Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel Bourbon

Very smooth, your wife will think you're sober

Very good and smooth tasting.

Barrel #19-0248, Liquor Barn Mr. Bruce's Neighborhood. Bottled on 09APR2019, stored in warehouse F on rick #5. Already a good portion through the bottle, just slipped past rating. What's to say, other than Wild Turkey? If all other distilleries had to go, I'd still be happy. Great color, especially after finding out the age. Wild Turkey is easily the bourbon with the most spice-forward profile out of all the mainline distilleries, in my opinion. Even with a blackened Turkish chicken dish being made in the next room and smoke billowing out into my space, I can still smell the rye kick, much more rye spice than others bring, and hitting your nose just a bit harder. I can tell there is more focus on bourbon and barrel here, as the caramel and oak come through a small bit more than standard Wild Turkey. I get some initial notes of milk chocolate on the gums, with the body starting out light and sweet, like honey with slight citrus. It only takes a few seconds for the familiar rye "dressage" to appear, marking the spice in the gums, but not necessarily lingering around. Where this is usually how standard Wild Turkey ends, this particular single barrel finishes with a surprise guest from vanilla, with quite the encore, as well. Breathing out a little even makes me get some butter notes, but the oak is such a star on the finish that it's easy to forget it's supposed to be charred to a crisp. Decent value from what I remember. This product just seems like one of the most fun single barrel offerings, since Wild Turkey has such an iconic profile, but can clearly be better or different when focusing on just one barrel at a time. I admit I was slightly disappointed to see that this was also only offered at 101 proof, but given that this is also such a notable trademark for this brand, as well as being a decent proof anyway, I am happy to let it slide.

A single barrel version of WT101? Call me intrigued. On to the review: Nose: So. Much. Barrel spice. There’s also some cake batter, red delicious apple, honeydew melon, and a hint of char. Ethanol 100% absent. Is this a case of the refinement shining through? Palate: opens with vanilla cream cake, nutmeg, apple, bubblegum, and a fresh green oak that is not bitter. Brighter and brassier than regular 101. Finish is spicy and and long, with all the barrel spices from the nose and a little mint that builds over repeated sips, something I’ve noticed is a WT trademark. Mouthfeel thick and chewy. This one is a huge struggle to rate. Let me start but saying this is a damn good bourbon, with no flaws. But ultimately, it’s a tamer, more refined version of WT101. Does that truly warrant a $34 markup? Nope. No way. Nyet. This should be a $35 product. If it was, it would always be in my cabinet. At $57? Pains me to say, but I’d rather buy 2.75 bottles of regular 101 instead and call it good.