Is Wild Turkey Good Bourbon? A Detailed Look at This Iconic Whiskey Brand

Wild Turkey is one of the most iconic and well-known bourbon brands in the world. But is their whiskey actually good quality? In this in-depth article, we’ll take a close look at Wild Turkey’s history, flavor profile, accolades, and value to help determine if it’s a good bourbon worth drinking.

A Brief History of Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey has a long and storied history stretching back to the late 1800s The brand originated at the Austin Nichols distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky In 1940, the company introduced Wild Turkey 101 bourbon, which became their flagship product.

In 1971, legendary master distiller Jimmy Russell joined Wild Turkey. Along with his son Eddie Russell who later joined him Jimmy helped grow Wild Turkey into one of the top-selling bourbon brands in the world. Wild Turkey went through a couple changes in ownership from Austin Nichols to Pernod Ricard and then to Gruppo Campari. But throughout it all the Russell family has remained at the helm producing bourbon in Lawrenceburg.

The Wild Turkey Flavor Profile

Wild Turkey is known for having a high rye content in their mashbill, around 13% compared to most bourbons which have 8-10% rye. This gives their bourbons a spicier and more robust flavor profile. Their bourbons also utilize a lower barrel entry proof than many distilleries, entering the barrel at around 115 proof compared to the industry standard of 125 proof. This retains more flavor from the grains.

Tasting notes for Wild Turkey 101 highlight sweet vanilla, oak, and brown sugar flavors along with rye spice and orange citrus notes. It’s a very flavorful bourbon but maintains balance rather than being overpowering. Independent reviews consistently note Wild Turkey’s signature flavor profile – an oaky, spicy, and rich bourbon with a touch of sweetness.

Accolades and Awards

Wild Turkey has earned numerous accolades and awards over the decades that speak to its quality and reputation:

• Wild Turkey 101 earned a double gold medal at the San Francisco Spirits Competition in 2022.

• Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 17 Year was named Whisky Advocate’s Whisky of the Year for 2021.

• Famed whiskey writer Jim Murray named Wild Turkey Revival the second-best whiskey in the world in his 2022 Whisky Bible.

• Wild Turkey Longbranch, Matthew McConaughey’s collaboration, was named Best Celebrity Whisky of 2019 by VinePair.

It’s clear that both budget-friendly Wild Turkey 101 as well as their premium and special releases are held in very high regard.

Great Value for the Price Point

Considering the awards, accolades, history, and quality, Wild Turkey offers tremendous value, especially their entry-level Wild Turkey 101 bourbon. It offers rich, flavorful whiskey at an affordable price point usually under $25. This makes it a great daily drinker or mixer that outperforms many bourbons costing twice as much.

The brand’s premium offerings like Russell’s Reserve and Master’s Keep range from $40-$150. While not cheap, they offer excellent whiskey that punches above their weight class compared to equivalently priced competitor’s offerings.

Taking a holistic look at Wild Turkey’s history, distilling practices, flavor profile, awards, and value makes a very strong case that it’s one of the best bourbon brands overall, and widely respected by aficionados. The consistency and quality instilled by the Russell family has built tremendous trust with consumers. While personal taste dictates if Wild Turkey’s signature spicy and robust profile matches your preferences, there’s no denying this iconic American whiskey brand produces some very good juice. For both sippers and mixers, Wild Turkey is absolutely a good bourbon worth having on your bar.

Frequency of entities:
Wild Turkey: 21
bourbon: 11
rye: 3
Jimmy Russell: 2
Eddie Russell: 2
Lawrenceburg: 2
101: 5