Wild Turkey 81 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Product Description

Wild Turkey 81 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon: Eddie Russell’s Easy-Drinking Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey 81 is the lighter side of one of Kentucky’s best-known bourbons. Created by Eddie Russell, son of Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, and introduced in 2011 as a replacement for the older 80 proof bottling, it keeps the Wild Turkey recipe, a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, with a low barrel entry proof, and brings the strength down to 81 proof (40.5% ABV). It’s aged in new American white oak barrels with the deepest #4 “alligator” char, for about five to eight years, according to the label, at the distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

The brand calls the mash bill rye-forward, and the char gives a deep vanilla and caramel sweetness with a little rye spice, so it works neat, over ice, in a highball with ginger ale, or as the base of an Old Fashioned, a Whiskey Sour, or a Mint Julep. Reviewers point out that it has more body than most bourbons at this strength, and the price keeps it a bar staple.

What’s in the Bottle

• Kentucky straight bourbon, 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
• Aged in new American white oak with #4 “alligator” char; about 5 to 8 years per the label
• 81 proof (40.5% ABV)
• Wild Turkey Distillery, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

Tasting Notes

From Wild Turkey’s distiller’s notes and reviewers.

Nose: Sweet vanilla, caramel, and pear, with light rye spice and oak.

Palate: Smooth and rounded, with honey, toffee, gentle rye spice, and a surprisingly full body.

Finish: Full and rich, with spice and toast.

Food Pairings

The caramel, vanilla, and spice pair well with barbecue, burgers, and fried chicken. It also goes with apple pie, pecan pie, and grilled corn.

Serving Suggestions

Sip it neat or over ice, or mix it into a bourbon and ginger ale, a Whiskey Sour, an Old Fashioned, or a Mint Julep. It’s made for mixing as much as sipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

What proof is it? 81 proof (40.5% ABV).

What’s the mash bill? 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley.

How old is it? There’s no age statement; the label says up to five to eight years.

Who created it? Eddie Russell, in 2011.

What’s the “alligator char”? The deepest, #4 char on the inside of the barrel.

Is it good for cocktails? Yes, it’s made for sipping and mixing.

Explore More

Browse our Wild Turkey collection or Bourbon collection for more Wild Turkey bottles.

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