BOTM, 9/06: Wild Turkey 101

[jeff]

It is unclear how any self-respecting BOTM forum could make it well into its second year without recognizing one of the original "premium" bourbons. Well today we're going to right a Straightbourbon wrong and name Wild Turkey 101 to the list as September's Bourbon of the Month. Considered by many to be the quintessential bourbon style, Wild Turkey 101 delivers on taste and value. Jimmy Russell and his Team in Lawrenceburg have been producing great bourbon for years, and even though their line of products has expanded into some fantastic single-barrel and barrel-proof expressions, the continued, ongoing quality of the standard 101 speaks volumes of their dedication to making exceptional bourbon at every price point.

Let's celebrate September, bourbon's greatest time of year, with Jimmy Russell and a glass of Wild Turkey 101!

:893drillsergeant-thSound off:893drillsergeant-th

[Sweetmeats]

I love WT 101. I've tried the other more "expensive" bourbons Wild Turkey had to offer and have always come back to this one. While it is not my number one it is probably the most reliable in terms of taste, time after time.

[barturtle]

This is a great choice. WT 101 is my go to bourbon, but not at home. I don't believe there has ever been a bottle of this in my house, yet I probably consume as much of this one whiskey as any other. Shooting pool without a glass of 101 throws my game off, every dive bar I've ever been in has it on the shelf and I can get a classy manhatten made out of it when in a nicer martini bar.

WT 101 is a great baseline for seeing what kind of base whiskey it takes to make the ultra premium whiskies even exist. A great allarounder, it never fails to satisfy.

[Bamber]

We only have the WT 8yo 101 widely available here in the UK. They're pretty close though.

A great whiskey, full of flavour and balance. One to start the journey thorogh bourbon and one to come back to.

[Whiskey Willie]

Just in time...I bought a 750mL last week...

Over the past year, this has become my favorite pour (love that big, long finish). I keep a few other brands in the cabinet, but WT101 is my "go to" bourbon also.

Great choice for BOTM, Jeff. Football and WT is a fine combination for a Saturday...All day.

[SBOmarc]

I always have it on my bar and usually 3 to 4 bottles bunkered. It is the bottle that most people will buy me on birthdays and holiday seasons. Other than WTKS it is still my favorite from WT.

Then again I do have that bottle of Tribute yet to be opened.

[jburlowski]

A classic... may it be around forever. A real "man's" bourbon... straight-ahead, no holds barred, no pretentions. Like it, or get out of the way.

[BobA]

I don't think I've bought a bottle of WT 101 for a while. But for years, it was the only bourbon I bought; I think I was introduced to it by the friends in grad school who first got me drinking bourbon. And during the years I explored good beer and other drinks, WT 101 was the only bourbon I kept on the shelf. After the small batch collection came out, I got more interested in bourbon, sought some variety, and started exploring, but didn't buy more WT 101; after all, I knew what it was like. I've put the RR 101 on my short list of favorites, but haven't revisited the WT 101, even though I still consider it a terrific pour at a good price.

I think I need to swing by a store.

Bob

[bluesbassdad]

Does Osco Drug still run specials on WT101 at $12.99 every three or four months? Does Trader Joe's still sell it at an everyday price of $13.99? That's the way it was when I moved away in August, 2004.

Now I have to pay about $20 here in outback Arizona. (Maybe it's cheaper in the big city of Phoenix.) I've taken to buying it in the 1.75 l. bottle, which my Safeway occasionally marks down three or four bucks from the regular price of $33.95 (IIRC).

I've accumulated enough upscale bottlings, probably enough to last ten years or more, that I seldom revisit the solid, middle-shelf bottlings. Over the last two years I've drunk more Russell's Reserve than WT101. Now I have an excuse to get in touch with my roots, so to speak.

More later.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[T47]

WT 101...a great dependable pour! As I sit here sipping a nice glass of it, my wife has a Chocolate Bourbon Cake in the oven and some Bourbon/Brown Sugar Flank steak marinating in the fridge...all with WT 101.

Looking forward to some good eating tonight, I've already started on the good drinking!

:toast:

[DrinkyBanjo]

I love this stuff. It would be what I'd buy if I didn't have access to the other greats. If I was limited to corner liquor stores I'd pick this over Makers and Beam Black. However, I think this makes a terrible Manhattan, I had one of those once and it didn't gel for me at all.

Is there a difference between the WT 101 and WT 8 YO that is available overseas? If so I'll pick up a bottle when I'm in Ireland in a week or so. Please let me know.

[Gillman]

The 101 was available for quite a while in our market and I am quite familiar with it.

It is good honest bourbon to be sure but for neat sipping, I find it a bit woody in a frank, uncomplex way. Even the 80 proof has the same basic profile.

I like RB best, I think because it emphasises whiskey aged 6 years. Yes, it is leavened with 8 and 12 year old whiskey (not too much), which makes for a complex, not too tannic drink. The 101 probably is different years too (up to 8) but the complexity of the RB trumps the 101 in my view (then too it costs a lot more).

I guess it depends too how you drink it. For mixed drinks dilution will possibly enhance the 101. For neat sampling I'll go with RB. Once at a Gazebo I had a WT 12 that was remarkably good (gold-colored label). In general though I find the older WTs not as good as the younger expressions.

Gary

[BourbonJoe]

I like WT-101. In fact I like all of their products. I agree with Gary that RB is a notch above most of their standard offerings. I also really enjoy the 12 & 15 year expressions (with the gold foil and Tribute being the best IMO). Wild Turkey, in almost any expression, is not for the casual whiskey drinker. They are bold flavorful pours for the initiated palate IMO.

Joe :usflag:

[Gillman]

Good points Joe.

Gary

[Black85L98]

I don't know that I have much to add.

This bourbon can be found in most bars right next to the Makers Mark and you can get your choice for the same price. More often than not my choice is going to be the 101. I drink it on ice and think bringing the proof down opens it up a lot. Still get a nice long warm finish but less oak.

Back when I thought bourbon was JB White, WT 101 was a premium bottle for me, I guess it still is.

[FlashPuppy]

What a coincidence! I am enjoyng a nice pour of this as I just saw that we have a new BOTM up. I really enjoy this bourbon. I like the taste, the aroma, the color, and the price. It is like an old hound dog or your favorite hunting rifle, reliable. I will always have a bottle of this open, and another just in case.

[CrispyCritter]

I poured some not too long ago to celebrate - and it's still an old reliable. There's a good hit of oak at first, but if you swirl it around in your mouth before swallowing, the sweetness and spice come through like sunshine.

I actually think it makes superb Manhattans as well - just don't forget the bitters!

[SBOmarc]

Does Osco Drug still run specials on WT101 at $12.99 every three or four months? Does Trader Joe's still sell it at an everyday price of $13.99? That's the way it was when I moved away in August, 2004.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

Not quite that cheap but then again nothing else is either. The 101 can be had for as little as 14.99 here and there. Traders had Knob at $ 17.99 for a long time. Maker's at $15.99 was plentiful also.

[TimmyBoston]

Wild Turkey 101; Bourbon of the Month, I guess it's not just for shots anymore! :cool:

:slappin:

[nor02lei]

Is there a difference between the WT 101 and WT 8 YO that is available overseas? If so I'll pick up a bottle when I'm in Ireland in a week or so. Please let me know.

Tim,

It's a big deferens between 101 and the 8 years sold in Europe. The Europe version is much dryer and in my personal opinion quit dull and not at all as good as 101. But you never know for sure it may appeal to some others.

Leif.

[Bamber]

Mark me under 'others' - I marginally prefer the 8yo - which suits me as it is a big hassle to get the 101.

[Hedmans Brorsa]

Mark me under 'others' - I marginally prefer the 8yo - which suits me as it is a big hassle to get the 101.

I also enjoy the 8yo. I don´t find it to be particularly drier than other WT:s I´ve tried (the recently opened WT Tradition was extremely dry but that one does hardly count as a typical bottling). Then again, I don´t think that I´ve ever tried the standard 101 so I am not able to make any fruitful comparisons.

Before posting, I glanced through the web pages of most shops I purchase bourbon from and I couldn´t find one single bottle of 101 (the 8yo was everywhere, though).

[nor02lei]

Before posting, I glanced through the web pages of most shops I purchase bourbon from and I couldn´t find one single bottle of 101 (the 8yo was everywhere, though).

Lennart,

The older 8 years version of 101 is sold in 1/3 litre bottle on this page: https://www.weinquelle.com/. I haven’t seen the newer no age ether.

Leif

[hokiedave92]

I have nothing but fond memories of far, far too many Saturday tailgates where WT101 was our drink of choice. Not that we had a choice, really. When your school mascot is a giant maroon and orange turkey, well, what else can you drink?!?!? This is the bourbon I cut my teeth on, and will always have a bottle or 2 around the house!

Regards,

Dave

Virginia Tech, '92

[ratcheer]

I agree with what Jeff said in his opening post. :iagreejeff: To me, WT101 is the standard measuring stick against which all bourbons are compared, that is to say, WT101 = the taste of bourbon.

It was the first premium bourbon I ever tasted in its 8-year old form way back in the late 60's. It was much, much better than anything I had ever tasted, before. And today, it tastes basically the same as it did, then.

While I often say that this or that bourbon could be my everyday pour, WT 101 actually is. I have a bottle of it on hand and I'm looking forward to sampling it and posting further thoughts in this thread.

Tim