Review #49: Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 50.5% abv

I wonder how old this is

I could probably look it up somewhere. Wait, here it is: "a marriage of primarily 6-, 7-, and 8- year old bourbons." There's also the issue of the mashbill. The high proof is self-explanatory.

Nose: spices on top, corn underneath. Lean profile, that is, with rye, orange blossom, dried fruit (raisins, plums), cinnamon, honey, and vanilla -- it's a spice blend with a little bit of creamed corn in the background.

Palate: Like sucking on the spice blend. It's hotter than I expected. Some anise I hadn't noticed before, and the oak tannins are pretty strong. But mostly this is about the rye spices.

Finish: very long, with candied sweetness, dry oak, and the rye really coming through.

The spiciness is powerful, but this is maybe a little hotter and drier than I'd like. Still, I don't think there's anywhere else to go for this much flavor at this price point. Outstanding stuff.

score: 83