Distillery: Wild Turkey Distilling Co.
Region: Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Aging: No Age Statement but likely a blend of 6-12 year barrels
ABV: 56.1%
Proof: 112.2
Mashbill: 51% Rye, 37% Corn, 12% Malted Barley
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
MSRP Price: $60
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye Tasting Notes
Appearance: Dark Amber
Nose: Sweet caramel, honey, reminds me of a sweetened tea, toasted oak, baking spice, rye grain, malt, sweet spice
Palate: Sweet toffee and caramel, rye grain, sweet spice, black pepper, charred oak, hints of vanilla and dark fruit, tiny bit of black licorice and clove, tobacco
Finish: Nice smooth finish with a nice mouthfeel and leaves you with sweet spice, charred oak, and a bit of toffee sweetness with a hint of pepper spice on the tail end
Is Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye an Approachable Whiskey?
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a very approachable whiskey.
While it does have a bit of heat on it from the 56.1% ABV and the rye spice flavors are a bit spicy, this is still a whiskey that beginners and experienced whiskey drinkers will appreciate.
It’s packed with enough flavor to offset the heat.
Is Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye Complex?
Wild Turkey Rare Breed has a lot of layers of flavor and quite a bit of complexity.
I’ve always been a fan of the Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon so when I saw the Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye on the shelf, I just had to give it a shot.
After tasting it, it is just as good as the bourbon (even though I still probably like the bourbon more).
This bottle has all the flavors you could want in a rye whiskey.
It’s got the caramel, oak, vanilla, and rye spice and grain that you’d expect from such a high-corn rye whiskey.
It’s also got just enough malted barley in the mash bill to give a hint of malt to each sip.
The rye spices really carry through and add a nice level of heat and spice to the corn sweetness without going overboard.
The finish is smooth and easy but still wakes up your taste buds with a ton of flavor.
What are Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye’s strongest attribute is definitely the amount of rye spice that comes through in the flavor profile without being overpowering.
Oftentimes, when I taste a rye whiskey it can be too spicy or too “hot” for my palate to fully appreciate.
It sometimes just feels like your taste buds get burnt out and you can’t even taste the flavors anymore.
With this bottle, your taste buds get all the flavor but aren’t burnt out after a few sips.
It’s a nice balance and reminds me of one of my favorite rye whiskeys New Riff Single Barrel Rye.
Is Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye a go-to whiskey?
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye could easily be a go-to whiskey if you like rye whiskey and spice.
While the Rare Breed Bourbon is only $45, this bottle does cost $60 so it’s a bit pricier and that may push it out of the “go-to” sipper range.
Is Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye priced accurately to its quality?
I’m a big fan of this bottle, but it is a bit disappointing that it is one-third more expensive than its bourbon counterpart.
I think this bottle would be an amazing purchase at the $45 price point.
At $60, this is a bottle I’d likely always have on the shelf for people who want to try a great rye whiskey, but I wouldn’t be drinking it myself often.
Conclusion for Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye is an excellent example of an enjoyable rye whiskey.
It still has plenty of sweetness to it to help mellow out the rye spice and create a nice balance of flavors.
If you’re a fan of rye whiskey, definitely get yourself a bottle of this.
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