There’s no fowl play with this bourbon.
In the last thirty years, Wild Turkey has worked hard to bring a premium edge to its brand. In 1991, Wild Turkey introduced Rare Breed to the market before unveiling Wild Turkey 101, Longbranch, Wild Turkey 101 Rye, and Rare Breed Rye all in the last two decades. But it all started with Wild Turkey 81.
Well, Wild Turkey 80 to be more precise. In 1974, the distillery rolled out an 80 proof bourbon as its standard, flagship offering. That bourbon remained the face of the brand until it got one little proof boost in 2011 – And so Wild Turkey 81 was hatched.
So how does the leader of the Wild Turkey gaggle hold up? This bourbon starts out with a cinnamon and cherry smell that moves quickly into a thick, caramel and peppercorn flavor. The finish is a bit more muted version of the flavor and a quiet callback to the cinnamon nose. However, as the name implies, Wild Turkey 81 carries just an 81 proof, leaving the bourbon a little soft and subdued.
At just $22 though, Wild Turkey 81 is for sure a bargain – which is exactly what the distillery intended.
Known for using one mashbill for all of their bourbons, Wild Turkey’s decision to offer an 81 proof bourbon is certainly intentional. Wild Turkey 81 is essentially the distillery’s bottom-shelf bourbon that gives you the signature turkey taste with less proof and less cost. But the cost is where things really get tricky.
If this bourbon is meant to be one step down from Wild Turkey 101, then you’d think the flavor and price would reflect that, right? While the flavor difference makes sense, 101 is just a few bucks more than 81, so why opt for 81 at all? Sure, it’s approachable, sippable, and affordable, but it’s definitely lost in 101’s shadow.
81 has been the feather in Wild Turkey’s cap for decades. However, as the distillery continues to crank out premium offerings, 81 becomes the last Wild Turkey product we want to gobble up.
STATS: Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon
- Price for us: $22 for 750 mL
- Proof: 81
- Aged: NAS
- Distillery: Wild Turkey, owned by Campari
- Recommendation: Mixer
