Wild Turkey 101
Official Bottle | 50.5% ABV
Score: 6/10
Good stuff.
TL;DR
Scratches that bourbon itch nicely
Warmer weather and sunnier days.
Do you tend to move past the peat and into something with a bit more spice, sweetness and perhaps poured over ice?
We take another look at Wild Turkey, this time the widely available entry level bottling, their 101, after a recent label and bottle change.
Summer is finally upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere. Double-digit temperatures means it's shorts and t-shirt weather, albeit summer in Ireland usually just means the rain drops are a touch warmer compared to the sleet in Winter time. But it's also fantastic to see 'the long stretch' in the evenings, with sunset not descending until closer to 10pm these days.
It's a fabulous time of year. Everyone is in such a better mood and overall form is high. I do think there's something in the impacts of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It's true in my case, where I feel so much better and in a happier state of mind due to increased daylight exposure, getting outdoors and not being stuck inside due to grim, cold, miserable weather.
I also don't think it helps that 80% of the time I'm working from home. Your health is your wealth, as they say. So be sure to drink in moderation, even take a dry-week from time to time, anything that keeps your own mental health in tip top shape.
With this increase in sunshine and glorious warm weather, outside tipples become the norm. Christmas time tends to be a pivot into red wine, port and brandy. Summer drinks, you genuinely can't beat an ice cold IPA or delicious glass of white wine, putting those whisky tasting, transferable skills to use when sampling other alcoholic beverages. Weekend whisky pours and our moods for a certain flavour can indeed change with the change of the seasons. As autumn turns to winter I'm always looking for something with heavy peat, smoke with a mix of fruit. For the summer though, a tasty blend or a core range poured over ice does wonders and nothing quite hits like a clean, bright and crisp bourbon. Either over ice or in an Old Fashioned cocktail too.
Scotch whisky is always my go to when I'm looking for a whisky hit. Not so much Irish these days due to some of the outrageous prices asked these days, despite a lot of it sourced from the same old places on the island of Ireland. But an occasional bourbon is a nice distraction and it fits the warmer temperatures.
Review
Wild Turkey 101, Official Bottling, 50.5% ABV
£25 and widely available, often on offer.
Score: 6/10
Good stuff.
TL;DR
Scratches that bourbon itch nicely
Nose
Orange rind. So much spice up front on the nose. Some dried wood chippings thrown in too. The spice develops into ginger root and cinnamon sticks. It’s perfumed and kind of punchy. Soft plums, digestive biscuits and demerara sugar come forward. Tiny hints of wet coffee grounds, with tobacco shavings, copper coins and pine leaves. Enticing stuff.
Palate
A nice silky mouthfeel. Toffee and butterscotch up front, which is a little prickly and has a long lasting sweetness on the back end. The taste turns a little sour after a few sips, almost like some dark chocolate squares. The copper on the nose is there on the palate too, with lemon sherbet and a big blast of oak. Small hints of macadamia nut, a citrus blast with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove to round it all off. Super long finish on this one. Spice and wood is the remaining flavour here, which makes me go back for more.
The Dregs
When you’re in the UK and checking out the local supermarket for what to drink on a nice summer day, it’s hard to look past this bottle of Wild Turkey 101. It has depth, character and a lovely sweet element that, in my opinion, would cater to most folk who normally enjoy scotch.
For the price, it’s a no-brainer and delivers on quality and the versatility aspect too. It’s fantastic in cocktails or with a mixer, very enjoyable over ice (stick a nice wedge of orange in there) and just as great neat.
Doesn’t really hit that mark of a 7 however. There are better bourbons out there, but given how widely available this is and the bags of flavour it brings, I’d recommend it for anyone to try. At £25, I don’t think you’d be disappointed.
Score: 6/10
Tried this? Share your thoughts in the comments below. HF
-
Dramface is free.
Its fierce independence and community-focused content is funded by that same community. We don’t do ads, sponsorships or paid-for content. If you like what we do you can support us by becoming a Dramface member for the price of a magazine.
However, if you’ve found a particular article valuable, you also have the option to make a direct donation to the writer, here: buy me a dram - you’d make their day. Thank you.
For more on Dramface and our funding read our about page here.
Other opinions on this:
Got a link to a reliable review? Tell us.
