Review #14 - Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Bourbon
Cask Strength Favorites Mini-Series: Part 1 of 3
Another quick mini-series here - this one for our favorite cask strength whiskies. This isn't necessarily a group of the 'best' cask strength bottles we've ever had; more like the bottles that hold a special place in our hearts, bottles that we won't hesitate to grab off the shelf if we see them around MSRP.
First up in the series: Wild Turkey's Rare Breed. Weighing in at a solid 117 proof, this is our go-to bourbon if we're looking for a punch. Not aged stated, but supposedly a mix of 6 year, 8 year, and 12 year bourbons, this shows some complexity behind the heat and changes from spicy to sweet depending on the day.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Bourbon
USA - Bourbon
Price Paid: USD 52 (2021)
Current Locally Available Price: USD 55 (2023)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 58.4% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 8 months; bottles at 100%, 70%, and 60% (blind tasting) fill level at times of review. Tasted neat in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Warm but not unpleasantly so, and there is definitely oak up front here; it isn't bitter, but shows more than some other bourbons. Sugars from caramel and vanilla, maybe a bit of brown sugar, and then mild black pepper and other spice. Overall, pretty balanced, maybe leaning slightly dry, but the sweetness grows the longer this is left to open up. Smaller notes of mint or anise, and then a hint of red fruit, almost a red wine.
Palate: Medium-thick mouthfeel here on the palate, and the heat builds throughout the experience, but never becomes too much. A real mix of flavors depending on the day: wood sugars, caramel, molasses, and hints of red fruit contribute to sweetness, while we also find cinnamon, black pepper, paprika, and just a touch of anise later on. Rounded out by the wood notes, vanilla and some mild barrel char, and at the end, we get just a touch of candied or caramel apple.
Finish: The finish on this is medium-long, more oils hanging around than were present on the palate. It's warm of course, but nice, and this finish is more on the dry side as opposed to sweet. The oak is contributing plenty of flavor, but still not too bitter, maybe spiced would be a better description, like a pepper or a nutmeg. Plenty of vanillin, too, baking spice, and with the dying breaths, we're finding cardamom and prunes.
Final Note: This will likely always be on our shelf - plenty of complexity to enjoy neat, and is also great for spicing up a nice cocktail, adding some flavor and strength. The balance of this is one of its best attributes, with a variety of sweet notes being balanced out masterfully by oak and spice; the age feels just about right, all things considered. With the reasonable prices in most markets, we would definitely recommend picking up a bottle, as well.
Our Average Rating: 6.7 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 7.04
