Released in 1991, Rare Breed was supposed to showcase what barrel proof Wild Turkey would taste like. So whether Wild Turkey fans want to believe it or not, it was probably because of Booker Noe that we even have Rare Breed in the first place. Also worth noting: “gentlemen” did not become feral animals while drinking it (well, maybe a few did). Jackie Zykan of Old Forester said it best when she explained that all bourbon brands shunned the idea of bottling their bourbons at barrel strength because it was deemed irresponsible on the part of the distillery and not what a gentleman would prefer to drink in good company.īut times began to change and Booker Noe showed that there was a demand for barrel proof bourbon when he released his first batch of Booker’s in 1988. Wild Turkey’s Rare Breed was one of the original gangsters of barrel proof bourbons back at a time when barrel proof bourbons weren’t really a thing. Thank goodness it looks like it’s not going anywhere soon. Of course enthusiasts of the brand would rather drink Malort straight from the bottle rather than see WTRB disappear from the shelves. The bottle and label are somewhat generic to look at which would partly explain why it’s always available. To the casual drinker, Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon is just another bottle that they can reliably find on the shelf of most liquor stores. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Whisky enthusiasts, intended on drinking whisky neat, are likely to be happier with all the other Wild Turkey products that come from the distillery.*Bourbon Culture is reader-supported. It does, however, come alive when poured over ice and makes for a great drink during the warmer summer months. Whisky Cabinet Rating: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ Good whisky, but not a ‘must-have’Ī fine made bourbon that's not quite expressive enough for a whisky-forward cocktail, and a little too light to sip straight. Palate: Horn husk, light pepper when combined with sweetness, and caramel notes. Nose: What you’d expect: caramel, orange zest, and red apple notes. Wild Turkey Straight BourbonĬategory: Straight Bourbon, No-Age Statement Whether or not this is true, I can't verify, but I can say that Wild Turkey Straight Bourbon fits well for that purpose. It's said that Jimmy Russell drinks a tall glass of Wild Turkey on ice throughout the day. Boom, you have yourself a delicious drink. However, there are ways to drink Wild Turkey 81 that just make sense-take a tall glass, fill it with ice, fill it with Wild Turkey 81, and maybe at a splash of sparkling water. I'm not a cocktail expert, but it strikes me as too soft on flavor to truly make itself seen in a modern (old fashioned?) cocktail. It's gentle on the palate, but there's some character there. Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey can be sipped. It’s still bottled at 40.5% (81 proof), and the flavour is unchanged. Low-proof whisky is no longer popular, however, and the previously named Wild Turkey 81 has been renamed to Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey. That rebellious extra 1% of alcohol made all the difference. Later, Jimmy Russell released the low-proof Wild Turkey product he could be proud of, and so Wild Turkey 81 (40.5% ABV) was born. When sales started to drop, Jimmy Russel reconsidered, and he did briefly make a Wild Turkey 80 Proof. When every bourbon distillery lowered the alcohol content to 40% ABV (80 Proof) whisky, he refused to do the same with Wild Turkey. Iconic Master Distiller of Wild Turkey, Jimmy Russell, didn’t care much for this change to lower proof whisky. When I was at the distillery, Eddie Russell told me the story of Wild Turkey 81. It was a dark time for whisky (and taste!). However, when the vodka era did take over, the market no longer wanted boozy whisky they wanted tasteless spirits that went down easily. The only widely available Wild Turkey you could get was 101 proof (50.5% ABV). Before vodka took over the spirits scene in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, Wild Turkey 81 didn’t exist.
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