Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary Bourbon

I've wanted to try this for some time, but it's been hard to find, or perhaps I haven't visited the right stores or bars to get a taste. Fortunately, a friend had a bottle and was generous enough to share a sample. Excited to finally try this, I opened the sample, poured it into a glass, and left the room for a few minutes to let it rest. Upon returning to the glass for my first smell, I immediately suspected someone had accidentally spilled tea into my bourbon. After a brief questioning of my family and looking into the distillery, it appears my glass wasn't accidentally tea-spiked, as others have also noted these tea notes. Returning to the glass, the aroma begins with a tea somewhere between green and black, but I'm leaning towards an earthy matcha powder scent, along with evergreen or mint notes. This is followed by candied ginger, licorice, cherry, and apple fruits with subtle nutty flavors, leading into caramel, leather, and light barrel spices, with a moderate alcohol burn. The taste starts with a medium body and flavors similar to the nose, with those matcha green tea notes upfront, then cloves, evergreen, leading to cherry and apple, candied ginger, nuts, moderate oak tannins with leather and light barrel spices, before a medium alcohol burn and a finish that is long and lingers with caramel, cherry, apple, burnt pie crust, leather, and light barrel spices. Overall, I appreciate this whiskey for its distinctiveness; I'd never before considered a bourbon with tea notes. I checked the current bottle price and found it for over $200 at Whiskey Exchange. I would much rather allocate that money toward a couple of bottles of OF1920 or Booker's.

Taste: Sampled neat and chilled in a glen cairn glass. Nose: (3.5) Musty oak and barrel notes. A characteristic Wild Turkey aroma that I appreciate. Some vanilla is present but it lacks complexity. Palate: (4.25) The oak is prominent initially but yields to an almost peanut brittle sweetness. With aeration, it reveals more flavors like cherry syrup and rye bread. What it lacks in aromatic complexity, it compensates for on the palate. It invites further study. Finish: (4.5) I adore the finish. It achieves a balance of sweetness and spice, then gradually fades without causing heat. It's a masterfully orchestrated symphony on the finish, akin to enjoying your favorite song with the perfect EQ settings. I am a strong admirer of Wild Turkey and am not deterred by the brand's "reputation" prejudice. However, I must admit the price point is high compared to other premium Wild Turkey offerings. I derived similar enjoyment from Russell's 10 yr SiB and Rare Breed at half the cost. That said... I feel compelled to acquire Diamond Anniversary now to conduct a side-by-side comparison with Master's Keep!

Aroma presents black tea, cherry, apple, chalky caramel, spiced vanilla, bubble gum, a dry peanut funk (reminiscent of Beam but less intense), horehound, faint licorice, gentle sweet oak, light cinnamon, and mild ethanol sting. Flavor showcases black tea, cherry, grape, pronounced (yet not bitter) oak, peanut, licorice, black pepper, subtle rye spice, caramel, sweet tobacco, dry spiced vanilla, barely perceptible alcohol bite, culminating in a prolonged, mellow finish with lingering sweet, slightly tannic, earthy tea notes. I seldom encounter tea notes in bourbon, and never this pronounced. While I typically favor higher proof bourbons, I differ from other reviewers who suggested this would improve with more alcohol. It's wonderfully mellow; time has smoothed all its rough edges. It evokes lounging on a large front porch on a warm summer day with sweet iced tea. While other bourbons have flavor profiles I prefer, this one feels impeccably balanced and expertly crafted. Nevertheless, I would rather purchase two bottles of ECBP for the same price.

Allow it time in the glass. Best enjoyed slowly over time. AVOID adding water, as I initially did. Be patient, and it will mellow. It's not excessively sweet; rather, it's more refined. Could it be considered a more "sophisticated" bourbon? Menthol, butterscotch, candy apples. I detect marzipan, likely from the higher barley content. Faint hints of vanilla, leather, and nutmeg are present. I attribute the vanilla to excellent casks, the leather to age, and the nutmeg to the rye. A whisper of brewed tea. Despite all this, I genuinely enjoy Russell's 10 Year Reserve more for its richer taste and mouthfeel. Both are good, but distinct.

This one required a much longer resting period than anticipated before I felt I understood its intended profile. Initially, all the subtler notes were obscured, and I primarily detected a significant amount of oak. After about 20 to 30 minutes in the glass, it improved dramatically. That's when I perceived notes of peanut brittle, vanilla, and cherry on the nose. The palate remained dry throughout and was definitely oak-forward, but not excessively so in my opinion. For some reason, this whiskey makes me want to sit down with my grandfather and have a good conversation over a drink.

I enjoyed it, naturally, but it didn't quite make my top 5 Wild Turkey elite selections. For my preferences, it only rivals some of their mid-tier offerings, yet carries a higher price tag. The aroma was dry, presenting notes of floral, aged oak, and char. The palate mirrored this, with oak being the dominant element. It was best enjoyed neat, as adding water or ice diminished its character. I don't regret buying it, and it was a pleasant experience, but I wouldn't repurchase it unless it was priced considerably lower.