Wild Turkey 101 Rye

An advertisement for Wild Turkey on Instagram caught my attention today. Isn't today 101 day? October 1st. It was effective. For a moment, I considered buying a bottle of the 101 bourbon, but then I remembered I already have an opened bottle of the 101 Rye. This obviously fits the occasion as well. (Additionally, my bourbon spending for the rest of the month is allocated to Maker's BRT01 and BRT02. They've reached the western part of the state but haven't arrived on the east coast yet. They will, and when they do, that's where my funds are directed. So, the 101 bourbon doesn't fit the budget.) Which is fine. I enjoy the 101 bourbon well enough, but I seem to have only purchased it in the larger 1.75 L size. Why? Because it's a budget bourbon typically consumed on ice or in cocktails. It's acceptable on its own, but that's it: acceptable. I'd probably rate it a quarter star lower than the 101 rye, and if given the choice in that price range, I'd choose Old Tub. However, that could simply be because I prefer rye over bourbon. Now, the Rare Breed Rye, at $60, is fantastic, and I actually bought another bottle earlier this month when I saw it was back in stock. This is a less intense version of that, like a younger sibling. Many of the scents and aromas are similar, just slightly less pronounced. The nose is rich with rye spice and a hint of mint and eucalyptus. On the palate, you get bergamot with some caramel coming through, and the finish, while not as long as the Rare Breed, is still tangy and peppery. At $22.99 on sale, this is a solid choice, much like the 101 bourbon is a solid choice. Not bad for mixing or on ice, and acceptable as a sipper. Now let's celebrate 101 today. I know many of you will want to. Wow, is this the shortest review I've ever written? It very well might be...

NOSE: This presented a unique aroma, unexpected for a spirit with such a low rye content. I detected orange marmalade initially, a scent I've never encountered in any other whisky. As I continued nosing, the mineral and vegetal notes, which I typically associate with rye whisky, emerged and mingled with the marmalade. That was all I perceived, making it a simple but delightful nose. MOUTHFEEL: Smooth. TASTE: On the palate, honey was the first flavor, followed by the orange marmalade. Later, red pepper and cinnamon appeared. The palate is also not complex, but again, it is delightful. This spirit tastes good. FINISH: The finish is of medium length, featuring notes of oak, orange marmalade again, and red pepper. SUMMARY: This is an attractive whisky - considerably better than I would expect from a barely legal rye. It's unlike anything else I've experienced, and I will purchase it again. RATING: On my scale from 1 (lowest) to 8 (highest), I rate this whisky a 6, Fine. This equates to 3.75 stars, 75/100, or 7.5/10.

When it comes to American whiskey, I typically prefer bourbon for sipping neat and rye for cocktails. I'm not entirely sure why, as I generally enjoy most rye whiskies neat, but it just seems to work that way. Perhaps I prefer not to be challenged when drinking a spirit neat, as I tend to find rye whiskies more intricate than bourbon. While Wild Turkey is most recognized for their bourbon, I believe I might prefer the rye 101 over the bourbon 101. The nose offers honey, mint, and a hint of oak. On the palate, I detect baked apples, caramel, and some spice, but it's quite mild. It's actually creamy and very smooth to drink. The finish has a touch of pepper and sweetness, but considering the proof, there's very little burn. I was quite impressed with this. Among the six rye whiskies I've reviewed so far, only the Whistlepig 10yr surpassed this neat. This is slightly better than Rittenhouse rye, but not by much. In either case, it offers solid value, and considering its usefulness in cocktails, it's a very good rye to keep on hand. I might still lean towards Rittenhouse rye because it's the best cocktail rye whiskey available and offers almost the same neat experience (and is cheaper), but you can't go wrong with either option.

A rye with a sweet, viscous character. The aroma offers notes of rye grain and a hint of licorice, with a sweet and spicy scent. The taste features grassy, herbaceous rye, a moderate spice, all softened by a sweet, syrupy body. It’s not overwhelmingly hot, but does possess some warmth, reminiscent of ground ginger or black pepper. The conclusion is herbaceous and somewhat astringent. For the $20-30 price point, this is a very capable rye. It surpasses most in its category and even competes with many priced two to three times higher, especially if you favor robust ryes. I believe I prefer it to Russell's Reserve rye, though not its single barrel counterpart. It's certainly bolder but lacks the same refinement. Rare Breed rye is superior, but that's often the case for most spirits under $100.

Neat, cocktail Nose combines caramel and spice well. The palate is primarily rye-forward with a brief cinnamon finish. An excellent mixer. In a blind tasting with all my other ryes, this ranked second, outperforming some significant contenders. This result compels me to re-evaluate. The nose exhibits more of a chocolate malt note, which I typically associate with outstanding rye whiskey. This is followed by the distinctive floral musk of a summer bloom. The palate is rich and viscous, coating the entire mouth with chocolate mint and the subtlest oak tannins. The finish lingers on the tip of the tongue, while the malt note, present from the beginning, dries in the throat, leaving a final essence of floral sweetness and the cinnamon I initially detected.

Nose: Pleasant combination of sweet butterscotch, lemon zest, and barrel char alongside baking spices and mint. Palate: Medium viscosity. Consistent with the nose, featuring butterscotch, lemon zest, and barrel char again. The rye becomes more prominent here with delightful black pepper, mint, and almond. Finish: Moderately long. Characterized by oaky char and spicy black pepper. Overall: Wild Turkey demonstrates its excellence in budget-friendly options at a good proof. A lovely sip from beginning to end that also makes a fantastic Old Fashioned.