Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Bourbon

2019 bottle. I really like WT101 as an every day drinker. I absolutely love RB116.8. This is a rich, smooth bourbon with classic WT flavors but even better. Despite being high proof, it’s very easy to enjoy neat.

Rested 15 minutes. Served neat in a Glencairn. Nose - vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, sugar Palette - vanilla, dark chocolate, baking slices. Pretty smooth and mellow for a higher proof. Finish - more dark chocolate and vanilla, gram cracker. Heat comes in on the backend after the flavors disappear. Once the heat leaves, some pound cake comes in with some vanilla. A nice desert taste. I went back and forth on this rating quite a bit. A little sweet for me, but I think this one is definitely going to be a desert bourbon for me personally. It brings a lot for the lower price.

After discovering after all of these years that I do in fact like Wild Turkey 101 after thinking I hated it in my pre-whiskey appreciation life, I thought I’d give this one a try. The nose is vanilla, brown sugar, baking spices, and some darker fruit like a plumb. On the palate I get some really good barrel notes along with leather and some vanilla. The finish is great and long. For being Barrel strength you don’t get that harsher burn. It’s very balanced.

The great thing about sampling is it saves you loads on buying a bottle and giving the vast majority away. These days unless I really like it it gets donated pretty quick. I've been trying to work through my collection before I die or retire whatever comes first so it's been a year before I last bought a bottle. The dam finally broke last month with Benriach 17 yr Solstice, then soon after Redbreast 21, Port Charlotte 10 (excellent duty free deals) and now I'm on a 4 pronged mission. Stock up on Glendronach 18 b4 its extinct, add the Caol Ila 18 to my collection (also suddenly expensive and harder to get in NZ) try the latest potstill chestnut whiskey (here's looking at you Method and Madness) and add a bourbon to my collection. It came down to this or Noah's Mill. I would have to say it's not even close. NM smokes this one out of the park IMHO. This goes down very easy for abv but find very sweet and not a lot going on. Nothing offensive (I can tolerate the spearmint) but that's the problem...just quite inoffensive. NM it is....

Bottle has been open for a month or so. Neat from a Glencairn glass. Lots of vanilla on the nose with corn and leather. Sight cotton candy. Can’t smell the proof. Bold oak on the palate with vanilla from the nose. Oily with sweet honey, red hots and barrel spice. Maybe a slight hint of raspberry but fruit doesn’t really stand out. Long, lingering finish with oak, cinnamon and vanilla dominate with a tingling burn. Overall rich and bold. Smells sweeter than it is, more on the spicy side. I like WT101 and a definite upgrade from that. I can get this for $35 which is an excellent bourbon deal and will always have a place on my shelf.

Nose: Baked Apple Pie with Brown Sugar Topping, Barrel Spice, Vanilla Taste: Baked Apple Pie Topped with Vanilla Ice Cream, Oak, Rich, Baking Spices, Brown Sugar

Surprisingly bold and satisfying, for a Wild Turkey. Full nose, spicey, char, and sweet flavors, a full mouth fill, and a warm, smooth finish.