Review #61 - Wild Turkey 101 Rye
For today's review, we have a rye, specifically the sibling of Wild Turkey's 101 Bourbon: the 101 Rye. As you'd expect, it comes in at 101 proof, or 50.5% ABV, so there should be a decent kick here. We'll see how it is neat, but we also suspect this one might make a solid rye for cocktails given the proof and price point.
With a mashbill of 51% rye (the minimum allowed), 37% corn, and 12% barley, we wouldn't be surprised if this has some flavor overlap with the 101 Bourbon, as well, which could be a good thing - we think the bourbon is one of the best value bottles around. While we don't have any sort of age statement here, this is a straight rye with no specific age, meaning it must be at least 4 years old; rumor is, there could be some whisky in here that's up to 6 years old.
Wild Turkey 101 Rye
USA - Rye
Price Paid: USD 22 (2022)
Current Locally Available Price: USD 22 (2023)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 50.5% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 16 months; bottles at 50%, 90%, and 10% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Ground pepper and a bit of salt, nice caramel, and some oak to start; the herbal rye notes are pretty subdued right now. There is a bit of heat, a bit of ethanol in the taste, but we transition toward mild fruit of banana, saucy orange, or even some red wine. There's some mint, and with time, the herbal rye notes grows stronger; at the end, we get mild vanilla and just a hint of nuttiness.
Palate: The mouthfeel is medium, and there is much more of a classic rye kick on this palate: herbal eucalyptus, black pepper, chili heat, white pepper. It's warm, and we get some spicy orange pepper jam, plenty of oil, even a mild hot cherry jam there, too. There is a decent amount of oak after that, and after a mild grain note, we get more of the sugars like creme brulee topping and some mild vanilla/caramel.
Finish: Medium length finish with plenty of vigor; spicy like pepper, cinnamon, and rye; the warmth from the ABV is still there, though the ethanol taste is covered nicely by rich oak. There is more fruit now: spiced apples and a reddish fruit take center stage, but then sweetness from vanilla and cream back it up. It ends slightly earthy and herbal.
Final Note: This is solid, not the most complex rye, but still a decent sipper. For us, this is a perfect rye for making a solid cocktail, like a Sazerac or Manhattan - its higher proof gives plenty of flavor and kick, while it's also well rounded enough to mix well with a variety of flavors. For the last couple of years, it has been our go-to for rye cocktails. The last item of note - great value here, just like the 101 bourbon. Can't really recommend this one enough, especially if you're able to pick it up around $20 to $25, like we can.
Our Average Rating: 5.8 / 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: 8.33
