Wild Turkey 101 - 8 Year

[rzelinka]

Went out tonight and looked at the local Spec's. They had the Wild Turkey 101 - 8 year. I noted it was in the allocated section. I really never noted it before, not being on the lookout for it. Is it that hard to come by?

[gurgalunas]

Like most things anticipated and new, probably not dropped in quantity.  The TW I stopped by a few days ago said theirs disappeared quick.  Probably just a way to keep someone from clearing the shelf and pimping it elsewhere.

 

The 4R OESO/OESK/OESV was the same here when it first released.  Limited drop, disappeared quick.  Now it's everywhere.

[jvd99]

It was on the shelf at Binny's in Chicagoland. I passed. 

[rzelinka]

17 hours ago, jvd99 said:

It was on the shelf at Binny's in Chicagoland. I passed. 

I sure do miss Binny's.

[jvd99]

On 6/6/2025 at 1:06 PM, rzelinka said:

I sure do miss Binny's.

Still fully stocked a week after I saw it. Definitely not flying off the shelf

 

 

[rzelinka]

I was out and about today, so it nearly everywhere. I think it's a tough sell knowing the regular 101 is a 6 year at +/- $25.00

[NDN98]

6 minutes ago, rzelinka said:

I was out and about today, so it nearly everywhere. I think it's a tough sell knowing the regular 101 is a 6 year at +/- $25.00

I found it to be a better bourbon than the standard 101, ……but not that much better.   I did a blind tasting with some friends where we blinded the standard 101, the 8 year 101, the Spirit of Kentucky SiB 101, and The Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary 101.

 

The Jimmy Russell blew the other 3 out of the water in the blind rankings.   The Kentucky Spirit got 2nd, and the 8 year barely edged the standard offering for 3rd place.

 

 

[MM818]

If you close your eyes and think about Wild Turkey shouldn’t the bottle have an 8 on it? I think the age statement for $44 will be a good thing for all of us. 

[flahute]

33 minutes ago, rzelinka said:

I was out and about today, so it nearly everywhere. I think it's a tough sell knowing the regular 101 is a 6 year at +/- $25.00

It's a blend of 6-8 though recent batches are likely closer to 6.

[MSB]

1 hour ago, MM818 said:

If you close your eyes and think about Wild Turkey shouldn’t the bottle have an 8 on it? I think the age statement for $44 will be a good thing for all of us. 

How do you mean it is a good thing for us?  I don't think I am on the same page or even in the same book as you. Lol

For real,  I am not sure what you mean by that comment.

[fishnbowljoe]

I remember bowling/fishing buddies of mine that went to Canada fishing occasionally. They used to pick up a bottle or two of the old WT8 101 export bottles for me before heading home. This was a few years after I went fishing in Canada with a couple of them back in 2006 and 2007. 

[MM818]

6 hours ago, MSB said:

How do you mean it is a good thing for us?  I don't think I am on the same page or even in the same book as you. Lol

For real,  I am not sure what you mean by that comment.

Just my opinion, but I would like to see age statements on as many bottles as possible. And maybe this helps other distillers make that decision. $5.50/year in a barrel that’s trying to position itself for a mid range bourbon seems reasonable, to me. 

[Richnimrod]

6 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

I remember bowling/fishing buddies of mine that went to Canada fishing occasionally. They used to pick up a bottle or two of the old WT8 101 export bottles for me before heading home. This was a few years after I went fishing in Canada with a couple of them back in 2006 and 2007. 

First let me apologize for this wild drift of this thread....

Back when some buds and I were going nearly every year on a fly-in Canadian fishing adventure (starting back in about '68, if memory serves... and that is a very dubious prospect), the alcohols of choice were Labatts 50, Molson Export Ale, and Brador.   None of us were 'into whiskey' at all.   But, those Canadian brews were stellar, especially in comparison to the American alternatives we drank the rest of the year.   They were real treats!   Full-bodied, robust and not short of 'punch'.    I miss those times with the guys, and those brews.   And, the fishing was fabulous!

[jvd99]

9 hours ago, rzelinka said:

I was out and about today, so it nearly everywhere. I think it's a tough sell knowing the regular 101 is a 6 year at +/- $25.00

They should have done the 12 year instead 

[rzelinka]

1 hour ago, jvd99 said:

They should have done the 12 year instead 

My understanding is it's coming. I'm in on that one

[jvd99]

2 hours ago, rzelinka said:

My understanding is it's coming. I'm in on that one

That would be awesome! I've had several; of the Japanese market ones, and they're fantastic 

[rzelinka]

I agree. I first noted this years ago in Japan. It was back in a day where I wasn't terribly interested in whiskey, bourbon. Happy to see it is coming our way.

[MM818]

16 minutes ago, rzelinka said:

I agree. I first noted this years ago in Japan. It was back in a day where I wasn't terribly interested in whiskey, bourbon. Happy to see it is coming our way.

That’s interesting. I love the Japanese 12. That’s a curious decision to also open that product to the US market. 

[MSB]

5 hours ago, MM818 said:

Just my opinion, but I would like to see age statements on as many bottles as possible. And maybe this helps other distillers make that decision. $5.50/year in a barrel that’s trying to position itself for a mid range bourbon seems reasonable, to me. 

Thank you for your clarification of your opinion. As long as the liquid inside is good , I can do without the age statement but admittedly I do enjoy and would welcome full transparency from the distilleries. And as long as there is not an overly inflated price tag for having that info on the label.

Edited 1 hour ago by MSB
*overly

[jvd99]

I agree the price per year is reasonable, but agree with what was pointed out up thread, there needs to be more differentiation from the NAS version. A 12 year age statement would accomplish that for sure. Then just get rid of the 8 and let it turn into 12. I’d also like to see some special release ultra aged 101, like 14, 16 and 18. That would be fun, but unattainable 

[MM818]

8 minutes ago, jvd99 said:

I agree the price per year is reasonable, but agree with what was pointed out up thread, there needs to be more differentiation from the NAS version. A 12 year age statement would accomplish that for sure. Then just get rid of the 8 and let it turn into 12. I’d also like to see some special release ultra aged 101, like 14, 16 and 18. That would be fun, but unattainable 

I have no idea what they’re trying to accomplish with all these products. And I don’t see them sku ratting the 81 or 101. But I do think the differentiation from the NAS version could come over time. Even quickly. It reminds me of searching for the LL laser code a few years ago. When it was rumored(and tasted like) the juice was much older when they launched Longbranch.