Wild Turkey - Kentucky Spirit - Single Barrel
$55
Wild Turkey – Kentucky Spirit – Single Barrel
Collection: (Bottle 1) Dump – 01/02/20 Barrel No – 1996 – Warehouse K Rick No 26
Collection: (Bottle 2) Dump – 8/22/21 Barrel No – 2728 – Warehouse C Rick No 3
Proof: 101
Age: 8 Years
Distillery: Wild Turkey Distilling Co
Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley
Website: Wild Turkey Distilling
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: The bottle from 2020 (Bottle 1) leads with a strong Musty Oak smell and Fresh Leather. Presenting itself with much high age than 8 years. Sweet Orange, Pear, Cinnamon Roll, Caramel, and subtle Vanilla. The nose is much more bold than the palate. The bottle from 2021 (Bottle 2) is less Oak dominant, but it is still present. I get more Leather, Heavier Spice – Cinnamon and All Spice with a little Cocoa Powder. I do get fruit from Bottle 2, but it’s darker – Red Grapes and Berries.
Taste/Palate: Bottle 1 leads off with very mild notes of Vanilla, Honey, Caramel, Leather and Oak again appear in the Midpalate. Bottle 2 starts off with Wet Teakwood, Rye Grain, Sweet Apple, Honey, and Clove Spice.
Finish: The Fruit shows up again in the Finish for Bottle 1 with Zesty Orange Peel. Rye Grain Spice also shows up but that is more subtle. Also, lingering notes of Tobacco, Leather and Oak. Bottle 2 tones down in the finish with spicy notes fading away and mature notes coming forward. Leather, Oak, and Tobacco. The tail end of the finish brings back dark sweet fruits – Raisins.
Verdict: I didn’t expect two single barrels to be exactly the same. Both of these bottles were very good, but for different reasons. I will admit that Blanton’s is more consistent with their single barrels maybe because all of the Blanton’s come from Warehouse H. I will also admit that Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Bottle 1 is better than any bottle of Blanton’s that I ever had. Bottle 2 is in the mix. I can rarely go to a Total Wine with out someone asking an employee “Do you have any Blanton’s”? If you have your heart set on it because its coveted and it has a horse on the top Kentucky Spirit can’t deliver on that. It’s becoming harder to find, but it’s still out there. If you’re looking for a very solid Single Barrel offering that can deliver a very solid pour bottle after bottle this one might fill your Blanton’s void. If you have Blanton’s I encourage you to put it up against Kentucky Spirit and report back.
The Story: So let’s clear the air. Why am I reviewing 2 bottles here? First, the bottle with a dump date in 2020 is phenomenal. I didn’t want to judge an entire line from one bottle. Yes, it’s a single barrel product and that happens from time to time. This would be like McKenna 10 SB winning whiskey of the year. I wanted to take 2 bottles, from 2 different years, from 2 different warehouses and see how they stack up. Yes it’s still only 2 barrels, but looking at 2 of these gives me more perspective about consistency. Many bottles come and go behind my bar, but Kentucky Spirit you’ll always find on the shelf. My 2020 bottle was almost out and I had the replacement at the ready. Why not look at both of them for the review.
I, like many others, got into bourbon with a more timid approach. My journey started 10-12 years ago when a business associate introduced me to his extensive Makers Mark collection. Followed by another business associate introducing me to Blanton’s (Before it was cool). In my early years I would order my Bourbon on Ice or enjoy in an Old Fashioned. It was one day when I had a freezer burned batch of ice that ruined my bourbon. It was then that I switched and decided to try it straight. I’ve been enjoying bourbon neat ever since then.
I tell that origin story for myself for one reason. Prior to being “into” bourbon and whiskey I recall my college days. The days where we would do stupid shots like Prairie Fire (cheap tequila and tabasco sauce) or the Three Wiseman (Johnny, Jim, and Jack). Followed by my all time favorite Three Wiseman Gone Hunting (Johnny, Jim, Jack and Wild Turkey 101). Typically on these nights you didn’t feel the best on the day after and drinking whiskey wasn’t a treat like it is today, it was more of a curse. All this being said, it took a while for me to walk down the Wild Turkey lane. I’m certainly glad I did. Kentucky Spirit is delicious and I put it up against Blanton’s any day of the week. Depending on the barrel I many time prefer it more. But those dang bottle stoppers get me every time. Darn Marketing!
The Distillery’s Story: Starting deep in the 1800s. In 1869 the Ripy Brothers open their family distillery on Wild Turkey Hill in Lawrenceburg, KY. Almost 30 years later they represented KY at the World’s Fair in Chicago. in 1940 the Ripy Brother was renamed to Wild Turkey after a company executive shares his bourbon with friends on a annual hunting trip – turkey hunting.
Skip ahead a few decades and in 1954 Master Distiller Jimmy Russell joins Wild Turkey. Jimmy’s son Eddie joins in 1981 and works his way up the ladder until he’s named Master Distiller many years later. In 1991 Wild Turkey rolls out Rare Breed which was one of the first barrel proof bourbons to go to market. In 1995 Wild Turkey unveils Kentucky Spirit the second standard single barrel to hit the market (first was Blanton’s in 1984). Kentucky Spirit is proofed at 101 where the standard Blanton’s is proofed at 93.
Matthew McConaughey joins Wild Turkey as a “Creative Director” in 2016 and they roll out Longbranch which introduced Texas Mesquite wood. It’s said that Matthew is more than a brand ambassador “he rolls up his sleeves and is a creative driving force”.
Wild Turkey is coming out with more and more premium offerings with Wild Turkey – Father and Son and Master’s Keep. They have a strong foundation in the bourbon world with a good hand on the wheel going forward.
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Solid. It hit all of what’s expected.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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