Tell Me About Wild Turkey

[Obeezy1Kaneezy]

5 hours ago, WhiskeyBlender said:

 

Any time I go into a bar just about anywhere in the country, if they have some 101, then I know it will be a good evening....

 

Just a couple weeks ago I was in Orlando. Took my niece to a pirate dinner show.  To my surprise, they have a bar!  To my dismay, they have a very limited selection.  Woodford, Maker’s, and...101, that was it. 

 

Me & 101 had a beautiful moment in a plastic pirate cup that evening. 

 

 

*The dinner show was awful btw.  Kids liked it though...

[flahute]

2 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

For some reason I seem to remember someone here once putting it this way:

 

Four Roses= “The Cult”

Wild Turkey= “The Flock”

 

Biba! Joe

I tried to combine these into a single word that would represent both but............it really doesn't work out well.

[Paddy]

^^^^Clulk...

Edited January 19, 2019 by Paddy

[Richnimrod]

Flult?   Clock?   (Wait tht's an actual word, eh?)  Ah, never mind.

[Mako254]

10 hours ago, flahute said:

Our numbers may be small but we are fiercely devoted. 

Amen. 

[ratcheer]

I'm always surprised when people say WT101 can be considered "bottom shelf", because when I was becoming aware of liquor brands in the late 60s, it was considered to be one of the most premium of premium brands. So, I've always considered it to be premium and I guess I always will. Also, I've said many times here before, Wild Turkey has the flavor that I consider to be the correct flavor for "bourbon".

 

Still, since the early 90s, things have changed a lot. Until then, the bourbon marketplace seemed to be mostly about tradition. "This has always been good, and we still make it the way we always have. You can depend on it." But since then, branding has had a leapfrogging effect: "Things were good, but this new brand is even better." And up and up and up... In my mind, this started with Blanton's in the late 80s. Now, it seems like each brand comes up with at least five new bottlings/labelings per year. Even Wild Turkey. Back in the day, the standard 101 was 8 years old. Then, they started calling it "No. 8". Now, it's just Wild Turkey. The quality may indeed have decreased along with those labeling changes.

 

I agree with a previous poster: WT101 and OGD BiB are two bourbons I try to keep on hand. They are distinctly different, and they retain their traditional flavors.

 

Tim

[kcgumbohead]

12 hours ago, Harry in WashDC said:

What I think of WT 101?  My most consumed is OGD BIB.  My most desired that I can't get is HH BIB 6yr  (which is going away, anyway).  What do I buy whenever I see it?  VOB BIB because it is rare here.  What sits in the trash can by my TV chair right next to my OGD BIB?  WT 101 which I'm drinking right now.  What did I buy yesterday? WT 101 and WT RB 116.8 and OGD BIB.  What do I take fishing and have taken for over 20 years? WT 101.  I do not limit my bourbon drinking to these, but I will NEVER be without these (except the HH, of course).

You and me both Harry, though sadly VOB is joining the dearly departed list as well.

[Saul_cooperstein]

Wt101 and wt101 rye are both staples for me and wt101 is my definition of what bourbon tastes like. With the being said the pre-early 1990’s 8/101 and 12/101 are some of the best tasting whiskies I have ever had. Hands down, full stop. For my palate they blow away any current release LE and rival in pleasure ND OGD BIB/114, and maybe even SW PVW and early KBD ryes. Not recommending a trip to the ‘illegal’ side of the secondary market but either find someone who has some to sample or look at ‘legal’ avenues to purchase through Uk stores or auctions...with string preference towards sampling before thinking about buying. 

[0895]

14 hours ago, JCwhammie said:

I want sure if it was a full blown cult. But since it is, I'm definitely drinking their version of the Koolaid! 

 

What do you think about the one all the way on the left (W&C 2018).

I tried it yesterday for the first time and holy cow is it good!

 

Lukas has a very nice one in stock now too that you may want to check out.  I might've gone through the samples and voted for it.... just say'n.  It's also on sale through tomorrow for $40 if you go to the store in person (vs. online).

 

 

I'm a bit late to the WT game compared to the rest of you guys, but I am quickly realizing that I've been a fool for ignoring WT for so long.

Russell's picks are definitely something special.

Edited January 19, 2019 by 0895

[JCwhammie]

1 hour ago, 0895 said:

 

What do you think about the one all the way on the left (W&C 2018).

I tried it yesterday for the first time and holy cow is it good!

 

Lukas has a very nice one in stock now too that you may want to check out.  I might've gone through the samples and voted for it.... just say'n.  It's also on sale through tomorrow for $40 if you go to the store in person (vs. online).

 

 

I'm a bit late to the WT game compared to the rest of you guys, but I am quickly realizing that I've been a fool for ignoring WT for so long.

Russell's picks are definitely something special.

The 2018 W&C was in the top 3 (these were done blind). My favorite was from TW on manchester. It's warehouse T floor 7, and it is amazing. 

 

Unfortunately I'm currently out of town, or I'd go grab a bottle from Lukas. 

[Paddy]

Like Tim noted above, back in the day, 101 was what I always considered to be premium bourbon.  There was no small batch/single barrel, Pappiez, BTAC/Beam specialty whiskey yet on the market.  If you wanted a quality, high proof, high rye, traditional bourbon... it was the obvious choice for drinking straight or mixing.

[WhiskeyBlender]

16 hours ago, Kane said:

I don't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers, but you folks missed the perfect opportunity to follow ^ this up with a series of bird puns.

 

More seriously, I don't see any mention of the Kentucky Spirit. Resident experts care to comment on this? I haven't had enough of it to form a strong opinion.

@Kane, I'd love to gobble up this opportunity to make some bird puns, so let's talk turkey! 

 

Regarding Kentucky Spirit, I would completely agree with what @Mako254 had to say about it. I've had some really rich, flavorful batches, and some that are really simple in flavor with nothing that interesting about them in the least. In fact, I still have a batch from 2016 that I can't seem to make myself polish off. It seems to have a lot of fusel oils in it as well. Maybe I'll eventually use it in a cocktail, but since I prefer drinking neat, it might just continue to collect more dust. 

 

But that said, I'd also second what @kevinbrink had to say, that WT is my favorite classic bourbon distillery. If an alien spaceship landed here and they asked "Earthling, what is this thing called "Bourbon" and what does it taste like?," I'd hand them a bottle of 101 or RB to represent everything that a great bourbon should be. 

 

Cheers,

Nancy

[Guss West]

The first rule of Wild Turkey...

 

There is only one bourbon distiller on my family tree map with circles and hearts around all of the different expressions/"branches".  

 

Shhh about the RRSiB. 

[flahute]

1 hour ago, WhiskeyBlender said:

Regarding Kentucky Spirit, I would completely agree with what @Mako254 had to say about it. I've had some really rich, flavorful batches, and some that are really simple in flavor with nothing that interesting about them in the least. In fact, I still have a batch from 2016 that I can't seem to make myself polish off. It seems to have a lot of fusel oils in it as well. 

WTKS is a single barrel product which likely explains the wide variation you've experienced.

 

That variation, and the price it sells for, is the reason why I largely ignore it. It's the only regular label in the WT lineup that I think they are mismanaging. Rare Breed is cheaper and higher proof. RRSiB is generally only a few dollars more and higher proof. Why buy KS? I don't have a good reason.

[T Comp]

18 hours ago, Mako254 said:

Man, where to start.  First, congratulations on seeing through a lot of the current BS and hype and focusing on what is on the bottle. Turkey certainly suffers from the ‘fraternity, biker, and rock n roller’ stereotype. Personally I think some of that stems from Jimmy sticking with 101 when everyone else was dropping proof on flagships. More on that later. 

 

Plug for a personal friend of mine but if you are contemplating a deep dive in to Wild Turkey, rarebird101.com is a must. 

 

To answer your question regarding 101, it has a lot going for it, especially right now. 

Per multiple interviews with the Russell’s, WT 101 is now batched with 7-10 year old barrels. WT goes into the barrel at 115 so not a ton of cutting to get it to 101. All this for $23. Jimmy Russell has been the master distiller since 1964 so he knows what he is doing. 

 

Another poster commented that WT is known for bold and big flavor and I agree. Somewhere along the line, ‘smooth’ got equated with ‘good’ and that didn’t do WT any favors. This is big, bold bourbon. Some don’t care for that. Not me. I love it. 

 

As far as where to go next, Rare Breed is next. After that try and find a store that has a barrel of Russell’s Reserve. 110 proof, NCF of Eddie Russell goodness. 

 

Enjoy the journey, let me know if I can help. 

A few of us  here spent an afternoon with Eddie Russell just last September and he said what your blogger friend reports. He seemed particularly proud in talking about it to us as repeat barrel buyers who don’t have to be talked into buying more bourbon haha. He emphasized  plenty of 10 year barrels in the 101 batches now

being produced and certainly thinks it’s the best it has been in years. 

 

Picked up a bottle yesterday after inspecting the date code (also on your friend’s  blog) indicating a 2018 just recently bottled. It’s very good, with classic Turkey cherry notes and none of the grainy thinness that turned me off 101 back starting in 2012 or so. No doubt older barrels are there and quite similar to many current single barrel RRs. I compared it to a favorite 8 year stated Japanese export 101 I bought at least 10 years ago and opened for 9 months. It came out well with a slight nod on personal preference to the export for a touch more richness and acetone. 

[Seasick Sailor]

Picked up a Rare Breed 116.8 this evening and am just setting down for my first pour out of the bottle. Struck out on a RRSIB though.

 

I also picked up a July 2018 101 based on Rare Bird's article here: https://rarebird101.com/2019/01/15/wild-turkey-101-2018/. Going to do a side-by-side with a bottle from February 2018 to see if I can pick up any difference.

Edited January 20, 2019 by Seasick Sailor

[graftonbc1]

Wild Turkey 101 is an exceptional pour at an exceptional price. My wife bought me a handle for Christmas at 32 bucks. 

 

I wept. 

 

I have a store pick Russell Reserve Single Barrel that is the best bourbon in my collection. 

 

 

[Clueby]

WT had an "old man's bourbon" where I grew up. You saw it and all the cheesy plastic bar signs and paraphernalia at every dive bar where old men sat at the bar and slowly sipped their drink all day long.

[Kepler]

On 1/18/2019 at 7:27 PM, Bob_Loblaw said:

I don’t think I gave WT101 a try until about 6 months ago AFTER trying and loving several RR picks and Rare Breed.

 

It's amazing how many folks these days start out at the TOP first.  Totally backwards from the way things used to work.

[flahute]

1 minute ago, Kepler said:

 

It's amazing how many folks these days start out at the TOP first.  Totally backwards from the way things used to work.

This is what I’ve been saying!

[Seasick Sailor]

22 hours ago, Clueby said:

WT had an "old man's bourbon" where I grew up. You saw it and all the cheesy plastic bar signs and paraphernalia at every dive bar where old men sat at the bar and slowly sipped their drink all day long.

Those old dudes knew what was up. 

[Seasick Sailor]

Has anyone tried the Master's Keep Decades? The state store near me has a bottle right at MSRP that is calling my name. Reviews seem positive.

 

I think they have a bottle of Revival too, but I am a little hesitant due to the Sherry-barrel finish. 

[Mako254]

20 hours ago, flahute said:

This is what I’ve been saying!

 

It’s like learning to drive stick on a porsche and not a civic. 

 

 

[PaulO]

I've become a big WT fan over the last couple years.  The current WT 101 is very tasty, and drinks well below its' proof.  In the past, I did get some of the not so good batch others have mentioned, around 2012.  It was in the Austin Nichols labeled bottle, so no danger confusing it with current good stuff.

I've always been a fan of Rare Breed - any version.

I bought one bottle of Kentucky Spirit.  I liked it; slightly different profile from standard WT, but good.  If you want one of those sunburst shaped bottles, better get it soon.  New package is a plain bottle.

I got to meet Mr. Russell at a liquor store tasting.  There I sampled Master's Keep 17, and Decades.  They were both good, but honestly, I don't think I'm going to pay $150 for a bottle of anything.

I'm thinking about trying the RR SB.  People like Mako and Steve, what do you think about the bottles that come without special provenance, like from a grocery store?

[mosugoji64]

Loving the love for WT here! The only thing I have to add is, re: WTKS, if you see any older bottles while out and about - specifically bottles from 2013 and prior - and particularly any with dark or pewter tops, DO NOT HESITATE to buy them! Those have had some amazing whiskey in them from my experience. The more recent bottles, as others have said, just don't have the QPR that other bottles have. But, you may want to grab one of the old style bottles while they're still around as, IMHO, they're pretty cool.