Rating 3.5 Glasses

Distillery: Wild Turkey
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 116.8
Local Price (USD): $39.95
Availability: Widespread

Tasting Notes

Color & Consistency: Dark caramel with drippy legs that are slow to develop.
Nose: Fir trees, vanilla, spices, pipe tobacco and alcohol.
Taste: Charred oak, lemon zest, vanilla, caramel & a burn that just don’t quit.
Finish: Oak, sour cherries, pepper, bitter dark chocolate. The heat remains long after everything else fades.
Conclusion: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 is a solid barrel proof bourbon that is readily available and reasonably priced. Steadily increasing in proof over the years, this most recent release at 116.8 is the best yet providing way more flavor and boldness above the previous 112.8 which was kind of a dud. Purportedly comprised of 6-12 year old whiskey, Rare Breed delivers a flavor packed punch that can hang with the other big boys in the category such as Booker’s and Elijah Craig. The price is on point but the only thing that knocked it down a bit on the glass rating was that the alcohol was a bit too forward and wiped out some of the more nuanced flavors that might have been present had it been better balanced.