Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary Release

Quick note before I start: If you're the type to blame the officials when your team loses, you were probably the kind of kid who took their toys and went home if they weren't winning. Maybe if it's a close game and there's a bad call, you have a point, but you still sound like a whiny child, so please just stop. I'm saying this to fans of my team as much as to other teams' fans. Stop. Please. Grow up. Bad calls are frustrating and happen to everyone. It's part of the game. Am I tempting fate so a bad call goes against the Eagles in a tight game this week that I'll want to complain about? Possibly. But you won't actually hear me complaining because I live by my own advice. Why I'm bringing this up is that I did this tasting I'm writing about while watching the Eagles defeat the Packers. Many Packers fans are claiming it was the referees, not Jordan Love's three interceptions or even the Green Bay coaches' strategy, that cost them the game. It is what it is. And the whiskey flowed. This week, I sampled the following: Bushmills Distillery Exclusive Acacia Wood, Talisker 2023 Distiller’s Edition, and Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary Release. I tasted them in that sequence, starting with the lowest proof and moving to the highest, so without further delay, let's get started: Bushmills Distillery Exclusive Acacia Wood My wife visited Ireland this past summer. When she went to Teeling, she asked what I wanted her to bring back. I suggested Blackpitts Cask Strength and Wonders of Wood Swedish Edition, which wasn't available in the US then. She visited Middleton and asked the same question. I requested Gold Spot, Powers John Lane Cask Strength, and Method & Madness Garryana Oak. Then she went to Bushmills and asked what I wanted. I told her I had no idea, that I don't really drink Bushmills, and to ask if there were any distillery exclusives not found anywhere else. She returned with two, the first of which we opened on Christmas Eve and then used again for this tasting: Bushmills, with no age statement, finished in Acacia wood. I don't mean to criticize Bushmills much. They're acceptable as an introductory drink. I'd take either Black or Red Bush if nothing else was available and enjoy it, but a downside is their typically low proof. Here, with the Acacia wood, the proof is actually a bit higher than their usual offerings at 94, which is promising. But there's still a reason I chose it first, having mistakenly thought it was 80 proof based on my experience with it on Christmas Eve. Nose: Grassy and fresh with cereal, light vanilla, and faint orchard fruit. Not much complexity, but not offensive, which I think generally describes any Bushmills. This makes me wonder what exactly the Acacia wood contributes here. Palate: This has an apple tart/Honey Nut Cheerios character, common in many blended Irish whiskeys without the metallic notes, but this is a single malt, so I'd expect more. There's a subtle hint of peach and a gentle touch of vanilla. It's still delicate but more well-rounded than the aroma. Finish: Short, with a spiced apple taste. Overall, I'm not sure a full bottle was necessary. It's the sort of dram you don't mind trying at the distillery, but as a souvenir from its home country, it's lacking, and I'm not convinced it's superior to Black Bush. I would have been interested in comparing them directly, as I recall Black Bush having a stronger character due to its oloroso sherry finish. I won't completely dismiss Bushmills Acacia Wood as bad, but it's maybe slightly above average. Talisker 2023 Distiller's Edition The major development with the 2023 Distiller's Edition bottles was the removal of age statements. Since I'm not comparing this to a previous release, the question remains: does the absence of an age statement mean this genuinely tastes younger than prior editions, or is it just my perception influenced by knowing they intentionally removed the bottling dates? Nose: Obviously, this was going to be completely different from the Bushmills, and I intended it that way, as I often gain more from contrast than similarity in a tasting. On the nose, there's a dark wine sweetness combined with moderate peat, an aroma of black cherries, and very slight salinity, giving it that Talisker cured meat undertone that I felt was absent in the Tidal Surge 8 I tasted last week (at least to me). The last Distiller's Edition I had was either 2019 or 2020; I can't recall precisely. At the time, I wrote that I would have loved a candle smelling like that whisky. I can't say the same here, though it's certainly good. It's just not the one that previously captivated me. Something is missing here that was in older versions, but I can't identify it. Palate: Sweeter than it is peaty. The Amoroso Sherry adds a nice touch, though I feel it also lacks intensity on the palate compared to previous Distiller's Editions. Considering they bottle around 92 proof for each edition, it's not that they've diluted it. Could it be younger whisky blended in that doesn't have the same impact as older stock? Or is it the memory of tasting the barrel-proof Tidal Surge 8 Year last week, with the impression of a cask-strength Talisker still vivid in my mind? It feels a bit like drinking the Talisker equivalent of flat soda. The sweetness mingling with the peat is present as expected, but it's just not vibrant. Again, I wouldn't refuse it, but it's not quite at the level of the last bottle I had, at least in recollection. So, is it simply memory making the past seem better than the present? Finish: The peat lasts for a moderate duration, and the saltiness takes over at the end. Overall, I liked this, but it didn't perform as well as previous Distiller's Editions. And if you look at it, the price doesn't decrease when the age statement is removed, so this might be my final Talisker Distiller's Edition. Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary Release I had nearly given up on this one. It was available in Pennsylvania liquor stores but sold out quickly. Since none of the local stores were convenient for me to visit during my workday, I considered it a missed opportunity. Well, there are always good whiskies available; you don't have to try every single one. Some will pass you by. Then we had a birthday party to attend in Delaware in mid-December, and Total Wine had plenty of these at the suggested retail price. So, I asked my wife to stop there first. And I'm very glad she did. Honestly, this was the best pour of the night. I've seen many people compare it to a boosted Wild Turkey 101. Frankly, I don't understand which 101 you're drinking. To me, 101 is a decent starting point with some good flavors, but nowhere near the power or complexity of this one. Nose: Swirls of brown sugar and caramel, cocoa powder with a hint of oak, a slight nuttiness, and traces of coconut. Palate: Milk chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and more noticeable coconut, almost like a Mounds bar, with a creamy texture, and the brown sugar returns strongly. Finish: Long, with both sweetness and spice intertwined, the chocolate notes linger. Overall, I considered buying a second bottle while I was there but didn't because it was December, my credit card bill was already substantial from Christmas shopping, and now I regret not getting it. I likely would have saved a second one to open in a few years when the initial impression faded, but at least I acquired one. My wife joined me with this and also loved it. We probably drank a bit too much, but that was fine. After the Eagles game, we watched Cameron Crowe's Singles on streaming, one of our favorite movies, and thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Last week, I announced the winners for nose, palate, and finish, but there's no doubt the Wild Turkey won all three categories here. Excellent whisky, fantastic value.

Nose: Classic bourbon and Wild Turkey aromas are present: caramel, vanilla, baking spices, a touch of cherry, barrel char, and oak. My usual daily drinker, WT101, doesn't typically have notes like rickhouse funk, fresh cut hay, and sawdust. The ethanol is present but low. This is a solid, traditional bourbon nose. Palate: Follows the classic profile with caramel and vanilla as promised by the nose, plus cinnamon, nutmeg, white pepper, sticky pipe tobacco, and oak chips. The flavors are strong. Finish: This is where the expression stands out most from the standard 101, and it's fantastic. It's deeper, longer, and richer. Notes of caramel flan/ice cream sundae with peanuts, cinnamon sugar, more oak chips, orange peel, and leather are present. The mouthfeel is also improved; it's on the lighter side of full-bodied, slick, and oily. Overall: A superb expression with no discernible flaws. Is it revolutionary? No. But if asked to define bourbon, this would be a perfect example. At $50, the key question is whether it's worth $30 more than regular WT101. Perhaps. It's also comparable to some Kentucky Spirit bottles at the same price. Honestly, just buy it if you haven't tried it. I'll likely get another bottle, earning it a 4.0 rating.

Color: Medium copper-amber Nose: A pleasant aroma of maple, molasses, and oak, with holiday spices. Palate: (consumed with an ice cube) Medium body, neither syrupy nor watery. Cherries dominate the initial sips, with a spicy-sweet character. A noticeable butter flavor, reminiscent of butter pound cake, appears after several sips – a sensation previously experienced only with Russell's Reserve. Spicy oakiness follows. Finish: Medium length, characterized by oak and spice. However, there's also a subtle hint of "orange creamsicle" and a slight bitterness. This might be my favorite Wild Turkey expression to date (having tried Straight, 101, Rare Breed, and Longbranch). I bought this bottle a couple of weeks ago and secured another yesterday based on a strong feeling – a wise decision. It's rumored to be a limited release, though the meaning of that is often unclear, I didn't want to risk missing out. A solid 4.5 stars! Added 3/14/25: I always like to add to my reviews when I encounter something new. Sipping some tonight, I detected a pleasant anise/licorice note. I love that.

Open for four weeks. Smell: Notes of caramel, oak, cinnamon, toasted marshmallow, pine needle, lemon peel, medicinal cherry, and moderate ethanol. Taste: Flavors of chocolate caramel candy, coffee cake, clove, orange compote, and vanilla ice cream. The conclusion is medium-long, featuring sweet oak, dry caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, lemon oil, white pepper, and moderate ethanol. This is certainly a more refined, elevated take on Wild Turkey 101, but the real question is whether it justifies the price? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. You definitely should not purchase this if it's significantly above the suggested retail price. I couldn't find it for $50 for a couple of weeks, so I reluctantly bought it for $60 from my go-to local store. I believe it's a solid $50 bottle. I would not advise anyone to pay more than $60. At that same store, I could have purchased Rare Breed for $50 or a Kentucky Spirit selection for $65. The most significant positive aspect of this release is that Wild Turkey did not charge over $300, as they have for their limited releases in recent years. Hopefully, they will continue to offer some options for us with less money occasionally, but I doubt it.

NEAT NOSE - Abundant cinnamon, alongside oak, caramel, vanilla, and red apples. PALATE - Cinnamon is the most prominent flavor. A powerful wave of cinnamon gradually yields to some vanilla and light caramel. With patience, hints of red apple can be detected. FINISH - Quite lengthy, with cinnamon and oak lingering. BUY? - Definitely, at its current price. Hopefully, you managed to get one. BUY AGAIN? - I purchased a second bottle before tasting this one and am pleased I did. I anticipate it will mature well in the bottle. Even now, after about 10-15 minutes in the glass, the cinnamon's intensity lessens, and the caramel becomes more noticeable and robust. They begin to harmonize rather than compete. I will certainly savor both my bottles.

In a blind tasting against Wild Turkey 101, I could tell this apart without much difficulty. However, I'm not convinced it's worth double the price. Given the production volume, I expect the price to decrease. I wouldn't pay above retail for this bottle. If you can find it at retail, it's worth stocking up, especially for introducing friends to bourbon. I'll consider buying more if it drops to $40 or less. For reference, my preferred bourbons include Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923 & B923, Larceny Barrel Proof C924, Knob Creek 12 Year, EH Taylor Barrel Proof, Widow Jane 10 Year, 4 Roses Small Batch Select, Old Forester 1920, and Elijah Craig Small Batch.