Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey

Wild Turkey uses a single mashbill for all of their standard rye products, including Rare Breed Rye. This is the first ever barrel proof rye for the company. It’s also non-chilled filtered, which joins only Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye and Cornerstone Rye as the company's other non-chilled filtered brands. Wild Turkey’s barrel entry proof (the proof the distillate enters the barrel for aging) is relatively low compared to competitors, which results in a lower barrel proof than others on the market.

Tasting Notes:

Nose:  A bright and expressive aroma that is flushed with lemon, green apple, melted caramel, and pie crust. There’s a vein of cinnamon, black pepper, and rye grain spiraled throughout that adds welcomed spice. There’s also a waft of Lipton tea against a medium to light oak base. It’s a well done aroma with good complexity that never comes on too strong.

Palate: A compelling patchwork of flavors that are led by lemon with burnt caramel, black pepper, clove, grass, and menthol in tow. It keeps your attention with its boldness and works well overall. There is a slight creaminess and a degree of complexity to it that helps elevate it, but at the same time, the whiskey still struggles to be overly memorable.

Finish: Spice quickly ramps up downplaying the whiskey’s sweeter side. A bit of cinnamon rolls in, along with black pepper, nutmeg, and charred oak. Some dryness also creeps in and lingers. It’s a serviceable finish that mainly works best by contrasting the whiskey’s sweeter palate. It’s a quality rye that drinks well, with a finish that unfortunately drags it down.