An easy bourbon to gobble up : Wild Turkey 101.
The Wild Turkey brand has been soaring high since the 1940s. The distillery was founded back in 1869 by the Ripy brothers, but it wasn’t until a 1940 hunting trip that they cooked up the Wild Turkey brand itself. If you’ve never heard of the Ripy brothers, well, you’re not alone. because the biggest name associated with Wild Turkey is, “Russell.”
In 1954, Jimmy Russel began work as the Master Distiller of the company and was later joined by his on Eddie Russell in 1981. This duo has been responsible for taking the Wild Turkey brand to the next level with creations like Wild Turkey 81, Rare Breed Bourbon, Rare Breed Rye, Kentucky Spirit, Russell’s Reserve Bourbon, Russell’s Reserve Rye, and a recent partnership with Matthew McConaughey ending in Longbranch. Of course, nothing is more synonymous with the brand than Wild Turkey 101.
The signature bourbon for the brand is aged between 6-8 years and emerges from the barrel at 109 proof. The bourbon is then slightly cut to reach the optimal 101 proof. According to the brand, they’ve used the same process for over 60 years to make Wild Turkey 101. And hey – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Wild Turkey 101 has a delicious vanilla and cinnamon smell that’s carried into a taste that’s full of vanilla, caramel, oak, and some rye-like baking spices. The flavors blend nicely together for a complex, but mildly balanced sip. The finish is a bit short, but you’re left with the baking spice flavor as a nice parting gift.
In the last 80 years since Wild Turkey was invented, a lot has happened in the bourbon world. Wild Turkey 101 doesn’t have a fancy finish, a trendy aging process, or an experimental mashbill. However, it’s an incredibly consistent bourbon that delivers a quality flavor at an affordable price. It’s a bourbon that we’ll flock to again and again.
STATS: Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
- Price for us: $25 for 750 mL
- Proof: 101
- Aged: 6 to 8 years, blended
- Distillery: Wild Turkey, owned by Campari Group
- Recommendation: Anyway you feel
