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Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Sunday Morning Wild Turkey

6 887

@talexanderReview by @talexander

1st Oct 2017

1

Wild Turkey Rare Breed
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    21
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    21
  • Overall
    87

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Once again, it's been a while since I've reviewed anything so I thought I'd kill this heel of a bottle that's been open for about a year. Wild Turkey Rare Breed is bottled at barrel proof (so the ABV may vary, depending on the bottle you buy) and contains 6 to 12 year old whiskies.

The colour is a dark caramel. On the nose we have cotton candy, black liquorice, cloves, cinnamon and dark chocolate. Mint. Cigar box. Black cherries. Caramel corn. Candied pecans. Charred oak. You wouldn't think this was 58.4% ABV based on the nose, which has little alcohol burn and lots of sweet, candied flavours. A few drops of water bring out malt and wood smoke. Pretty great, though a bit on the sweet side for me.

Oaky on the palate with more dark chocolate, pecan, butter tart, cayenne and a hint of maple. Again, remarkably smooth (maybe a bit too smooth?) for such a high ABV. Water makes things a bit spicier while also adding a sourdough note. Classic bourbon flavours in full effect here.

The finish is oaky with over-steeped tea, black pepper, more cloves and liquorice all-sorts. Although water improves things a bit, you really don't need to dilute this at all - the high ABV never makes itself too apparent. I've always been hit and miss on Wild Turkey but this one works quite well. The balance tilts a bit toward the sweet notes rather than the spice or oak, so if that is your preference - with a high ABV - you will really enjoy this.

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8 comments

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

Nice review...and nice whisky. I looked back and this one was on the table at your SOT after party. I had been thinking of getting one because I had never had WT, and I like CS stuff and it's reasonably priced (for LCBO), but I remember thinking - Well, not I can say I had it and I don't have to get a bottle that will last a VERY long time.

7 years ago 1Who liked this?

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

@talexander, another enjoyable review, thank you. I too recall sampling from your bottle after Spirit of Toronto. This was my first taste of Rare Breed. The bottle of WTRB sitting in my cabinet is from a batch of 116.8 pf. Knowing that I am a rye-hound, imagine the pleasant surprise I received when my bottle smacked me right in the mouth with a huge rye punch leaving a glowing RYE-BURN. A nice change of pace from Buffalo Trace, Beam, and Four Roses.

7 years ago 1Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

@paddockjudge Isn’t Four Roses Single Barrel a high-rye bourbon? I’d have to double-check...

7 years ago 0

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

@OdysseusUnboun,

Yes, Four Roses has a generous amount of rye in both mashbills; if I recall correctly E = 20% and B = 35% with both mashbills containing 5% barley. I was inferring that WT has a flavour profile that is distinct and different from Beam, Buffalo Trace, and FR, not that the "rye" element separated it from the others....I've tasted a few FR that tempted me to lay out a spread of Montreal Smoked Meat, mustard, and dill pickles.

7 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

@paddockjudge YOU DON'T NEED WHISKY TO PUT OUT MONTRAL SMOKED MEAT!

7 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Frost
Frost commented

Good review, this is a good bang for buck value whiskey here in Australia..and it's downright delicious.

7 years ago 0

@talexander
talexander commented

@Frost At $60CDN in Ontario, a pretty great price for a barrel-strength bourbon...

7 years ago 1Who liked this?

T
Taco commented

Runs between $35-$40 here. I always have this and/or WT 101 open all the time. Great daily sipper. Not as exciting as Booker's or ECBP or some others, but I'm always in the mood for it. Great taste, perfect strength, and a great price!

7 years ago 0