet it’s fantastic.
Hello David, I tried this particular Lot of Rare Breed and I think it is fantastic. Like the best of the best from any distillery.
Wildly underrated – well, maybe not so much now. People are catching on! 🥃🦃
This was great, I hope to try Masters Keep this year and plan on snagging a Saffell, as there’s a few still floating around here in VA. Btw, thanks for addressing the elephant in the room. I’m new to bourbon (bought my first bottle, Longbranch, last November) but it didn’t take long for me to realize that Eddie is under appreciated. I guess we can only hope that one day Eddie is so loved that Bruce is forgotten about for too long. That would make for a long time of Turkey being in good hands, which is something we Turkey fans all envision already.
Thanks Jonathan. Really appreciate the feedback!
Amen brother! Master’s Keep FTW!
Cheers!
Enjoyed a glass of CNA floor 3 to toast the birthday boy today. Also, where can one get a Russell’s Reserve glencairn or Wild Turkey glencairn? I’ve tried looking around, but it almost seems like there are no official ones out there that I can see.
I believe the gift shop in Lawrenceburg has Wild Turkey Glencairns. Outside of that, I usually find what I can on eBay.
DJ,
Have you noticed these getting younger recently? Seems all the ones I’ve seen lately are 8 1/2 to 9 years.
You rarely saw a 10-year pick until late 2019, early 2020 Camp Nelson selections. Plenty of 8-year picks in 2018. The grand majority of RRSIB picks have always been 8-9 years. I tasted a McBrayer B barrel sample that was only 7 years (it’s 8 now). It was amazing. Age is just a number. 👍
Thank you for the detailed info. I have one from Tyrone A that’s nearly 11 years and is unbelievable. Agree age is just a number until you reach a certain number. 😉
Exactly.
Great blog, I wholeheartedly agree. Stickers are selling bottles right now, as crazy as that sounds. People will look back on this one day and laugh at themselves.
Thanks Larry! They’re fun. And if it stops there, great. I just hate to see folks waste their money.
I just picked up a bottle tonight after not seeing it for a couple of months my rare breed bottle starts with LL on the code but I’m not sure of what I have. It doesn’t really matter as this is absolutely delicious I was just wondering.
Look for the letter after the LL. That’s the year. G would be 2018, H 2019, I 2020, etc.
HAPPY Birthday to Eddie Russell, I’ve worked there for 20 years and he is one awesome guy. Him and Jimmy are the best.
Yes, they are!
I enjoy a pour of Bakers 7 in a glencairn with a cube of ice and splash of water. It smells heavenly thanks to the glass. Go figure.
Your happiness is what matters most!
Awesome ideas. I have used other liqueurs in the past as a substitute for sugar syrup in something like an Old Fashioned, so I may have to try that with this. Another favorite simple cocktail of mine is a Stingray: https://punchdrink.com/recipes/sting-rye/ which I find works especially well with a rye, like 101 Rye. Skål!
I’ll have to try that. Thanks Anders!
Hey, I noticed that twice you referred to this as being, in part, from the “Austin, Nichols” company. Is there a reason for the “comma” … I had always seen/heard it as just “Austin Nichols”?
Correct. It’s two individuals. Robert Austin and James Nichols. It’s on the bottle and most company materials with the comma. Good eyes, though!
I introduced my wife to bourbon with what I named an Orange Smash. 1.5 oz WT American Honey, 1 oz HH BIB, 1.5 oz orange juice. Mix, stir with ice, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
I can report she has advanced now to Russell’s Reserve SiB/water as her beverage of choice.
Gateway spirit indeed.
Sounds delicious. I assume it’ll work about the same or better with WT 101?
Since my kids love this stuff I think an opportunity for Wild Turkey would be to try different types of honey in it – Clove, Apple, Dandelion, Acacia, etc – and see how the flavor changes. A marketing or gift set opportunity at the very least.
Different types of honey … now that’s an interesting idea!
A bottle of this lives in my fridge for use as a sweetener in bourbon cocktails. Always have one on hand just in case the mood strikes.
A little over a decade ago, it was also one of the main “gateway drinks” that brought my wife to being a bourbon lover (she has a much bigger sweet tooth than I do).
Never thought of keeping it in the fridge. That’s a great idea!
Great post. This liqueur is too sweet for my liking, even in cocktails. But the sting version gave it a nice kick in a sour!
Thanks Jim!
I enjoy adding this to my morning coffee on the weekends. Delicious!
Good call, Burt!
I have a bottle of WT I bought in 1993 never opened.
Still good. Thoughts
Sure! Should taste great!
I feel this so much. I used to be all about the hunt, but the cost to value ratio is so screwed, and it won’t get better any time soon.
I’m fine with handles of 101 and some Russell’s Reserve SiB. Less stress, fewer dollars, and I still get what I need.
Amen, Scott. Prices are way out of focus and quickly moving beyond fellowship range. Smoke if you got ‘em. If you don’t, don’t sweat it. Cheers!
Like David I find this one a little too sweet for sipping but it can be amazing in a cocktail. One of my favorites is LiberTea that we wrote about way back in 2012. Give it a try but make sure you don’t the entire pitcher like my wife and I did in just a few hours – when we made it a 2nd time. Dangerous stuff. 😉
Here’s the recipe if you’re interested: https://www.bourbonbanter.com/drink/cocktails/wild-turkey-american-honey-a-beautiful-redhead/#.YIxo8WSSm1c
Amen! Too amazingly easy sometimes. I’ll have look up that LiberTea.
Barrel-proof, but 55% on the dot?
Also, “boldest, yet smooth…”. I wish they’d just leave “smooth” out of all marketing material.
It’s 114.8 per the release. Smooth is debatable! 😁
The reason for the confusion is it shows a picture of the label and the picture says 110 proof/55ABV.
That’s the official TTB filing. There’s been no other official image to date. Only leaked photos. Unfortunately, it’s all I have to go with at the moment.
I’ve seen pictures that show the actual boxes,
It appears to be 114.8 proof.
States it in the release above. 114.8.
Any word on the bottle count? Or is this going to be yet another special release I’ll never see.
No count, but it will be less than Rare Breed Rye. Probably less than most Master’s Keep releases.
Well if it’s fewer than MK then I might as well forget about it. I’m really getting tired of fighting over bottles. I never even sniffed an opportunity to purchase the RR2003, 2002 or 1998. And MK17bib was probably available but that one was tatered beyond belief.
Fingers crossed for you, Larry.
Update: I was able to score a bottle from my local retail store. Evidence that miracles do happen! Already opened it and it’s fantastic.
Congrats Larry!
Your fingers crossed did the trick! :- )
It’d be the first! LOL
I am beyond excited for this!
Me too!
Not releasing it for another month?
Rare Breed Rye hit shelves before its technical release date. But technically, yes. June 1st according to this release.
Australia?! We need this since we can’t get father & son.
Interesting, considering the label for Father & Son. I know it’s travel-retail, but it’s also supplied by Campari Australia (per the label). I know some bottles have hit online retailers. Maybe ask your area Campari rep. Cheers Jim!
Pretty bummed this won’t be an ongoing release. WT could lessen the sting by announcing NCF Rare Breed bourbon…
It will be annual, just limited in number. Only so many 13+ year barrels available to be batched and bottled for this expression.
Curious how you know it is annual release (obviously you have likely heard more than I have), but the press release does not indicate that regularity.
Thanks for commenting. My Patreon group had a Zoom with Bruce Russell. He stated it would be an annual release and a permanent part of the Russell’s Reserve line. 👍
Well it appears that Wild Turkey has released a One Liter Rb thtis also Non-Chill filtered. Excited to crack it and report bacl!
That’s correct. It’s supposed to be a travel-retail release. Is that where you found it?
Yes picked it up in Aruba on the way back to the US. Also at 116.8. Curious to see how it compares to the standard.
In the mid-nineties before many of yall were bourbon chasers, I happened upon a few cases of some dusty Pensylvania Whiskey at a flea market, of all places. I bought a few bottles for the heck of it. One was called Three Feathers and it was bottled in the 50s, the other was called Gibsons and this particular bottle was distilled around 1942. Well, me and a buddy tried em both, rotgut is the term we used I believe. I laugh to this day just thinking and imagining the fervor these whiskey fanatics would have over these horrid bottles if they ran across them today. Old, vintage, sealed, for sure. But terrible, oh yeah. Take it from me, old doesn’t always equal quality. Im assuming these were likely bottom shelf swill in their day.
Great story! Very true. Old whiskey isn’t always good whiskey.
Late to the party, but this is… good. Really good. Some genuinely dusty notes to it for me. And for the record, bought it retail and not the secondary.
Yep. It’s excellent. Glad you’re enjoying it, Dan!
Got a 1970 4/5 quart bottle of Austin Nichols New York Wild Turkey 101 8 year from my father-in-law this past weekend. It had been opened but not reopened since. About 1/3rd was gone and the original cork had broken off into it. We opened, strained and removed the original cork. Still very tasty. Bottle and label are in great shape and a keeper!
Glad to hear. Enjoy every sip, Gregory! 🥃 🦃
Hello, I have a bottle of Kentucy Spirit with these info on it : bottled on 01/16/20 , barrel 1066, rickhouse A, rick 19. What camp could it be? Thank you.
It could be Tyrone, Camp Nelson, or McBrayer. I wish Campari would address this issue. See my post “Rickhouse Blues.” Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for your answer, now there are 2 with the same info in my old trunk/bar .
I don’t think I will be disappointed by this 1066 barrel, it is WT after all.
Regarding the camp , maybe they don’t want this information to hinder with sales as great reviews of a camp or bad reviews of another may make a certain camp more sought after or avoided by buyers.
Just saying.
I don’t think it’s that. They’ve only used a single letter on Kentucky Spirit since 1994. I guess it wasn’t that important then. It certainly is now. Hopefully, Campari will recognize this and address it with KS in the near future. Thanks Florin!
Just picked up a bottle for $84 at Heathrow. Looking forward to sharing with friends
Now that’s a find! Congrats!
There’s no time limit on commenting, yeah? I’m minimalist and frugal, meaning my glassware has mostly been acquired “at no additional cost” — a small Glencairn from Glen Scotia, a tall glass from Johnnie Walker, an aluminum tumbler from Maker’s Mark — but also an insulated tall glass and tumbler that I did purchase. They all get used, and get used according to what I want out of the drink being poured. Do I want my cold, neat cocktail to remain so? — into the insulated tumbler it goes. Do I want the ice in the drink to further dilute — Maker’s Mark tumbler it is. It also keeps ones hands cool! Mix it up! The same goes for mixology. I had a bottle each of dry, bianco, and rosso vermouth, and was experimenting with varying proportions of each in the Negronis, Boulevardiers, and whatever the rum variation is called, that I was making. Bitters, lemon juice, salt? Why not? Now, I don’t post any of this anywhere, but I’d reckon if I had exposure, there’d be some shaming and flaming goin’ on.
Thank you for commenting and sharing. No shame here! You do you. Cheers! 🥃🦃
This comment will be much more to the point than my previous one. I live in Japan, and therefore have access to WT 101 8 Year for ~$31-36 / 1 liter. RR 10 Year goes for ~$55. I’ve had plenty of WT, but never RR. I know the mark-up for RR is greater than WT, which gives me pause on buying it here. Sell me on it!
For starters, great price on the 101/8. I’d say that RR10 occupies a different profile. It’s similar to Eagle Rare but with greater spice. $55 is rather high (it’s $35 here) but is there any harm in trying it once? You might just enjoy it. Then again, if you have access to WT13, just buy that over RR10. Their profiles are almost exact, batch depending.
Indeed, the price, (and the contents!) are hard to beat. RR10 is not a part of the Japanese lineup, wildturkey.jp which likely accounts for the price. Eagle Rare 10-Year, which I have had here, is ~$40-45. WT13 and RR10 being similar makes sense; come to think of it, I may have read that before. I’ve read mostly “just okay” reviews of WT13, so I’ve stayed away — I’m generally a higher-proof person anyhow — but, as you said, why not give it a go. Thanks! (BTW –I’m a long-time reader, but new-fangled commenter.)
WT13 is great at its native price, but at the American secondary market price ($100+), it’s a pass for me. Especially since RR10 will get you 90%+ there in flavor. Cheers Tavis!
I have one bottle of 2001 RB left after buying a dusty case about 10 years ago, still my favourite whiskey of all time.
Saving the last bottle for my 50th, only 11 more years to go!
Cheers Albert! A very wise purchase ten years ago.
I’m incredibly thankful I got to try this with friends. I still get flashbacks. Truly amazing!
It certainly is. Cheers!
Maybe a silly question and maybe I missed this info, but how do you know where a bottle was aged? I recently picked up an OHLQ RR barrel pick and it said it came from rickhouse F and floor 4… does that info help me find out where the aging happened? Thanks!!
Not silly at all! See my post “Rickhouse Blues.” It’s all about that. If 2021 it’s likely Tyrone F. If 2018-2020 it’s Camp Nelson F. All the best!
My barrel 1066 originated from Camp Nelson .The content of the first bottle is half gone already and the content is amazing.
I bet! I’ve tasted some excellent CNA Kentucky Spirits.
I’ve spent nearly 15 years in the whiskey industry (always on the single malt side). Without question the greatest detriment to this specific sub-group of the industry is the proverbial gate-keeper mentality around how a single malt should be drank. It has undoubtedly turned people away from single malt and empowered bourbon/rye to become the popular choice for consumers that want a lower stress, more diverse consumption opportunity. My hope is that over time we see this begin to break down but I fear that the “Cask Strength only, Glencairn only, Neat only” mindset is so engrained that it may have missed its chance to really grow past the most dedicated fans.
It is worth pointing out that we all, as consumers, aficionados, enthusiasts, etc have a platform to educate. When people ask you how to drink whiskey the answer should almost always be “however brings you the most joy”. I now go out of my way at consumer events to educate on the difference between drinking and tasting whiskey. I think its great to have some level of standards in tasting whiskey; clean (and correct) glassware, small sips, neat first, with water second, etc. But what you do on a Wednesday night after a day of work when you want to enjoy a drink doesn’t by any means need the same level of rigor, in fact I’d argue that it shouldn’t.
Cheers
Chris Riesbeck
Westland Distillery
So very well said, Chris. There’s a huge difference between tasting and drinking whiskey. And, the only right way is, of course, your way. BTW the 2yo Single Cask Nation Westland was excellent. Cheers! dj
Nice write-up.
My WT Rye ratings on their everyday bottlings:
RR SiB Rye (one of the very best ryes on the market at any $$)
RB 112.2 (was too hot in 2020 and a bit overpriced IMHO) Gotta try the 2021.
101 Rye
RR 6yo Rye (always something not right for my palate)
81 Rye
Cheers!
That’s a solid list.
I personally wasn’t so big on Rare Breed Rye, which is a shame, because I can readily get it for $46. Now Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye is a completely different story; it’s currently my rye to beat.
Hey, whatever floats your boat! At least you’re on the right river. 😉🥃🦃
Amazing direct opinion about a product and topic that has impacted the bourbon community greatly! There are many of us Wild Turkey lovers, old established followers of the brand, and newbies such as myself, that have loved and come to love a product that is incredibly unique yet readily available, save the limited releases and private picks. The shelf products have literally been available for years. I really enjoy tasting the various expressions that Wild Turkey offers, amazing for a product that has only one mash bill/recipe!
Thanks so much Rich! Glad you’re on Team Turkey.
David, do you know if this has arrived in SC yet?
Not to my knowledge.
RB,
I’m interested in joining the patreon, but have a question about the single barrel selections. If i was lucky enough to secure one can they be shipped to a state like Mississippi? It is technically illegal to ship liquor here.
Thanks in advance.
– Fox
Shoot me an email via my contact form and we can research this with my vendors. Thank you!
Did the bottle have beyond duplication on the back etched in the glass?
I believe it had an embossed 8 over the label. The bottle is no more. Here’s an IG post with it: https://www.instagram.com/p/ByglFEinG_y/
I have a bottle that has 1855 etched on the front and beyond duplication on the back. Looking for info on it.
The 1855 (top) with Beyond Duplication (bottom) continued through the 2000s. Feel free to shoot me a picture. Cheers Brent!
Is it possible McBrayer barrels were bottled as standard Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel offerings in 2020? I swear, I had a retail bottle that matched your description of this selection almost exactly, especially the grape note. It was so “off-profile” for what I usually get in a RRSiB that I damn near sent you a sample.
Either way, I’ll be on the lookout for McBrayer picks this summer. I really dug the uniqueness.
It’s always possible. Early 2021 samples were pulled in 2020. I know some McBrayer barrels went to standard RRSiB bottlings. You never know!
Any word on a bottle count on the russels 13? My buddies always find just about everything allocated but nobody has found this or even heard of it ever showing up this is very strange.
No official count. I’ve just been told less than a typical Master’s Keep. The insanity and hype around this release has reached ridiculous levels. It will be quite difficult to find for most. On the brighter side, it’s still rolling out. Best of luck!
You go back Jack, do it again…and buy more SiB store picks.
But hey, that’s just from a minor dude!
Cheers
Love it!
Thanks for this, David. I have a story to tell that might give your readership hope. I’m in the greater Minneapolis area, and my little burb doesn’t get much for the rare/allocated bottles. That said, there are a couple of Total Wines within a half hour of my house, so I occasionally hit those to do some hunting.
I had a friend call to tell me he was in a Total Wine on the opposite side of town, and they told him they had gotten a case of RR13 in that morning and it was gone before it hit the shelf, but I thought, what the heck… I’d run to the nearest TW store over my lunch hour and see if I could get lucky.
I got there and asked one of the employees if they had any and he pointed to a short line of people down the aisle. He said “the truck is just arriving and if we get any, it’ll be on it. Those four guys have already been waiting for almost two hours. Chances are, we’ll get a case or two at most.” So I decided to hop in line not knowing how long it would take. I had afternoon meetings and couldn’t wait any longer than 20 minutes.
As I waited, the line grew. Pretty soon it was nearly 20 deep. As I nervously watched my twenty minutes expire, I couldn’t help but think this would likely be my best (and perhaps only) chance at getting a bottle. After all, even if they only get a case, I’m fifth in this line, so I was in a good position.
Twenty minutes came and went. I thought “I can take the first part of my call in the car… ten more minutes.” Right then a manager walked up and said “the truck is here, but it’s not even at the dock yet. It could literally be hours. You’re welcome to wait if you want, but it will likely be a while.”
I was sunk. Cursing my responsibility, I left the line with about 5-6 thanks their people (none nearer to the front of the line than me). For a day and a half I thought about what might have been had I been able to stick it out.
Several days later, I was at the grocery store in my sleepy little town to pick up supplies for a small gathering we were having. I checked out and realized I had forgotten ice for the cooler. So I put my groceries in the car and ducked into the adjoining liquor store. As I walked in, I thought I’d grab a bottle of WT101 for some summer cocktails in the event our gathering wanted to head that direction. So I grabbed one. On sale for $26. Score!
As I started to walk away I did the obligatory quick scan of the shelves, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. There it was. A single bottle of RR13 between the 10 year and the 6 year rye. I audibly let out an “OOOOoooooooof!” as I grabbed it as quickly as I could. I was stunned. Elated. In complete disbelief.
When I brought it up to the counter beaming, the cashier said “Russell’s 13… we’ve gotten multiple calls every day for over a month about that stuff.” She seemed less than impressed over all of the fuss. I told her about my Total Wine experience and she just rolled her eyes. I can’t imagine being a liquor store clerk having to field constant questions about these rare bottles, knowing that a good percentage of those asking are people looking flip bottles for a ridiculous profit.
But this time, I got one. In the place I least expected. So occasionally, it does happen. The people who SHOULD get the good stuff do. And it feels SO great when it does work out that way. Stay hopeful, friends, and enjoy the hunt.
Thanks again for a great read, David!
Apologies for the late reply, this was caught in my blog’s pending comments folder. A fantastic ending to an at-first-discouraging story. Thanks for taking the time to type that up and share. Very happy for you. Congrats and enjoy! dj
I do not like it much; I prefer the previous ugly bird label. This new one is too elegant for my WT.
I imagine the cork will be the same size though, so I will be saving my current bottle to put new WT101 in 😁. I do the same for Glenlivet.
Fair enough. It’s your whiskey! 👍
I picked up a bottle at O’hare for $64. I am very excited to try it after reading your review. I wonder if maybe they rang it up wrong? Wish I had picked up two now!
Wow! That’s a steal of a deal. Congrats!
A mix of Longbranch and the 101 Rye would make sense?Just wondering.
Sure!
You can’t drink the bottle, just it’s contents.
Correct.
Best post yet David! Thanks be to God for Life!
Thanks Larry!
We get caught in the roll of life’s journey forgetting that we must stop once in a while to look around , enjoy our simple things that matter to us like a glass of whiskey, we are not gonna live forever to keep forgetting about ourselves.
Raise the full glass for your life !
Cheers!
Amen. Cheers Florin!
Happy birthday David! A toast for keeping the passion alive – team turkey for the win!
Thank you!
Really important perspective. Thanks for the reminder. I’ll do it today-
Cheers!
Cheers sir!
In regards to the straight bourbon designation, I didn’t think a toasted finish (but not charred) would affect that. I believe they can age in a new charred oak barrel, then put that into “toasted only” oak barrels for finishing. Looking at the Elijah Craig and Michter’s labels, both say Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Elijah Craig’s description specifically says that they use toasted but not charred barrels for finishing.
If you toast by using a light char you can call it straight. 👍
Longbranch is not that bad and with KS , half and half, it is a fine WT by any name you may call it.
KS adds a litle kick plus more importantly it adds substance.
Longbranch can be improved at home, it is a good base to start. No need to overlook it, it is Wold Turkey after all.
Mix and enjoy! Cheers!
Thanks Florin!
Sippin on RB LL/ HA140423 and lovin it !
Enjoy!
Amen Brother.
Thanks!
picked one up today, can’t wait to try and compare, wonderful write up, enjoyed reading
Awesome! Thank you.
I love this. That’s it, just love.
Thanks Andrew!
Hi! Thanks for the great article. Is this list current for today? Or maybe more versions of Rare Breed came out?
Current with the exception of the 2020 NCF travel-retail Rare Breed 116.8.
And thank you!
RR10 is a great value in today’s market but I’ve tried several bottles of it through the years and it always leaves me underwhelmed. For my palate it falls short to WT101 in every way — including flavor. It balances a bit too much to the tannic oak side for my tastes as a daily drinker and more often than not either ends up either boring me or fatiguing palate to the point I reach for something else. Can’t see much reason to buy it as long as 101 quality is so good except as a change of pace pour. And I’m not even considering price. YMMV.
Fair enough. Nothing wrong with 101 being your pour of choice. 👍
I know, right? That’s the great thing about the Wild Turkey line. Plenty of amazing options to choose from. Something for everyone, and at great prices & availability to boot!
Eagerly anticipating this release!
Great article, my bourbon journey starting with eagle rare and Blantons has finally lead me to the WT distillery which is now my favorite. WT 101 is the best value on the market period. Started trying KS recently and I haven’t been disappointed yet. I think they generally have that typical 101 flavor but with a little more vanilla/orange creamsicle and I dig it. Personally, I don’t really care about the packaging my only critique is the price paid 59$ pre taxes for one today. Totally delicious creamsicle/orange spice/clove as per usual so I will probably still buy a few bottles a year for a break from my usual RB and RRSiB addiction. I will say if this were 10 bucks cheaper and non chill filtered it would be really hard to pass up lol. It’s so weird how these barrels differ so much from the RRSiB which always have a grape/cherry flavor to them. I’ll never understand how warehouse placement can change bourbon flavor so much but I’m gonna enjoy every sip of it lol.
Thanks JD. Appreciate you reading and commenting.
I like how you mentioned that some barrels might not show their best at the 110 of the RRSiB but will shine at 101 Proof. In general I love that high proof Rare Breed and RRSiB. But sometimes my palate just isn’t in the mood for that and the 101 proof is right on the money. Still really flavorful with all the focused flavors of a single barrel but it’s not gonna fry your taste buds lol
I know exactly what you mean. Thanks for reading!
This is in my Top 5 all time! Question. Do you have any idea where the 20-yr-old sherry came from?
Not sure, but this might help: https://youtu.be/0PzBCUdpms8
How would you compare the RR 13 to the WT 13 “Father & Son” bottling?
Completely different birds.
It was with mixed feelings that I saw and reacted to the Fred Minnick’s latest YouTube video on the findable BTAC alternatives. While I was thrilled that two Wild Turkey releases were there, I was worried because usually what Fred says starts making things start to disappear and to go up in price. I hope that will not be the case with Russell’s Reserve 6 yr old Rye or Rare Breed.
But we can’t blame Fred for speaking the truth. FWIW I think we’re safe … for now.
With all due respect some of the comparisons in this article must have been made in jest. E.g. anybody who has ever tasted THH would never consider RBR as a substitute. Come on man! Lol
You’re surely welcome to your opinion, Larry. 👍
Blind them and find out! You may be surprised.
The point is to provide options that are obtainable and reasonably priced. That used to be the case for THH, generally speaking. Not at all now.
But you’re right. A blind would yield surprising results. And I don’t think THH would come out the surefire winner as some might think.
Couldn’t agree more about the RR-10. It was the very first bottle of bourbon I ever bought. Thought it was hot as hell neat, but delicious in an old fashioned. Fast forward a couple of years, a few more bourbons under my belt, and now it’s just an easy, well crafted sipper. It had been a while since I had bottle, favoring 101, RB or RRSiB, but I’m so glad I tried this bottle again. Really appreciate it more now that I’m more experienced with bourbon. Definitely going to be a permanent addition to my shelf.
I had to come back around to it myself. Now … can’t live without it! Cheers Will!
I have recently gotten into a lot of the post 2011 RR and share the same sentiment you do. They aren’t bad by any means but there is a profile shift. I dont know if its the age difference or the new setup but they are missing some depth.
I think it’s more to do with the new distillery. That said, some additional age might be where the new whiskey shines. Time will tell! Thank you for reading and commenting.
New bottle for my collection.
once again, you seem to capture all the things i think about. i was fortunate to secure a bottle at $165 the other day. That is an odd statement I guess, since $165 is still a silly amount that 8 years ago I could not have imagined saying or buying. and now, i feel like i got a ‘deal’.
I look forward to opening it soon, once my better half regains his tastebuds from a stretch of Covid, but mostly i write because i find you passed on mentioning one dimension of this bottle. It was nearly impossible for me to remove it from the standard packaging!. i laughed while i tried my best to pry it from the encasement. upside down, bottom, top, sides, tapping the back like it was choking. ultimately i failed and had to wait for someone else with much stronger hands to attempt it, with success. some neck holes in the packaging would be a great suggestion for future boxes.
anyway, do hope to meet you some day and if it were on the grounds of WT, that would be most excellent.
Thanks Kelly. Yep, I suppose $165 is a deal nowadays. As for the packaging, some of the MK Cornerstone bottles were prone to falling out, so at least it’s safe. 🙂 For now!
Longbranch is something I buy maybe once a year. Otherwise, for that “easy sipping” profile, I reach for RR10. Like you said – it’s not for “us”.
Exactly. It’s great, simple bourbon. Just a tad pricey for what it is. Cheers Scott!
It’s only good for some of your WT Frankenstein mixes I’ve tried. That is where the value of Longbranch comes in for me. Cheers.
I could definitely see that! (Sip it too.) 🙂
This is my wife’s sipper and I enjoy it on occasion. I’m lucky that my retailer discounts it 25% so it falls to a more digestible price point. We get three or four bottles per year. Not liking this 80 / 700ml change. Will probably stock up now before it changes.
Longbranch at 25% off? Now we’re talking!
Your last paragraph says it all, and says it well. For goodness sakes, it would save them time and money at the least, and we would get a possible better bottle of whiskey.
And it’s not so much better, but the extra step is unnecessary. Thanks for reading!
Just think of all that whiskey WT distills and ages and someone really thinks it must be filtered , an amazing amount of work for a result I could do without..
Please just write on the label about that (hazy or cloudy if chilled or served with ice) and let us have only the water as the alteration of whiskey.
Other distillers let he customers know they do not use CF and think it matters a lot.
I will be happy if my 101 or RB will not be subjected to CF anymore.
Hope that day will come sooner than latter.
I just pulled the trigger on some here in Australia. My thought process was the taste / heat difference from the Single Barrel offerings. The NCF is noticeably more punchy and often picked ahead of the SB. Granted its higher proof, but the NCF SB Drinks alot warmer than its proof IMO. Looking forward ro trying it! Cheers
And batches play a role as well. Cheers Dave!
So, I finally managed to grab some here in Australia . . . well, ordered a bottle anyway. It was AUD250 with a 5% Black Friday discount and free shipping. Crazy money, really. But, it will end up as a special Christmas present whisky (for me) when it finally arrives!
Still looking everywhere for a Master’s Keep One!
Or some non-81-proof Rye!! 😄😄
Thanks for all you do, David.
Wow. That’s pretty expensive. But if it’s something you really want, I can’t think of a better Christmas present than Wild Turkey. Cheers Garth!
Doesn’t seem possible that it’s been five years already. Congrats, DJ!
And you’ve been with me ever since. Thank you, Scott.
Cheers and I raise a bottle to many more additional anniversaries !
Thank you, Florin!
Congratulations David! Loved your blog and your style of writing. You should review those Aussie RTD including the discovery series, and maybe this bad boy below!
https://beerandbrewing.com/review/wild-turkey-bourbon-barrel-stout/
Thank you Jim! I had a few of those and they were fantastic.
I was wondering with only “3600 Bottles Released” why are some numbered higher than 3600?
I can only assume that some are held for internal, promotional, and/or export purposes.
Congratulations!
I celebrated your anniversary by finally opening my bottle of W.B. Saffell. Damn good stuff. Thank you for leading me to that bottle!
Very welcome. And thank YOU!
I swear I had a taste-memory flashback to a few decades ago when I took my first sip of Saffell, a bit of a Proustian moment. I didn’t really “taste” bourbon back then, of course. It was mostly, but not exclusively, JD and often a glug from a bottle, but occasionally with a glass and more deliberation. And yet!
Great review!
Long time fan of Wild Turkey 101 Rye, I just recently picked up my first bottle with the new label (LL/JI08064). I’m blown away at how thick, oily and viscous it is. More so than any other bottle of 101 rye I’ve had, and Russell’s Single Barrel Rye too for that matter.
The taste is on track with what I’m used to, perhaps a bit more age and smoothness to it, but the oiliness was a pleasant surprise. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was non-chill filtered.
Did you notice a difference at all?
RRSiB Rye is definitely NCF, but not 101 Rye. This 2021 101 Rye doesn’t have a notably thick mouthfeel, but it certainly isn’t thin. Loving it just as much as past releases. Thanks for reading and commenting, Brian. Cheers!
Coincidentally, just had a finger’s worth yesterday evening to help me overcome Army’s loss to Navy in The Game. For me, both red and green WT101 bottles are simple and straightforward, relaxed and reliable – they should be on everybody’s list of everyday go-tos.
Amen. Staples for everyone and any and all occasions (wins AND losses). 🙂 Cheers Kevin!
I believe that “straight “ means at least two years of aging… not four
If it carries an age statement, yes. If no age statement and labeled straight, it’s at least four years.
I love your blog, I still remember the first bottle of bourbon I purchased was the old style bottle of Kentucky Spirit and to this day I have not found a bourbon that has the creamy spice notes that I found in that bottling. However the bottle of WT101 I picked up recently kind of brings back that nostalgia of me staring wide eyed at all of the nice bourbons I could legally purchase and the wonder that was the first sip. Keep on writing, this blog is one of my favourite things on the internet.
Thank you so much. Really appreciate comments like this. I’ll do my best to keep the content flowing. Cheers!
Any reason why WT doesn’t list it on their website?
Longbranch and Russell’s Reserve are their own brands. In the latest website redesign, they’ve moved them to their own domains. Probably not the best decision marketing-wise, but we shall see.
Happy New Year Mr. DJ, thank you for your dedication to WT and to us, the readers.
May 2022 be a better year for all!
Cheers!
Thank you so much. And a Happy New Year to you as well. Cheers!
2015 Russell’s Reserve Shelfer –
Nose: it’s a more intense traditional Turkey Spice – smells like a bakery at Christmas with the cinnamon/nutmeg spice coming forward immediately and leading you to the fruit pastry section – highlighted with caramel apples and even a slight pear note.
Taste: fruity spice bomb – baked cinnamon apple cake, caramel apples and pear on the finish. Nice balance of savory spice and sweet fruit. Really a perfect balance.
Medium to long finish with the spice lingering in the front and sweetness on the end. I couldn’t be more happy with this shelfer. Wish I knew which Rickhouse this was pulled from. It’s delicious.
Great notes, Jason!
I have a warehouse S, Rick 57 that was bottled on 12-09-20. It has a nice nuttiness to it that I haven’t picked up much on other barrels. I will be looking for future warehouse S bottlings as well!
2020 S Kentucky Spirits are a personal favorite!
Love the content of this comparison. If you have a single barrel A-F, how do you know where it’s from (Tyrone, Camp Nelson etc.). If it’s G and higher seems that by deduction it should be Tyrone. Thanks for your help.
Great question! See this post: https://rarebird101.com/2020/09/29/rickhouse-blues/
Thank you- gives as good answer as possible!
Happy to help!
It’s a supply issue period. Having folks interested in bourbon is a good thing. It’s a fad and it will pass eventually. Plenty of other Russell products on the shelves.
That’s right.
Hmm I wonder why dusty Turkey is getting so hard to find these days. Hmm, … umm, … er, well… nothing to see here, lol.
Ha! I don’t think my reach is that wide. 🙂
I was interested in this ever since I saw the review on Malt. My bottle arrives today! Surprised that there is still stock as of a few moments ago.
If it were a bourbon, it would be gone. I think there’s a lot of folks unfamiliar with American malt whiskey, but if they tried it, they might be surprised. Can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
Will do! This will be my first American malt, though I am a Scottish single malt fan.
The only thing that makes me less upset about the bourbon frenzy in the States is that we can get a lot of the Scottish single malts that disappear in seconds in the UK, like Springbank for example.
I enjoyed your take on this. Well done. Cheers!
Thanks Tim!
Back in 2020, a few months into the Covid pandemic, I got bored and set up a 32-bottle semi-blind whiskey-tasting bracket for myself with all the bourbon and rye bottles I had on hand. Took me a few weeks to get through it all, tasting a variety of things head-to-head, etc.
Guess which whiskey came out on top when it was all said and done?
Bingo! This is just an excellent rye.
Wow! Now that sounds like a blast. And the outcome makes complete sense. Cheers Brad!
As I was doing my research I came across all of your work here and I appreciate the time you took to learn and study them. However I do have one question for you, Iv acquired a 2010 ,wt-03rb , I’m intrigued if you know what barrels were mixed for the 2010, I see you know for 09,11,12. If you knew that would be awesome!
Rare Breed is traditionally a blend of 6-, 8-, and 12-year whiskey (per the Russells). So you can always count back the years from bottling. Of course, there is no formal age statement, so it could be anything 4 years or older in theory.
As promised, here is my reaction: My impression from the just opened bottle was “Wow!” and that it really did deserve the 9/10 that Taylor gave it. I put another bottle in my cart (which I confess I never paid for). Subsequently, I have tried it four or five times and the bottle has really settled down, like the difference between vivid and movie modes on a television. (But I have my tv set to movie mode.)
The flavors are complex and integrated. It really does not taste like any other whisky that I have tried. But that complexity does not make it a chore to drink. The main flavor I get on the palate is milk chocolate but layered with lots of other flavors like a great dessert (not that I would call this whisky sweet in any way). The tequila cask is detectable to me, adding a certain citrusy brightness. Very glad I bought this.
Love this analysis. It really is unlike any other Westland I’ve tried. Really appreciate your thoughtful feedback, as well as your willingness to take a chance on a not-so-cheap bottle. Cheers!
Thanks! And I will always be happy to spend my hard-earned cash on anything that both you and Taylor recommend! You are two of the reviewers that I trust the most.
Too kind. Thank you.
Good points in here. Coming from someone that grinds it out 5 days a week in the industry working 12 hour days currently to do the daily blending and processing and catching up on custom barrels which are typically 6-12 plus months for most that we’re trying to meet in 3-6 months it can be easy to voice improvements from the picker perspective. There’s a lot of physical labor, logistics and time involved in a custom barrel program. It’s a treat to those who experience and those who offer it. Would love to enjoy a pour of RR SB CNF at the end of these long days but not happening right now. Patience is a virtue and plenty of other expressions to enjoy at the end of day. Always an enjoyable read DJ. Cheers!
I’m sure it’s a very tough job. Most consumers (of any product) never appreciate, much less see, what goes on behind the scenes. That being said, when competing brands deliver quality results faster, it should always be an area of concern for a business. Customers, unfortunately, aren’t the most understanding folks. I hope one day your hard work is rewarded. Thanks for reading and commenting. dj
Sounds like a pretty perfect weekend! Brought back memories of the 2019 Patron barrel pick and gathering. I vowed that wouldn’t be my last private barrel experience, and reading this makes me want it to happen sooner than later.
It was perfect. Even with the distillery closed, it as perfect as it could be. And we’ll definitely have to repeat 2019 again.
Long time reader, first time commenter:
Thank you for this interview and blog post! Cigars and whiskey are my go to for an hour or so of solace. I work in the production side of bourbon in KY for a “medium-size” distillery and it’s refreshing to read such a down to earth interview focused on enjoyment of each item rather than pointed recommendations. I’m grateful for the passion and intrigue you both share for whiskey and cigars, it makes for some excellent reading and excited for the next cigar and whiskey I get!
Thank you, Jake! I had a lot of fun writing this one and interviewing Alec. Truly appreciate the positive feedback. dj
Great read, DJ. I still enjoy an LE and will pick up private selections when I see them, but my days of caring what’s in my cabinet to the point of spending significant time and money are over.
I’m happy with what I’ve got, and if that means a handle of 101 every couple weeks, then I’m good. Everything else is gravy.
Thanks Scott! Amen. I’m right there with you. Buying more RR10 than anything else out there myself.
superb perspective. i will forward to everyone who gives a darn. nice that i got the ‘good’ stuff before the world went mad, but for anyone who did get into this when things were easier, it can get pretty disheartening to view it through today’s glasses. i am trying to be patient and hopeful that some normalcy will return. until then….i now buy more WT/WT101 to blend 50/50 than perhaps anything else. *if you haven’t tried it, you MUST. i try to keep a positive spin, avoid all the sites that would make me angry, including the news, and just be happy for what i DO have and share it with others who feel the same.
Thanks Kelly. Really appreciate you reading, commenting, and sharing. Staying positive is a must. Avoiding negativity is the only way to keep that up. Sounds like you’ve got the right idea. Cheers! dj
I guess I’ve retreated over the past couple years, as sitting and enjoying a brown beverage several times per week seemed counterproductive to trying to stay healthy during the COVID scare and as doctors juggled meds while they guessed what was going on with my body. As more and more bottles were collected, just to sit unopened here at home, it became a “What’s the point?” decision.
My retreat has been conducted within the boundaries of simply staying with those distilleries whose history I appreciate and whose offerings suit my tastes – Wild Turkey, some Maker’s, Woodford’s Derby bottles, High West’s lineup, and an occasional barrel offering from the local liquor store. Gone are the days when I felt I had to have anything new just because it was new, with a colorful label, or in an exciting bottle. After having been in the bourbon scene for about ten years, I’m content with knowing I’ll never have a bottle of Pappy in my collection.
Very sorry to hear about your health struggles. But it sounds like you employed a lot of wisdom. Sticking with old reliables – even exploring new but available things – is a great plan. Certainly keeps the frustration out of your life. I’m the same way now. Thanks for reading and I truly appreciate the comment. dj
The “Looking Back” section is the heart of this piece for me. Anyone feeling burned out was in it for the wrong reasons to begin with or needs a reset to their original fascination. And the old maxim “it’s wanting what you have not having what you want” applies here.
Exactly, Eric. Thanks for reading and commenting!
I too have gone through periods of whiskey “burnout,” but I think one of the reasons why is that the pandemic has severely curtailed the in person social aspect of the hobby. If you only view the whiskey community through social media, it quickly becomes annoying. But if you get together with some folks in real life, share a few bottles, and just have a good time, I find that my interest in whiskey comes back. A barrel pick with friends is like that on steroids. My friends and I have so many blind tastings/themed get togethers that we have been discussing for the past two years, hopefully everyone can get back to actually doing these things in person in the near future, if they aren’t already.
If I could like this comment multiple times, I would. Excellent, excellent point and so well said. Thank you for commenting. dj
I also think it tastes. Bit sweeter and LOVE it even more than usual.
Human beings are easily impressed and thus easily deceived. Everyone is susceptible to being sold. It’s ALL marketing mumbo-jumbo, mostly GMO flatulence
Based on your review it sounds like there’s a good chance I will prefer the new profile. I have never really enjoyed RR10. Too dry and tannic and at the lower proof there’s not enough bold bourbon notes to counter-balance it. Any idea what to look for laser code wise for the new profile?
You probably will. The code on this bottle is LL/KB241234. The K is 2022, the B is Feb.
Thanks! I’m sure I will give it another try when I see the new bottles. However I wish a popular profile were not going away for other people. That sucks when that happens.
Thats an interesting and notable shift. Ironically there seem to be two camps for RR10, those that love the profile and those that hate it. There certainly have been many comparisons made to Eagle Rare 10, and I think those are fair comparisons. This profile shift sounds like it will be more in line with those who wanted less oak in their low proof 10 year old Bourbon. Ill miss the old profile, but I think its good to iterate, change and improve on occasion. Ill be on the lookout for something bottled this year (it takes forever to get to markets here, we havent even seen One yet), to put it through its paces.
Interestingly enough, I’m also not the biggest fan of Eagle Rare either, preferring the Buffalo Trace expression of the same mash bill over ER10.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy “oaky” bourbons (I do) but I need a balanced bourbon.
With the Wild Turkey mash bill and taste profile, I feel it benefits from a higher proof to be at its best. If WT would consider upping the proof of RR10 to say, 94 to 96 proof, I think it would be a big hit for more people, especially in today’s market with new customers wanting higher proof levels.. I would advise them not to make it 100/101 proof to prevent the product from overlapping too much with WT101.
Besides, it’s clear that Eddie and the team want to keep RR10 as at a mid-level proof to keep it approachable, which I agree with. I have nothing against 90 proof bourbons but something about the WT profile needs a little more oomph to balance out the oak notes.
You’ll definitely like this 2022 bottling then. I’m a huge Eagle Rare fan and the former RR10 profile had a lot in common with ER. This new profile is more in line with a more mature Buffalo Trace KSBW.
Very good points. Please let me know what you think when you try it. And thanks for reading and commenting. Always appreciate your thoughts!
And we appreciate your terrific blog David!
Thank you!
So I went to (one of) my local liquor stores here in Louisville and there were cases of the old RR10 on the floor. Made me wonder how deep the pipeline of the old product is and how long it’s likely to be before the 2022 ‘two-tone red’ version shows up on the shelves.
Well, the new label is just a filing. Could be months. This review is of the current label. Just a 2022 bottling. 👍 Thanks for reading.
I have an unopened bottle of this with US Internal Revenue label on it.
Awesome!
The Pennsylvania state store system was selling Saffell in late 2021 (also Bond & Lillard). I bought several bottles and opened one. It is excellent. The neck label says “Batch 1” as before but the date code is LL/JF. Do you know anything about this release? I also saw some available from K&L recently.
Just sounds like another batch, though not in label but laser code. Haven’t tried a 2021 batch yet. Looking forward to, though!
I would be happy to send you a sample. Let me know.
Came here to ask the same question. Got a few locally in Maryland that appear the be LL/LI (Sep 2023), but also have the “Batch 1” neck label… Was wondering how that was possible… Also to note, the laser code is not the same etching style as my other recent WT bottles…
The “batch 1” is just marketing. Similar to OGD114 having the same batch number for years. Only way to know how good it is or how it compares to prior years is to roll the dice! Cheers!
Amen, Dave – the great (albeit stupid) 13 Rush is on! Already had one “DM me for RR13” spam sent to me on Instagram.
Unbelievable, right? Thanks for reading!
Great read, thanks for the article.
Thanks for reading, Larry.
This is such a wonderful post. Every word, every thought is exactly describing the reason I return to KY as often as I can. Not that I get stellar people and experiences with every visit, but each trip is filled with something extraordinary. So glad to hear how much you appreciate these moments shared with friends making new friends and sharing wonderful whiskey. Cheers.
Thanks Kelly. So glad you enjoyed it. These are some of my favorites posts to write.
I’ll just be happy to see Russell’s Single barrel back on the shelf…
It can be hit or miss. Best advice is to hang in there. Supply issues still haven’t fully corrected.
I’d only “need” two: Wild Turkey 101 and Russell’s Reserve SiB. 101 covers cocktails and a regular sipper price point. Russell’s Reserve SiB covers premium sipping and variety. And those should only run $85-90 for the pair.
Not criticizing that list!
Autographed by the author, too?
Not from my publisher directly. Shoot me an email. Thanks!
My friend, I just found this blog. I “got into the bourbon game” just a few months ago, and I quickly became independently convinced that Wild Turkey was severely underrated after I tasted Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel for the first time. I’ve now come to love Rare Breed, RR SiB Rye, and even WT101.
Anyway, ordered a hardcover copy of your book yesterday. Really good to know that I’m far from alone. 🙂
Thanks so much, Grant! Enjoy the exploration and don’t sweat the FOMO. Plenty of quality Turkey out there. Cheers! dj
Thank you sir! I just read your entry on participating in the Starlight barrel selection. I’ve got a bottle of Starlight SiB that I picked up from JHOB in April (unfortunately not a Renegades pick, lol) … looks like I’ll be cracking it open soon!
I’m confident you’ll love it. JHOB picks great barrels.
I really miss the old Kentucky Spirit bottle, it was the first nice bourbon I ever purchased and proved to be one of my favorites. This was in 2013 which feels like a lifetime ago and I found it to be delicious so I got one a few years later after the bottle changed I am not sure what happened but I found it to be lacking for some reason. I only say this because I saw your review of this and part of it made me nostalgic.
The old bottle is iconic. I just hope they bring it back one day for a special release. Thanks for reading!
Just the photo of you and Jimmy flipping through the book is worth the entire story!
Thanks Kevin!
You sure can spin a yarn, DJ. Loved reading this, and each time I hear about one of your Kentucky excursions it gives me the itch to get back there myself. Cheers!
Thanks Scott! Love to see you there again one day.
Great post man. Read the latest edition of your book (hardcover) over the weekend. Absolutely loved it. Would love to learn more about how to join the Renegades on a barrel selection adventure sometime. I’m within reasonable driving distance of Kentucky. 🙂
Thanks for reading, Grant! Glad you enjoyed it and the book. If you have any questions about the Renegades, feel free to shoot me a message via my contact form. Cheers! dj
It’s all in them glasses!
Pretty cool, right?!
Oh, that I could finally find one this year!
The chances are much better numbers-wise.
Any chance you can elaborate how much better numbers-wise this year compared to last year?
I don’t have counts, but I do know that some states are getting double (or more) than last year.
Thanks!
Anytime!
I have to say, I do enjoy finding and collecting old WT glassware (in addition to the dusty bottles!). Those are some neat shot glasses, but I have a set of WT “highball” glasses with a line to mark pouring level of your spirit and I use them all the time.
Some of those old Turkey glasses are hard to beat!
Dont know how much virginia is going to get, but praying more than last time
Should be. That’s the trend so far. Best of luck!
How can one tell the difference between a RR13 batch 1 bottle and a batch 2 ? What are the laser code differences if any?
From my understanding, batch 1 is APR 2021, batch 2 is DEC 2021, and batch 3 was bottled in early 2022. Cheers! dj
I have a RR13 that was bottled in December of 2021 and was fortunate to get another this year that was bottled in May. That bottle has the date under the code. Is there any difference in these batches? I know the first bottling has been rumored to have had 19 year old in the blend.
December is batch 2 and is pretty much the same as batch 1, but with some barrels from higher floors. Batch 3 has 20-year whiskey in it, but in similar ratio to batch 1 and 2.
DJ, speaking of press releases, I missed hearing that Campari has released a 12/101 expression in Australia. Do you know anything about that? I also saw a post on a facebook group about it being in Korea.
This WT12/101 info would be a great topic for one of your blogs.
I reviewed it for Patreon a few weeks ago. Should be sharing my thoughts on the blog in the near future. All the best! dj
Thanks! Sounds like I need to consider getting on there. Cheers!
Thanks Larry!
I walked into my local Costco and lo and behold, handles of 101 for $19.97. Wow, 2 in storage and 1 I’m sipping now. I swear it tastes even better at that price.
Wow! Now that’s a deal.
So just bought a wild turkey blue label 12 year here in Japan how to I date the bottle. It is completely sealed and plastic still 100% intact around cork.The code reads 2033FF10:48
See my bottle codes page. In this case, it’s the 33rd day of 2012.
Great blog and great review DJ. I totally agree with your ‘Rave’ and ‘Praise’ sections and loved the review part as well. Thanks for this info!
But… I have to disagree with the ‘Rant’ segment. Don’t take it personal, but IMO this is a bad take for a couple of reasons. Firstly, just because you don’t want to be personally inundated with complaints after you share information about a new release is not relevant. If you don’t want to deal with reader complaints then you shouldn’t be doing what you’re doing. Easy for me to say I know, but to me it just comes with the territory. Secondly (and more importangly) it’s generally a bad decision by Wild Turkey/Campari to not offer their best quality products in the home country of the product. This is not new. It was also poor form when they removed age statements from the US products in the 1990’s while retaining age statements abroad. I imagine that if/when the hightest quality Scotch offerings are not available in the home UK market, there is similar consumer blowback. I’m sure there are plenty of examples in the Scotch world where this happens, but it doesn’t make it right then either. Export country-specific brand variations are necessary (and usually a good thing to keep things interesting) but not offering the most popular premium products in the home market is the wrong decision and should be discouraged by we the buying public. Call it American entitlement if you want, but I feel that’s a bit of a lazy take on the situation.
Anyway, my own rant is over now 🙂
I’m still a big fan of yours and look forward to what you are up to in the future! Keep up the great work and Cheers!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Larry. Glad you enjoyed (most of) the review. 🙂
But let me clarify one thing – and this is important – I never said I had a problem with people communicating with me. I reply respectfully to everyone – always have. My issue is with “Americans whining about special whiskey expressions earmarked as exports or travel-retail exclusives.” *Not* people complaining *to me,* but people complaining about this in general, anywhere. Responses to my social media posts are merely what prompted my rant.
Second, to say that Campari is placing their best products overseas is inaccurate. Russell’s Reserve 13 is a great example, as well as an enormous volume of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and Kentucky Spirit private selections we have that they don’t. I’d argue those are some, if not THE best, in the company’s catalog.
Also, Campari didn’t remove domestic age statements, Pernod did, and so did many other distilleries in/around that same time. The fact of the matter is that from the 1970s to the 1990s, most Americans didn’t care about bourbon. It was a dying category. Many distilleries went out of business. Some were saved by foreign ownership, like Wild Turkey when Pernod purchased them in 1980. Were it not for the export market, bourbon would be a shadow of what it is today. And that’s a fact. I should also add that Campari has added age-stated expressions, such as the aforementioned Russell’s 13 and Russell’s Reserve private selections (which have included age statements since late 2019). Besides, the only age statement Pernod removed was the “8 years” from 101. That’s it. Just that single expression.
We, as Americans, should be grateful to have what we have. There are bourbon fans in countries all over that have only a fraction of what we do – often just the 81 proof and maybe 101. They’re people – bourbon geeks – just like you and me. Sharing is what this hobby is all about. If countries like Australia and Japan (the two leading WT markets after the U.S.) get occasional special offerings, fine by me. If it weren’t for them years ago, who knows if the brand would even be around.
Thanks again for your feedback. It means a lot to me. Have a wonderful weekend and sip plenty of Turkey.
Cheers!
dj
These are good and fair responses to my comments. Thanks for clarifying the bit about the social media response, and that you have no issue with the feedback to you specifically. Make sense and apologies for implying otherwise!
Also yes true, it wasn’t Campari in the 90’s, I knew this as soon as wrote it, but it’s the Wild Turkey brand and, for the point I was trying to make, it doesn’t really matter whether it was Campari or Pernod or someone else.
I’m not an American spirits historian, but I feel that the notion that international markets indeed “saved” bourbon needs a bit more research and debate than what we can do here. The sales and finance analysis at the time would actually tell that story.
I’ll concede that “saving” is arguably an overstatement. That said, had foreign companies not purchased certain distilleries, like Wild Turkey, the brand likely would have died. So foreigners saving bourbon, maybe not (it’s debatable). Foreigners saving brands, for sure.
DJ,
Great distinction there about the difference between saving “brands” versus saving bourbon. As usual, you are on top of things. Very nice and interesting discussion we had here. Thanks for clarifying several things that I may have blurred the lines on. Cheers
Think you as well. I appreciate and respect your perspective. Great conversation!
Need help dating my bottle of 12 year 101 proof beyond duplication bottle it has a laser code on but do not know how to decipher can you please help? I am currently living in Japan and came across this sealed in case everything just cannot date it the code is L 2033FF 10:48
Happy to help. That’s 2012.
Do you know if this will be sold in airports?
I hear you on the whining. Let’s not forget Japan helped bolster the bourbon market for decades while interest was low in the States. They’ve earned some special releases. But I’m not going to lie, I can’t help but be jealous. I can barely find Rare breed or retail RRSib on the shelf in my area. I probably won’t have the chance to buy another special or super premium Wild Turkey product for years to come given the persistent insanity here. I’m not losing sleep over it, but the jealously remains.
From what I’ve been told, it’s not a travel-retail release, but an export to Australia and several Asian markets. I hear ya on the jealousy. It is a beautiful whiskey.
Thanks for reading and commenting, William.
Excellent perspective and review as always. If the reported MSRP for Japan is accurate, that is insane! I am still waiting to see it land here in Japan, and so far have not seen or heard a whisper from my big box local stores, or standby online sites (hurry up Campari and get it imported already! 😉
The discussion on the role bourbon has and continues to play outside of the US is fascinating to me. I have heard stores from older Japanese people that back in the 70s/80s you could go into a bar and simply order “bourbon” and would be assured to receive Wild Turkey. Patrons commonly had their own bottle at the bar they would drink from on every visit (basically bottle service, a practice that continues in Japan to this day). Japan was certainly a reliable stronghold of bourbon lovers back in the troubled times of the glut years.
Old releases are well known and famous now (like Tradition, Master Distiller Select, 17 year, and others), but flew under the radar at the time of their release. Now export markets are getting a highly coveted release in the form of the 12 year. Along with that, it is important to observe that we have not received RR 13 year, RR selections, W.B. Saffell, and have not received Masters Keep One (we received the past versions, but not the most recent one). Bourbon releases are a balancing act, Campari needs to keep up interest abroad as well as domestically. Im in the camp of “the US gets tons of unique things, so it is fitting for Asia to get its own special product once in a while”. Also, if the 12 year was released in the US it would be sold out instantly and tatered/secondaried to hell and back.
Love this comment. Couldn’t have said it better.
Great post David, and great discussion all round.
We don’t get RR13, RR98/02/03 or any private selections here in Australia. We do get MK but in small quantities.
I am super stoked we are getting WT 101/12 which is slowly starting to pop up on selected bottle shops, retailing around AUD$130-140. Can’t wait. I’m sure they will be very popular!
I’m sure they will. So happy for you guys. Let me know when you finally taste it. Cheers!
Well David, as always I thoroughly enjoy your zeal for Wild Turkey.
My best mate and I have been hiking the Victorian high country in Australia for decades.
We always take a fine Bourbon to ward off the cold.
I can remember many a night spent with WT Tribute, 17 YO Japanese edition ( my two favourites by a mile ) scored from Japan at great cost, American Spirit and the old 101 Rye (sigh)
The magnificent 12 YO with any danged label, absolutely faultless.
I absolutely adore Turkey from the 90s and early 2000s.
I suppose all things change though.
Russell’s Reserve tall bottle, and the early RR Rye kept the light of WT burning bright with gorgeous complexity.
In recent years though, I have felt a certain tiredness creeping into the Turkey stable.
The standard 101, 86 Proof Rye, and RR offerings as we’re available in good old Australia we’re a bit mundane.
You my friend, by courtesy of your rants, raves and whatever have contributed to the reinstatement of a WT staple, worshipped by many earthwide.
David, I’ll raise a glass of the new WT 12YO 101 in your honour next time I’m in the wilderness.
It may not be the same as the old Dustys, and Funkys, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
Keep the light burning.
Andrew
Thank you so much. I think you’ll love the new 101/12. It’s not the old profile, and no one should expect that, but it’s excellent in its own way. Cheers to you!
Excellent news David, especially since I live in Japan! No sign yet but a whisky buddy in Tokyo says September with a price point of 9000 yen which is currently just under $70us.
I fly home to Canada for a few weeks vacation Sept 6 and it would be nice to bring a couple of bottles if it hits the shelves by then.
Definitely awesome news. Pretty stoked for you too.
Truly a pleasure to live as an American in Japan.
I’ve read many of your articles which leads me to search and discover rare finds (split labels, donuts, and GCF’s…oh my), and the ease of which most can be attained is rather astonishing. WT 8-year 101 is so readily available I’m still surprised to find 1L for less than $24 at current exchange rates.
I enjoy tremendously the blog, brother! Take care, and kanpai.
Thanks so much, Laurence. Truly a pleasure to have an American in Japan who enjoys the blog! dj
I’ve made two small 8 oz batches of the LongBreed and enjoyed them both. The blend was a great sipper on the rock(s). I’m considering blending two CYPB of LongBreed soon. Cheers
Awesome! Thanks for giving it a try, Lanny.
Mr. Jennings. Thank you for not only sharing your journey back in March with us, but also this fine bottle of bourbon. I purchased a bottle (203/246) a couple of weeks ago and have been enjoying every sip. Well done on the selection. Cheers…
Well, I had a lot of help. But I’m thrilled to hear it’s everything you hoped it would be. Cheers!
The MSRP should be $124.99. $100 is what it is wholesale, FYI.
That’s the press release *unedited* straight from Campari.
“I’ll happily welcome any addition to the Russell’s Reserve family” – oh that we could find any of the special Russell’s bottlings here in Michigan, without having to deal with the scammers in the secondary markets!
I’ve got a feeling this one will be heavily flipped, unfortunately.
WT started with arguably the best Rickhouse in their arsenal of historic flavor enhancing facilities. I’m not sure how the next single Rickhouse release can possibly complete with the granddaddy of unique flavor, CNC. Although CNA or S or McBrayer B would certainly be intriguing options.
Well, there’s 28 left to go. I’m sure they can find another winner! 🙂
Sounds like an amazing pour! I likely won’t get a chance to purchase this bottle in TN. Hoping some bars and restaurants will have decently priced pours
It’ll be a tough one to find for sure.
Ouch!
We’ll probably see more of this, thanks to the secondary.
On the interview with Fred Minnick, apparently it’s only going to hit 4 US states with Eddie saying “I’m lucky enough to get one myself”.
I know CA and TX are two. There will also be a small number at the VC in KY. Not sure about the other states.
I received a bottle of this as a gift, how do I tell if its B1 or B2?
See my replies to other comments on this post. Thanks!
Yes, I read that comment above about when it was bottled, but my bottle doesn’t have a date anywhere, so how do I know?
Gotcha. Look for a laser-etched code on the lower side of the glass. A flashlight sometimes helps. Refer to the bottle codes page on this site. 👍
Well, I’m just found two of these bottles at a retail store (LOTTE MART) in Gumi South Korea for $95.23 (129,800 KR). I’m happy to report that they are both safe and sound in my possession and one will be heading back the Texas this coming February. Thanks for flavor profile and nose. I’m be comparing them with what I get when I open the bottle.
-Marc
Excellent news! You’ll enjoy it.
An excellent sentiment for a true living legend. I raise my glass (of WT 12) tonight, to Jimmy!
Cheers to Jimmy! 🥃🦃
Having a pour of Kentucky Spirit in your honor!
To Jimmy! 🥃🦃
God bless Jimmy Russell!
Amen.
This was an excellent read! You choosing the 13-year, and me subsequently re-reading your March 2019 review of a bottling of it, made me realize that I—a person living in Japan—haven’t seen it on shelves nearly as frequently these past few years. Then, just last night, I went to the nearest branch of my preferred liquor store to get some red vermouth. I saw a bottle of 12-year Distiller’s Reserve. It’s at 101 proof. It’s 700 ml. It comes with/in a keepsake box. It’s ¥6600—$45 at this prolonged inflation rate. I didn’t get it, as ¥6600 is still quite the splurge for me. What do you know about this?
Thanks Tavis! Check out my review of the new 101/12 right here. https://rarebird101.com/2022/07/30/wild-turkey-101-12-year-2022/
This was an excellent read! You choosing the 13-year, and me subsequently re-reading your March 2019 review of a bottling of it, made me realize that I—a person living in Japan—haven’t seen it on shelves nearly as frequently these past few years. Then, just last night, I went to the nearest branch of my preferred liquor store to get some red vermouth. I (finally) saw a bottle of 12-year Distiller’s Reserve. It’s ¥6600—$45 at this prolonged inflation rate. I didn’t get it, as ¥6600 is still quite the splurge for me. Serendipitously? I saw—and re-read—your post on this bottling, which had the effect of making me reconsider my frugality!
Apologies for the near identical double post! The original one didn’t seem to go through, and in the interim, I recalled your post about the new 12-year, changed browser & email address, and made some edits. Oops. Anyway, if I do get a bottle, I’ll report back.
No worries. Thanks Tavis!
Well said. I only ever bought one bottle of this (mistake) as in my journey I was on my way up the proof ladder. Now that I have descended that ladder, I take great joy in what is left of this bottle. I always put it back in the box to make it more difficult to reach for. Because I know…once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Yep. I took advantage of it being around and within reach for too long. Same with Master’s Keep 17.
Sounds intriguing, and I like Bourye well enough, but at $200 I’m out (not that I’ll see it in the wild anyway).
I’m pretty much over LEs in general, unless I happen upon one at random.
It’s grown incredibly tough. I’m much like you – find it at retail or move on. That’s one reason I haven’t reviewed the new RR13 yet.
I’m surprised nobody has hooked you up with a bottle, or at least a sample!
Not yet. But it’ll happen. Got plenty to sip on in the meantime!
Proud to call Jimmy my friend. I first met him when he was 54 years old and I was responsible for Wild Turkey sales in Kentucky and Tennessee. He is a true living legend!
That he is. I’m sure you have some great stories, Joe.
Congratulations on being able to experience such a great event!
Thanks Kevin!
Great experience and story! Sorry or paths didn’t cross, my loss.
Thanks Rich. Next time, buddy.
Hi DJ, great review, thanks. You blog was a first place where I found out about new 101 release (big fan of Turkey bourbon). What are your thoughts about 101 12yo compared to Rare Breed? Is it worth to spend money & time to get your hands on it? It’s pretty easy to find rare breed here (EU) but I’m afraid we won’t get 101 12 yo here anytime soon. The only option is to find someone who can take it from a trip abroad. Is it worth such efforts? Cheers, Andy
Hey Andy. Rare Breed is an excellent expression, no doubt about it, but the new 101/12 is next-level amazing.
Thanks for this article. I’m not a bourbon drinker but I’ve been researching this release. I grew up visiting the Wild Turkey distillery where my grandmother worked for decades. She mixed mash and I have countless memories turning wheels and pushing buttons for her as she let me “help”. This bourbon would be the last available that she would have mixed the mash for. I wish I had realized this when it was originally released as $600-$1000 for a sentimental moments is a bit much for me. Either way I enjoyed your review.
I agree – $600+ is way too much. It’s a fantastic whiskey, but I’m not sure that any whiskey is worth that. So nice to hear about your grandmother. Thank you for sharing that.
Sounds Fantastic! Reminds me of an extravagant blend that I have of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and 4Roses Small Batch Select at 50/50 plus one drop of water. Incredible pour for someone without access to highly allocated releases and unlimited budget. Cheers Rarebird 101!
Cheers Larry. And thanks for sharing your blend.
This may have been a good idea at launch, but it isn’t selling, and just gathers dust at every store I’ve been to. Doesn’t it make sense to update it to Longbranch 101? Simple to do and stays in family. Maybe at the higher proof some of the flavors become more intense for $40. The biggest threat to Longbranch is WT 101 at ~$25 (picked up a WT 101 for $20 today) and say Rare Breed at ~$55. For $15 more, Rare Breed is a no brainer.
Also, Russell’s 10 is also ~$40 and you allude to this above.
That’s all up to Campari. If anything it’s going down in proof based on the TTB filing a year or so ago. It’s already 80 proof in Australia. I enjoy it in the spring and summer, but if it went away, no complaints here.
Are you aware of Master’s Keep Bottled in Bond having a Batch 0002?
I’ve only seen that with Decades, but it’s always possible.
What’s the best way to contact Wild Turkey for answers to such questions? I went through Facebook a couple times, but get only an automated response and no answer.
Have you tried asking on social media? Maybe try their Twitter or Instagram account.
I currently have 2 of these bottles left and soon to be 1. I’m taking one to a friend’s house for Thanksgiving (2022) in a couple days. I believe mine are from 2002 and they do have some dusty notes. I bought a case of these dusties back in 2013 for about $30 per bottle. Sad to see that I’ll only have one left but happy to share with friends kind enough to have me and my family over to celebrate with them. I almost don’t want to know what they are worth today. I bought them to drink and share.
You’re doing the right thing, Bill, and Jimmy would be proud. Bourbon is for sipping and sharing, not looking and staring! 🙂
Since Rare Breed Rye came out I have been making a “Sanctified” blend of 78% RBB and 22% RBR. Is Unforgotten following the same ratio as Forgiven?
I’m unsure of the ratio for Unforgotten but your experiment sounds like something I should try!
Do we know the bottle count on these batches? I’ve had an eye out, but haven’t hunted hard. Still never seen one in the wild.
Great question! I’m not sure but I’ll ask around.
You’re spot on in calling all “batches” special. I too found there to be very little distinctions between each of them. JD. JL, KE are all special. If you need a taste of the May 2022 release I got you. Cheers to great reviews of spectacular whiskey 🥃
Thanks Nick! Appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
In addition to the bottle count, will you inquire as to the distribution? What’s the suggested retail price?
The distribution is nationwide. I’ll check on the counts. Thanks!
Why the big increase in price for MK series? See the rickhouse bottle will be 250 (with charity component) but very curious. Can send samples of first 13 year and this years release if you’d like. Hit me up.
Campari was leaving money on the table and adjusted their prices accordingly, I assume. They’re not sitting around, so it’s hard to argue it was a bad decision on their part. Thanks for reading and commenting, Stephen!
if you’d like the RR13 samples, contact me, in Lexington SC, we met at Eddie’s motor supply luncheon a few years back, you were very generous so happy to return the favor.
Thanks Stephen. I should have a bottle in the next day or two. But I truly appreciate the offer.
Good stuff, DJ. I’m looking forward to receiving my Madeira Finished Rye and Sherry Finished Bourbon.
Thanks so much, Scott!
Great review and opinion piece as well. I just ordered several bottles of this from an overseas retailer and cannot wait to taste and enjoy it. Thank you for your informative, erudite and passionate writing. I was fortunate to meet the great Mr. Jimmy on my first trip to Kentucky, and it was a thrill to be able to tell him how much joy he has brought to my life. A true legend!
Thanks Peter. You’ll love this one. And I’m so glad you were able to meet Jimmy. He really is the best of bourbon.
Loved reading tthis thank you
Thanks for reading.
Wow fantastic reading on the dusty Wild Turkey. Thank you for sharing
Thank you!
Can’t. Freaking. Wait.
How many barrels are being released? And where will we be able to get these?
More details to come.
April 17- any updates? Extremely interested!
Not at the moment. Stay tuned.
Congrats on your vision becoming a reality. Big shout out to whoever created those labels. That is some nice art work. I will keep my fingers crossed on procuring one of these bottles. In the meantime I have a Rare Bird 101 Private Woodinville Rye pick to enjoy. Cheers.
Thank you so much, Miles.
I wish I could get these Single Cask Nation offerings. In my area they just get the Scotches or a Mezcal offerings from Single Cask Nation.
These are lottery-only bottles. Keep an eye out for the next time around and enter. Good luck!
Wish I could have gotten these. They seem so mouth watering good.
Congrats David. Hope I can get one. The nostalgic labeling looks great only to be surpassed by the contents of the bottles.
Thanks Greg!
Congratulations on seeing your vision brought to life! I can’t wait to (hopefully) get my hands on a bottle!
Thanks Jason.
Congratulations DJ! Like your books, it is very obvious that this is a labour of love and you must be immensely proud. Please send some to Australia! =D
Thank you, Jim.
Another new market entrant. Econ professors will write case studies of the bourbon market in the 2020s one day.
Not necessarily a bad thing.
This is easily the best Wild Turkey I’ve ever had.
Pretty spectacular.
Sign me up!
Have you heard of any plans to reopen the private barrel program for Russell’s Reserve SiB Rye? I know they existed years ago. Maybe 2015/2016? I’ve never had one, but I remember seeing them around.
It’s been mentioned for the last few years. I haven’t seen a TTB filing yet. Until you see that, probably not happening. Fingers crossed!
No clear cut winner of the two for you?
RRSiB Rye is clearly the more complex whiskey, as mentioned in the review. But the 6-year rye isn’t something to knock. It’s better than other rye whiskeys in its class, like Sazerac for example.
Great blog DJ! I couldn’t agree more. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Larry!
It goes for $1200 AUD here if youre lucky enough to see one. Makes me want to vomit
What bothers you most? The price or the lack of availability? Thanks!
I have given thought to getting a few Russells single barrels, and barrel picks. Even though they cost more than they did a year or so ago, I believe they are going to be costlier in the future. These are for my enjoyment of course.
Can’t go wrong there!
Greetings Rarebird! I would like to know where can I get Father and Son from. I’m in the Aiken County area.
Outside of secondary markets, which I don’t recommend, they’re available in many airport travel-retail stores, as well as Must Have Malts on occasion.
I have a recently inherited bottle of 1986-1989 wild turkey. Someone down the line mistook it for a twist top and broke the cap off the top of the cork, then gave up on it (I guess no cork screw) and shelved it away. Now I have it. I’m not a whiskey connoisseur so it’s wasted on me. I don’t drink it so wouldn’t know good from bad. And I don’t have friends that drink it either so I’m looking for suggestions to put it in the hands of someone who would appreciate it. To be clear it’s unopened still have the cap just cork top broken and seal still intact. Thanks Thom
Unfortunately, with a broken seal and stopper, I’m doubtful you’ll find many buyers – at least buyers willing to pay what it’s worth. I’d pull that broken cork out (as it’s likely not 100% airtight) and enjoy it while you have time. Cheers and good luck!
How about producing more and distributing it widely? ECBP has no problem selling its 12 year barrel proof for $65 nationwide. Wild Turkey could do the same!
Heaven Hill produces a lot more whiskey than Wild Turkey. They have almost double the rickhouses as well.
HH also has multiple mash bills and far more brands using up that warehouse space…they don’t have twice as many rickhouses devoted to Elijah Craig than WT does to RR! WT seems to have no problems keeping RR10 on store shelves and how long ago did they change to label color? I still regularly see both labels available…sometimes at the same store. There are other brands as well that don’t have trouble keeping 12-15 year juice available…knob creek 12 and widow jane lucky thirteen right off the top of my head…
Heaven Hill has three stills. Wild Turkey has one. Also, many of Turkey’s rickhouses are considerably old – McBrayer, Camp Nelson, and probably a third of Tyrone. Many were made for 50 gallon barrels and have very low storage capacities in comparison to Heaven Hill. Beam is a monster and cranks out far more whiskey than Turkey could even dream about at present. As for Widow Jane, they source their whiskey. That’s a whole different ballgame. But all said and done, unlicensed individuals are profiting off the backs of distillers. Producers have the right to charge whatever they feel like they should – especially if money is being left on the table so obviously.
I forgot to mention that WT fills about 560 barrels a day. HH fills about 1,300. Pretty big difference in operations.
Even at 250, I don’t think that would help much with finding it on shelves, when’s the last time you saw Knob Creek 18 on a shelf, and if you do find it, most stores will be charging 400-600 for it…a price increase is fine but it needs to be combined with a larger production release as well. Widow Jane The Vaults is an excellent high age whiskey and if I want a bottle, I can be back home in 20 minutes with one bought at retail price…not only because it’s 250 but because there is enough of it that the vultures can’t pick the bones clean, so they don’t even try and stores sell it at SRP…even the online sites like caskers an frootbat only get around a 50 dollar price gouge on it.
Maybe, maybe not. But producers should charge what they feel is best for the markets they occupy. Widow Jane uses sourced whiskey for their age-stated products. So that’s its own thing, compared to a distilling producer using their whiskey exclusively for all of their products. I agree that WJ is good stuff. Expensive, but delicious. And you can find it. Hopefully higher prices on RR13 will mean we’ll see it available more often. Hard to say. Only time will tell.
I don’t disagree, producers make it and SHOULD be getting the lion’s share of income from it…and I don’t mind paying higher prices if it’s a fair price for a quality product (WT is always high quality)…I have more $200+ bottles than I care to admit…but unlicensed bootleggers aren’t the only problem, they may have cut the path but unscrupulous licensed retailers have turned it into a highway and in many ways are now driving the problem by charging as much as 10 times or more what the distillers want their products sold for. They want $300 for the “privilege” of letting you buy a $30 bottle! Becoming a licensed retailer should include a provision that the retailer agrees to manufacturer pricing strategies…in any other industry a manufacturer would be able to pull their products from that retailer. Firearms uses a very similar three tier system with one exception, retailers have to become authorized dealers for each manufacturer they carry…maybe that’s part of the answer…it might also help if the ATF remembered there were two other industries they are supposed to be providing law enforcement for as well, but that’s whole other discussion.
Some very good points here. I think when it comes to retailers there’s a range of rhyme and reason. I think some are clueless and just Google Wine Searcher, get a price, and set it at what they assume is the going rate. Others are more keen and price at rates that pretty much guarantee the bottles will never move. So many factors to consider, but the three-tier system isn’t always a good thing. That’s for sure.
I’m with you. Cheesy Gold is amazing, but not worth a return to the glut. We’ve got more good bourbon now than we ever have.
Amen, Scott.
These CGF have gotten so expensive I wonder if they are susceptible to counterfeiting.
I’d imagine so. Haven’t heard of a for-sure fake one yet, but it’s highly likely they exist.
Besides the human impact you discuss, people forget that there were so many fewer products available that were aimed at enthusiasts. Now there are barrel proofers, single barrels, and private selections available for almost every mash bill from the major distilleries. But it wasn’t that long ago that you couldn’t even buy Four Roses straight bourbon in the United States, to pick just one example. So I certainly don’t wish for a true glut. But I do wish that distilleries would do a little less chasing of fads and introducing of new labels and a little more focusing on the availability and quality of their existing releases. Wild Turkey has done a commendable job of this. While the Russell’s Reserve LEs probably fall into the category of things you are unlikely to find at the already significant MSRP, they have maintained quality and availability of most of their bourbon and rye portfolio.
Agree that it can seem like there’s too many trend-chasing expressions out there, but I appreciate the variety. As you stated, some producers are better than others.
I have a similar bottle from CN-B 5th floor. It’s delicious. Wish I could smell baked apple pie and taste root beer float, but alas, no suck luck.
Each barrel is different. Glad you’re loving it!
Wow! What an awesome experience. Sounded like the perfect trip, expecially with Jimmy and the michters barrel bottles! Some day, I’d like to theif my own bottle!
You nailed it. It was perfect. And I sincerely hope you get that opportunity, Rick.
I don’t hit the liquor store as much as I used to, but I haven’t even seen the new RRSiB label design in-person yet.
Hang in there. You should see it soon.
I have been following the profile shift for a few years now as well. I have remained largely unimpressed by anything distilled post 2011 but I have had some more recent picks that are an improvement. I think your hypothesis is correct on the still. If you look at post fire Heavenhill compared to prefire you see a remarkable difference. Neither is bad but they are different.
I think it’s improved significantly as of 2013 distillation dates. 2011-2012 were a step down.
This is probably one of my favorite reviews of yours to date, based solely on the pure honest it conveys. Cheers to keeping it real!
Thanks Nick. It’s an old one, but means a lot to me.
You forgot to include your rating.
I’m no longer doing numerical ratings. With Pride of Anderson County, wouldn’t be right.
But the numerical ratings still help many ( maybe not all ) wild turkey friends or those who are new to wild turkey a lot. For example, I’ve read all your rare breed reviews and learned that the 2015 with 112.x proof is really problematic or even bad with a 2.5/5 marks comparing to other rare breed from different years. Although readers can still read the wordings bad, disappointing, crying for your wallet phase for the 2015 112.x proof review so they probably know that is a not so good bottle comparing to other rare breed but number really show a much more clear reference comparing to pure wordings and I don’t think a reasonable bourbon lovers will just judge your review purely by the marks only. So the advantage of taking the mark away is much smaller than showing that for a reference in my opinion and I hope you can reconsider giving a simple 5/5 marks as the total is just 5 instead of 100 and it’s pretty much a vague rating system already which will not draw too much argument or too difficult for you to give the mark.
A lot of online reviews on internet and youtube give huge credit and recommendation for that 112.x proof rare breed and you are the only one who point out that version maybe a bad purchase with the not so harsh wordings and the 2.5/5 ratings( really useful if the readers read your review of other rare breed too) so it really give an objective and useful indicator to other wild turkey lovers who are going to purchase rare breed from different years and help them to pick the better ones instead of reading all the reviews without a mark and go out blind hunting as it’s safe and fair to say you have more turkey exp than the average turkey lovers so review with a mark do help.
By reading your review together with your mark, those who really love wild turkey/other bourbon can do the tasting and compare to your review notes for each bottle and their own easier thus know the taste difference between you and each individual readers and be able to brush up their tasting skill faster. It’s not easy to do so without the mark but just tasting notes which reader may not be able to find a solid and objective reference point sometimes so please reconsider to let us know what you think of a wild turkey bottle with a x/5 scale after your detail tasting notes. Many thanks and looking forward for more reviews and sharing from you in the future!
First, I truly appreciate your detailed and thoughtful reply. I see your point and understand that numerical scores help many folks. That being said, I have a hard time reconciling the fact that I’m rating/ranking a Wild Turkey expression when I have my own independent bottling about to drop. It just feels like a conflict to rate one Turkey over another with that in perspective.
I can promise you that my reviews will stay honest. It will require individuals to read the full post to understand where I’m coming from, but I’m okay with that. Will it make the site less useful on the fly? Possibly, though I’m hoping that the true Turkey fans stick around for the content and not just a quick skip to a rating.
Thanks so much for commenting. Your points are noted and I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
All the best,
dj
Something I have always wondered… what is the primary purpose of these types of export and travel-retail only releases? Would a non-age-stated WT101 not sell well in the overseas markets where WT101/8yr is sold? And if not, why not? For something like you have described (WT101/8yr selling for $22), it doesn’t seem like there is always a price premium attached to the product (WT 101/8yr) over what we get in the domestic market (WT101 NAS selling for ~$20) — so what drives the different offerings? Doesn’t the need to produce separate WT101/8yr and WT101/12yr batches for export markets add needless complexity to the production and packaging process? Clearly I am missing something, because this happens for a reason (probably numerous reasons)… but would love to hear more what those are!
When bourbon was all but dead in the 1980s, the Japanese market helped to turn things around. For Wild Turkey, they’ve essentially kept the same expressions – 101/8 and 101/12 (with a 13-year version taking the 12-year expression’s place briefly). Why take those away from them when it sells well as is? That’s the way I look at it.
Fair, I suppose. But then how does that sentiment (“Why take those away from them when it sells well as is?”) square with the removal of age statements on some domestic bourbons in the last decade? I’ve always gathered that age statements were removed on some bourbons in order to sell more / meet rising demand — so I guess my question is, is there a notable difference in the tastes of consumers in these export markets (like Japan), where a NAS bourbon would actually sell worse than the 101/8? Is the age statement a more important factor there? Genuinely curious, and maybe it is as simple as you’re suggesting.
Yes. Traditionally, Japan has been known for their appreciation of age statements.
RR13 and the craziness around it is the main reason I stopped following bourbon. Still enjoy it but I can’t handle the “Hype Train” that is bourbon now. As long as I can find WT101 & WTKS I’m good. Keep up the good work DJ.
Thanks Aaron. Still plenty of good things to be found. Don’t give up yet!
I picked up a bottle of this in UK which was significantly cheaper that Kentucky Spirt sells for locally, it is a really good pour.
Does it reach the levels of the 12 year, no that is exceptional.
Agree!
I decided to do a similar side by side comparison with what I could find on store shelves near me — a RR Rye 6-Year from July 2022 ($50), and a RRSiB Rye from March 2023 ($90). Could just be the batch and barrel of each that I got, but I find there is a pretty massive gulf between the two. I found the standard 6-Year Rye to be pretty thin, dry, and hot even at only 90-proof, while the RRSiB Rye was really well rounded: sweet, a little spicy, some nice orange-y citrus, and just the right amount of oak, plus a nicely creamy mouthfeel. Unfortunately, at $90, the RRSiB Rye is a bit cost-prohibitive, and there are other options (e.g., Wilderness Trail Rye) that I like better for less money. But still… the RRSiB Rye is quite good.
Different strokes, different folks. The good news is there’s a Turkey rye for everyone. If you haven’t yet tried Rare Breed Rye or 101 Rye, definitely give those a go. And thanks for reading!
I like both WT101 Rye and Rare Breed Rye — the latter is a little better, in my opinion, but not enough for me to justify spending twice as much on it. That said, I think RRSiB Rye is easily the best expression of the bunch — it seems like just the right proof and the NCF gives it some really nice body. (I haven’t had the 81-proof WT Rye but I actually don’t think I’ve ever seen it on the shelf.)
I agree that RRSiB Rye is the best of the bunch. This particular barrel just didn’t hold up to past barrels. Probably just a single barrel thing. The 81 rye is fine for a low-proof cocktail, but that’s about it.
Well I ain’t that long winded but if regular old Wild Turkey 101 ain’t good enough for you then you just ain’t drinking enough of it! Shady
For the money, can’t be beat.
I just don’t understand why they do this? Why not sell in the US? Heck I live 15 minutes away from the distillery I’d go there to get it! I’ve also heard their Rare Breed Nonchilled Filter is better than our Rare Breed and it’s only available overseas as well. I just don’t get it…
You’d have to go back 30+ years ago. A lot of history is in play. When bourbon sales were grim in the US, the export market kept some distilleries in the black. Hell, one could argue it kept them in business. Exports were age-stated then, so they’re age-stated now. The Rare Breed NCF is a travel exclusive, similar to what Beam, Maker’s, Heaven Hill, etc. do (as well as virtually any major Scotch brand). It’s honestly not that different from domestic Rare Breed. The good news is, we have much cooler stuff here in the US, despite a small handful of exports. Cheers!
I am very much looking forward to the domestic NCF RB, it has to be coming, there is no earthly reason to go to the bother of CF when no one in the domestic market wants it and in fact seeks out NCF releases as preferable to CF versions.
Regarding Japan and as a whiskey drinker going on 40yrs and a WT fan for that entire time, I assure you we turkey fans are just as attached to our age statements as our friends abroad, we had it, they took it away, we are still no happier about that than when it happened.
It is this turkey fans wish that one day production catches up to demand to the point that our age statement is restored, std 101 is certainly a gem but the age statements need to return, and yes we are keeping KS and RR too LOL!!
Hi Kevin. Thanks for commenting.
The only reason for Rare Breed to go NCF was to give travel-retail something special. I’m confident that when that deal ends, we’ll see NCF Rare Breed in the States (fingers crossed). And for what it’s worth, Rare Breed Rye is NCF.
It’s not that U.S. Turkey fans (or bourbon fans) didn’t appreciate age statements then, it’s the general public’s lack of appreciation that mattered more. The general public here didn’t care back in the glut era – for bourbon or its age statements. The general public overseas, however, did. For large brands like Wild Turkey, that’s who buys the bulk of the product – the general consumers, not the whiskey enthusiasts.
Turkey has age-stated products here: Russell’s Reserve 6, 10, and 13, as well as private selections and limited editions. Many foreign markets don’t see those expressions. But regardless of an age statement or lack of one, 101 remains a solid buy (thank goodness).
At 150.00 msrp I’ll never try it. There are enough less expensive bourbon to keep me away.
No argument from me. Always your choice as to what’s worth a purchase and what’s not. I’m fine with $150, but understand that others won’t be. Thanks Marcus!
$150? Geeze, I paid $70 for the first one. Come to think of it, the 2nd release cost me $99 I believe. So the MSRP has doubled in price in 2 years? Wild Turkey/Campari are some greedy sons of biscuit-eaters!
Secondary value is $300-$400. Campari is still leaving money on the table. I wouldn’t call it greedy at all. Hell, $150 for a blend of 13- to 20-year bourbon at barrel proof (NCF) from a heritage distillery is a bargain nowadays.
Ok DJ, but how do you explain the 2021 msrp of $69.99 at launch? Are we supposed to assume they were just being generous? Or did they adjust the price upward afterwards based on demand? If the latter, then that is greed, is it not? “Greed” can be a loaded word for some, so pick the euphemism of your choice. Also RRSiB PS msrp has skyrocketed lately as well.
It’s not greedy, and I don’t blame them. No reason they should leave that much money on the table out of the goodness of their hearts. If this year’s is anything like last year’s, then it’s priced fairly in my book.
It was underpriced to begin with. They’re simply adjusting to the market (like any business should). If you’re not happy with the new price and you happen to see it on sale for $150, just pass it on by. No one is forcing anyone to buy it. 👍
Sure, no one is forcing anyone to buy anything. Which is irrelevant. Ok, we will all stop complaining about 100% prices increases on here then.
You’re free to comment as you wish. You apparently think it’s too high of a price; I think it’s a fair price. I don’t think either of us are going to convince the other differently. I’m simply saying you can vote with your wallet and I support you – and anyone – who does the same. It’s your choice to buy or not.
As always, great review! I just got a RR CN-B 5th floor 08-xx sent to me from a friend in KY. Very excited to try it after reading your review.
Thanks! I’m sure you’ll love it.
is the new RR13 that dropped on Reserve Bar last week the only one from this year? Or was there one already released as batch 4 and then this recent one will be batch 5?
It could be any batch in theory. It all depends on what the distributors send the retailers that Reserve Bar works with. No guarantee of bottling dates.
Copy that. Thx RareBird101. I’ve been hearing conflicting opinions on the recent batch as far as quality compared to the previous ones. I heard it looked substantially lighter in color. Maybe it’s more a true 13yo vs older stocks 🤷♂️
For what it’s worth, it’s 13-, 15-, and 21-year bourbon. Can’t taste color! 😉
That’s cool, wondering how you know the barrel ages? have you tried the new batch 4 or 5 yet? If so, what’s your thoughts on it compared to batches 1,2, and 3?
Through my distillery connections. I haven’t had the 2023 bottlings yet. Hopefully soon.
copy that. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the new batch. Also, is there a better way to get your content? Are you on Facebook or YouTube?
Thanks for asking, Bryan. Most of my content can be found at Patreon.com/rarebird101. Join for as low as $1/month. Cheers! dj
Copy that. Will keep that in mind. Do u by chance know which rickhouses the barrels came from? CN or Tyr? Or mix?
Both Tyrone and Camp Nelson.
I just got 2 from Reserve bar. Not a big fan of it so far, but it was a neck pour. Ill give it another pour next week after it has some time to breath. Never had last years so I cant compare. Got lucky with a JD10 same day and I kinda liked it a lil better.
Different strokes, different folks. I wasn’t impressed with Jack 10, though I did enjoy the 12.
Not to get off topic, but yea that 12 next. I’ll come back next week to see if I feel dif about my RR13. I really want to like this. Friend in Tx calls it the French kiss.. We’ll see and yes, I agree about the dif strokes thing, but the major consensus is that RR13 should be better than what I think it is. Im curious if anyone will post a review with last years vs this years.
Haven’t had a RR13 that wasn’t stellar. Everyone will have their own opinion and that’s a-okay.
This is really a great interview. Completely agree with Bo that 101 is the most underrated Turkey, or in my opinion, any bourbon today. Really should have asked his opinion on the 101 12 year, and if there is any interest at Wild Turkey of producing it for the U.S. market.
Thanks John. Great question. We’ll ask him next time.
Thanks John. Great question for next time.
Man, Frank was definitely a great addition as a contributor! Great interview! I’m going to have to take Bo’s recommendation and grab a KY Spirit for this summertime! Cheers!
Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it. Both Frank and Bo are good people. Proud to have them on this blog.
I came to this review, because I had a 2015 bottle ( same label like the 2013) and I didn’t like it. The overall flavors where not full, some could call it “bright”. I still finished the bottle however so at my next trip to the liquor store I found a 2019 bottle ( bottle code LL/HE). I loved it! It has everything I’m looking for, balanced sweetness and spice, zero bitterness and that sweet char that I love so much. When the glass is empty, the most beautiful smell remains in the empty glass ( thats what I call sweet oak) . My interpretation is that the 2015 was to young, and the rye spice wins over the sweet oak. The same happens on the other end, I have a Master’s Keep Decades and I find the wood spice to be too much for my taste.
I went back to the liquor store and I was able to find another 3, 1L bottles of LL/HE !
I know taste is personall preference but if I can enjoy a 25 euro/dollar more than a 250 euro/dollar, I call that a win!
No more chasing the weller’s for me, I’ll stick with 101!!
There’s definitely some variance between bottlings over years. The good news is, you’ve found what you like. And 101 is always an excellent value. Cheers!
Um, $275?! Where does the madness end?
I’m sure it will sell out at that price. People are buying age-stated Crown Apple. Besides, considering all the flipping, Campari is leaving money on the table.
Anybody who pays that price for this product is a moron.
Guess I’ll be a moron then.
Lol
I just bought a bottle at a local retailer today for $120. They usually charge at or slightly over retail, so I wonder if $150 is really more the Reserve Bar price rather than the MSRP. I would have happily paid $150, though.
DJ: Keep up the great work!
It’s probably because some systems are still using the 2022 pricing. Congrats!
I really enjoyed this interview. Frank’s questions, I think, helped Bo’s great personality shine through with his answers. Welcome onboard Frank! One small note: The rapper KRS-One and his group released an album named Edutainment in 1990. I believe he coined the phrase. 🙂
rarebird101, do you know specifically how many barrels of 13- 15- and 21- year in Batch 4/5?
I don’t, but I’d imagine it would have a similar ratio to past releases: less of the oldest components, more of the rest.
Moron here. Sign me up
On this topic of finishing. I’d like to introduce the sublime effect of Grand Marnier on Rare Breed Rye. One drip at a time. Thank me later Campari.
Any tips on blending? Do I pour in the same bottle and tip the bottle up and down? I’m assuming a normal shake will introduce oxygen which would not be desirable.
Thanks
I learned a trick from Shaylyn, who used to work as a blender and taster at Wild Turkey. You simply invert the bottle once and then back to right side up.
Thanks, I’ll give it a try!
Holy Turkey…that sounds delicious!
I’m loving it!
Did you try the Rare Breed and Four Roses Small Batch Select 50/50 yet?
Sir, this is a Turkey blog. Just kidding. I’ll have to try that!
I have a bottle and I find the nose to be too woody. It doesnt have any sweetness in the nose, which I don’t enjoy.
For my taste WT 101 2019 is perfect. I really enjoy RR10 2020 even though I find it a bit bitter on the finish, the nose is divine.
Rare breed I find too woody, perhaps its the upper floor 6 yr barrels. When I blended it with RR10 2020, that woody smell went away, and whats left is a very nice complex pour.
I haven’t tried WT 101 12 yr yet. I hope is not as woody. Im assuming there must be barrels from the lower floors in the 12 yr and it wouldnt be too woody/smoky
Everyone has their own preferences. Nothing wrong with that! 101/12 does have a good bit of oak. It’s well-balanced, but there.
I almost want to crack my bottle of Saffell to compare for myself…
Just keep in mind that this particular blend isn’t Saffell’s profile. Cheers!
I did not know this was your first time on a Russell’s private selection!! and it sounds like it was truly unforgettable! I’ve never participate in a Russell’s private selection, so reading this certainly makes me long for the moment I can experience my Wild Turkey “Firsts”. Great write-up, Frank!
Always enjoy your your work, Frank. With both you and Taylor doing Turkey picks with David, I like my chances of securing a bottle picked by three people whose opinion I highly respect.
Thank you so much, Tony. And I agree. Frank is an incredible talent.
Looks like one heck of a time! As my journey through bourbon has evolved, I seemingly enjoy the bourbon history and stories and relationships far more than I enjoy the actual liquid in a glass or bottle. And this seems like it was at the top of that kind of list for you, too. Congratulations!
Thanks so much, Kevin. Appreciate you reading and commenting.
What a great write up! I always appreciate your perspective Frank. I hope to recreate your enthusiasm on a first time for myself soon! Cheers.
Frank is the best. The industry’s newest, brightest star!
I have 1/2 of a handle bottle of Wild Turkey that was bottled in 04/22/93 at 8:58am at Austin, Lawrenceburg Kentucky and Marked as Old 8 Brand. It was packed away in a box in my garage until I found it recently. It tastes much better to me than the new bottle I have. I have read that it does not age in the bottle so I am wondering if you know if it was made with a different recipe. It still has the price tag on it of $24.99. 🙂
Not a different recipe, but there are differences in how they were made. Old distillery versus new, changes in water source, changes in barrel-entry proof, age of the whiskey, etc. Lots of factors, and not a phenomenon exclusive to Wild Turkey. Try searching “dusty bourbon.” I’ve written a few pieces here about it. Thanks.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have often wondered how much variation there is between barrels so I am going to select a commonly available bourbon with enough sales that the barrel serial number will change regularly at the stores near me. When a have collected a few (say 10) I will gather some of my friends for a tasting. I am thinking that a medium priced bourbon that is likely to have more variation and would be more fun. What would you suggest?
Not necessarily. But if you want a higher chance of variation, try to find bottles a few years apart.
Looks like a beautiful bottle; sadly, it and any others in the $275 price range they represent simply don’t get my attention. I can afford it, but WHY?
Why do people pay hundreds of dollars to see Taylor Swift? Because they’re excited about the experience. 😉
No thanks. I hope my local store doesn’t hold one back and call me about it. If they do I’ll have to turn them down, which would be a first for any WT product.
Your wallet, your call.
Does WT say why it costs so much? It’s a 10 year whiskey finished in rum casks at $275. Compare that to Balvenie Caribbean Cask which is 14 years, aged in rum casks and sells for $100.
This does not compute.
6-year Willett Purple Tops are $300. Secondary for most past MK releases are $300+. I think it’s just Campari not wanting to leave money on the table. It’s a business after all.
Recently started experimenting with Russell’s 10 and Rare Breed, 2:1 RB to RR10. Enjoying it more than my initial 1:1 blend.
Sounds like a winner!
Regarding “For the record, I’m no expert in distillation or still construction, so please take this hypothesis with a grain of salt. But it only seems logical that any change to a major process, in this case distillation, will introduce subtle differences to the final product. And since you have to wait years to taste the fruits of your labor, the full impact of these differences aren’t easily detected.”
I just have to wonder if, after several years of running the “new” still, it will “break in” after time. I mean, that still is now 12 years old so maybe the copper has had some time to settle in.
That’s the general consensus. I can tell a major difference from 2020-2021 to now. And thankfully, a very improved major difference.
I’m lucky enough to have a bottle of RR13 in the cabinet (which will be opened as soon as baby Forosisky is here, any day now!), but as long as I can find Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel for $55 I’ll ride that train. Absolutely cannot be beat for the price.
It’s my favorite $50ish bottle, hands down, and I always have at least one shelfer on-hand and open, plus the private picks that I’ve got in the bunker.
An excellent bottle to celebrate that miracle. And amen, Scott. Hard to beat Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel!
David, Thanks for the review. I purchased one a couple of weeks ago. I have not opened it yet. Couple of local stores recently had Kentucky Sprits, CN-F and TYR-G and single barrel picks, CN-E and CN-A. All 2013 distillation dates. I’ve been enjoying those the past couple of weeks so that has delayed my Master’s Keep opening. Regarding the pricing, yes, a $100 increase over the prior year is significant. That being said, I would venture to say that less than 40% of individuals are able to get the Premium Turkey releases at retail. Most would be happy to get a Master’s Keep on secondary at that price. Maybe, this will have the effect of slowing the price escalation in the secondary market. We shall see. As someone who looks for older releases, bourbon and scotch, on the secondary market, I have witnessed the exorbitant prices individuals are willing to pay. The days of getting premium Whiskey, of any variety, being readily available and at a price near retail are gone for the foreseeable future. Anyway, I have rambled on long enough. This was an excellant review as always and I will compare your tasting notes with mine when I open my bottle.
Cheers,
Greg
Thanks for commenting, Greg. I recently saw a screenshot of a secondary post of Voyage for $375. My local had it for $350, so I think your logic makes complete sense.
Rr13 is one of these biggest flops ever. Give me 10 every day of the week over that spring water
Hardly a flop, but you’re certainly entitled to your opinion.
I just cracked a bottle of the new Russel’s 10 year. It’s been close two years since I purchased the bottle. Try as I might, I thought the old version was just too oaky and I never developed a taste for it. The new version is much more to my personal liking, and I think will be more appealing to most drinkers. The old version did make for a great cocktail, though.
Great point, William. I actually prefer the older profile, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a majority of folks align with you. Thanks for reading!
Excellent write-up. I’m a huge fan of standard RR single barrel. Possibly the best available bourbon out there for the money.
Thanks Larry! Agree.
Great post. I said similar thing on Reddit and a Facebook post complaining about prices going up and/or secondary market prices and flippers. Right now demand for stuff like R13 far exceeds supply which is the only reason the secondary market exists. As you said, I said it was only a matter of time before shareholders wanted to take advantage of the demand their products generated and start raising prices.
Thanks for reading, Teddy. Right. It’s a bourbon business, so it was only a matter of time. And frankly, I don’t half blame them. Leaving money on the table repeatedly isn’t a good strategy for a publicly traded company.
Cheers and congratulations to Jimmy! 🥃🦃
Met him a few times during his visits to Australia in the 90’s and early 2000’s – I still have a few signed bottles from his 50th Anniversary “tour”.
A wonderful man always happy to share his time and stories.
I couldn’t agree more, Garth. Cheers to Jimmy! 🥃 🦃
I find myself really enjoying my bottle of 2021 101. When tasted side by side with my Poor Man’s Saffell 101 ( 59% RR10, 41%RB), its not as complex but equally enjoyable as a neat sipper!
Yep. Not super complex but definitely enjoyable.
I accepted your invitation: a recent find of Kentucky Spirit, CN-F (bottled JUN 2023). The Turkey distribution gods let a gem slip through out here in “Upper Left Corner” for a change!
Kentucky Spirit is an excellent choice.
Man I just found out about this. Did it already drop? I would love to find a bottle of both.
It has not been released yet. Thank you.
How can one obtain one of these bottles?
You would have to reach out to KOBBE for that information. Apologies, Rogelio.
For Sting Like a Bee to stand victorious amongst that flight is an exhibition of how great that single barrel is. Shoutout to KOBBE on the pick. I was fortunate enough to be able to try Sting Like a Bee amongst other great bottles during that same party; it left a lasting impression with me as well. Glad it made its way to the best site to talk about turkey juice! Cheers
Just now seeing this comment. Thank you! That means a lot coming from you.
Late to the party but, would you know which rickhouse this KOBBE selection came from? Curious where this beautiful juice aged.
Camp Nelson F. Apologies for the late reply!
Recently opened my Unforgotten that I had for over a year, fan-friggin-tastic! One of the best pours I’ve had. Now if could ever find Revival….
That it is! Top 3 for me.
Just curious and sorry if I missed it but are you a Campari employee or contractor now?
Not an employee, though I am compensated for my time. They’ve invited me to share my story and the research I’ve done on the history of the brand. I did some of these sessions virtually during Covid, as well as Camp Runamok last year. It’s a lot of fun connecting with fans of Wild Turkey on a consumer level, as opposed to a more typical rep-to-consumer level.
Like the choices. I’d probably exchange the Rare Breed Rye with the Single Barrel Rye and get a .750 of 101 instead of the 1.75. But I don’t have any nits to pick really. Great lineup.
Great suggestion! Thanks Bird.
In Europe the list changes slightly. I’m in Cyprus and I can get 1 liter bottles of 101 all day, every day for 25 euros . I can get Rare Breed for 55.
In Germany, Rare Breed can be found as low as 35 euros ( for a 700ml) and in Italy Russell’s 10 for 42 euros.
I’m currently stocked up on Rare Breed travel exclusive 1 liter bottles which I got for 50 euros per liter .
Russell’s single barrel is harder to find.
Really appreciate the European perspective and I’m sure others will find it helpful as well. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Based on your “in conclusion” paragraph, are you telling me that you can find Russells Reserve 13 for $160? The first/last bottle I saw around here had a $300 price tag on it. I’d definitely grab one at $160!
Yes. I’ve seen them at SRP. But not at most places, unfortunately.
Great choices! Have you noticed a price increase for RR10 recently? In my entire region, every store has started charging $44-$47 for RR10. Bit odd since the Rye is still $40, and RR10 has a lot of competition at that price!
Not in my area, but I believe you. Seems like everything is going up.
Hi. I recently procured a bottle of this. At least, I thought it was this. A friend was traveling through Heathrow and I used the Select & Collect offer on World Duty Free products. However, the bottle doesn’t mention 8 years anywhere on the label. Have they stopped printing that? Or, did they pass the regular bottle off as the 8yr old?
The 8-year 101 is still available in certain export markets, primarily Japan and Korea.
To say that the asking price of this Generations is disheartening is an understatement. I have purchased Master Keeps several iterations but the asking price of Generations is way above what I am willing to part with. Unfortunate.
I said the same thing about Russell’s 1998 for $250 in 2015. I regret that decision now. But if you don’t want to pay $450 for this bottle in 2023, don’t.
Agreed. They are now insanely greedy and commercialized. The quality is less, the price is more. Their RR single barrels have been sub par for the most part, esp some of these warehouse M ones.
I disagree. But if you don’t like what you’re tasting, don’t buy it.
Pretty sure its the old man’s last bottle….meaning its the last bottle with his input before he retires…..
Hardly. Jimmy’s name is on virtually every bottle – 101, Rare Breed, Russell’s Reserve, etc.
The pricing of the their premium products has gone off the rails. Stick to their core offerings and ignore this garbage from Campari’s marketing department.
If you don’t want to pay it, don’t buy it. There’s only 5,000 bottles anyway. It’s not like you’ll see this on shelves everywhere. Regardless, plenty of affordable quality Turkey to be found.
That’s really an unfortunate response. It seems like you are becoming less independent and more a bit of a mouth piece for WT. I guess those expensive dinners don’t come cheap. Hope you enjoyed Generations and the freebies.
Did you read what the event was actually about? It was a celebration of family. I think you’re missing the big picture.
Someone needs to bring the Russells down to earth a little bit, the pricing on this bottle is laughable. Three Russells team up to pick barrels and that deserves a $450 price? Isn’t picking barrels their job in the first place? Shame on Turkey, much respect lost after this. And no, you can’t blame Campari, the Russells obviously signed off on this mess.
The Russells are employees. They don’t set the prices on Wild Turkey products. Period. And if you don’t want to pay it, don’t buy it. It’s that simple. There’s no reason to be disrespectful to the Russells. Besides, there’s plenty of quality Turkey out there.
Matt, sorry but the reality is the bourbon market and flipping that is going on. Distilleries are taking their rare releases and increasing the price point to eliminate the secondary value. No one is entitled to top-tier ultra premium anything. The distillery like any business is trying to protect their investment and make that profit themselves.
As with everything else that has been said, if you can’t pull the trigger… don’t. We don’t all drive expensive cars, we can’t all buy expensive ultra premium whiskey.
JT, it’s not about can’t and all about won’t. Don’t make silly assumptions.
Excellent review and a great read! I read a press release somewhere that a few bottles might be coming down under? Can’t wait and I’ll definitely be getting one.
Speaking of which – both Eddie and Bruce are touring Australia next month. Hope to see them and share a pour together!
I talked to Eddie and Bruce and they’re excited about the trip. Hope you get the chance to see them.
I’d agree that the price is something that might be a hard pill to swallow, especially for those who are used to spending more than half the price for the annual Master’s Keep releases or even spending less for the recent Single Rickhouse releases. However, there’s a certain uniqueness and “having a piece of Wild Turkey history” appeal to this release, that makes me excited to try and get a bottle.
Some people will be disgruntled; some people don’t care at all; others will enjoy some amazing pours from this bottle (according to this review). I hope to be the very latter. Cheers, Frank!
I agree. There’s a lot more to this release than fancy whiskey. It’s a historical piece and I don’t mind paying to own one.
It’s a bottle of whiskey. With all due respect, nobody with their feet on the ground considers it a historical piece.
Are you saying that no bottle of whiskey can be a historical piece? Most folks in the whiskey community would disagree with that viewpoint.
Maybe those folks in the whiskey community need to gain some perspective.
I, as well as many, was surprised by the price. Like it’s been said, there are only 5K bottles, so you probably will never see it. But, as it will look great on the ‘Turkey’ side of my bar, I’ve placed my order today and look forward to the first glass (whenever that may be). Now I just need to figure out how to tell the wife! 🙂
Well said, JC. I, too, placed my order today. I’m an American living abroad and was uncertain if we’d see this WT iteration arrive in the Far East. As an example, we receive WT 12-year, but not RR13. We also no longer (since maybe 2012…(?) receive WT 101 Rye or Rare Breed Rye. It’s unfortunate.
In any event, I received this morning an email confirming availability, supplied a shipping address back in the U.S., and was confirmed for sale.
I’ll return to the U.S. for the holidays and return home with Generations and a run-of-the-mill Rare Breed Rye after the new year and a blessed start to 2024.
Enjoy that dram, brother, and wishing you the uniting power of the brotherhood in that impending conversation with your missus. Kanpai! 🥃
Ha! Well, look at it like a historical release, as that’s what it is. And good luck with telling your wife!
I love wild turkey
I’m deployed and I’m ready to buy at least 3 bottles. Wish there were a way.
It’s a tough one to find anywhere. Only 5k bottles total.
It was pretty easy to get where I am. I think demand was tempered by the price and a couple of meh reviews 🤷
Wow…very well written.
Thank you so much, Thomas.
Nice article but isn’t generations 450 bucks? It’s ridiculous.
Thanks. Maybe ridiculously priced to some. Not everyone.
I support your site, bought your book, merch etc. I feel like you are now in the inner circle of WT and that you are making excuses for tripping pieces of RR13, and now with this.
I am a huge Wild Turkey fan but frankly they are really pi*ING me off by only catering to rich people lately. Not cool. Hope it backfires. But it won’t. Yet another way a company decides to screw over their supporters.
By the way paradoxically now that WT is charging insane prices, the secondary on these has crashed and I have seen rr13 and voyage sitting on shelves or being sold on secondary for retail.
When you cut out the enthusiasts and collectors, you only cater to a very few people. Sadly greedy WT/Campari are shooting themselves in the foot. I read that campari wants to make Rare Breed $90-100. What a horrible way to make money.
Appreciate your past support and apologize if you misunderstand my position. I’ve always been an advocate of Wild Turkey and the Russells. That’s what this blog has been about.
In regard to the secondary, I don’t care about it. I’ve never been on Facebook. If black market sales crash, fine.
No one is being “cut out” from Wild Turkey. Limited editions are exactly that (and are increasing across most companies). Bourbon brands can charge a premium if they’d like. It doesn’t mean you, I, or anyone else has to buy them. There is plenty of quality, affordable Turkey in liquor stores everywhere. And i’ve heard nothing about Rare Breed bumping up to $100.
I’m sorry you’re upset, but I believe you’re taking it out on the wrong person. All the best to you, Jeremy.
Agree.
Hey David, I always enjoy your reviews and I think I did have a bit of collection envy as I just purchased one of these for 200. I think I may have overpaid a bit because it was an auction but I still look forward to trying it.
Thanks Jeremy. Not a bad price at all considering it’s 2023. Congrats!
Hey David, I came across this after I purchased one at auction today. It was about 200 so I don’t feel too bad but I am hoping I enjoy it as much as you two!
I’m confident you’ll love it.
I really like the “affordable, limited edition” item on the wish list, especially if it’s during the week of Thanksgiving. I was just telling Frank how Campari should lean further in to the inclusion of Wild Turkey as part of the spirited culture surrounding Thanksgiving. Having the affordable limited edition bottles at the gift shop during Thanksgiving week, so that people can grab their special “Turkey Bottle” would certainly be the right step in that direction!
Exactly! Ideas just like that. It shouldn’t be difficult, and in this case, Wild Turkey would benefit from additional exposure.
Russell’s 13 Year . . . . Now $150
Single Rickhouse . . . . Now $300
2023 Master Keep . . Now $275
Generations . . . . . . . Now $450
2024 Russell’s 15 year . . . Can’t imagine it being less than $250.
And those are the MSRP prices. I’m sorry, but it is getting ***king ridiculous with the pricing. Campari is on the brink of alienating what was once their core supporters. And they are not the alone escalating pricing on their premium offerings at a very rapid pace. The bourbon market was in the dumpster in the 80’s and 90’s. If the large holding companies of these brands think it can’t happen again, they are sadly mistaken. The Federal Gov’t is $34 trillion in debt and it doesn’t have and extra $5 Trillion to throw out like it did in 2020 and 2021. A lot of individuals spent copious amounts of that money at their local spirit shops. Every discretionary item has a breaking point when it comes to it’s pricing. Bourbon is rapidly approaching it. Just my 2 cents. Hope everything is well with you David. Cheers.
I think RR13 at $150 is reasonable. $275 for something like MK BiB … wouldn’t complain about that one bit. Generations and Single Rickhouse … no one has to have those. If you want them and don’t mind paying, all good. Too expensive, just vote with your wallet. Plenty of affordable Turkey out there. In fact, the grand majority of Turkey is available and affordable. Cheers Greg!
While Camp Nelson has produced some decent selections over the years, the best bourbon has resided in the Tyrone site inside of K warehouse. This is a little known fact outside of the distillery. I have personally collected many samples for the private selection process and know this first hand. The samples from Camp Nelson are good but none have come close to eight year barrels from K warehouse.
It’s all personal preference. Most of the modern sought-after releases have been Camp Nelson: 1998, 2002, 2003, MK BiB, SR CNC, SR CNF, Generations (with a very small portion of K in it). K is great, but it’s a wildcard from my experience.
Thanks for all the useful back info and history into this bottle.
I just picked up a litre bottle at COSTCO Korea for 49 USD.
Tasting my first dram now… 🙂
And thank you for reading!
I would love to see them do a double oaked of one of their offerings.
2021’s Master’s Keep One was double-oaked.
I have a bottle of wild turkey old no.8 brand 101 proof from what looks like 1997. Is that good??
Very good. There are some Old No. 8 reviews on the blog. Cheers!
I know you’ve discussed this in the past but in the store how does one know if a bottle marked simply A like this one is a CN-A and not a Tyrone A?
In those cases you have to be familiar with each year’s barrel numbers. It’s not ideal.
I read all the comments before leaving one to make sure this is in context, though the opinion will still likely be unpopular.
Wild Turkey (and by virtue of association, Campari) resisted price trends for a long time before caving. That’s commendable.
On average, I think they’ve also corrected in line with the industry which is expected if unfortunate. This bottle is an outlier and I agree with the viewpoint in the post. In the end, it’s a business in an industry, not a whiskey club on an island. The best I can hold WT to is that you get the quality you pay for (which in this case seems to be the case) and let the market and our price limits set the rest.
I hope it comes back to earth at some point, but either, whiskey has been undervalued, flipping is driving up prices, or both. And until those factors change, part of this we’ve done to ourselves.
Above all, I hope WT continues to focus on quality and offering an available, accessible portfolio with things like rare breed (both expressions), RR SiBs, etc. I’m more than willing to forgive the hyper-limited hyper-priced top 5% if that doesn’t change – that’s the DNA of Turkey.
Really appreciate this comment, Brian. Thank you. dj
Brian the point you make about the core lineup being solid and affordable and serious bang for buck is unquestioned, it’s why we’re all on this forum. WT built a solid rep for making good quality whiskey that most people could afford. But now we have these $400-500 Generations/PoAC products that kind of mock the ethos that made Turkey so admirable. Inevitable in the current climate? Yeah. Let it pass w/o complaining? Naw.
I got a second bottle of 101 2021, and it’s not as good. I think something that is not often discussed in whiskey is oxidation. This second bottle has a loose cork and I live in a sunny and hot climate
Was the fill level low when you purchased it?
No, the fill level was fine. It tastes as if it has lost some of the aromatics. It’s still drinkable,
but I’m suspicious of sunlight exposure. At the same liquor store I saw some other bottles with the label discoloured ( like it would if left out in the sun)
Sun will definitely kill the flavor of whiskey. If the label was discolored, that’s likely the culprit.
I have 2 new bottles of RR10, I picked up from a recent trip to the US from TotalWine in Houston. 2023 bottlings. I wonder if the “chocolate” note you are describing is the same as what I’m calling a “malty” note. I call it “malty” because it reminds me of scotch and it totally puts me off. I don’t like scotch at all and that is partly the reason I love bourbon so much. So you can imagine my shock when I got that note in one of my favorite bourbons!
I wouldn’t say it’s a Scotch profile. It’s definitely a bourbon profile. It’s just a little different from what it used to be. Overall, it’s still Turkey to me. Thanks for commenting!
A wonderful review! I take even more gratitude for being able to enjoy a pour of this with you, after understanding more of what inspired you to go on your hunt for this bottle. Aside from the sentimental aspects, I agree with rich dark chocolate foundation and the layered, elegant spices. Truly a bottle that bourbon enthusiasts should try if given the opportunity. Cheers!
A great article and the sentiment around it warmed my heart. Im sure your grandmother was very proud if you. Cheers to her memory 🥃
I agree, Dorita. Frank wrote a beautiful piece.
How much do these bottles sell for? I have an unopened bottle #2999. Worked in marketing for this run to be shipped overseas.
I don’t have an exact figure, as I don’t do the secondary thing, but last I heard they were well over $1k. Hell, they could be $2k now for all I know.
Well I didn’t buy This one yet but did buy the GENERATIONS and Masters Keep Voyage with only 5000 bottles made of the Generations, I figured it would be Worth 4 grand next year at this time.And that there can buy me a lot of Rarebreed.As for the Best Bourbon Wild Turkey Ever made I Say it was Stampeed the finish on that Bourbon was like silk and at a price of 3 Bottles with tins 99.00 @107 PROOF you could not go wrong.Things sure has changed the Generations at 499.00 and up Don’t even have a box? Unreal and not even a bottle with a raised Turkey head just a printed bottle.Well maybe I will get to taste it when I resell it next year.If not I will still Enjoy my Rarebreed.
Highly doubt Generations will be worth $4k. Personally, I think buying bottles as an investment is a bad idea, but that’s an individual call. Rare Breed is cheap enough and more than available to purchase whenever necessary. Stampede is no doubt solid, though it’s only 500ml (and 105 proof, not 107). There are much better options for the money IMO, such as older Rare Breed batches. Thanks for commenting!
Great write-up! I agree with the baking spice and confectionery sweetness as prominent notes coming Tyrone T, as the BBR x OC Bottleshop pick (that came from the same Rickhouse) has those similar notes.
My bunker has dwindled quite a bit, both because I’m drinking less overall and because the new addition means money is allocated to diapers and formula, but when I see a RRSiB Private Selection, it’s an automatic buy.
I loved the 2018 Tyrone D picks I had (sadly now all consumed), but these 2023 Ds sound right up my alley. Definitely going to keep an eye out!
Yeah, those 2018 TYDs were special. These 2023s aren’t the same, but they’re tasty nonetheless. I’m sure you’ll enjoy!
Fortunate enough to try this in London last night at a tasting with Bruce Russell.
To me I would take a pour of the 12 year 101 over this.
Would be nice to know where to buy these items.
Not just look at them.
These are private selections from 2020. Very likely sold out years ago. You should, however, be able to find more recent comparable selections at liquor stores online and across the country from time to time.
I was recently lucky enough to purchase an 8 year old export from ‘96 and this sounds almost identical. It was my first dusty Turkey experience and I was not prepared for the profile at all. The musty oak is very present it almost reminded me of some rums I’ve had.
Oh, dusty Turkey is a goldmine of flavor. So glad you had the opportunity to secure a bottle.
Ha! I remember our phone conversation when you had discovered that bottle sitting on the shelf at Seven! Love the history lesson tied into this review and learning about Wild Turkey. The question that begs an answer; if ‘82 started the year of Wild Turkey using their own distillate, is that the precursor of what brought forth the raved 8-Year exports in the late 80s, early 90s?
I do appreciate ratings with a review because they tend to remove any guesswork on the part of the reader. Some reviews I read get me thinking that the whiskey will be a 9/10 banger, only to discover it was a below average 4! Others I get to thinking the whiskey is nothing more than bottled pond water but the score ends up fantastic. Reading reviews the notes all seem to bleed from one into the next so a final objective measure is always appreciated. My $0.02 on the score topic.
As for this series, I’ve really learned a lot about the different locations across the WT properties. I appreciate the time you and Frank put into doing it (and covid is whiskey enemy #1).
Thanks for reading, Tony. I’m glad you’re enjoying the series. As for ratings … With Turkey, especially modern expressions like Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, the quality is so consistent that I find myself splitting hairs over a quarter point or so. I’ll promise you this, if I don’t like a whiskey (including a Wild Turkey expression), I’ll be sure to let you and other readers know it. 🙂 Cheers and all the best!
Dope review! And I like how you compare notes to what Rare Bird had mentioned for other Christmas Ryes released in earlier years. And Near is such a Time Machine when it comes to experiencing whiskey in Louisville!
So what did you pay for Xmas rye at Neat for this review?
As I’m reading this post in 2024…I can’t begin to express how grateful I am that the days of this post are in our rear view mirror.
But, the content is squarely in our windshield! Classic turkey was great when we didn’t know where we were going, but it’s also great when we do.
As I have read quite a few classic turkey reviews of yours tonight, one note I always get that I haven’t seen you pick up is cherry (throat drops, crumble, juice, any and all really). Another is barrel char – it’s what made Wild Turkey 101 stand out to me in 2010 when I was discovering bourbon.
Anyway. Just wanted to share my findings. Great blog, rareBird.
Thanks so much! Notes are fickle as palates change and dusty Turkey is very batchy. I have found some cherry in a good many Turkey expressions – especially bourbons from Camp Nelson F and E. So much variety to explore. That’s one reason why I love this brand.
Awesome article! Incredible insight into something I’ll never do myself. I appreciate the whiskey reviews, but stories like this provide immense value. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Tony. Glad you enjoyed it. And never say never!
I find it interesting that they included the Wilderness Trail story on this site. Is it because of the Campari ownership tie-in? Do you work for Campari in any capacity? Should we be expecting future coverage of other Campari owned brands? I mean, Four Roses distillery (not owned by Campari) is just down the road from Wild Turkey distillery, so why not a Four Roses story instead of Wilderness Trail? Plenty of Wild Turkey enthusiasts also really enjoy Four Roses, because of some of the similarities in spiciness of their bourbons.
This blog is dedicated to Wild Turkey. I’m not an employee of Wild Turkey (or Campari). I was simply writing about my trip to Kentucky – the entire trip – and you’ll find similar posts from past trips featuring Maker’s Mark, New Riff, Rare Character, Starlight, etc. Plenty of posts for you to explore, Larry!
Thanks for the clarification. I do enjoy travel blogs the best of all. I’ll check out more of them that you mentioned. Thanks
Anytime. Enjoy!
I agree wholeheartedly with your view and review. A few years back I was looking for HWMWD and couldn’t find it. This was sitting in abundance and I picked one up. High West no more for me. This stuff is incredible and has become not only my Holiday rye but my year round pour. Plus, I can purchase 3 bottles compared to one HW. Drink on!
Thanks for reading, Arthur. Hard to beat Rare Breed Rye!
Looks like you’ve convinced me to get a bottle and include it in future rye blind flight!
Rare Breed rye is undoubtedly a key player in the inevitability of the wonderful rye renaissance we are already living through! Great review, Frank!
Haven’t tried many ryes, but haven’t liked any of them. The flavors are not appealing to me like bourbon notes. Love Breed bourbon, but think I’ll pass on the Rye. Don’t care 4 scotch either, so maybe it’s just my palate. Been drinking bourbon for 4yrs & I love it. Have about 15 bottles. Maybe my tastes will change over the years.
Rye isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. When I first got into whiskey, rye was for cocktails only. Now I love it as much as bourbon. You never know where your whiskey journey will take you!
Will, I was once like you, a naysayer to rye. I don’t know why it took me so long to at least try Wild Turkey ryes (I think my first was RRSiB), but I found that Kentucky ryes, with 51% rye, were not only great mixers, but great sippers in many cases as well. If you come across Wild Turkey or Knob Creek rye in a bar, it would be worth a try. It may surprise you.
As for Rare Breed Rye, I’ve been on it since 2020 and a manhattan doesn’t taste right without it!
Hey David , just thought I’d ask you I just found some Kentucky spirit here in Australia TYR G from 2023 and a warehouse G …which one would you want to try in terms of is more rare or harder to come by or which would be better In your opinion .cheers in advance been trying to find some reviews on TYR G but can’t seem to find
Either could be great. Search for “rickhouse G” on this site. Should be a good many G selections reviewed. Here’s one for example:
https://rarebird101.com/2021/08/17/russells-reserve-2g-coverage/
Cheers Eric!
Just ordered this. Looking forward to trying
Russell’s Reserve “K&L Exclusive – Butchertown” (Warehouse TY-Q, Level 4) Single Barrel #23-0320 Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml
I’m sure you’ll love it.
Best modern Turkey offering. Exceptional bourbon.
My first Russell’s Reserve SiB was a 2016 Ty M and made me a WT fan for life! Thanks for highlighting all these awesome rickhouses.
Thanks for reading, Mike!
I just picked up “Paristown Point” Ty Q
from K and L Wine and Spirts here in So Cal. Bought a Ty K called “New Louisville” but the Q is my favorite of the two. I’ve got a CN E called “Country Backpacking” soon to arrive on special order. I was without any store pick Russell’s for awhile and when offered these treasures I simply couldn’t resist! Thanks for all your insight into all things Turkey!
Awesome. You’ll love that CNE.
I have a bottle of the 8year but am having trouble dating it. Even the company can’t help me. I looks like the bottle you have pictured on the tp right but it’s a 1 liter bottle.
Have you found a date code on it? This might help: https://rarebird101.com/bottle-codes/
One of the bottles I have collected has a black label marked ME 83-1 P and is signed by the master distiller. Is there any significance to the black label?
Hard to say without seeing it. If you reach out via my contact form I’ll see what I can do. Thanks!
Just picked up my 3rd Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel store pick from K and L Wine and Spirits here in So. Cal. It’s an 8yr 6mo CN-E floor 4 called “Backcountry Camping”. It doesn’t disappoint as it’s better than either of the other 2 picks. Dark fruit and spice are nicely balanced. Camp Nelson has done it again!
Sounds great!
“Gone are the nutty characteristics that often dominate Wild Turkey single-barrel releases from 2020-2022.”
This is great news! Wild Turkey is my favorite distillery and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel is my favorite expression. But for a couple years there I was getting a burnt nutshell note that I did not like. If that’s done or diminished, I am thrilled and ready to roll! (I just had a pour at a bar the other night–I didn’t get the date, but it was a new bottle at a new bar, so I think it was 2023 or later. It was delicious!)
So now I’m going to go buy a couple Russell’s Reserve bottles, and I have a question I’d love to run by you. How should I think about the difference between store picks of these and standard shelf bottlings? Is one option better than the other? Do the store picks get first dibs? Or are they just off-profile? Does it have to be a known genius store picker to beat the shelfer, or are most store picks better than the shelfers? Finally, should I be looking for certain rickhouses among the shelfers, and if so, which ones?
Thank you for any thoughts you may have! I’m excited to buy some more of these, and I’d love your guidance. (In the past, I’ve bought a few store picks (Total Wine and Virginia ABC) and multiple shelfers. All were great in different ways, but I haven’t tried enough to know what the patterns are with these, and I’d love any insight to guide the next purchases!)
If 2023, the shelfers have proven themselves to be just as good as picks, though more “core profile” Turkey. Picks will showcase more uniqueness, as they’re pulled for the barrel program for that exact reason. All depends on the individual, but I doubt many folks will be disappointed either way. Thanks for reading!
Thank you!
Anytime.
I hope they don’t pull another Generations cash grab on us. Cornerstone, in my opinion – really hit the mark and at a reasonable price tag. All these bloggers and fan boys have priced the regular Joe out of the market.
I think Master’s Keep Bottled in Bond going for $300+ and RR13 going for $400+ on the secondary back in 2020 & 2021 did this. Bloggers didn’t do this. Whiskey enthusiasts did this to themselves. Campari just doesn’t want to leave money on the table. No company does (or should).
It really is a magical place. Great write-up, DJ!!
Thanks Scott! Really appreciate it.
Couldn’t agree more! Wild Turkey’s ryes are seriously underrated. I have a cabinet full of ryes and bourbons, but lately I’ve been feeling like I don’t need anything besides 101 Rye and Rare Breed Rye. It’s great stuff by any measure, but when you factor in availability and price it’s phenomenal.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Scott!
Reading this article, written just before the COVID bourbon boom, is a wild ride. If only people had known…
great article, i just had to acquire a bottle after reading this was Jimmy Russell’s favorite masterpiece. I was extremely fortunate to get a bottle from an auction. Its going to be a great pour for special events with select company.
Thanks Ruben. You will surely enjoy it!
Wow. It’s interesting that nobody has left a comment yet. I have my ideas as to why, but they don’t need to be said our loud. Thanks for a great writeup for this whiskey – I’ll likely never see it, but I can’t complain because I didn’t see Cornerstone when I saw it everywhere.
Wow…typos galore. **Said out loud** and **didn’t BUY cornerstone when I saw it everywhere**
No worries at all.
Thanks for reading AND commenting, Bentley.
Great article and review on the Triumph, for a few reasons:
1) The history on the inclusion of Maryland Rye Whiskey during the earlier years of Austin Nichols
2) The side-by-side comparison of the Triumph and the Cornerstone
3) The proclamation that there’s two predominant lanes of rye whiskey; zesty, vibrant, “bright” ryes and richer, mature, “dark” ryes. And your alignment to those lanes affect how much you like a certain rye. Because I have been a fan of the recent Parker’s 10-year rye, Michter’s 10-year rye, and the Blue Run Emerald Rye, I got a feeling I would love this Triumph
Cheers!
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Really means a lot that you appreciated more than a standard review. Cheers!
I can find it locally for under $50 pretty consistently, and sometimes on sale for $40. It’s an automatic buy at that price, and a good value regardless.
Not an everyday pour, by any means, but great to have in the cabinet.
What are your everyday pours?
WT101 and Evan Williams BiB.
I’ve got some Russell’s Reserve SiB open, and a few other private selections, but sip them sparingly.
Wow! It’s $70 here. $40 is an incredible deal, Scott.
Maybe my pallet is changing but I found the new bottle of rare Breed to be a better pour than my previous bottle. Just a little more balanced and closed to a Russell’s pick.
Funny thing is, it’s just a label change. I think some folks are equating that with a profile change and that’s just not what I found (outside of minimal batch variance).
I’m kinda new with bourbons and whiskey. I finally picked up a bottle of Rare Breed along with a bottle of Larceny. I had to mix them together to get them palatable for me, and the two of them together actually turned out pretty good.
No harm in that. Whatever works for you is all that matters.
Campari is cleaning up! Everything Wild Turkey has gone up in price! (And yes I know it’s just how it is these days)
But the prices on MK, RRSB store picks, and RR 15 has tipped the value scales for what’s in the bottle. Still love everything you do David!
Well, expressions in the core portfolio, like Rare Breed, are still very affordable and available. And for perspective, Russell’s 15 is essentially the same price as RR 1998, and 1998 came out in 2015.
What is a fair price to pay for this bottle? I can’t find much on it!
It’s vintage so it’s hard to say. I don’t do the secondary thing. I don’t think I’d pay more than $500. So much quality Turkey out there priced cheaper.
Hey RareBird,
I keep hearing people say there are at least 50k bottles of RR15. I heard someone say 300 barrels. Knowing that after 15 years there’s prolly only 1/3 of the barrel left (of course variably depending on rickhouse location n whatnot), I would think there’s only like 25k bottles or so. Do you have any info you can share on this? Thx!
At present, they’re only rumors (I’ve heard other numbers thrown out as well). I’ve yet to receive any confirmation from Campari on this information. As of my last inquiry, the bottle count was officially undisclosed. Thanks Bryan!
copy that, thx RB!
Very welcome. Anytime!
I see their online sale is going well…
Based on demand, it went exactly how I expected it would.
You expected an incompetent retail experience? I expected more. Not asking for much, just the bare minimum would be nice. Didn’t get it.
It’s easy to point fingers at an entity when the reality is individuals were selling bots on Facebook to target Reserve Bar. I’ve also seen screenshots of folks trying on multiple devices with multiple browsers on multiple windows each. Now, factor all of that into a sale of an expression of limited supply (of which a fraction was available online) with insanely high demand. Is there a system that can handle all of that perfectly or even just smoothly? I’d argue there is not. You can be upset at Campari, Reserve Bar, or even me for just stating the obvious, but that emotion is largely misplaced. I’m sorry you didn’t get a bottle. I didn’t either. Cheers and all the best.
I’m not actually upset. I am sure I’ll get a bottle from my local retailer eventually, probably for less than the website would have cost me.
I’m just pointing out how incompetent their process is. It needn’t be that way.
You’re right. It doesn’t need to be that way. Instead of doing rare drops online they should just stick with standard distribution and save themselves the trouble. Few online systems can handle this type of scenario – none perfectly (yet that’s what it appears many were expecting). I sincerely hope you’re able to find a bottle. I’m on the hunt myself. And please keep me updated either way. Cheers!
Good luck to you too DJ. Cheers!
I was an Old Gran-dad BiB and Knob Creek guy. Then I left Beam products and was looking for some new >80 proof alternatives. I tried WT 101 and Rare Breed. Both are excellent, so I’ve stopped looking. I’m having a Rare Breed with a couple rocks right now… just delicious! $55 here in western NY state. This is a great blog, cheers!
Thank you! Glad you’re enjoying the blog – AND – glad you’re enjoying Rare Breed. Cheers!
Hey, David – I always appreciate your articles, insight and expertise. I wanted to delve into RR15. Curious as to if there are already different “batches” of RR15 on the market? I ask because I have seen a couple of RR15 on the “secondary” sites with a code showing LL/JD. The code on my bottle shows a LL/MD, and was bottled April 12, 2024. Have you seen of or heard of any different possible batch dates yet, or, know of any insight on why the LL/JD versus LL/MD engraved/stamp dates?
Thanks! J would mean 2021, so it’s probably a code from a Russell’s 13 bottle or someone is mistaken. RR15 should have M for 2024. All the best!
No constructive commentary relating to RR15, but just wanted to take time to say thanks for writing this. I’m really appreciative of comparison articles like this because, after all, who doesn’t love having options? Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Tony!
I’ve only been sipping since 2022 but I have tried to thoroughly explore the shelfers regularily available in my area. I have enjoyed a lot, however Wild Turkey just seems to be the profile I’ve loved most. I’ve had three bottles of Rare Breed and they have all been delicious. Rare Breed and RR SiB are my favorite pours and always available in my very rural area. WT101 is a great everyday sipper as well, great value. The 2 bottles of KS ive had are good but didn’t compare to RB for me. I don’t really mess around with bottles over $100 but someday I hope to try one of their limited releases. Anyway I recently discovered this website and its just awesome.
Thanks for reading, Jason. Didn’t take you long to find the best whiskey in the world!
Consistancy is great too. I had 2 bottles of Knob Creek 9 Sib Reserve that were fantastic. However my 3rd bottle was maybe half as good, tasted like a Bookers lol. However I picked up another Russells SiB and Rare Breed this week and both are again, just delicious. Ive been pulling away from trying to hunt allocated and 100+ bourbons and retreating to the things I know will be reliably great.
Was able to secure this pick and found it to be even more impressive than I anticipated from this article. Absolutely stellar. But I don’t have the experience with the legends as you do here so maybe that’s why.
Glad you loved it. I suppose it’s because when this post was written, picks from this time weren’t as difficult to track down.
Still on the hunt for a bottle. It’s out there somewhere. Nice review and can’t wait to taste
Thanks Dan. Best of luck in your quest!
I always enjoy these WTMK reviews. Picked up a bottle of Triumph today. Can we get your rating though as with the previous? Keep on enjoying that Turkey! 🙌🏼
Likely 4/5. Cheers! dj
Surprisingly, I did actually get this bottle. Your review actually makes way more sense now. This isn’t just a unique WT rye, this is a unique rye altogether. People balked at the price so I had to blind it against other 10+ year old ryes I had. (Knob Creek 10, Bulleit 12, Michters 10, Old Overholt 10, as well as OFSBBP and JDSBBP). Yes … Triumph is truly unique. Not my favorite amongst the bunch, but it stands alone in the character it brings to the table.
Agreed. It’s its own thing. Thanks for reading and commenting, Bentley.
I really like my bottle of Triumph. This is the first Master’s Keep that I’ve purchased since 2020’s BiB 17 year. I purchased every release before that, but the recent releases haven’t been all that compelling to me personally.
It was tough to pull the trigger on the elevated price for Triumph, but the reviews gave me the confidence to give it a try. It’s a very nice rye whiskey.
Glad you’re enjoying it, Larry!
You state that the 101 aged statement of 8uo was dropped in the us only? Does this mean that all 101 everywhere around the world are 8yo but onlyncertain counties state it? In the Netherlands we also do not have an age statement on the 101. Does this mean it is 8yo nontheless?
It’s tricky when it comes to exports. I’ve seen non-age-stated 101 sold overseas, including countries that carry the 8- and 12-year versions. I’ll edit my post. Thanks!
Is this already on the store shelves?
Did you find this locally?
I will be looking for it!
And YES, hats off to Campari for not putting a high price on it!
I believe it was just released today. My bottle came from Campari, as disclosed in the review. But you should be able to find it without too much trouble. Cheers!
Sorry I missed where you got your bottle.
I’ve checked a few places and no one even knows about it. I south of Indy. Don’t have time to run down to WT.
Also, great review!!!!
All good. And thanks again.
Possibility of a third book? The biography of a living legend…I can’t think of anyone that would be better suited.
Can’t wait to get ahold of this bottle.
Maybe one day! Thanks Kevin.
Excellent write up! Cant wait for this and Generations to arrive down under. Gonna have some RB in his honor tonight. Cheers to Jimmy!
Thanks Jim. Cheers to Jimmy!
Will this be a national release?
Yes.
Love the last paragraph and couldn’t agree more! Jimmy Russell and his Wild Turkey 101 represent what is great about bourbon and America.
Thank you!
Think these write ups have just gotten more and more bias over time. Any release they put out you praise. They aren’t all perfect and you make them out to be every release so it makes it where it’s not worth even reading your reviews.
In case you missed it, I’m a huge fan of Wild Turkey and Jimmy Russell.
Hey, David – According to Bo Garrett (@FirebirdBo on X), he posted specifically about this 70th bottle, “The big bird has landed at WildTurkey! 8 & 9 yr old Bourbon from all of the mighty Camp Nelson warehouses!!” So, it’s apparently all CN and not Tyrone? Interesting.
Well how about that?! Bo knows Turkey. Sounds like it’s Camp Nelson.
Found the 2023 at a local retailer for under 50. Love it!! Ended up getting three bottles to keep a supply. Doesn’t seem to be moving at this retailer. Lots of bottle competition.
Take advantage of it while you can!
I was a Wild Turkey aficionado from the age of 18 (1989; I lived in Vermont, and that was the legal age) to sometime in the mid 90’s, when I got into brewing, and stopped drinking liquor to any extent. I never bothered to buy any other whiskey. I might drink mezcal or rum on occasion, but Wild Turkey 8yr 101 was my standard. My late brother Leon (RIP) would give me a bottle every Christmas. One Christmas, our older brother Conrad asked for a shot, and commented, “It smells like corn silage!” Corn silage is chopped whole corn plants fermented like sauerkraut in a huge silo. We were a dairy farming family, so that was a solid reference for us. I sniffed it and replied, “Yeah, it does.” No surprise, as it is corn whiskey. Years later, I developed a fancy for rye whiskey. One day, I buy a bottle of 101, no longer displaying the 8yo label, and it tases like rye whiskey. The fermented corn smell is nowhere to be found. Apparently, there has been no change to the mash bill, but the current offering is much more towards the trendy rye whiskey buyer, not the old corn whiskey lover.
The profile has changed – for bourbon in general – for many reasons. Very keen of you to notice. Your experience shows.
1985, not 1989
Do you know if this is non-chill filtered??
The label doesn’t state. I’d assume it’s chill filtered.
I looked all over couldn’t find anything about the filtration. Thanks for the quick response!
Age stated or NAS?
All of the Single Rickhouse releases so far have lacked an age statement. Eddie has stated publicly that barrels selected for this series are 10-15 years.
Thanks!
Hello from Heidelberg,
last week I got a sample mini-bottle from a friend, containing 13 year old Russel’s Reserve bottled last year.
Pretty good stuff. Comparing it with some great Bourbons from the past might be unfair – but I have done it nonetheless:
I picked three contenders, two from the same destillery:
– Wild Turkey Kentucky Legend (0,75 L ; 50,5 % ; no age statement ; bottled about 25 years ago in the late 1990s/early 2000s)
– Wild Turkey 8 years (0,75 L , 50,5 % ; bottled 1977, destilled 1969 or earlier)
– And one from Bernheim/Heaven Hill: Old Charter’s Propietor’s Reserve 13 years old (0,75 L ; 45 % ; bottled in 2001)
The Kentucky Legend is a little bit more fuity, slightly more aromatic, a whiff more complex; similar body, similar final – just 0,5 barrels ahead of the Russel’s Reserve 13 of today, which is nearly in the same league.
The Wild Turkey 8 years destilled before 1970 is a different thing, a very different thing:
The destillery famous honey note is here in full flight, much more intense and prolonging than in the two later expressions.
There is more fruit and more compexity, also the aftertaste stays longer.
It’s easily one full barrel above the Kentucky Legend – and at least 1,5 barrels above the Russel’s Reserve 13 in every significant category (nose/taste/final).
The Old Charter 13 years from Bernheim/Heaven Hill is not as full bodied as the three Wild Turkeys, but the most complex of the bunch: a long-lasting interplay between fruit and oak, also with some mineral notes which are usually hard to find in an American Whisk(e)y.
It has not the famous honey note of the very best Wild Turkeys, but compensates with other values.
So I place Old Charter 13 only 0,5 barrels behind the Wild Turkey 1969, rating him the second best of the four Bourbon bottles in this particular flight.
Greetings from Germany
upi
PS: Four snapshots attached
https://imgur.com/a/SIHwOb9
https://imgur.com/zNmAx6g
https://imgur.com/3Kdpfu9
https://imgur.com/O7l0kPn
Sounds like an incredible tasting. Thanks for sharing.
In 1982 in Heidelberg-Neuenheim in Germany opened a little Wine & Whisky shop called ‘Macha Weine & Feines’. The Shop owner, Stephan Macha, focused in the following years more and more on American Bourbons and expanded his stock continously.
Ten years later he had the majority of Bourbon & Rye brands on the shelf and even got some licenses for importing a few bottlings exclusively for Germany. Including some pretty rare and today highly sought after Bourbons under the brand names ‘A.W. Hirsch’ & Boone’s Knoll’, which were destilled in 1974 in the original old Michter’s destillery and bottled 1990 after 16 years of barrel aging.
Mr. Macha also imported several Wild Turkey expressions: Kentucky Legend, Kentucky Spirit – plus this Green-Label ‘Christmas Rye’.
I bought my first and only bottle of this particular Rye during my first visit in the shop in 1998, so presumably it might have been the 1997 expression. The price was just 55 DM (about 30 Euros today)
A month later I went back for a second bottle – but the Green Label Rye was already out of stock: a total of 120 bottles had been sold within six weeks – one regular customer alone reportedly grapped 48 bottles for his juke joint in the Heidelberger Altstadt called ‘Sonderbar’ (still existing today).
In the following three years Mr. Macha had not gotten any additional Wild Turkey Ryes – I had to wait until 2002, then he got a shipment.
The new bottles did not have a Green Label anymore; the proof was lower, and the taste very disappointing: no more waxy-honey notes which the Green label sported prominenly, rather one-dimensional and flat by comparison.
In the next years I tried to get some Green Label Ryes in Whisk(e)y auctions and elsewhere, but I was not successful. It was much easier to find some older bottlings from the 70s and early 80s of the regular 8 years old 101 proof Wild Turkey, of which I found nearly a dozen over the years (14 years ago I got my last one for 90 Euros in the monthly Krüger whiskyauction – meanwhile the prices went up crazily, easily doubled or tripled since 2010).
The late nineties Green Label Wild Turkey Rye show up very rarely in Whisk(e)y Auctions nowadays, even if someone is willing to spend plenty of money for a bottle (not me, of course) he had to be very patiently…
Greetings from Germany
upi
I love reading your blogs. Interesting, funny, but mostly hitting the nail on the head. Regarding American Honey Sting, I love it as a side shooter with beer in the cold months. Carry on.
Thanks for reading, John. I also appreciate the feedback. Cheers!
The Macha Wine & Whiskey Shop in my neighborhood in Heidelberg-Neuenheim had always Wild Turkey Kentucky Legend & Kentucky Spirit in stock.
After the shop closed down in 2012, it was rather difficult for me to find those bottlings elsewhere in Germany (for an affordable price).
Kentucky Legend is meanwhile discontinued, and todays only one Geman merchant (in Berlin) has the Kentucky Spirit online for sale.
Last week I ordered one big bottle: 1,0 Litre / 75 Euros.
In the last three days I tasted it back and forth together with an older Kentucky Legend.
Both with 50,5 %, the Kentucky Legend is more ‘offensive’: more fruit, more oak, more honey. The Kentucky Spirit is a bit subdued by comparison, but very very smooth and still aromatic enough. In the beginning I preferred very much the Kentucky Legend. But in following sippings the Kentucky Spirit catched up and came close – while the Kentucky Legend now tastes sometimes a bit rough and intrusive.
I don’t know anything about Wild Turkey’s different barrel warehouses, which certainly have some impact on the final outcome.
I’ve attached two snapshots of my current Kentucky Spirit, which was bottled last year in March.
Maybe the label says something to the experts… :->
https://imgur.com/a/3fBMzPO
https://imgur.com/I5mJzhB
Single barrels will always carry a degree of variance. Wild Turkey uses traditional wood/clad rickhouses with no climate control. Each season brings its own elements of change. I suspect that’s the primary factor of difference.
Looking online for other retailers in Europe who have Kentucky Spirit bottlings in stock, I found a merchant in Italy who offers the 1,0 Litre bottle currently for 65 Euros – free shipping to Germany if I take four or more bottles.
These bottles are from an older stock of 2020 – label photo below:
https://imgur.com/a/QiqqySY
Should I order or should I reconsider ?
The only Euro retailer I have experience with is Must Have Malts.
The Bourbon seller in Italy is well established.
My question above is only focusing on the specific bottle label – maybe someone has already tasted this very bottling of 2020 from this very warehouse/lot/barrel and can give me a hint if it is a good, very good or maybe even a great Kentucky Spirit bottling….
It’s possible. Have you shared this on social media? It’s likely someone could help you on Reddit, X, Facebook, etc.
I’m super old fashioned: no Twitter, no X, no Facebook… not even a mobile phone.
Luckily I’ve found at least this place for some more in depth Wild Turkey discussions.
Yesterday I’ve ordered three Kentucky Spirits from a large Wine & Spirit seller in Prague – only 50 Euros for one big 1,0 L bottle plus 30 postage, making ist 180 Euros in total for alle three bottles together. This was the lowest price I was able to find online all over Europe.
When the parcel arrives next week, I gonna take a photo of the bottle label. Could be some older stock bottled two or three years ago…
My experience with Kentucky Spirit has been quite positive over the past few years. I’m willing to bet you’ll be more than satisfied with those acquisitions.
– Thanks for the information.
Have bought my last Russel’s Reserve 10 over two years ago, it was okay but not a special favorite of mine.
In Germany I can find only two online-retailers which have the RR 10 currently in stock (the RR Single barrel is easier available in Europe).
I mailed them this morning about the lot numbers, one responded 20 minutes ago:
He wrotes that he has 0,75 litre US Export bottles with the lotnumber: LL IC270838
Says nothing to me, but maybe some regular Russel’s Reserve 10 customer can narrow down and rank this particular lot in comparison to others…
Greetings from Germany
That would be March 2020.
Thanks again.
So if the quality decline began in 2021 or 2022, a march 2020 bottling might not be so bad… I’m considering buying one in the next days….
The profile shift for Russell’s 10 started in 2022. At least that’s what I noticed.
Okay, I’ll order a bottle from that March 2020 lot.
The same retailer offers also the special 12 year Export bottle – for 120 bucks, link below:
https://www.whiskyzone.de/wild-turkey-12-jahre-japan-exclusive
Should I buy one of these too?
Or should I ask first about the lot number, because maybe there are also some differences depending on the bottling date…
There’s a review of the 12 on the blog. Might be helpful. I think it’s a buy, personally.
Alright, so I need both bottlings. Thanks for the hint.
Just searched for the cheapest price in Germany of the 12 year old Export bottlig of 2022 (for the Japanese market) – and find one seller who offers the bottle for 99 Euro:
https://www.whisky.de/shop/artikel/Wild-Turkey-Distillers-Reserve-12-Jahre.html?actshop=1&autoredirected=1
20 bucks lower than that other German retailer, presumably I won’t get it any cheaper elsewhere…
I have tried the LL/ME 2024/05/20 and the LL/ME 2024/05/17. While both are very good, I like the LL/ME 2024/05/17 even a little better. Not sure what is in both of those bottles, but it is not what I have tasted in previous bottling. Richer, more savory and definitely more oak driven. Buy either is you see them on the shelf.
Sounds good. I’ll be trying those blind soon. They could very well be the same exact batch. Hard to say for sure. Cheers!
After investing some more time in the online price search within Germany for this particular Wild Turkey 12 years Export bottling of 2022, originally created for the Japanese market, I finally found & bought one half an hour ago for 89 Euros – including free delivery.
The retailer is spcialised in re-importing bottles from Japan to Europe, and he as also some other Wild Turkey Export bottlings in stock:
https://jwhisky.de/japanischer-whisky?manufacturer=224
I just picked up LLMB and LLMD at a local Costco. Hopefully the D is close to this review since it was bottle on 4/23
I’ve heard they’re not that close but still an improvement over 2022-2023. I hope to compare them soon.
I’m sippin on some LL/ME16 and it also tastes way better than what I remember
Great to hear!
I live in Columbia SC but I picked one of these up in Florida on a work trip after watching Jason with the mash and drum on a live stream talk about this particular laser code, which he mentioned he heard about here first, and then discovering that a Total Wine in FL was selling this bottle with this laser code for $31.
I’ll be honest, I just miss the proof. This is delicious, smooth whiskey with a lot of old whisky notes, lots of leather and tobacco and oak. But there’s very little spice and to me good turkey needs spice. At $31 though I sure don’t regret the purchase. I may pick up another bottle of this on my next trip and experiment mixing this and rare breed.
While I appreciate barrel-proof Turkey, sometimes it’s just nice to chill with a complex easy sipper. This checks that box for sure. Cheers and thanks for commenting, Josiah!
Love your blog, first time poster but I’ve read just about every post in this website. I’ve become more and more of a whiskey snob over the last 10 years and wild turkey is far and away my #1 distillery.
Soo, today I had the 10 year LL/ME by itself and I got more spice. It’s excellent whiskey. It just falls flat in a blind. I blinded this bottle with a 101 handle i picked up in FL that is some of the best 101 I’ve had in 5 years, a rare breed, and a rare breed rye. For me the Russell’s finished last. The texture was watery and it lacked flavor vs even the 101. The rare breeds blew it out of the water for me, not even in the same class.
I get a bunch of cherry in the Russell’s 10 that is not my favorite note in a whiskey. So my personal pallet may be part of the issue.
Sure. It’s all about what speaks to you. Nothing wrong with that at all! Cheers and thanks for reading and commenting, Josiah!
DJ I’m lovin this! Secret codes and turkey hunt? Especially something that is obtainable and a return to the profile I missed oh so dearly? This is amazing news cheers!
Cheers Jim!
I have an LL/ME17. Im going back and taking home whatever they have left on their shelves. Its got so much cherry on the palate, with a little bit of cinnamon and a heavy dose of vanilla.
The finish is where it really shines. More cherry, then you get barrel char and leather with a hint of citrus.
It does not taste like a $40 bourbon.
Thanks for the heads up
Glad you love it!
Today my parcel from Prague arrived with three big bottles of Kentucky Spirit.
All 3 are from warehouse TYR-K – Rick no 21.
Two are from barrel no 2486, one from barrel 2490.
All were bottled on March 23rd in 2023.
One bottle of Kentucky Spirit which I had bought two weeks ago in Germany (TYR-G – Rick 9 ; bottle no 2327) had also been bottled on the very same day in 2023.
Three snapshots attached:
https://imgur.com/A2M9Ozd
https://imgur.com/sUE3dOk
https://imgur.com/2kTAsxn
I’m sure they’ll be quite tasty. Cheers Rudi!
This post got me excited as I have loved RR10 in the past.
I checked multiple stores near me today and they all only had LL/MB from Feb 2024. Assuming most of the stores got a similar distribution
I wonder if that means the LL/ME is yet to be distributed to my market since it has a later production date in May?
Super eager to get my hands on this or a close date/batch
Hard to say. Maybe reach out to some whiskey friends in other states. I’m willing to bet they can help you.
I have the LL/ME 20 and the LL/ME 17. The ME 20 is really good. I haven’t cracked open the ME 17 yet, but it’s good to hear other reviews that it may be slightly better than the ME 20. I also, picked up a RR SiB with a laser code LL/ME 07. It’s freaking fantastic. They had 2 left on the shelf for $64. This is a steal.
I recently compared ME17 and ME20. They’re extremely close. Sipped apart I’m doubtful one could tell one from the other.
Just picked up a LL/ME17 and will concur it’s better than the last bottle I had which was at least 2 years old or so when I got it. Thanks DJ!!
Very welcome!
Happy to have read this. While I was doing so I thought about the recent bottle of 10 year I opened having been much better than my last. I walked over to my cabinet to check, and wouldn’t you know it, ME20! Now to find another as I bought that one a few months ago.
Can’t just have one!
I have an unopened bottle of Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit botteled on 9-28-15, barrel 2602, warehouse O, rack 2 I purchased this at the distillery after a tour.
Love those fantail bottles!
Have you heard anything with LL/MF if the June batches got any love? Or does it seem it was just May?
I haven’t tried MF yet but associates who have say it’s better than last year but not quite as good as May 2024.
Haven’t touched the bottle of barrel # 2490 so far, but tasted back and forth the bottle from barrel 2486, Tyr-K (purchased recently in Prague) and compared it over the last three days repeatedly with the bottle from barrel 2327, Tyr-G (bought some weeks ago in Berlin).
Well, the bottle from barrel # 2486 (Tyr-K) is the clear winner: more flavour, more fruit, more oak, more intensity; both very smooth.
Glad I got two bottles of this particular batch & barrel # 2486 :->
https://imgur.com/undefined
Makes sense to me. K is a bit of a wildcard, but when it’s just right those barrels can be fantastic.
Last Friday I got my 12 year-old from the German retailer specialised in re-importing bottlings exclusively launched for the Japanese market.
Yesterday & today I’ve compared it with an European import bottle of Wild Turkey Legend, old stock from the late 90s, no age statement, same strength (50,5 %).
The Kentucky Legend has a bit more of everything: more fruit, more honey, more intensity, and – surpisingly – also a whiff more oak; fuller, oilier body and longer aftertaste. Clear winner over the current 12-year-old.
Afterwards I’ve compared the 12-year-old to my latest Kentucky Spirit (Barrel # 2486, Rick 21; TYR-K).
The 12-year-old is oakier – the Kentucky Spirit smoother and a little fruitier; similar body, similar intensity. No clear winner.
Got my bottle of the 12-year-old (700 ml) for 90 bucks, including postage. (Prices might rise, based on the limited supplies.)
But I can constantly find the Kentucky Spirit in the big 1,0 L bottle for about 65 Euros all over Europe – so money-wise it’s a favourite.
Willing to pay in rare occasions (about two times each year) up to 200 Euros for an exceptional Wild Turkey Bottle, I won’t pick any of the current line-up (especially no Master Keep expression) – hunting down instead older Kentucky Legends & Kentucky Spirits, bottled before 2005.
https://imgur.com/h89aAbw
https://imgur.com/hlsXHUQ
That makes sense about Kentucky Legend. That’s Glut Era whiskey in there.
what about russell’s reserve single barrel with LL/ME??
Highly doubt that’s affected as it’s not a batched whiskey but a single-barrel product. Private selects have been in the 8-10-year range for years now. The standard retail bottles are made up of barrels deemed not unique enough for the private barrel program, but consistent in profile (and
excellent nonetheless). Cheers!
All I can say is that the LL/ME RR SiB that I have is much better than my previous SiB barrels that I own. It’s not even close.
Great to hear!
I picked up the LL/MF since I could not find the ME. I love WT but I’ve only had 1 RR10, about 1.5 years ago, and it was underwhelming, prefer the rest of their lineup. The LL/MF does indeed taste like it has older whiskey in it. There is a lot of cherry and leather/oak and it’s a little drying. Far superior to my first bottle imo. It’s still thin but has some deep flavors. I may have to keep on the shelf if they keep up the quality.
Hard to beat for the price, that’s for sure.
I’ve reached a point in my drinking journey now that if I want a bourbon, then it’s Wild Turkey. I have other open bottles at home and I tried to finish them, but they just don’t do it for me anymore. I’m beginning to understand those older people that have their brand of choice and stick to it. I can still appreciate quality but there’s always something missing: It’s not my drink. My local liquor store got some Russell’s Reserve 10, which was a surprise to me since I’ve never seen it before in my country. And it was priced at 43 Euros!! I picked up two bottles to try before going for a case. It’s from February 2024 ( MB).
Tasting notes;
I get cherry, oak and vanilla. Really enjoyable. Certainly better that a 2023 I picked up from a trip to the US last year.
I didn’t find a bad bottle yet post 2014 distillation! My theory ( which I hope I’m right!) is that we can expect this consistently good profile until they do something to change their process.
I hope you’re right too!
Around here I can get RRSiB for the same cost (or cheaper) than Kentucky Spirit, which is the main reason I don’t pick it up often. Back in the fantail days I’d grab a bottle any time I found a store pick, but even that was few and far between.
Now, with the Jimmy 70th release and the return of 8/101, I don’t see a huge reason to keep KS around, or on my shelf, anyway. Glad to see it isn’t going away, but it doesn’t captivate me compared to the rest of the lineup.
The only positive is that it gives you the rickhouse, whereas RRSiB does not. More often than not RRSiB wins the fight, but it is nice to know what you’re sipping – especially if you want to geek out and take note of the differences. Cheers Scott!
True! It is nice to know rickhouse. Maybe someday they’ll update RR labels to match.
I just bought a LL/ME 19, haven’t seen any info on those seems to be all 17 and 20. Haven’t opened it yet but excited to try!
Waiting on one to arrive. I’d imagine it will be similar to 17 and 20.
I have a unopened bottle that was my late father’s was inquiring its worth??
Give Unicorn Auctions a gander.
This should be 35 bucks. No hats off to Campari. Knob Creek is 9 years old and 100 proof’ and that’s what it costs. If Beam can do it, Wild Turkey can too. Hard pass. I’ll stick to the OG 101 to scratch my Turkey itch. Or Rare Breed for the same money.
You do you!
Keep up the great work RB!, your turkey knowledge is enviable! l love and need need that RB glass! Long Live Jimmy!
Thank you Chris!
Love the information here! What a fantastic bourbon this is. Only thing better I’ve tried recently was some 132 proof Blantons from 2016. Thank you rarebird101 😉 I found a couple of ME/17 bottles and I’ll be looking those 20’s.
Very welcome. Glad you’re enjoying the blog
Wasn’t sure where to reach u. I found a couple bottles of wild turkey 81 proof from 2014. Wondering if that is considered a dusty/has that old wild turkey profile?
I wouldn’t consider them dusty. They’re worth retail price in my opinion. Cheers!
Thank you for the update
I recently found an ME17 RR Single Barrel. Based on how WT bottles on any particular day, I am curious if it is possible that any of the older barrels were bottled individually on the same day as the RR 10 batches purported to have older juice were bottled. Or, are those RR 10 batches created weeks in advance and it’s not likely any older stocks slipped into the single barrel bottling that day. Any thoughts?
I’m not sure how often RR10 batches are bottled, nor the batch size or timeframe for bottling. I know that 101 is roughly 1,000 to 1,500 barrels a batch a week (per Eddie Russell in 2019). All I can say for certain is that ME17, 19, and 20 taste amazing. Cheers!
Awesome prediction on the Master’s keep “Forgiven” in that same year. I also knew that it was a palyful idea that’s worthwhile to be further explored
Thoughts on Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel from Camp Nelson with the LL/ME laser code? I stumbled across one at Spec’s yesterday.
Per Wild Turkey…
“Wild Turkey distillate enters the barrel at 115 proof. Depending on the warehouse location and floor, the proof of the whiskey inside that barrel fluctuates and can often drop below its entry proof. Sometimes, during the single barrel selection process, a barrel that’s earmarked to be a Russel’s Reserve pick falls below their bottling strength of 110 proof. In these cases, the pick can become a Kentucky Spirit single barrel bottled at 101 proof.”
Any chance they were RR15 barrels that dropped below proof and were bottled as Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel?
There were no RR15 barrels in LL/ME RR10. That was purely speculation on my part (as noted in the review). There is, however, older whiskey in the batch. Kentucky Spirit is a single-barrel expression aged 8-10 years (but closer to 8). It’s highly unlikely that a barrel that choice would end up as a Kentucky Spirit bottling. Not impossible though! Cheers!
Just to clarify here, since this is being cited on YouTube, by “no RR15 barrels in LL/ME,” I mean no “leftover” or “rejected” Russell’s 15 barrels – as in, barrels allocated for Russell’s 15. I’m not saying there’s not 15-year whiskey in Russell’s 10 LL/ME. There is, in fact, considerably older whiskey in LL/ME.
What month was this Bottled? What is the date code on this one? The reason I ask, on a RR10 from Oct 2024 I just saw a new code convention that started with LA instead of the typical LL/. Do we have any information on this new code yet. Any information on why they changed it?
Could be a misprint. Have you checked multiple bottles?
Yes. It was on every single one, maybe 8 of them. Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo of it, and the store I saw them at is a few hours away. I’ll try to get a photo next time I see one like it again. But I figured you all would have seen it by now if they changed the code in Sep or Oct…
I’ll keep an eye out. Thanks!
You are correct. I asked around and it turns out someone posted one to my Discord server back on November 16th. I’ll do a little more digging. Thanks again.
I know I’ve seen LL/MG, and LL/MH used. I don’t recall seeing an LL/MI yet. Which is why I figure the new code started in Sep or Oct. I wonder if there is any underlying significance to why the code changed.
Campari has a state of the art bottling plant in Lawrenceburg. They bottle SKYY vodka there as well as Turkey. Could be something as simple as changing a bottling line (there are multiple lines).
Thanks for the great article and comparison. I recently found a 2016 bottle I haven’t opened yet. Need to add a new one and compare (and go back and see if there are more lol!)
Should be pretty good!
Morning David! It’s 6:30 am here, I’m drinking my coffee and reading your article.
As you know I’m a big Wild Turkey nerd, so let me offer my experience which I think will add to your article:
In my area until recently the 101 batch available was JJ (October 2021). I’ve had a number of bottles of that batch and I can say that it’s excellent “Jimmy whiskey”. The sweetness is so balanced with the spice and the alcohol that makes it very drinkable, you want to keep drinking it. The new batch in my area is KH ( August 2022) and it has the new profile. My palette gets similar tasting notes as yours. Grainy, sweetness off balance. It doesn’t make me want to pour a second glass.
So the transition must have occurred between those two dates.
Another product that I get quite regularly and I have seen a change is the Rare Breed NCF. As you know I’m not in the US so I don’t get regular access to the Kentucky Spirits and RR’s but I have been lucky to get Rare Breed NCF for 2021,2022 and 2023 so far. I also can find a few times a year the Japan Wild Turkey 101 8 year. The 2021 Rare Breed was good, the 2022 exceptional and the 2023 average. In the 2023 I’m getting alcohol on the nose and not so much caramel, however when I blended it with RR10 (Feb 2024), it sorted itself out, which leads me to believe that the 2023 blend leans more on younger whiskey.
Slight deterioration in profile with the Japan 8 year 101. A 2022 bottle was excellent. I recently picked up a January 2024 bottle. Good , but not as good as the 2022. This Japan 8 year is an “Eddie whiskey”. Bruce Russell mentions it in a recent interview ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghYl4AkZMBs ) and my experience confirms it.
All of the above for me just means that I’m still on the hunt for a regular offering of a “Jimmy whiskey” 101!!
The last NCF Rare Breed I purchased was during Covid. It’s excellent. Same with the 101/8s I have, but again, they’re earlier than 2022-2024. I’ll have to dig a little deeper. Good news is, other expressions are really shining lately, like Russell’s 10, Kentucky Spirit, and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel. Maybe it’s just a matter of time. We’ll see.
Great review, not so good news.
Lately the 1L 101was not available so I did not buy the .7L, 101 is equal to 1L to me.
Reading this makes me sad, I am not gona have the 101 that made me love WT so much, add to that that 81, Longbranch and Rare Breed are the only WT available to me so the situation is getting worse.
What is next to receive that treatment? Rare Breed ? Then Wild Turkey may go extinct for me and for many others!
Quest for premium stuff to sell has 1 side effect, they are going to upset the true believers , 101 fans that made them who they are.
WT was all about that extra value for me, a league of their own, now they are joining the ranks of many.
Ask for some extra cash do not lower the quality.
Actually nowadays .7L price is higher than 1L used to be, so more money for less quality.
So many brands are going for extra cash, no worries, they are not on the worth buying list anymore.
Cheers!
I wouldn’t sweat it too much. There are other expressions that have really impressed me lately. Russell’s 10 from this year, as well as Kentucky Spirit and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel. I know Kentucky Spirit can be found overseas, but can you find Russell’s 10 and Russell’s Single Barrel easily?
RR10 is readily available in Italy, some shops offer Europe wide delivery but not many. The problem with online shopping is that you don’t know what batch you get, until you get it!
Switzerland is the land of RR Single Barrel for some reason! They have a bourbon society and they also do barrel picks. Not available for delivery though, it will have to be worked into a trip to the Alps!
Kentucky Spirit, Italy and Germany also available online
No, Russel stuff is not available, Rare Breed is scarce nowadays, 1L 101 same, 101/8 n/a, WT is an endangered species these days as all the bourbon.
Checking the inventory I have bottles from 2018 to 2020, that is a little comfort.
Cheers
Interesting. You live outside of the US, correct?
I just bought a bottle of rare breed bottled April 2024 that is downright undrinkable. It’s cloyingly artificially sweet with almost none of the older bourbon notes (leather, oak) that I normally get in rare breed, and very little spice. Turkey 101 has always had lots of variation batch to batch as you note here, but this is the first bottle of rare breed that has suffered in my experience.
Gotta think the proliferation of limited releases here recently is killing the quality of the shelfers overall. Us turkey fans might have to start sharing laser codes of batches that are still drinkable for shelf products.
I’ll start: Turkey 101 LL/ME with bottling dates of may 20th, 24th and 28th are excellent.
The 2023 I have isn’t the same as some older bottles I have open, but it’s perfectly fine for Rare Breed. Nothing off-putting. I do think that Rare Breed is more “batchy” than it used to be. I’ll have to try a 2024 bottling. Thanks for commenting!
101 has become really scarce in Ohio recently which is really weird.
Wow. That is odd. First hearing of this.
After the first six or seven glasses I have trouble telling the difference!
Sounds about right.
I have an unopened bottle of Wild Turkey, I think from the 80s-90s, is there any way of aging it?
Give this site a shot. https://whiskeyid.com/category/wild-turkey/
Nice props for the great Jimmy, and Wild Turkey. The only other person I can think of that’s on the top of his field after 68 years, is Warren Buffet. So Jimmy has even him beat. Cheers!
Not sure if I’d rather be stuck with billions of dollars or billions of bottles of Turkey … hmmm. 🙂
And Rare Breed remains a great sipper!!!!
Amen!
Great article! I love how Wild Turkey 12 combines bold spice with subtle sweetness and a smooth oak finish. A fantastic bourbon!
Thanks for reading. It sure is. Stay tuned for a review of a 2024 bottling soon!
It is one of the best in my book I’ve had two of the 8 years 101 👍💯❤️
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the update! Have to admit I’m most excited about the 8 year 101 and trying to bunker more 70ths
Thanks for reading. Cheers!
Great write-up! I had Tradition at a dive bar in Seattle maybe a decade ago, before I’d really started my bourbon journey. I remember loving it, but definitely didn’t appreciate it fully at the time.
A good read, thank you .
I bought a bottle of the 101 private selection when visiting the Visitor center in May. CNF 4th floor. LL/ME. Bottled 5/24/2024. Distilled 9/30/14. Will this have the qualities of the rare breed last year with that LL/ME id?
Doubtful. Russell’s 10 is a batch and LL/ME had some special components. 101 Private Select is a single-barrel expression. The specs are provided on the front label and are likely the typical 8-10-year bourbon, but give it a look (and taste) to know for sure.
Thanks for the insightful article! I found the Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old to have a rich aroma of caramel and aged oak, with a palate that offers notes of green apples and baking spices. A well-crafted bourbon!
Hard to beat for the money!
I had the fortune to purchase a LL/ME 17 before all the reviews came out and thought it was unusually better, although I heard the LL/ME 20 was even better. I purchased a LA/MK 08 0347 about 3 weeks ago and thought it lacked the typical RR flavor, in fact, its weak on flavor period. Its also developed a weird funk. There’s about 1/3 bottle left. I tried using it as a mixer and the funk is even more pronounced when mixed. I’m on the look out for a bottling after Nov. 2024 to compare it to.
They’re quite different for sure.
I agree with your score. I think it’s one of the more underrated WT releases and possibly their best.
Got a bottle here. Unopened. 91/92 maybe.
Excellent.
I’m a straight whisky drinker, found the bottle helping someone clear out a home they’d bought, he doesn’t touch liquor so I brought it home.
Not knowing the brand I had a search, found you, realised what it is.
Not sure I want to open it and sour it with my Irish malt taste buds though, seems like a sin.
Cool find! I think you’ll love the flavor profile.
Great article, and l really enjoyed watching you with Jason and Bruce on Mash and Drum discussing this as well. I’m going to throw out an observation/speculation on this that I haven’t seen raised – based on all of your respective analysis, I’m led to believe that the RR10 LL/ME may actually be 15yr old Buff Turkey juice. The timing of the distillation and bottling would seem to line up, the difference in flavor profile from other RR10s would be explained, and the fact that Bruce had indicated he ‘couldn’t’ discuss the juice in it rather than ‘wouldn’t’ would lend credence to the belief the BT/WT agreement would likely have been covered by an NDA. So, is LL/ME actually 15 yr Buff Turkey juice?
I can tell you that it’s not Buffalo Turkey. It’s just a very special batch.
I think it’s fun for folks to speculate but it’s too easy to draw conclusions that aren’t there. My guess is the buff turkey juice is off profile enough (and showing up in others NDP releases) that they likely sold it off. The LL/ME was definitely a better batch. But you still have to be a RR10 guy to appreciate it. (101 is more my speed).
The Russells only want to use their own liquid. The decision to contract with BT was a Pernod call. It was purely a safety net – a safety net that simply wasn’t needed.
Bruce straight up said in that interview that they never used it in any of their products because it was so different.
I mean, how could they use something that is entirely different than their standard product? It would completely throw off the profile.
And the RR and WT labels clearly say “distilled by the Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY.” The Buffalo Turkey was bulked out for a reason, that reason being the Russells didn’t want it.
Makes perfect sense DJ. I remember Bruce saying that now in the mash and drum stream. I’m more excited about 8 year 101 being available 😎😎
I’ve been drinking Wild Turkey 101 for 50 years.
Don’t see any reason to change now.
Love it !!!!!
Cheers Laurence!
“There is, in fact, considerably older whiskey in LL/ME.”
Can you comment more on this statement?
That’s the best I can do at the moment. Tasting is believing!
I have tasted, and I believe! Blew me away actually, compared to the relatively thin and sharp character of a bottle I’d had years before. You sure piqued my interest regarding what’s in this one but having a bottle to sip will be enough.
It’s fantastic!
I have a bottle of Wild Turkey American Honey that’s several years old but never opened. It seems to have sediment in the bottom. I never noticed this when I bought it. Since it’s never been opened, is it still good? The sediment floats all over when the bottle is turned upside down.
I wouldn’t sweat it. It’s a liqueur so it’s probably just additives separating in the solution.
LL/L J19 0049 – 2023/10/19 is my bottle laser code. My bottle also (like yours) has the secondary front label in a maroon colour – not white. RR10 is always a good ordinary sip and maybe – just maybe – I am not imagining a little extra softness in this incarnation. 🤞
You may just have a softer experience since that bottle is older and possibly open for a few months? Whatever the case, the ME20 is farrrr better than any other RR10 I have had in the past few years and it is NOT close. ME20 is simply markedly better.
Bruce Russel himself said in a recent interview that the ME bottles are special and he said so with a strong emphasis. While he wouldn’t reveal all the specifics, the reverence with which he spoke was very real. He wanted us to know there was something unique about them without any ambiguity despite the lack of actual specifics.
LL/ME is definitely special. No doubt about it.
Just to clarify, the bottle is fresh.. anyways, thank you Matt for giving me the impetus to take my magnifying glass with me on my next sojourn to every goddamn liquor store known to mankind that is going to have the misfortune/jackpot of my forensic acquaintance!
Here here!
Like you said, Mr. Jennings, tasting is believing!
I am lucky enough to have the 17 & 20. The 20 just has something extra to it that is quite remarkable. An extra few mph on the fastball, if you will 😎
A product of increase in aged stocks catching up with a slight decline in demand? This is a great development as long as the Regular NAS 101 doesn’t suffer a slip in quality.
Well, it’s already suffered IMO. Having an 8-year alternative means I probably won’t pick up NAS 101 very often.
If that’s the case, then the new 8 year might cannibalize the NAS 101 to the point that they eventually get rid of the NAS, leaving the 81 proof NAS as the only budget bottle. If that were to happen, there might also be some downward pressure on the 8 year price. This hypothetical scenario would probably only happen if bourbon demand decreases.
I doubt it. You can get a handle of 101 for less than a 750ml of 101/8. Most folks buying 101 aren’t whiskey enthusiasts. We are but a small fraction of Wild Turkey’s sales. 101 and Honey pay the bills. But it would be nice if all 101 eventually had an age statement.
Got to love that price!!
Agree!
Got to love that price!
Well it’s about time…thank you WT!
They made more of these? Why? These have been a failure. In my area the 2018-2019 Batch 1 has been sitting on shelves for years. No matter where they place the WB it doesn’t sell. on the shelf or behind the cash register with other 375mls no one wants it. I think most buyers don’t even know it has ties to WT. another store put it on sale for 25% off and it moved a little. WT should drastically lower the price on these or just discontinue it ime.
It wasn’t the best concept, I’ll admit that. That being said, the original Saffell (2018-2019) was stellar and worth every penny. This one is nice, but doesn’t quite measure up to the original. FWIW all Saffell bottlings said “Batch 1” until last year, so it’s hard to say exactly when those you’re referring to were bottled without checking the laser code. Cheers!
Interesting read DJ, I just found out today that there even were multiple bottlings of the “Batch 1” Saffell…after digging out my bottles, two of them have a bottle code from 2022 and one has no bottle code at all…which I suspect is the original Saffell bottle that I bought with a Bond & Lillard Batch 2 when they were first released. I can’t be absolutely sure though, I bought three bottles a couple of years ago and gave one bottle to a buddy…I just don’t know if I gave him one of the newer bottles or the one I already had. I can say that the front label seems to be slightly different on the bottle I have with no code…the lettering is slightly raised and the artwork seems to have more relief, where the labels on the coded bottles have flat lettering and very minor relief in the artwork.
I guess I’m going to have to open the bottle with no code and compare it with the my opened 2022 bottle to find out definitively if they are the same or not. All things considered, I guess it’s a pretty good problem to have!
Thanks Kevin! Comparing is really the only way to know. 2018-2019 have been the best I’ve had so far, though I’ve yet to try a 2022 bottling. If you do end up trying that comparison, please let me know how that fares. Cheers!
If your address is the same, I’ll send a sample…
Very kind of you, but I’m good at the moment. Thanks!
Could you post bottle codes?
It’s very faintly etched. The most I can read is LL/LJ0. The rest is unclear.
For my bottles?
The one has no code, the other two ar LL/KE051324 and LL/KE051326
Thanks!
For my bottles?
The one has no code, the other two ar LL/KE051324 and LL/KE051326
Appreciate it!
So when is this going to be available??
April, though each state is different and plays by their own rules.
I hope this is available in a handle.
That would be awesome. Maybe one day!
Thanks for this article! I just learned this was WT! Need to find the older batches now! Cheers!
Anytime!
I saw what you did there, “101% OK with the price”. Great write-up, and I can’t wait to go get myself a bottle. I’ve got two of Jimmy’s 70th and will compare the two… just because! Cheers.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
When is this coming to my area? I can’t wait to taste this.
The press release states April as the nationwide release date. That said, each state and distribution network is different. Let’s hope you see it soon. Cheers!
And that’s why I keep it simple and filter out the noise by buying brands and bottles I know. Trying new things and hunting can be fun, but the rabbit hole is deep and it’s easy to get lost in it.
Great perspective, Scott!
Not all BuffTurkeys are equal. The good ones are absolutely worth the value – and even though there were rumored about 900 barrels produced, the supply is limited in that they are not barreling more of those. That’s what drives the values up imho
I’m sorry, but no one can convince me that any of these are worth the same or more than Russell’s 1998 (and many others). It’s just not going to happen. That said, it’s your money.
As far as how many were produced, we’ll likely never know. There are a lot more out there to be bottled, however.
Do you mind elaborating a bit more on why you distinguish pre-2016 RRSBs? Did something change about them after 2016? That was one of my favorite bourbons, but buying one (a standard off the shelf version) after a bit of a hiatus has a different flavor profile than it did in my memory (and unfortunately not in a good way). Curious if you have any thoughts. Thanks!
It’s not so much the bottling year as it is the distillation year. Anything distilled in 2009 or earlier is the old still. 2010 could be some of both. 2011 onward comes from the new still. Through 2019, all RRSiB and WTKS were old still. 2020 is when the new still stuff started hitting the market as single barrels (likely in batched products before then). Some Camp Nelson picks in 2020-2023 are old still. You just have to know the distillation year. Cheers!
So I guess Pride of Anderson County is the exception right?…. lol
I never mentioned it once. But, the provenance is the same as SCN, with Wild Turkey’s approval and all info fully disclosed.
Crazy the provenance on POAC came out to $500 more in retail than the retail of some of these 15+ year NDPs.
Rare Character is free to price as they please to cover their expenses of doing business. I never once mentioned or expressed issue with the retail prices of “Buffalo Turkey” expressions, only the secondary values of $2-$3k+ for questionable provenance. The provenance of POAC is without question, yet the secondary values of POAC are one-half to one-third of the recent mysteriously sourced offerings. I’m not sure where you’re finding issue with my post.
I’m a big fan of the page, but I’m gonna have to respectfully disagree with this review. Regular Wild turkey 101 as we’re all aware as a blend of 6, 7 and 8 year-old juice for $25 a bottle. This is 8 years aged stated for $45 which is basically double the price. Do I think it tastes better than Nas 101? Sure, but not for almost double the price not even close. Furthermore, I can get Rare Breed for $49.99 readily available in my area. if I’m gonna spend $45 for a wild turkey product, I’m gonna spend the measly extra $5 and get Rare Breed which is way better then 101 in every aspect.
Thanks for commenting, Rick. In the end you have to do what’s best for you. It’s your opinion and your money and I respect that. I don’t mind paying $45 for 101/8, but I can understand why some folks might take issue, considering the options.
I hear where you’re coming from and appreciate the response. I feel like it would’ve been better if Wild Turkey just replaced the NAS version with this one for $35 a bottle which in my opinion would’ve made a lot more sense from a price point/marketing point of view. Btw I picked up my first Russell’s reserve single barrel for $60 not that long ago and I would say it’s above average but not something I was extremely impressed by compared to the rare breed. Is there a big difference in the single barrels in your opinion because I’m wondering if I just got an average one and maybe should give it another shot with a second bottle from a different barrel??
There is definitely variance in Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel. Try grabbing one with a completely different laser code.
willing to bet most is aged 1 day over 4 years for regular 101.
From what I’ve been told, 101 isn’t less than six years. But, without an age statement the current label would allow for bourbon as young as four years.
Is the 101 Rye Private Selection program essentially a replacement for the defunct Russell’s Reserve SiB Rye Private Selection program?
I know we’re coming up on nearly a decade since those have been available.
Correct. And it’ll be ten years starting this year.
Sounds like a lot of misses and very few hits. Also that name “Whoryeno”, makes me want to say the word whore.
They’re all good whiskey. It’s the price tag that hurts this expression. I’m 50/50 so far on ones I feel are worth the price and ones I feel aren’t.
Is it only the sticker on the neck that designates Batch 1 vs the newer product?
I just grabbed one from an online retailer at basically MSRP that has the Batch 1 neck sticker but I am a little skeptical that they’d be selling it for that price all these years later.
I’m happy with my first pour tonight either way. Thanks for the review(s) over the years!
All of the batches through 2023 (and possibly early 2024) say “batch 1.” The bottle design changed sometime after 2023. Personally, I recommend seeking out bottles with date codes of 2018-2019.
Jeez they continue to raise MSRP!
With products like Michter’s 10 (among many others) being younger and lower-proof for $150-$225, I can understand Campari not wanting to leave money on the table. I don’t love it, but I understand.
Is this the highest proof expression WT has ever released? I can’t remember one higher.
To my knowledge, yes.
I’ve been chasing this bottle for 4 yrs now. I’m done. I mean I can get it on secondary for 500 but not worth it. I’ll just drink my EH Taylor it’s much easier to get.
Definitely not worth $500. That’s getting into dusty Turkey prices.
I have several bottles that I bought in Pennsylvania through the State Stores (FWGS). They all have an LL\JF code which I decode as June 2021. I read through all your posts on Saffell and did not see any mention of that bottling date. I hope it conforms more to the early bottlings. The one bottle I have opened definitely seemed way above average for Wild Turkey to me (although I am not sure on the date code on that one). I even liked it a lot more than my bottle of RR13 LL\LC which many people will probably find hard to believe.
I will have to open another bottle soon!
I haven’t tried a 2021 bottling yet, but if you’re enjoying it that’s all that matters. Cheers!
Just opened another bottle and it lives up to my memory. Very complex and layered with a wonderful finish.
I’ve never been good at decoding much of anything. My July 2025 purchase has a poorly etched code, most likely LL/KE040815. Any help would be greatly appreciated. BTW, truly enjoyed ‘Wild Turkey Musings’. On my third reading.
Thanks for reading, Dan. Three times at that! Based on that code, that would be a 2022 bottling. Cheers and enjoy!
And then there’s Private Barrel Selections, and boy-oh-boy do those vary! Black and White, where warehouse and floor can will make your head spin, then realize the genius of expressions such as Rare Breed, 8-year, and Master’s Keep. Huge palate range at Wild Turkey.
Yep! One of my favorite things about Wild Turkey is the (quality) profile variance.
Picked up a CN-F Bottle today. Same date. 7-29-24. Barrel 3262. Rick 31. Pretty much spot on with your CN-F profile. These are just so good. Heading over to NC ABC store tomorrow where I picked up the bottle to get the other last two that were on the shelf. Only wish I could have tasted a small pour before they proofed it down. Cheers David.
Always fun to think about what it was like at barrel proof! That being said, there were a run of Kentucky Spirits from Camp Nelson A around 2023 that were so low they had to be bottled as Kentucky Spirit. We picked three, intending on Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, but the barrel proofs ranged from only 105-106. ABV only had to be reduced by 2+%. Very tasty barrels.
Wow, where they on the bottom floor of the rickhouse? That sounds like what happens in a Scottish dunnage. I could be wrong, but I believe scotch aged in certain locations has the alcohol evaporate faster than the water. Hence, you can get an ultra aged scotch at cask strength that is way below 100 proof. Found an older CNF WT KY Spirit today at a local store. Bottled 8-2-23. Is that around the time they were pulling barrels for Single Rickhouse CNF? Thanks as always for the replies. Cheers.
They weren’t bottom floor. 4th, if I recall correctly. But Turkey’s barrel entry proof is 115, so not out of the realm of possibility.
Has it been confirmed the 2018-2019 original W.B. Saffell bottles are laser-etched? Given that there have been a number of releases since the original release, how would one seek out an original release bottle? My thought is the laser code; but, have not see anyone comment if there are laser etching on the original releases. I do not want to assume. Thank for your time in responding!
Yes, mine have 2018 laser codes. They’re just in storage at the moment, thanks to a move.
Just finished reading all posts of “12 Rickhouses Turkey”. As a newbie, greatly appreciate your detailed survey. Makes me feel I have a bit of insight into the ethos of the Russells and Wild Turkey writ large.
Two tips of the chapeau: you’ve dropped numbers and prices. If only everyone reviewer and devotee would grow up; can’t agree more strongly with “it just takes a roll of the dice. Luckily, taking a gamble on Wild Turkey’s offerings is more often than not a player’s advantage.” My 4-month experience with these whiskies tells me we see eye-to-eye on many things.
My aromatic/palate senses are limited compared to many, and I am not alone in often feeling overwhelmed or ‘zoned out’ by long lists of flavor descriptors. You say tomato, I say tomayto. From a career in wine drinking, quality and nature are often best understood through texture and architecture. For me, this where an artworks soul resides (yeah, Turkey is commercial art equal to much we’ve dubbed ‘fine art’.
Long way of saying, THANK YOU!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Glad you enjoyed the series! I’ll have a review of a Tyrone R Kentucky Spirit soon. I think it’s the first review of a barrel from TYR for this blog, though I could be forgetting something. Cheers!
Look what landed in LA at 101 proof. Wild Turkey 8 Year Old “K&L Exclusive” TY-Q 5th Floor Single Barrel 24-6130 Kentucky Straight RyeWhiskey
Yep. There’s a good few out there. Great stuff!
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 104 Proof. Laser Codes (hey, I don’t know which are meaningful & don’t have time right now to check the extensive posts on the subject) LL/M G150957 2024/07/15 B5027D0052
The Russells are adding better water than I can when proofing Rare Breed. Outrageous integration of alcohol, corn oils, rye, oak, that for alligator, simply has the char knocked out of it by the whiskies deep penetration into the red zone. Finishes ‘dusty’, not smoky. Am I tasting a tip of the hat to Jimmy circa 1974?
A bit off topic but the bottle is genius.
I know Rye never touches Jimmy’s lips, but really, this bottle is absurd. No idea why Daniel Perrelli isn’t coming up on these replies.
Not sure why, but my local store was only charging $140. Really enjoying this one. For me the LL/LC version was a huge disappointment, but this one is great.
Excellent price!
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 104 Proof. Laser Codes (hey, I don’t know which are meaningful & don’t have time right now to check the extensive posts on the subject) LL/M G150957 2024/07/15 B5027D0052
The Russells are adding better water than I can when proofing Rare Breed. Outrageous integration of alcohol, corn oils, rye, oak, that for alligator, simply has the char knocked out of it by the whiskies deep penetration into the red zone. Finishes ‘dusty’, not smoky. Am I tasting a tip of the hat to Jimmy circa 1974?
Late to the Party
Great article…and I would definitely be willing to do some horse trading for a couple of WT 101 10 years…I’ve never even heard of those!
Thanks for reading! I’m afraid the 10/101 expression has been discontinued for a couple of decades, replaced by the current 90-proof 10-year Russell’s Reserve. But keep an eye out for the tall, reddish wine-style bottle, you never know when you may run into one!
Got my 1st KS 101 SiB two weeks ago because it is a CN-F & also the lowest price I’ve seen at $55 no sales tax. It’s only 7 barrel #s off from the one reviewed here & same date;
Brl# 3258 on Rick# 25, Btld 07-29-2024…
Blinded it against 2 other WT 101s that I’m familiar with & enjoy very much;
WT 8yr/70th
WT 101 Standard/batched (old label) Btld 10/17/2017 (LL/FJ17)
Note: All 3 bottles here are 750mL.
Going in, predicted the 8yr/70th would win & the KS CN-F would be last…
The standard 101 batch from Oct 2017 won!!
It won mostly due to clearly having the best nose. KS CN-F was last of the 3 WT 101s, though good & MUCH better than any recent standard WT 101.
DJ, pretty sure you wrote that the new WT still went into service in 2011?
If that is correct, think there’s a good chance the 10/17/17 batch is all or mostly from the old still.
For referrence, also have a bottle of old label WT 101 Btld 01/20/2021 (LL/JA20) & it suuuckks compared to the Oct 2017 batch. The 01/2021 batch & any new label batch I’ve had, is just not even sippable for me. They all taste the same or very close. Though it is worth it for a mixer at $30/1.75L in 2024.
It’s not even close, or in the same league. The 2017 batch is a fantastic sipper & found it last summer (2024) for $22.50.
Thanks for all the WT info you put out, David!
See you on Patreon
Cheers!
Apologies for the late reply, as I’m traveling. I believe the 2017 101 is mostly from the old still, but could very well have new still whiskey in it. The new still formally launched in 2011, but it was functioning since fall 2010 (for testing). Since 101 has 6-year in it, and has for some time (the 2011 label states “up to six to eight years”), it’s likely a composite. It will take some breaking in to get the new still where it needs to be, but these 2025 single barrels are some of the best I’ve had in years – especially the latest ones from TYM. Cheers!
Great article! Wild Turkey has been my go-to for some time now, and with my recent purchase of Russell’s 6yr Rye, a new Rabbit hole has emerged. I was wondering though, where can I find that glass in the image at the top here? Would love to get a couple for my regular use.
Thanks! That glass was a gift from a fellow writer. Broke a year or two ago, sadly. eBay is where I’d start. Cheers!
Maybe a special collector’s release, Wild (Bush-) Turkey for us here downunder?
I’m 56 and been drinking Turkey since my teens.
I certainly enjoy other top quality bourbons, but my everyday go to drink is WT.
I’d love to see another Australian exclusive release. Y’all deserve it.
Awesome write-up, DJ. I thoroughly enjoy reading your Turkey barrel pick stories. It takes me right back to May of 2019 when we picked a few – a memory I’ll always cherish, and one day hope to repeat.
My wife and I have been talking about a bourbon trail trip for ages, and one of these years we’ll make it happen. A Wild Turkey tour will be on the agenda, of course.
And noted on Taylor Belle’s! Pimiento on a burger sounds heavenly.
Thanks Scott! What a day that was. We need to do that again. Get the band back together, if you will. Cheers!
Drink and drive much?
I spit and pitch on barrel picks. I’m also mindful of my consumption.
Can’t agree more , I’m relatively new to sipping bourbon, but WT Rare Bird NCF is my go to. Best flavour for the money. 101 a close second. My 8 year 101 is great, but hard to find.
Jack Daniels no7 rye also very flavourful
I think the 8-year will become easier to find in the years ahead. Fortunately, Rare Breed is an excellent choice! Thanks for commenting.
Coming to this conversation a bit late (Sep 2025) and wanted to note that I just purchased a bottle of the 101/8 from a wine/liquor store near my apt in NYC yesterday afternoon. Cost was $45 for 750ml.
That shop has a more diverse selection of wines and liquors than a few others in the neighborhood, and their prices on the “usual” stuff is pretty much within the “range of error” with everyone else.
Cool! Is your bottle 700ml or 750ml?
Tripped across the 101/8 article here from a couple years ago and started poking around the site and found this more recent review. Like OP, I recently paid $45+tax for a 750ml bottle. Thing is, that’s about $12 more than a bottle of the plain 101 at that size and from a liquor store on the UWS of NYC. So I’m wondering where Rick lives that he can get a bottle of 101 for just $25.
FWIW: The store where I just bought the 101/8 has the Rare Breed at $65+tax.
Do u know the estimated bottle count for the Beacon? Thx!
Not for this release. Best guess would be 10-20k bottle, but that’s only a guess.
Ok thx!!
Anytime!
Is there any difference in the product between the 8 yr Asia market bottles and the now available 8 yr in the USA ?
Only that they are separate batches, at least this time around.
Hi,
I am new to Bourbon even though I am in my 60’s. I am so happy to have found this site which is a wealth of bourbon information! It is funny but I was a craft beer drinker (Imperial Stouts) But I am on a cycling vacation in SE Asia. They have no real beer here but I remember how much I liked Bourbon barrel finished beers like KBS or Goose Island.. So I decided to try Bourbon. Everything here is 2x the price in USA but I found a few. Buffalo Trace, Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve & loved them all. Then I found this Wild Turkey 101 8 year(export version 700ML) …Wow I Love it! So smooth & tasty not astringent at all in Nose or palate. I am so happy to have found this. When I get back to Hawaii in December I am going to go thru other Wild Turkey offerings for sure! I have to say I think I am a Bourbon convert now 🙂 Thanks again for all your reviews
Cheers Mike! There’s so much to discover. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Excited to try but why would they not put an age range on the bottle?!
I suppose because the focus is on the aging location, as opposed to the age itself. Eddie has stated in the past that this series features bourbons aged 10-15 years. CNE definitely tastes older than 10 years.
Beacon was rough, gimme RR15 or Single Rick all day.
Really? Interesting. Different strokes, different folks!
Great write-up!
Sometimes the mark-up on private selections steers me away, but I can always rely on retail RRSiB. I routinely find them for close to $50 down here, and it remains my favorite bottle in that range.
$50 is an excellent price!
Is that 2023 batch essentially the same as the 2022? Thanks!
The are different batches from what I understand.
Are the 2022 and 2023 essentially the same?
I’m honestly not certain.
These single barrel bottlings are an overlooked gem. I always have a bottle and it’s an automatic replacement when I finish one. I find them to be earthier, leafier and darker than many of the other WT products.
Couldn’t agree more!
Boy after Traveling in SE Asia for 90 days & the best thing I could find was Wild Turkey 101 8 Year export ( Which was Excellent! ) We are finally back in the USA Hawaii & got to try this Rare Breed. All I could say was so delicious! Excellent Vanilla Carmel Nose…Super nice palate with strong caramel & orange peel…Then that super nice loooong finish which I also though like you a fizzy cola & orange peel. So Nice! I was so happy to find this & hope I also can find teh Russel’s Reserve Single Barrel I wanted to try!
Thank you for another great & honest review/comparison.
I am new still & have not tried the RR13 but have loved every glass of Rare Breed. I did finally find a Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Private Barrel selection that I am looking forward to trying tonight on New Years Eve. A nice way to welcome 2026 I think !
Happy New Year!
Didn’t the early batches of 13 have significantly older whiskey in them? Wonder how much of the profile shift is due to this batch being “only” 13 years old.
They did. They were also composed of whiskey from the old distillery.
Great article, I felt that change here in Brazil.
I always drank 101 and recommended it to friends, but from 2023 onwards (maybe I didn’t buy bottles in 2022) I noticed a significant change. Mainly the absence of a coconut aftertaste (which I felt on my palate).
Currently the taste seems more straightforward, reminding me of simpler whiskeys.
Truly a loss.
Yeah, it isn’t what it used to be. Fortunately, there are other expressions to scratch the itch.
Your reviews are always spot on! I think it would be super entertaining for you to blind the CNE, Beacon, and RR15 and give us the results! Game?!
I haven’t done those blind, but I’m pretty sure I could pick them out by profile. My current ranking is Beacon > RR15 > CNE. Cheers!
Can you divulge the California retailer you did the barrel picks for?
You can find a list here. Selected in December. Cheers!
https://rarebird101.com/russells-renegades/
Whoa. The Specs pick my buddy sent me a picture of is identical to this one info wise. Barrel no. 25-0879, CNA, 4th floor. Bottled on 9-9-2025 vs the 9-10-2025 date. Everything else is the same. Methinks I’ll get the same tasting notes. Can’t wait for dry January to be over.
I’m sure it will be great no matter what!
I have finally found one of these for myself & am enjoying it.
Mine is 4-26-13 & dumped 10-17-22 & 9 years in Barrel
Barrel 22-0016
Warehouse “A” Floor 4
Does not say CNA
I was curious would this be Camp Nelson? Not that it matters as I said I love the bourbon. Happy to have found it!
Can you spot the bottle code on the store pick question and post it here? Maybe that will help DJ find if it is in fact Camp Nelson warehouse a?
I’m pretty sure it’s CNA based on the barrel number but no guarantees.
Thanks guys! Like I said I was just curious but the bottom line is delicious!
Always good to hear!
Greetings – less than four years into my whiskey journey after being a beer snob. First bottle of KY Spirit was purchased late 2023 and it is: bottled 08/29/2023 Barrel 3339 CN-E Rick 37. It made such an impression on me, I went back to same local liquor store and bought their last two bottles. I have one left – unopened. I simply love this bottle! Thank you David Jennings for your site – and I do have your book! – Kevin from SE Missouri USA
Thanks Kevin! Glad you’re enjoying the blog and some quality Turkey!
I have a bottle of WTKS 4/6/1998 Barrel 2 Warehouse E Rick #20
Nice!
Hi David its 2026 have you heard any news in regards to RB in the domestic market? Will Wild Turkey offer NCF RB for USA domestic? Thanks!
No updates that I’m aware of. Stay tuned!
I just picked up almost the exact bottle, only thing different is, is that mines barrel #25-0906. Everything is the same but different barrel, I got my bottle up here in WA State, and lower puget sound area specifically… if you know Washington.
I comment because it has me curious how many barrels they actually used for this CNA-8yr pick from the fourth floor.
All turkey is good turkey, but mine is a TW pick… I hope it’s as good as yours!
Cheers brotha!
Not sure how many barrels were pulled from CNA in 2025 but it was a good many. Haven’t had a bad one yet!