Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Since 1991, the Rare Breed has been part of the core range of the Wild Turkey distillery. The Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a blend of 6, 8 and 12 years whiskeys, and gets bottled uncut.The mashbill contains 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley - which leads us to expect a sweetish, slightly spicy whiskey. Like all bourbons, the Wild Turkey must also mature in a new, freshly burned out Virgin Oak barrel. The barrel was burned out to Char 4 level, also called Alligator Char. Char 4 is the highest char level.
The panel
Mean 86.0 · spread 6
Value for money 5/5
- Distillery
- Wild Turkey
- Type
- Straight Bourbon
- Country
- USA
- Strength
- 58.4% ABV
- Character
- rich
Tasting
Nose
As usual for a bourbon, the Rare Breed opens with a slight smell of solvents which fades quickly. This is followed by a multi-layered aroma explosion of popcorn, blackberries, fruity cherry, caramel, sugar syrup (maple syrup), and a good portion of oak. Very well woven and integrated variety of flavors overwhelms at the first moment. At the second nosing after the first sip, additional citrus notes, black tea and even more intense caramel are perceptible.
Palate
Whoa. We've rarely experienced such sweet stickiness and chewy viscosity in a whiskey and also whiskey. Once the taste buds get used to the sweetness, rye and oak spice make the second impact. The third, very dry round is characterized by leather, tobacco and dried tangerine.
Finish
The finish is long, warming, dry and chewy - in a positive sense.
Verdicts
Marcel
This Rare Breed shows just how much fun a bourbon with over 58% alcohol can be without being harsh – sweet, viscous, and packed with plenty of character. If you enjoy intense aromas and a warming viscosity, you’ll find a genuine drinking pleasure here, though it might be a challenge for bourbon newcomers.
Sascha
The Wild Turkey Rare Breed impresses with its complex aroma profile and a remarkable balance between sweet vanilla, spicy rye, and robust oak. Its thick, syrupy texture and long, dry-warming finish make it a technically very well-crafted barrel proof bourbon that appeals to experienced connoisseurs.
What it is worth
We do not yet hold bottle-level auction results — that sits behind Whisky Hunter’s authenticated feed. What follows is the market for Wild Turkey as a whole, which sets the weather for this bottling without pricing it.
Latest mean bid £259 across 237 lots · 2024-08