Wild Turkey 101 8yr Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary release

[flahute]

70 years today at Wild Turkey for the legend and icon. His team created this 8yr release to honor him. Will be $50.

 

Here's a story about him from GQ that came out today.

https://www.gq.com/sponsored/story/celebrating-jimmy-russell-wild-turkey#msdynttrid=ES951VEm6ZvPeZggVZxIrlC3k-av5EKh8k6zIVNuW3A

[Skinsfan1311]

30 minutes ago, flahute said:

70 years today at Wild Turkey for the legend and icon. His team created this 8yr release to honor him. Will be $50.

 

Here's a story about him from GQ that came out today.

https://www.gq.com/sponsored/story/celebrating-jimmy-russell-wild-turkey#msdynttrid=ES951VEm6ZvPeZggVZxIrlC3k-av5EKh8k6zIVNuW3A

That's a great story...thanks for sharing!   Hopefully it can be had for MSRP.   I'd pay $50.00

[GaryT]

1 hour ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

That's a great story...thanks for sharing!   Hopefully it can be had for MSRP.   I'd pay $50.00

Ditto!  I don't buy a lot of bottles these days, but this would be an insta-grab at retail.  Jimmy is an absolute national treasure, and the whiskey is probably pretty damned good  

[mbroo5880i]

I am all in if I can find a bottle.  However...between the taters and the insiders.

[kcgumbohead]

Is this distillery only or a nationwide release? If national, I wonder how much they bottled cause I'm in for one if it actually hits shelves.

[Jazz June]

Nationwide and was told a few weeks ago at the distillery that there will be plenty of it bottled (let's hope so). Love Jimmy and love Wild Turkey 101. Wild Turkey 101 might be the best representative of what bourbon is and Jimmy is responsible for keeping it that way through good times and bad. I hope he's around for an 80th anniversary bottling as well!

[fosmith]

On 9/10/2024 at 3:08 PM, Skinsfan1311 said:

Will be $50.

As if..  This would be an instant buy for me too.  But the bots that clear the shelves at K&L and Bevmo will get it all before I ever get a chance.  And, I'm not willing to drive all over the Bay Area scouring LSs for any bourbon at this point in my life.  

[Kepler]

1 hour ago, fosmith said:

As if..  This would be an instant buy for me too.  But the bots that clear the shelves at K&L and Bevmo will get it all before I ever get a chance.  And, I'm not willing to drive all over the Bay Area scouring LSs for any bourbon at this point in my life.  

I'm surprised those retailers allow limited or special bottles to be eligible for online sales.  The stores in my area require those to be in-store purchases only (limit 1 or 2 at a time).

 

[Skinsfan1311]

13 hours ago, fosmith said:

As if..  This would be an instant buy for me too.  But the bots that clear the shelves at K&L and Bevmo will get it all before I ever get a chance.  And, I'm not willing to drive all over the Bay Area scouring LSs for any bourbon at this point in my life.  

That driving all over looking for bourbon ship sailed for me years ago.   I won't be able to drink what I have in this lifetime so, with rare exceptions and keeping the standards on-hand, my buying has pretty much stopped  That said, I really would like bottle!

[markandrex]

I am willing to break zen for one of these.  It has been a month but this is for “the flock”.

I am currently up near the UP of MI with a friend fishing, cigars, bourbon and  beer (and a few bears cleaning up the fish remains every night).  We are going to call it this weekend and close the cabin for the year.

I forgot how beautiful it is up here.  No light pollution and beautiful skies from horizon to horizon.

Breakfast is over, and no WiFi at the cabin.  Later folks.

Edited September 12, 2024 by markandrex

[jvd99]

8 year WT101 has been available overseas for a long time, this is just repackaged for the domestic market, maybe they have too much. I'd love for the WT101 to be age stated

 

 

 

 

[flahute]

18 minutes ago, jvd99 said:

8 year WT101 has been available overseas for a long time, this is just repackaged for the domestic market, maybe they have too much. I'd love for the WT101 to be age stated

 

 

 

 

I don't think repackaged. They said this blend comes from Jimmy's favorite rickhouses.

[Kepler]

1 hour ago, jvd99 said:

8 year WT101 has been available overseas for a long time, this is just repackaged for the domestic market, maybe they have too much. I'd love for the WT101 to be age stated

 

 

 

 

 

I've had a couple of bottles of the previous label export WT8 (the Austin Nichols label) and to me they are nothing special.  I hope the new domestic 70th anniversary juice is much better.

[jvd99]

12 hours ago, flahute said:

I don't think repackaged. They said this blend comes from Jimmy's favorite rickhouses.

It would great if it was…but call me cynical 

[fosmith]

On 9/11/2024 at 6:07 PM, Kepler said:

I'm surprised those retailers allow limited or special bottles to be eligible for online sales.  The stores in my area require those to be in-store purchases only (limit 1 or 2 at a time).

 

They usually don't post true unicorns online but highly sought after ones often are, albeit with a one to three bottle per customer limit.  With the bots, those can sell out in minutes (or less).  

[Jazz June]

This hit at least some of the military exchanges in my area today. It sounds like they were one per customer and sold out in a few hours. Hopefully this product can be re-ordered and will be available after the initial insanity.

[Wedelstaedt]

Found it today. Surprised me, by being on the shelf. I’m not sure, if that means there is a lot of this available or interest in bourbon is beginning to diminish in my area. Either way, I am happy to have stumbled onto the bottle. 
I think I will look for a few more. 
 

Cheers

[Richnimrod]

5 hours ago, Wedelstaedt said:

Found it today. Surprised me, by being on the shelf. I’m not sure, if that means there is a lot of this available or interest in bourbon is beginning to diminish in my area. Either way, I am happy to have stumbled onto the bottle. 
I think I will look for a few more. 
 

Cheers

According to the WT Distillery, this commemorative issue of WT 8-year, 101 is made in large quantities and will be readily available throughout the country.    Not yet distributed in The Mitten State, though.  I've been looking/asking.

[Skinsfan1311]

7 hours ago, Wedelstaedt said:

Found it today. Surprised me, by being on the shelf. I’m not sure, if that means there is a lot of this available or interest in bourbon is beginning to diminish in my area. Either way, I am happy to have stumbled onto the bottle. 
I think I will look for a few more. 
 

Cheers

How much did it set you back, if you don't mind my asking?

[Wedelstaedt]

3 hours ago, Skinsfan1311 said:

How much did it set you back, if you don't mind my asking?

Not at all. It was just under the MSRP of $50

[Anwalt]

This guy is usually great on both reviews & other observations. He thinks there are a lot of these bottles & that they'll be quite available.

'

https://thebourbonculture.com/whiskey-reviews/wild-turkey-jimmy-russells-70th-anniversary-8-year-old-bourbon-review/

[natedawg]

It was included in our flight at the end of a tour at Wild Turkey. It was good but hard to say too much as it came after RRSB and RR13. Apparently they had it at gift shop a few days before but it was gone today.

[Wedelstaedt]

On 9/14/2024 at 12:05 AM, Wedelstaedt said:

Found it today. Surprised me, by being on the shelf. I’m not sure, if that means there is a lot of this available or interest in bourbon is beginning to diminish in my area. Either way, I am happy to have stumbled onto the bottle. 
I think I will look for a few more. 
 

Cheers

Ok, so last weekend, I tested this one out pretty good. I will admit, excitement could have rounded my tastes buds out a bit.  But my old college professor hammered into our heads to be cautious of our subjective nature, so i am always wary. 
 

However, tonight I revisited the bottle. I must say, I wasn’t wrong, I wasn’t gushing. This bottle is good. I have read online some whining about proof, age, price. Blah, blah, blah. The same dorks who, would step on their Mom to grab an ‘80s WT8.  As far as I’m concerned, this is the best WT101, from the modern era, I’ve tasted. This includes a lot of WTKS, that I’ve clinked. The Russell’s/Campari did justice to WT101 8yr and to Mr  Jimmy’s legacy. 
Yea, the price is steep, (I hate the prices these days for bourbon,) but for my dollars, this Bottle  definitely is worth the MRSP of $50.  It is worth more, IMHO, but I really don’t want to hype it up, so you won’t have unrealistic expectations for a bottle  of whiskey. 
 

Cheers


 

[0895]

It’s good.

I’ll probably buy one if I come across it at retail.

Basically WT101 with more refinement.

That being said, RRSB is only $10 more and overall more my thing.

[GaryT]

Delighted that one of these found their way home today  

Poured a glass; it noses really well, not like dusty CGF but definitely better than WT101.

Solid on the palate - need a few passes for detailed tasting notes but just a neon flashing "Classic Turkey" keeps coming to mind, although I will say it is a bit more tame (which is NOT "smooth"; there's spice but it's more nuanced and not a sharp bite like I get with WT101).  It's pretty good, and definitely worth retail IMHO.

 

But I will complain about whatever nimrod does their labeling.  The front of the bottle is pretty nice; I like the embossed Turkey.  But there is text on the back label that is damned near impossible to read!!  It's like their marketing people didn't think it would be a good idea to make it legible!  Hell, save ink and just don't put it on there in that case.  They need to hire someone who knows something about making things legible (hey @Richnimrod - you should put in a resume, eh!)