Wild Turkey 8 year?

[felthove]

I was wondering if WT is releasing WT 8 year throughout the US or just in other countries. I'm wondering because in WA all the state stores I've been to list WT 101 8 yr as being in stock and when I go to the store the WT 101 without an age statement is sitting on the shelf. The shelf tag even says WT 8 year and I am confused. Is the state misstating the age or is the WT101 w/out an age statement now 8 years old? Any input would be appreciated.

[barturtle]

I would guess that the UPC code on Wild Turkey hasn't changed in quite a while. WT101 used to be an 8yo, then it was No. 8, now it's just plain old 101...if the UPC hasn't changed then the state hasn't had any reason to update the listing in the books...changing the UPC is problematic for distillers, as then they have to go and get the product relisted by all of the distributors and states and tax men...and on and on...I'd guess they didn't change it for this reason.

[TNbourbon]

Today's WT 8yo all is distributed overseas and/or duty-free.

The domestic standard WT offering once was the 8yo, but that ceased c. 15 years ago, when it became -- briefly, No. 8 -- and, finally, NAS.

The WA labelling snafu is an example of the efficiency of government bureaucracies. In this case, either no one's noticed, or no one's bothered to correct, a 15-year-old error.

[felthove]

On the WT website they show a WT NAS, 8, & 12, along w/ the other flavors. Too bad consumers in WA state are being told they're getting 8 year.

[barturtle]

On the WT website they show a WT NAS, 8, & 12, along w/ the other flavors. Too bad consumers in WA state are being told they're getting 8 year.

And they show WT Russell's Reserve 10yo 101 last I checked...they haven't updated it in forever...

[Everman75]

And they show WT Russell's Reserve 10yo 101 last I checked...they haven't updated it in forever...

No, they finally updated the RR 101 to RR 90. I guess it's really gone...boo hoo.

[ggilbertva]

On the WT website they show a WT NAS, 8, & 12, along w/ the other flavors. Too bad consumers in WA state are being told they're getting 8 year.

I questioned my contact at PR about the website and they admitted that the site isn't kept up to date as it should be. As stated, you can only find WT 8 year in duty free or overseas. If you dusty hunt, you may be able to find the 8 year 101 on the shelves. I've been able to come across a couple 1.75L of the same. It's very good stuff.

[felthove]

The 8 year is available at duty free for $20. Should I snag it and will it be better than the NAS bottling by a margin?

[polyamnesia]

jeez, yes, snag it. snag 3! :grin:

[DrinkyBanjo]

The 8 year is available at duty free for $20. Should I snag it and will it be better than the NAS bottling by a margin?

The 8 YO I purchased in Duty Free was $20 and it was 1L, not 750!!!

[mozilla]

Our WT101 is an average of 8yrs with some being as young as six and as old as 10. Where the overseas market gets a minimum of 8yrs and probably not alot older. I would imagine that we get the better tasting juice but only the folks who can get a bottle of 8yr would know for sure.

From the mouth of Jimmy Russell..."we have been making the same whisky since before he got there." They don't change any of the distilling parameters from one label to another.

[ggilbertva]

Then I wonder why drop the domestic age statement? To me as a consumer, an age stated bourbon gets my attention over a NAS. I've had the current WT and the older 8 year and the 8 year is better, hands down. I don't know what they are doing to the current offering or what the age is but for WT, I really prefer the 8 and 12 year offerings.

[mozilla]

I am guessing here...Wild Turkey uses batches that dwarf most others in size and volume of barrels(this I know for sure)...Here is the guessing part: they produce so many more batches for the domestic market that they have to include between 6 and 10 yr barrels to be able to handle all of the volume.

The export market being smaller in volume allows them to use one batch to satisfy that market and thus feel safe pulling all from an 8yr old production.

[polyamnesia]

why these overseas-only offerings, etc....? what are the geometries of that al about?

and not just WT...

[craigthom]

Is the export market smaller?

What Jimmy Russell told me was similar to what he told you: "It's all Wild Turkey bourbon", whether it's the 101 or Russell's Reserve or Rare Breed or Kentucky Spirit or whatever.

[mozilla]

The logistics for each market are very different.

Let's take the Dallas/FW metro area for example. There are probably over 1000 stores in that area. Let's take 1000 as the example. Now, WT has at least four faces for 80 and 101 proof...that makes at least 8. Plus, one face for each RB, KS, Rye...that makes 11 faces on a shelf. Now if you must buy a case to get your shelf filled..then 1000X11=11000 cases just to fill up the shelves in one area. Multiply that by each town plus each city plus each state...that is a ton of bourbon....just to fill the shelves. It doesn't even take into account bars and homes. How many of those do you think buy at least one bottle? Add that in. I think you see where I'm going with this....lot's of bourbon just to get the shelves filled in the US.

Now, overseas. Let's see...the airport stores don't stock as heavy and there certainly are not as many airport stores as there are intown stores. Overseas liquor stores probably are not exclusivly bourbon stores. We know they don't get as many labels as we get here. So, I would guess that the amount of bourbon sent overseas is miniscule compared to the minimum shelf requirements for the US.

*faces= shelf facings= how many different size bottles on the shelf. .375/.750/1/1.75

[OscarV]

Our WT101 is an average of 8yrs with some being as young as six and as old as 10.

From what I understand our WT101 is not an average of 8 year old whiskey but a mix of 4, 6 & 8 year old whiskey.

[spun_cookie]

THat is what I understand as well.... There is some 8 yr in it, but not a lot. Probably only the stuff that does not meet up with the overseas 8 yr

[mozilla]

When Turkey batches barrels for any WT product....they are in huge amounts. Much bigger than anyone would think. I don't remember specificly for each label...but, 5000 barrels seemed to be in the middle of the road. I had to ask twice to make sure I was hearing the high numbers JR was telling me. Shocked was my take on it. I had no idea that anyone had tanks big enough for that many barrels.

I also don't remember him saying one word about four year old product...when we spoke. I understood that WT rye was about the youngest at roughly 5yrs.

JR said with those size batches...he can get the whisky to exactly the flavor profile he is looking for.

[OscarV]

I also don't remember him saying one word about four year old product...when we spoke.

I read it on the WT web site before the current upgrade of the web site.

101= 4, 6 and 8yo.

RB= 6, 8 & 12yo.

But anyway, 101, RB and KS is all to young in the last year or two.

[spun_cookie]

yeah, not a chance.... with batches that big, he gets what he gets. It is impossbiel to have a consitant product with that much liquid. You have pockets of product and a changing profile accross that entire tank system.

That is Chem E 101... I doubt anyone would put the money into teh kind of mixers required to ensure a homogenious product....

[mozilla]

I don't think they dump it full at the begining. I believe that they dump a certain percentage and then adjust with other quantities. Without seeing it first hand or taking notes on what he said I can't be certain...though, I trust that what he does...he does well.

[Old Lamplighter]

Does anyone know or recall when WT101 "Old No. 8" stopped being the good ole 8yo that we all know and love? Seems like I read somewhere here a while back that it became more & more 'diluted' with the younger 6yo as the 1990s progressed.

The reason I ask is that while looking around an old store yesterday for dusties, I came across a 1.75 WT101 Old No. 8 that was dated "5-22-97" on the label. Would it be the good ole stuff or more toward the current version? I have an older bottle of "Old No 8" that is dated "95" on the bottom of the bottle. Not opened it yet......had it a while now and have always hoped it is same as the ole 8yo.......but, maybe I'm wrong.

Any help/advice/info and/or guidance to previous thread(s) is much appreciated!

[mozilla]

If the bottle was dated 97 then the distillate was made in about 1989-1990. My guess is that it is some good juju. Better than the current version for sure.

Are you afraid to buy it? How is the price?

[ACDetroit]

Does anyone know or recall when WT101 "Old No. 8" stopped being the good ole 8yo that we all know and love? Seems like I read somewhere here a while back that it became more & more 'diluted' with the younger 6yo as the 1990s progressed.

The reason I ask is that while looking around an old store yesterday for dusties, I came across a 1.75 WT101 Old No. 8 that was dated "5-22-97" on the label. Would it be the good ole stuff or more toward the current version? I have an older bottle of "Old No 8" that is dated "95" on the bottom of the bottle. Not opened it yet......had it a while now and have always hoped it is same as the ole 8yo.......but, maybe I'm wrong.

Any help/advice/info and/or guidance to previous thread(s) is much appreciated!

I have a couple 1997 1.75L Old No 8's , yes they are better than todays 101 but I wouldn't say by much! 1992 was the introduction of the No.8 brand and if you find any that old grab em they are still stellar...Right Em??:grin:

Tony