Review by: The Muskox

I bought a bottle of this classic and widely-available bourbon to make cocktails with, but it’s certainly deserving of its own review.

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Distillery: Wild Turkey.

Region/Style: USA / Kentucky / Straight bourbon.

ABV: 50.5% (101 proof).

Mash Bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley.

Age: No age statement.

Cask type: New oak barrels.

Price: $41 CAD locally, purchased in 2022.

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Nose: Spicy! Strong crystallized ginger. Surprisingly fruity too, with candied orange, Fuji apple, and bananas. Salted nuts and light brown sugar. Slightly floral, maybe even a little tropical. A hint of rye and earthiness.

Palate: Medium-thick texture. Caramel and candied nuts – Turtles chocolates! Black cherries. Spicy on the development – cinnamon, ginger, and slight rye. Bitter orange (chinotto).

Finish: Lingering sticky sweetness. Slightly dusty-leathery. Candied jalapeno, a tiny bit of lingering rye. Caramel and banana. More chinotto and some black cherry soda. Very slightly salty?

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Conclusion: Nice stuff! Decent complexity, good texture. On the sweet side for me, but it has a pleasant dessert-y stickiness that I really like. I was definitely fooled by the “high-rye” statement on the label – this whiskey is apparently only like 13% rye. My favourite bourbons have both been high-rye, so my expectations for this one was set accordingly.

Final Score: 80.

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
• 50-59: Save it for mixing.
• 0-49: Blech.