Wild Turkey Rare Breed

[opelfruit]

Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a blend of 6, 8 and 12 year old bourbons released in batches at cask strength (54.1% abv/108.2 US proof). The barrels are charred to #4 (Aligator char, the heaviest level). Mash bill for this is 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley. The spirit is distilled to a lower alcoholic level that a lot of bourbons, this means that it goes into wood at a lower level and when it's bottled it doesn't require as much water adding so retains a lot of it's flavour.

Nose: Oak first and foremost, when I first tried this I didn't know it was #4 char but now that I do I understand why it is so oak heavy. Tobacco, some vanilla sweetness from the corn and also from the char. There are some smokey fruit notes too, prunes maybe and a touch of orange at the end and a touch of menthol. Rye doesn't really make an appearance.

Palate: Sweetness on delivery, corn lead. Full and rich mouthfeel, very coating. Big woosh of oak and tobacco comes in once the sweetness dies down, leather and nuts. Rye pops up at mid-palate but not intensely, some floral spice from the rye but most of the spice is coming from the oak. Vanilla and a little touch of that orange again.

Finish: The palate moves well to the finish as it carries on the sweetness, good continuity. Very long. Not that much oak at all. Caramel, toffee, vanilla and some roasted nuts with honey. Really good finish, probably the best bit.

Comments:

A proper bourbon drinkers bourbon. It's a winter one this, full of heavy spice, smoke and nuts. The nose is a bit odd with the smokey fruit going on, it's enjoyable but odd. It's out of balance with the rest of the whisky.
Taste and finish are great provide a very warming, rich bourbon. Really like this. It's not my typical type of bourbon as I prefer the rye forward "zippy" bourbons, but it's a good experience. Retail is around £48 and at that price I wouldn't buy again as there are better bourbons for my taste at around that mark, but definately don't regret the purchase. For me this should be sub £40 and I'd be going back.
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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."