Wild Turkey 13 Year Father and Son

The aroma is mild and gentle, beginning with a blend of dusty old leather-bound books, toasted marshmallow, and orange zest, then dark chocolate-covered almonds along with a subtle smoke from freshly lit pipe tobacco, followed by sautéed apples and mildly sour cherries that transition to spearmint, cloves, and polished mahogany with minimal ethanol burn. The taste presents a thin to medium mouthfeel, starting with creamy citrus that then fades to a mix of dusty old leather-bound books, freshly lit pipe tobacco, and a mild spice, followed by sautéed apples and mildly sour cherries that transition to spearmint, ginger, cloves, and polished mahogany with minimal ethanol burn. The finish is of medium length, beginning with mildly sweet and sour citrus alongside subtle chocolate and coffee notes that then fade to light spices of cloves, ginger, and spearmint, along with pipe tobacco, dusty leather-bound books, and polished mahogany. This possesses a profile very similar to the 2022 Russell’s Reserve 13-year, with those wonderfully old dusty oak notes prominently featured, perfectly balancing a traditional bourbon profile with mild rye spices. It's a much gentler, lighter, and softer version, likely due to the 43% ABV, whereas the 2022 Russell’s Reserve 13-year at 57.4% ABV was a bold, dense, and rich decadent treat. I prefer the bolder Russell’s 13-year over this, but I can see how this would be more suitable for those less accustomed to cask strength bourbons, and it's a very easy spirit to sip.

Nose: Gentle vanilla, cream cheese, moist sweet wood, aged barnyard/leather. Palate: Earthy wood, leather, sweet light vanilla and cream cheese icing, tea spice, and wood shavings. A bit thin but pleasant. Citrus notes emerge with time, perhaps pineapple, orange zest, and... dragon fruit? Finish: Moderate and somewhat arid. Lingering tastes of that earthy corn and wood dust. A rye-like spice alongside green tea and bittersweet vanilla. Conclusion/Score: 85/100 This was very pleasing and a good drink for casual sipping. It's not incredibly intricate but offers enough intrigue to make savoring it worthwhile. The main drawback, in my opinion, is the texture and strength; an additional 10 proof points would elevate this to exceptional status. Regardless, I'm happy to have acquired it. Seventy dollars for a liter of classic flavor is a fantastic deal. Enjoy!

Nose: Subtle Vanilla, Cream cheese, Damp sweet oak, Aged barn/leather Palate: Dusty oak, Leather, Sweet smooth vanilla and Cream cheese frosting, Tea spice and Sawdust. Slightly thin but enjoyable. Citrus fruits emerge with extended aeration, perhaps some pineapple, orange peel, and... dragon fruit? Finish: Medium and somewhat dry. Lingering notes of that dusty corn and oak dust. Rye-like spice with green tea and bittersweet vanilla. Conclusion/Score: 85/100 This was very enjoyable and a pleasant background sipper. Not overly complex, but enough to make taking my time and discovering its nuances enjoyable. The main thing I feel it lacks is mouthfeel and proof; if it were just about 10 proof points higher, I believe it would be exceptional. Regardless, I'm pleased I acquired it, and $70 for a liter of old-school tasting goodness is a no-brainer. Cheers!

The aroma is reminiscent of an old leather-bound book with faint orange bitters. Smoke notes are present throughout. The taste includes orange bitters and dark chocolate. A slight petrol note prevents this from being more exceptional. It's a nice pour, and after about four tastings from the bottle, I believe it improves each time. It's a bit expensive for the tasting experience, but I'm glad I could share the bottle with my dad on Father's Day.

This has very strong fruit notes, including cherry, raspberry, and plum. There's also a pleasant sweetness that I'm increasingly enjoying with each sip. The palate is a little thin, but it has a long, lingering finish.

Low proof spirits are just not to my preference. A slightly smoky taste but very light. It's complex and offers a lot, but at 86 proof, it's not worth the price.