Rather than compare it to other bourbons, let’s start by comparing Wild Turkey Bourbon to other spirits in general. At $20, and often less, Wild Turkey Bourbon is intended to reach a wide audience at an affordable price point. Undoubtedly, Wild Turkey Bourbon’s most notable attribute is its price. All in all, Wild Turkey Bourbon is not meant to be unique per se, it’s meant to be approachable for masses and it is exactly what the company intends it to be. It’s the spiciest of the bunch, not quite as sweet as Evan Williams which puts sweet notes on display, and not quite as refined as Four Roses Bourbon which is a testament to their blending expertise. It hits above Jim Beam for sure, but finds a sort of “which one of them do you prefer?” ground among the rest of the bourbons mentioned. Instead, Wild Turkey Bourbon is meant to compete with the likes of Jim Beam Bourbon (white label), Four Roses Bourbon (formerly referred to as “yellow label”), Evan Williams (black label), and other bourbons offering a similar proof and price point. “The icon but a little milder than the 101,” Wild Turkey isn’t trying to reach bourbon enthusiasts who tend to gravitate towards bourbons hovering closer to the 100 proofpoint with this 81 proof counterpart. Like the Russells, and like all of their other products, 81 proof Wild Turkey Bourbon doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not. One thing has rung true during the Russells’ lengthy tenure at Wild Turkey - they’re straight shooters, and don’t pretend to be anything they are not. 2022 marks 68 years at Wild Turkey for Jimmy, and 41 for Eddie, a combined tenure of 109 years. 35 years later, in 2015, Eddie earned the same title as his father. In 1981 Jimmy’s son, Eddie Russell, joined the family business as what is described as the “lowest rung of the ladder” at Wild Turkey Distillery. Still at it, he is now the longest tenured active master distiller in the global spirits industry. he worked his way up to master distiller, the highest position within a distillery’s operations. His first job was sweeping floors, but by the 1960s. Wild Turkey’s two generation master distiller team started in 1954 when Jimmy Russell, following in the footsteps of his father, began working at Wild Turkey. Wild Turkey might be owned by a large, globally recognized spirits company, but it is still a family affair. Those familiar with the former packaging design will likely refer to it as ‘Wild Turkey 81” and not simply Wild Turkey Bourbon. Notably, the large “81” that once appeared on the label was removed in favor of a more simple “Wild Turkey Bourbon” moniker. This bottle of Wild Turkey Bourbon sports the bourbon’s redesigned packaging and label, consistent with packaging changes across Wild Turkey’s lineup. Wild Turkey’s barrel entry proof (the proof the distillate enters the barrel for aging) is relatively low at 107 to 115, up from 105 at one time, resulting in a low bottling proof by comparison to competitors’ barrel proof products which typically go in at the maximum allowable 125 proof. Wild Turkey uses a single mashbill for all of their bourbons. Bottled just 1 proof higher than bourbon’s legal minimum requirement of 80 proof, Wild Turkey Bourbon is essentially a lower proof version of Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon intended to offer a milder experience by comparison. Wild Turkey Bourbon bottled at 81 proof was first introduced in 2011, replacing the 80 proof version that had been introduced back in 1974.
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