ContemplativeFox
Wild Turkey Rye
Rye — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
August 4, 2020 (edited September 24, 2020)
Rating: 11/23
I've found the Wild Turkey 101 and Rare Breed to be great VFM and I quite enjoyed the Master's Keep Revival (though it was definitely not as good VFM), so I'm looking forward to trying my first Wild Turkey Rye.
N: Rye spice, some grain, apple, a hint of something floral, and maybe a hair of smoke or something. It's not excissively light but not particularly rich either.
Nothing unusual or complex here. It doesn't come across as an interesting blend or finish or substantially aged or anything like that, but it smells serviceable. I'm kind of disappointed already since Wild Turkey stands out as a high rye bourbon, so it seems like their rye should be really good. Maybe its just their bold choice to include so much rye that makes their bourbon so effective.
P: Now for the moment of truth. I get pepper, cinnamon, rich sweet grain, a little bit of apple, and something a bit floral that doesn't quite fit along with a faint dash of smoke or char and some kind of artificial mineral flavor. It's all fairly jumbled together though. It isn't rich like Rittenhouse or Pikesville, but it isn't spicy and herbal with a funky edginess like WhistlePig PiggyBack either. It's just very bland. I mean, I can get some flavors out of this, but there's nothing really great and something just a bit off in this floral bitter way. Maybe the floral and smoke flavors are interacting badly to produce that artificial mineral flavor or something.
F: The finish emphasizes the discordant element a bit more, unfortunately. It isn't really a pleasant finish and that's the major failing here. It's too bad because there's a solid rye at the heart of this.
I'm pretty disappointed in this. It would be fine as a mixer, but it costs the same amount as Rittenhouse which is bolder and has a 25% higher ABV. For sipping, there are much more interesting and balanced ryes. Even Templeton Rye 4, which I have not been a fan of, has some clean floral notes despite its lightness. The flavors in Templeton Rye 4 are slightly more distinct and slightly better executed, so I give it a tiny edge, but I'd say that these two are of similar quality. I'm thinking 10-12 for this one, so I'll give it an 11 for now. It could be that the artificial mineral and char flavors I'm getting are what the distiller reviewer attributes to honey, in which case I might like them better on a subsequent tasting, but for now I need to go with what I've experienced so far.
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@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington @WhiskeyLonghorn Yeah OF 100 is a great mixing bourbon that doesn't get enough love. The rye is a solid offering as well and boy do I wish I'd gotten it for a few bucks more instead of buying this bottle.
@Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington great suggestion. I love both the OF 100 bourbon and the rye as a mixer or easy supper.
@ContemplativeFox @WhiskeyLonghorn I’ve also found that Old Forester 100 proof does well as a mixer for what it’s worth. Once fall rolls around it might be time to put them head to head in an old fashion and KY mule showdown.
@WhiskeyLonghorn I definitely believe that the RR SiB is even better given the contrast between the RR bourbons. I'll need to try that and the rye Rare Breed sometime.
@ContemplativeFox I have a bottle of the RR 6 year open right now. It’s a nice easy sipping rye. Not terribly complex but a nice session dram. The single barrel rye, just like the bourbon, is on another level. I’m going to hunt down another bottle this weekend.
@WhiskeyLonghorn Thanks for your take on the 101. I haven't tried the regular WT bourbon or the 101 rye, so I was having some trouble guessing whether this was just a poor offering or a sign of weakness in WT ryes. Like you, I'm reluctant to spend that kind of money on the Cornerstone, though I did try the RR 6 year rye and it was quite good. I'll have to try to find the RR single barrel as well sometime and probably give the 101 a shot next time I need a cheap rye.
I’ve been exploring the Wild Turkey ryes lately. This one is a dud, but the 101 rye is an excellent mixer for a few dollars more (cue the western music). I haven’t had Cornerstone because I have my doubts about spending $175 for 9-11 year old rye, but the RR Single Barrel rye is a treasure. I get it for around $60.