Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8º
Before you start reading the wrong review, this is the current 116.8 proof Wild Turkey Rare Breed. For ~2015 Wild Turkey Rare Breed bottling, clocking in at 112.8 proof, click here. For the old label (known as 01-99 or WT-01-99) click here.
This is the “modern” incarnation of Wild Turkey Rare Breed, probably the best value barrel strength bourbon on the market (and I’m including Elijah Craig Barrel Proof in that). Though 116.8 proof is relatively low for a barrel strength Kentucky bourbon, I don’t miss the extra few proof points and, frankly, this isn’t meant to be a blow-your-face-off proof bomb like some others (cough - Elijah Craig Barrel Proof - cough). This is about high-quality bourbon that happens to be at a higher proof.
Before the dusty Turkey hunters start throwing stones, I’ll just say it - I like this the best of any Rare Breed version I’ve tried. It has a fantastic mouthfeel, is spicy without being fiery, and is complex without being expensive. I don’t drink this enough - every time I do, my first thought is “why don’t I drink this more often? this is delicious.”
Ok - let the stoning commence.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8º: Specs
Classification: American Bourbon
Origin: Wild Turkey Distillery
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Proof: 116.8 (58.4% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: Unknown
Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8º Price: $43
Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8º Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Perfect amber, thin rims and legs.
Nose: Crispy cornbread with sweetened butter. A bit of rye mint in the background - this isn’t a closed nose at all. French vanilla coffee creamer. The sweet rye character is prominent, more so than expected given its low mashbill ratio.
Palate: Sweet and slightly drying, Manuka honey, and solid proof and oak spice right up front. A little air opens up sweet tobacco and semisweet chocolate that lays on the palate and settles in the corners of my mouth. Some nuttiness comes out after more air - almonds, maybe? More chocolate than I usually get on a Wild Turkey but I’m not complaining. Mouthfeel is full-bodied, viscous, oily, and coating.
Finish: Medium-to-long, slightly spicy at first then lots of semisweet-to-dark chocolate emerges with vanilla extract. The spice lingers but it’s definitely a sweet finish.
Overall: A pleasant, if spicy, everyday sipper. These bottles can still be found relatively easily, especially on overseas sites, but to be honest I much prefer the newer, slightly higher proof Rare Breed.
Final Rating: 7.1
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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