On this beautiful day here in Indianapolis, we are tasting the famous Wild Turkey 101. We say famous because really, who has not heard of it, or if a certain age, drank it? In fact, if you are of a certain age, meaning old, you have probably run the gambit regarding 101. At first it was kind of cool, more sophisticated than Jim or Jack, and not as uppity as Crown. But as the years passed and Bourbon started booming, 101 seemed to lose its luster. You had all these premium juices, with all their premium prices, that somehow made 101 look cheap and Bourbon aficionados snubbed their noses at it. But as of late, as cocktails are becoming a lot more popular, it is making somewhat of a comeback. People are realizing you don’t need a high-end whiskey to make a good old fashion.
Wild Turkey 101 is of course 101 proof, is aged 6-8 years, sells for $26, is widely available, and comes in a very recognizable corked bottle with the embossed turkey on the front. The mash bill consists of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. We found this somewhat strange because their website states that it is a high rye, maybe it is us, but we don’t necessarily find 13% as being high in rye. A note on the 101 proof, at the time of 101’s introduction, more than 60 years ago, Bottled in Bond was a big thing and to be BiB, a Bourbon had to be 100 proof, so Wild Turkey went for 101 just to be different.
It has been a minute since any of us have drank 101, so this will be a nice trip down memory lane. Like the last post, there are still three of us here tasting but we have combined our voice to one. When we have a guest taster, they will have their own voice.
NOSE
TB: Lots of scents here with rye and black pepper the strongest with some vanilla and orange right behind. Other lesser scents include leather, clove, tobacco, wood, and grain. Ice brings out more rye, some mint, and a touch of banana.
TASTE
TB: Not hot on the tongue but warm going down. Like the nose, rye and pepper are the main things we are all getting on the tongue. Secondary flavors include sweet vanilla, leather, and tobacco. Ice brings some caramel, and a touch of cinnamon.
FINISH
TB: Medium long with more rye and a bit of sweetness.
OVERALL
TB: An above-average Bourbon, not bad but not great. The strong rye will make a decent cocktail. Having said, that It’s hard to go wrong with a $25 101-proof whiskey.
Nose 3.75 out of 5
Taste 6 out of 10
Finish 3.25 out of 5
Total score 13 out of 20 barrels.
Funny how we all thought 13% was low to be called a high rye, yet we all got a strong rye nose, taste, and finish. Not the greatest neat, better with some ice but really shines in Bourbon forward cocktails. Our final recommendation, if you are more of a cocktail drinker, Wild Turkey 101 has a place on your shelf. No, it is not rare or hard to find, and no it was not the greatest drink neat or even on the rocks. But it does mix well, and as stated above, it is only $26, 6-8 years old, and 101 proof. You could do a lot worse for your Manhattan and spend a lot more.