Review | Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Rare Breed is a high strength bourbon from the famous Kentucky distillery of Wild Turkey. When released in 1991, it was one of the first barrel-proof bourbons to be regularly available on the market. It was also the first new product to join the Wild Turkey range since the original came out in the 1950s. Rare Breed is produced in small batches and uses bourbons of 6-, 8- and 12 years of age. These are selected from specific rickhouses at the distillery.

The Wild Turkey distillery is in the town of Lawrenceburg in the famous whiskey state of Kentucky. The origins date from the Ripy family in the late-1860s and 1870s and there are a couple of stories regarding the name. One is because it was built on Wild Turkey Hill. The other regards a story about a former employee. He used to go on an annual turkey hunt with and took whiskey from the distillery with him. The following year they asked him to bring more of ‘that wild turkey whiskey’. As a result, the Wild Turkey brand was introduced shortly afterwards.

The brand was one of the most popular bourbon brands before Prohibition, but the distillery was forced to close during that period. However, it was one of the first to reopen after Prohibition. This helped to establish Wild Turkey as a leading American whiskey brand in the 1950s. It has not looked back since. Wild Turkey is currently owned by Gruppo Campari, who took control in 2009.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed is bottled at 58.4% ABV (116.8 Proof) and is not diluted with water prior to bottling. The strength was increased by 2% ABV (4 Proof) in 2018. It is available throughout the USA and in selected world markets. A bottle should cost US$60/ £65.

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Our Tasting Notes

The colour is deep amber and the nose is fragrant and expressive with sweet, oaky and savoury aromas. Honey and fresh vanilla pod lead the way and are supported by further aromas of sweet marzipan and glacé cherry. Freshly sawn oak and pencil shavings sit underneath alongside preserved bitter orange, icing sugar and warming baking spices. Hints of cocoa powder and apricot jam are also evident.

On the palate this whiskey is bold, gripping and luscious. Drying oak, especially the fresh sawdust from the nose, and the warming spices takes hold early on but are quickly joined by other notes to add depth and interest. These include icing sugar, hazelnut praline and cocoa powder, plus a good serving of vanilla paste, toasted coconut and bitter orange oils.

The second half of the palate is packed with creamy milk chocolate and robust cereals, especially some earthy wheat and spicy rye. The cereals hover in the background, and sit alongside further notes of cocktail cherry and maple syrup. Finally come some drying wood spices – think of oak, cinnamon, mace and a hint of cedarwood.

There is a dusty dryness on the finish, which is lingering and brooding. Notes of oaky wood shavings, powdered ginger and cocoa dominate with some dessicated coconut coming through as the sweeter elements fade away. The high ABV adds to the heat and grip.

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What’s The Verdict?

This stunning bourbon is multi-layered and laced with rich, enticing aromas and flavours. It is an absolute belter. Rare Breed is classy, full on and highly enjoyable. we found it great to sip neat or with a splash of water, but also really adds incredible depth and character to a classic cocktail. We tried it in a Manhattan and Old Fashioned, and it was superb. It also offers great ‘bang for your buck’ for a such high strength bourbon.