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Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
September 11, 2019 (edited February 3, 2020)
Kentucky Spirit (in the old tail feather "fan" bottle)-Barrel #18-0007/ Warehouse K/ Rick #3 (Single Barrel, your mileage may vary) $60
NOSE: Pours into the Glencairn a light amber color. Coats the glass and forms slow moving fat legs. On first try, the nose is slightly hot and dominated by Dry Dusty Hay, Oak, and Orange Peel. I was unimpressed at first, but give it some time to develop a complex bouquet of Dried Spices. Black Pepper, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Cinnamon Stick, and Clove. It's like opening the spice cabinet in your kitchen after a few months and being hit with the scent of nearly all of the spices at one time.
NEAT: Thick, Clingy and Oaky on the palate to start with. Vanilla, Caramel and some of those Dried Spices pick up mid palate. Clove, Cinnamon, and Black Pepper. A drying finish with Oak, Black Pepper, Cinnamon and Orange Peel coating. A nice warming Kentucky Hug on the way down.
SPLASH: A few drops of water brings the Cinnamon note to the fore on the nose. A Burnt Brown Sugar Sweetness is added to both nose and palate. Clingy Black Licorice on the finish.
VERDICT: I have really struggled with the decision whether to purchase this one or not. It is basically a Single Barrel version of their standard 101. NAS (but my guess, based on the oak influence, is 8-9 years) and a whopping $35 more than the standard 101. With all that working against it, I was surprised by how much I liked it. Is it $35 better? No, but it is a unique take on the WT profile. In fact, this is a store pick for my local ABC and I'm tempted to save up for another bottle from this barrel. On a side note..Whoever decided to change the bottle shape and labeling should be fired IMMEDIATELY! By far the biggest downgrade in packaging I've ever seen.
60.0
USD
per
Bottle
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Bottle design aside, I like this pour a lot, but can’t love it at $60, especially when Rare Breed is $45. I recently bought a KS store pick (Kroger) and find myself reaching for it regularly, but not inclined to get a 2nd bottle because of the price, not the quality of the Bourbon. Loved your review BTW.
@ColonialDawg hard to see how this one sticks around when the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel is the same price and higher proofed. Even if they’re going for a different profile, it just seems like overkill.
Bottle design change and price increase. WTKS might be pricing itself out of the market.
@dubz480 I'm saving this one and am going to use it to decant all my Wild Turkey from here on out. It's kitschy and I never thought much about it before, but the new design is just SO bad. I don't think it looks good with the Rare Breed label either. Just a poorly designed bottle.
Great review and 💯 agree on the bottle redesign!