Review #261 - Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel Bourbon
One of Wild Turkey's single barrel options - this is the Kentucky Spirit Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It's bottled at 101 proof, like the famous Wild Turkey 101, and we get some specific details on the front label: our bottle came from warehouse CN-A (Camp Nelson A), from barrel 0223 on rick 27. It was bottled on March 1st, 2023, just over a year ago at the time of writing.
Interestingly, while there's no age statement on these bottles, the brand's website gives relatively specific detail: these single barrels are aged between 8.5 and 9.5 years, a little bit older than the batch product 'Rare Breed' is generally known to be (6 to 8 years old).
Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel Bourbon
USA - Bourbon
Price Paid: USD 68 (2023)
Current Locally Available Price: USD 58 (2024)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 50.5% ABV
Details: Warehouse CN-A, Barrel 0223; bottled 2023
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 2 months; bottles at 100%, 90%, and 80% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Oaky and spicy, with cinnamon sugar, white pepper, blanched nuts, and dry oak; there's a decent amount of savory and sour grain smell, as well. Some sweetness like confectionary goods, maybe a hint of cola, and in one tasting, a tiny hint of red fruit.
Palate: Medium thickness for the mouthfeel; sweeter in the palate, with candied nuts, bruleed sugar, sugary corn grain, and more cola. Warm and cozy, and there's a dusty character later. Nut brittle, sweet corn, brown sugar, and vanilla develop more with time.
Finish: Medium length with warm baking spices: brown sugar, vanilla, and white pepper. A semi-sour, semi-savory side develops in the finish, and we get more candied nuts and roasted nuts.
Final Note: A bit of a classic, semi-sweet, semi-dry bourbon. Rounded with lots of baking spice notes, and that slightly sour character in the palate and finish is an interesting addition. It is a bit of a simpler single barrel, but a nice sipper at a good proof point for casual drink, when we aren't trying to dig into the detailed flavors too much.
Value is above average at the $58 price point we're now seeing in our local area - a solid pickup, though if you have the chance to try stablemate Russell's Reserve Single Barrel, you might give that a try first.
Our Average Rating: 6.5 / 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: 6.60
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