Wild Turkey 101 12 Year Distiller's Reserve

My companions and I have a yearly custom of gathering in Kentucky to sample numerous elusive and aged spirits for several days. On the first evening, we visited Neat bourbon bar, known for its antique pours at quite reasonable prices. We began with several bottles from the Wild Turkey Masters Keep collection and then opted for this 12-year international exclusive, which remarkably resembled older, aged Turkeys and ended up being our group's top pick from the Wild Turkey range. Our continued search for other rarities didn't overshadow the 12-year Turkey's consistent challenge against those aged unicorns. Acquiring a bottle required some effort, as these spirits traveled from Kentucky to international markets for approximately $60 each, only to resurface in US retailers for over $200. I'm not typically one to pay secondary market prices, but my patience wore thin until I discovered a bottle for $150, which I deemed low enough to justify revisiting this contemporary bourbon with its distinctive aged character. The aroma is robust and luxuriously smooth, beginning with a blend of maple cream cheese frosting, old machine lubricant, and aged mahogany furniture, followed by limestone minerality, freshly lit cherry pipe tobacco, and dark chocolate cake. Next come caramel apple desserts, charred blood orange, and blackberry preserves, leading to subtle baking spices and high-quality vintage leather, accompanied by a moderate ethanol presence. The flavor presents a luxuriously smooth mouthfeel, starting with maple syrup-covered pancakes, dark chocolate frosting, and a moderately used catcher's mitt. A mild rye spice quickly yields to old engine oil, freshly lit pipe tobacco, and limestone minerality, then blackberry pie, charred blood orange, and caramelized cinnamon apples. This transitions to moderate baking spices and polished mahogany, with a medium ethanol intensity. The finish is lengthy, commencing with moderate rye spices and aged mahogany furniture, fading into creamy sweet orchard fruits and slightly tart berries, alongside maple syrup-drenched pancakes. It concludes with light limestone minerality and engine oil. In summary, this is an exceptional and distinctive bourbon that departs from the typical bourbon profile of rich sweetness, mild spices, and slightly astringent oak. It offers unique, aged notes of machine oil and stone minerality, characteristics I seldom encounter outside of antique bourbons. For aficionados of Wild Turkey, this is an essential addition to your collection, providing a taste of what aged Wild Turkey offers without the exorbitant cost of contemporary market prices. Personally, this is the finest whiskey I've experienced from modern Wild Turkey, capable of rivaling aged antique versions, and it's one I'll gladly pay $150 for to secure a few more bottles, ensuring I'm never without it.

Initial aroma? Heavy oak. It's like stepping into a barrel storage area and instantly feeling secure about your life decisions. Vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, and some baking spice follow closely. It smells mature, in a good way. First taste is velvety and full. Toffee, vanilla, a hint of nuttiness, then that signature Wild Turkey spice emerges with pepper and cinnamon. The oak is robust but not drying. The finish persists, warm and comforting, with hints of tobacco and dark caramel. This spirit can stand up to a real cigar. A Padron 1964 Maduro is perfect. Consider an OpusX if you desire more spice. Do not pair this with anything delicate. In summary: Wild Turkey 12 Year is robust, well-rounded, and dangerously easy to keep drinking. Sip slowly… or don't.

I believe a friend sent this sample and I'm thankful to try it. The aroma is cinnamon peanut brittle with a bit of dusty oak. Vanilla and cherry are present subtly. The palate is surprisingly thin, but that's its only drawback for me, as it's full of flavor. What I detected on the nose is repeated on the palate. There's a slight oaky dryness leading into the finish, but it's also complemented by the sweet caramel peanut brittle. I'm a fan of Wild Turkey and prefer their Russell's Single Barrel among their regular offerings, but this is definitely an elevated experience.

Nose: cherry cola, cinnamon, caramel, and oak. Vanilla. Later, dark fruit/blackberry. Body: medium. Palate: cherry cola, cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, and dark fruit. Finish: remarkably long. No Kentucky hug. Delightful barrel smoke. Note: received many ounces of this from a friend simply because he's a kind person. So excited to try this. Best enjoyed from a glencairn. This is truly an exceptional dram. Comparable to a well-aged Boone county. Exceptional because all the flavors arrive in stages, and while the palate mirrors the nose, each sip and smell doesn't precisely match. The duration is great.

Simply excellent. Take everything you enjoy about Wild Turkey 101 and refine the rough edges. I think I like this more than Russell's Reserve Single Barrels, and that's significant because those are consistently outstanding. If you have the chance to purchase a bottle directly from Japan, don't miss out. I'm unsure if it's worth the typical full secondary market price, but for what I paid, I would likely purchase it again. I truly enjoy having it.

Nose: spiced tea with an orange, peach rings, good oak, possibly a bit floral, and some subtle rich vanilla. Palate: Citrus leading into spicy cinnamon, red fruit, cinnamon sugar, noticeable oak, and an earthy turkey note. Finish: Long for its proof. Notes of spice, earthy citrus tea, and vanilla. This is fantastic. Highly complex and it coats the mouth. The finish lasts for ages.