The Story

Our first product is one that everyone knows.  Some may have had a “challenging” experience with this whiskey in their younger days, so they are predisposed to assuming it was the product in the bottle that crushed them, not the actual quantity of said product they consumed. Wild Turkey is an iconic brand in the world of bourbon whiskey.  The real beauty is that Master Distiller Jimmy Russell has a total of two mash bills to choose from, one for bourbon and one for rye.  This means that the variety of products and flavor profiles are created by age and warehouse location.  If you ever look at the full line up of Wild Turkey bourbons and think that all of them have the same mash bill, but are distinctly different, it is shows you the true genius that is the Russell family.  Wild Turkey 101 is considered by some to be the flagship product in the Wild Turkey line and for good reason. Introduced in 1940, WT101 has been a mainstay in the world of bourbon for over 80 years and shows no sign of retirement. 

That being said, should you have a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 on your shelf?  Let’s find out…

Nose

Vanilla, orange zest, and some dark cherry notes immediately reveal themselves on the first inhale of the copper-colored beauty.  Follow up nosing bring out some additional stone fruit notes and an uptick in the citrus the initially came out.  Overall, very straightforward, inviting nose that doesn’t bring the ethanol notes you might expect from 101 proof whiskey.

Palate

While the nose hid the proof, the first sip reminds you that this bourbon is over 100 proof, but that is a great thing. Light heat coincides with a mouthfeel that I wouldn’t quite describe as oily, but right on the verge and enjoyable.  Light corn with some gentle earthy notes come in up front then followed up with classic rye spice and baking spice on the back.  Nothing that will blow your mind with layer after layer of flavors, but the flavor profile is classic and allows you to relax and simply enjoy the brilliance of the art of making bourbon.

Finish

The one shortcoming to WT101 is the length of the finish.  A short, dry finish that starts with the spice that came on the back end of the palate that then moves on to some oakiness, then move to the classic Turkey “funk” at the end.  The funk is a dry, herbaceous note that I really can’t put a finger on, but I know it when I taste it, as it is very distinctive.

Verdict

Wild Turkey 101 is an absolute Bargain Beauty.  For sub-$25, it is very hard to find a bottle that tops the classic profile and drinkability of WT101.  If you do not have this bottle on your shelf at all times, you are missing out on an epic bargain bourbon.  I have been involved in blind tastings where there were bottles at 2 and three times the cost and Wild Turkey beat them out.  Wild Turkey 101 is a required bottle on every bourbon drinker’s shelf. Period!

Do you own this bottle? Then surely you’ll want to add it to your inventory using our web app! It’s free to use. Sign up here to get a handle on that unruly home bar.

Cheers friends!