Whiskyfart
Wild Turkey Bourbon 101
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
November 10, 2023 (edited November 17, 2023)
A fellow bourbon head on here recommended I give 101 a try after a less-than-favorable review of standard Wild Turkey. I'm on a quest to find decent pours in the sub $25/Bottle realm and was able to pick up a taste of this stuff for a modest $4.
The nose is subtle but incredibly sweet. I'm detecting sweetened corn syrup, honey and vanilla. If you really inhale deep you do get a little zingy citrus in there. But really... it is barely noticeable.
As favorable as the nose was, the taste impresses a bit less. Just not my dram of whiskey. Throughout the taste, prickly heat from the proof stings your tongue. Underneath this heat lies caramel, corn syrup and candy corn. The mouth heat stays prevalent throughout but carries artificially sweet corn syrup taste into the finish. There's a very consistent theme of sweet corn throughout.
The finish sees mostly that heat spice start to die down and once it does, tannic oak takes center stage. A rather dry finish to balance out all of the sweetness on the taste.
It is a step above standard Wild Turkey for sure, but not the best in this price segment. I think I just tend to prefer Maker's Mark offerings more. Hands down my favorite in the sub $20 mark is Buffalo Trace.
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@hardfarter - I like your user name lol. But to answer your question - the most common price point for BT around me is 24.99 ( if the store isn't price gouging). One place called Cypress Craft Beer and Liquor about 20 minutes from me sells them for 18.99/bottle as an in person special price. I normally stock up with 3 of them when they restock which happens about twice a month. I was told that BT west coast distributor changed hands so some of their offerings are becoming easier to come by in CA. I did a quick search for Early Times Bottled-In-Bond and none of my local places seem to have it in stock but once I see a bottle I'll be sure to grab one and give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion!
You can find standard BT -under- $20? I'm shocked. In Ohio, where prices are mandated by the state, it's still $26.99. Even at that price I think it's good, all things considered. Can you get Early Times Bottled-In-Bond in your area? I think it's one of the best bang-for-the-buck bourbons out there. 1L can be had for about $22-25 or so, and for me, it fights neck and neck with stuff 1.5-2x that price.