Wild Turkey Rare Breed 112.8 Proof

After almost finishing my first bottle of the current Rare Breed (116.8 proof), I found an older bottle and decided to compare them. Here’s what I got on this one. The nose has milk chocolate, some baking spices, vanilla, and a hint of plumb. The palate is a little sweet with a slightly thicker mouthfeel. It has some vanilla, honey, a little rye, and slight fruitiness. The finish is medium in length and has a little burn, and at a times a very slight momentary bit of ethanol. Compared to the 116.8 proof version, I would say this (112.8 proof) is not quite as good. When I first nosed it, it definitely reminded me of the newer one. But after comparing them back to back, the newer 116.8 proof has more complexity and depth. Maybe it’s because it’s the end of the bottle so it’s oxidized more, and I was comparing that to a fresh bottle of the the older 112.8 proof? Who knows. My thoughts are that they’re getting better with every release. So I’m not going to seek out these rarer older bottles.

This is your grandpa’s bourbon! Timeless tradition and unmatched craftsmanship. This offering is gone so if you find this on the shelf, you buy it without delay... ALL OF IT!

Caramel and chocolate on the nose before the ethanol shows up. The alcohol burn hits the tongue pretty quick. A lot of spice. It’s definitely tastier after breathing a bit. Fruity, lots of rye spice.

Ethanol on the nose with some citrus. Sweetness on the tongue - caramel and butterscotch before the alcohol reveals itself on the nose. The finish has an astringency to it with spice galore.