Wild Turkey 101 Rye vs. Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye
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Sitting at the dining room table last night, I thought to myself “I need some bird on bird action.” The solution: a side-by-side of Wild Turkey 101 Rye vs. Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye. I love the 101 Rye as a cost-effective path to chugging Sazeracs & old fashioneds. And this is my third bottle of Rare Breed Rye – so I definitely like to drink it. These were tasted side-by-side, neat in glencairns.
Wild Turkey 101 Rye
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101 proof | NAS | straight bourbon: 51% rye, 37% corn, 12% malted barley | distilled in Kentucky | paid about $25 for a 750.
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Nose: bright & herbal | sweet mint and anise | citrus | light honey & sparse caramel
Palate: lemon & lime | a little vanilla | hints of dried apricot | fucking banana? | mild white pepper | a little bitter on the finish, with something I can’t quite put my finger on. A little oily, but also pretty thin.
Score: 5 | Good
Thoughts: I almost went with a 4 here – I don’t love drinking this neat – but it’s a fucking beauty in cocktails, so that felt wrong. This makes a great weeknight Sazerac, and in an old fashioned it’s fucking delightful. For drinking straight up though, I’d prefer Rittenhouse in this price range. But I don’t really buy Rittenhouse.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye
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112.2 proof | NAS | straight bourbon: 51% rye, 37% corn, 12% malted barley | distilled in Kentucky | paid about $60 for a 750.
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Nose: sweet mint | citrus | spice/oak combo that reminds me of gingerbread or carrot cake | a fun little ethanol punch | nice hints of dried fruits like apricot & cherry. Simultaneously herbal and oaky
Palate: caramel | citrusy pine | sweet fruit candy like a cherry jolly rancher – but this is brief | nice oaky nutmeg finish. Solid rich mouthfeel. The longer the whiskey sits in the glass, the more the sweet fruit flavor comes out – sometimes I finish the glass without catching it.
Score: 7.2 | Great
Thoughts: This rye has a good combo of brightness & richness. Great for drinking around a fire in cold weather. But there are ryes I’d rather drink in this price range (+/- $5 to $10). Examples: MGP rye in a similar price range (e.g., Bone Snapper Rye Single Barrels), good Wilderness Trail Single Barrels, any Starlight Rye Single Barrel, and Stellum Rye. Those all work better with the way me and my mouth likes to do things. And Stellum is only $50 at my local store.
After sitting down & really analyzing these turkey juices, I was surprised I didn’t rate them a bit higher. If you’re drinking neat, I think the Rare Breed is worth the upcharge relative to the 101. For cocktails, the 101 is excellent.
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