Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Australasian Edition)

Nose: Mild sawdusty-wood notes, vanilla, corn syrup and faint molasses. Some light spiciness (distant peppermint and clove) and a mere trace of coconut. It's a pleasant nose marred only by the ethanol presence being a little sharp. [The dry glass aroma is sawdust and leather]. Palate: Oily and spicy/sweet arrival. The development brings out flashes of rye and oak tannin. In the mid palate a prominent spearmint note comes forward supported by clove oil, nutmeg and cinnamon, reminiscent of the nose. The texture is reasonable. Finish: Medium. Dry, but not sour, and mildly bitter like dark chocolate. The aftertaste is oaky. It's been a year since I last had this bourbon and there has been little change to the profile, so it appears to be a consistent expression. From my previous notes it seems like if there is any variation this most recent bottle is a trifle spicier than the last one. The nose can seem a little spirity at first but it improves if you let it stand and develop in the glass for 5 minutes - try it if you don't believe me - it gains body, the oak and leather character becomes more mellow, and it gains some honeyed spiciness. I've made a new listing for this popular whisky to distinguish the version that is sold in Australasia from the U.S. version, as there are subtle differences and having tasted both I feel that for once the version we get out here is pretty good. Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon as sold in the U.S. (and I think in the U.K. and Europe) is 40.5% abv and a rebrand of Wild Turkey 81. However in the Australasian-Pacific region it is 43.4% abv and a rebrand of the old Wild Turkey 8 Year Old. The age statement was dropped a long time ago and now it is a 6-8 year old NAS. Whatever the name and history, this is arguably the best bottom-shelf bourbon you can buy in our region and if you're on a budget it's good value for money. "Above Average": 80/100 (3 stars)

Smells like sweet vanilla and oak. Tastes sweet at first with a little burn. Finishes with oak. The aftertaste has oak but it's not too strong.

I bought this to use in cooking a meal (roast lamb)... this was the first bourbon I tried and it didn't convince me to stick with it.

A pre-mixed 4-pack of cans with cola; my convenient choice when I don't feel like mixing my own. I appreciate it.