Wild Turkey brings back a Kentucky bourbon that hasn’t been in the U.S for decades
Wild Turkey is bringing back a Kentucky bourbon that hasn’t been readily available in the U.S. for nearly 30 years.
The Lawrenceburg distillery announced in early April that the cult-favorite Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon would be returning as a permanent addition to the lineup. With a suggested retail price of $45, Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon began rolling out to buy in April in Kentucky and across the country.
To reintroduce this bourbon to fans, the distillery is hosting a special event on April 30 from 6:30-9 p.m. Tickets to Wild Turkey 8-Year-Old Release Night are $145.75, and available to buy online at wildturkeybourbon.com.
You’ll get a guided tasting that includes Wild Turkey 101, the new 8-Year and a Visitor Center Private Barrel; an after-hours tour of the distillery and warehouse; and a welcome reception with crafted cocktails and appetizers.
How is this release different from Wild Turkey 101?
This age-statement label pays homage to the original Wild Turkey 101, which was famously bottled after eight years and 101 proof. In recent years, Wild Turkey 101 has been a blend of 6- to 8-year-old bourbons.
But hardcore fans of the original knew that the 8-year-old version was sold in Japan and it was coveted among collectors and fans around the world.
It remained one of master distiller Jimmy Russell’s favorite whiskeys and the relaunch also marks his eighth decade at Wild Turkey, according to the news release.
“Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon has always been a favorite – not just for my granddad Jimmy, but for bourbon lovers around the globe. After one sip, you’ll see why,” said Wild Turkey’s associate master blender Bruce Russell, in a news release. “This bourbon holds a special place in our distillery’s history, and its return to the U.S. proves the timeless quality of its recipe. As age-stated expressions become more popular across the category in the U.S., we are looking forward to more bourbon enthusiasts being able to enjoy this masterfully crafted bourbon.”
“I can’t express how happy we are as a family to have this back out,” Bruce Russell said in an interview. “This is the 101 Jimmy cut his teeth on, the 101 my dad cut his teeth on, the one I remember from my dad’s garage ... the 101 that built our brand.”
Wild Turkey parent company Campari got a taste of fans’ devotion to the extra-aged bourbon last year when they released a limited run of an age-stated bourbon in a commemorative bottle to celebrate Jimmy Russell’s 70th anniversary at Wild Turkey. That one-time release, blended by Eddie and Bruce Russell as a tribute, featured 8-year-old 101 proof bourbon along with a blend of additional 8- to 9-year-old whiskeys hand-selected from a few of his favorite rickhouses.
“It’s coming back because the fan base is ready for it,” Russell said. “They’ve been asking for it and we knew it would be a hit but we haven’t had the liquid availability.”
So is 101 8-Year-Old’s return a byproduct of the possible whiskey glut rumored to be pushing distilleries to hold onto liquid longer?
Not really, Russell said, because this one has been planned for some time.
But he does expect there will be more older whiskeys hitting the market sometime in the next decade.
How does the Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old taste?
According to the tasting notes, it has a bold flavor with more complex notes of toffee and clove with an even longer finish than traditional Wild Turkey 101. Look for notes of vanilla, clove, toffee, charred oak, lemon zest and black cherry, with a lingering finish of brown sugar, dried fruit, vanilla and allspice.
“I would put it well above where it’s sitting in the price range,” Russell said. “It doesn’t taste exactly like 101. It’s its own unique flavor profile, not just 101-plus. I would put it alongside (higher priced Wild Turkey products) Rare Breed and Kentucky Spirit. ... It’s richer, more of an oak influence, with also more of a savory note, a nuttiness, and a citrus note I don’t get in 101.”
