Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Bourbon

I'll never forget the first time I really tasted Rare Breed. It was 2014 and my wife and I had traveled the KY Bourbon Trail with another couple. I think there were nine distilleries at the time and we hit them all, along with lot's of tasting at various eateries in the evenings. We were getting ready to wind it up at Wild Turkey and my wife looked at me and said "I'm not sure what you're looking for, but that was the best bourbon we've had by far." Now my wife isn't a brown liquor gal. She'll sip it on occassion, but she's far more inclined to order a martini or craft beer. But when she says something is good, I've learned to pay attention. She is pretty darned good at pulling out complex aromas and giving them a name. Since then I've had a bunch of this. This taste was served neat in a glencairn. The pour is a polished cherrywood. Sheeting is notable and there are thick slow legs on the collapse. On the nose I get cherries, apples and baking spices. The nose is not strong or overwhelming ;it's actually quite delicate for such a potent dram. There is a bit of ethanol at first pour that quickly dissipates. On the tongue this is wonderfully balanced with sweet vanilla and bitter almonds, barrel oak and char, cherries, orchard fruits, slight ginger and black pepper . The finish is warming, with a slow and lovely fade that lasts at least a full minute. There is good complexity here. This taste is sophisticated with a fruity, bright personality. It's strong and sweet and balanced, creamy and rich. Mouthfeel is rich, but not overly thick. More silk than satin. This is a superb bourbon. Full stop. Wild Turkey Rare Breed, along with OGD114, Knob Creek Single Barrel and George Dickel Bottled in Bond, mark four points of my bourbon compass. I think they are all 4-out-of-5 stars, and I'll happily sip any one of them. This is top quality classic bourbon, and it's a bargain.

Spicy and a little heat at the beginning. Vanilla at the end and very good!