Wild Turkey Rye

My past experiences with Wild Turkey 101 and Rare Breed have shown them to be excellent value, and I also enjoyed the Master's Keep Revival (though its value was questionable). Therefore, I was eager to sample my first Wild Turkey Rye. Nose: Rye spice, some grain, apple, a faint floral note, and perhaps a touch of smoke. It's neither exceptionally light nor particularly rich. There's nothing remarkable or intricate here. It doesn't present as an interesting blend or finish, nor does it seem significantly aged. However, it smells adequate. I'm somewhat let down already, considering Wild Turkey's reputation for high-rye bourbon, which leads me to expect great things from their rye. Perhaps it's the boldness of their bourbon's high rye content that makes it so effective. Palate: Now for the crucial part. I detect pepper, cinnamon, rich sweet grain, a bit of apple, and a somewhat out-of-place floral note, along with a faint hint of smoke or char and some sort of artificial mineral taste. Everything seems rather muddled. It lacks the richness of Rittenhouse or Pikesville, and doesn't have the spicy, herbal, and funky edge of WhistlePig PiggyBack. It's just quite bland. While I can discern some flavors, nothing stands out as exceptional, and there's a slightly off, floral bitterness. It's possible the floral and smoke notes are clashing, creating that artificial mineral sensation. Finish: The finish unfortunately amplifies the discordant element. It's not particularly pleasant, which is its main drawback. It's a shame, as there's a solid rye foundation beneath it. I'm quite disappointed. It would serve well as a mixer, but it's priced the same as Rittenhouse, which is bolder and has a higher proof. For sipping, there are far more engaging and balanced ryes available. Even Templeton Rye 4, which I haven't favored, offers some clean floral notes despite its lightness. The flavors in Templeton Rye 4 are slightly more distinct and better executed, giving it a slight edge; these two are of comparable quality. I'm considering a score of 10-12 for this, so I'll assign an 11 for now. It's possible the artificial mineral and char notes I'm perceiving are what another reviewer identifies as honey, which might improve my impression on a future tasting. However, for now, I must rely on my current experience.

Rating: 10/23 I used this in many mixed drinks to finish the bottle quickly, but even that wasn't very effective. Finally, I'm tasting it for the bottle kill. Nose: Rye with a hint of meatiness. It doesn't seem like a very young rye, but I suspect the low rye content is masked by the other grains. I detect some mint and floor polish. Not much going on, and it doesn't smell particularly good. Palate: Similar to the nose, this is quite flat. I get some herbal and vegetal notes from the rye. It tastes a little young, but not too bad. It's actually improved since my first tasting, which could be due to a different palate or perhaps the aeration helped. I do get some meatiness from the alcohol and a touch of minerality, adding to its lightness. So, there's a bit more complexity than before, but it remains flat and bland with some off-notes. Finish: The off-notes of alcohol and meat persist, along with a faint blend of mineral and floor polish. There are subtle herbal notes, but not many. This is likely the least enjoyable part of the experience. This rye continues to be quite disappointing. It didn't even work well as a mixer because it's rather light. At its best, there are genuine flavors that might warrant a 12, but I often find myself rating it 10 or even 9 due to the off-notes. At least it isn't harsh. I think I'll settle on a 10 or 11, as it's not terrible, but I truly would prefer not to drink it again. Its quality might be comparable to Ezra Brooks, but that's the most generous comparison I can make. I'll go with a 10 this time; I might consider raising it to an 11 if I try it again (but I hope I won't).

After striking out in my search for Master's Keep, I decided to try one of the last Wild Turkey offerings I had left. Wild Turkey Rye, how good (or bad) is it? That ringing bell was the answer to my question of whether this would remind me of the Russell's 6 year I put away not long ago, and yes, it certainly does! On the nose, we get fresh-cut lemon and a green, saw-grass aroma, along with dill and mint. Yes, combined with the ethanol, that does add up to a bit of the "furniture polish" smell that some find offensive. This drinks like it smells: the front has rye spice and lemon pepper, leading straight into the hard-hitting ethyl and dry, grassy middle finish. While it might be a bit young, it doesn't misbehave too much; a hint of gritty rye bread sweetness emerges through the middle, followed by more of a fade-to-black finish than anything else. While it's nothing impressive, it's also not that bad. Sitting at the lower end of the straight rye price range, it's easily comparable in cost to the considerably sweeter Jack Daniel's and Crown ryes. With just hints of bubble gum sweetness and honey, this is a nice balance between a 95/5 rye and the sweet, high-corn ryes. I could see some preferring this as a cocktail base rather than a straight sipper, given its lack of refinement. Still, Wild Turkey Rye possesses some of the character found in much pricier ryes that people pay a fortune for, proving that even as one of Wild Turkey's lesser products, they remain one of the more capable distilleries out there. Cheers!

After an extensive tasting of high-end whiskies, I decided it was time to return to basics and reset my palate. I purchased Wild Turkey Rye as a mixer, but I'll try it neat. On the nose, canned peaches, orange blossom, and coriander appear, accompanied by mild spices. The palate is sweet and slightly spirited, starting with abundant cinnamon. Red apples, honey, and a hint of bubble gum emerge. The medium finish fades with brown sugar, cloves, and spicy hints of dry oak. It's not bad at all; in fact, I didn't pour it into coke. RATING: 3.4/5.0 stars ≙ 82 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [-]

Knowing this was a budget-friendly, standard rye, I was still eager to taste it due to my increasing appreciation for rye whiskeys. To be candid, I've only sampled a few of this brand's offerings. Tasting it neat, the aroma wasn't complex with a multitude of flavors. It was straightforward, featuring caramel/vanilla, and pleasant. The palate was easy to drink, and the sweetness persisted into a short, quick finish. In summary, this wasn't bad at all. What I plan to do next is make an old fashioned with this. I suspect that would be delicious.

Nose: Butterscotch, toffee, caramel, and a somewhat medicinal ethanol scent. Palate: Sweet and spicy. Butterscotch returns, reminiscent of bread pudding made with dark bread. Rye and anise spice begin as a general flavor, then transition into the finish. The finish is also tannic and woody, slightly bitter, a bit stinging (ethanol), but generally agreeable. Nothing is out of place. Nothing is particularly outstanding either. Easy to drink, excellent value.