How we do, what we do — and where we do it — are equally important when it comes to making bourbon. Our master distillers have over a century of experience making Kentucky Straight Bourbon the right way, The Wild Turkey way.
For over 75 years, we’ve been making our whiskey at the top of Wild Turkey Hill in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. It’s where spirited tradition and devotion to our craft come together to yield an unparalleled lineup of bourbon and rye.
Wild Turkey 101 is one of the most popular and iconic bourbon whiskeys in the world. But despite its popularity, there is some confusion around how long it is aged before bottling. In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into the aging process for Wild Turkey 101 and explain exactly how long it spends in oak barrels.
A Brief History of Wild Turkey 101
First, some background Wild Turkey 101 is produced at the Wild Turkey distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky It was originally known as “Wild Turkey 6 year old 101 Proof” when it was introduced in the 1940s. For decades, it carried a prominent 6 year age statement on the label.
In the 1980s and 90s, bourbon fell out of favor and demand declined sharply. Like other distilleries, Wild Turkey looked for ways to cut costs and streamline production. One of the changes they made was dropping the age statement from the 101 label starting around 1993.
However, that didn’t necessarily mean they changed the whiskey itself. While the age statement went away, Wild Turkey likely continued maturing 101 for around 6-8 years on average through the 1990s and 2000s.
The Confusion Around Age
Here’s where some confusion sets in. In the 2010s, bourbon experienced a huge resurgence in popularity. With demand skyrocketing, supplies of well-aged bourbon stocks started running low industry-wide.
Distilleries like Wild Turkey started carefully managing inventory cutting back on aging times to try to keep up. So it’s very possible that in the last 5-10 years, the average age of 101 has drifted lower, likely down to the 5-6 year range.
However, Wild Turkey has never confirmed any specific changes. Like most distilleries, they consider their whiskey recipes and aging formats proprietary information.
Unique Situation in Export Markets
There’s one interesting exception to this. Up until very recently Wild Turkey continued to produce an age-stated 8 year old version of 101 exclusively for export to certain markets like Japan.
This led some whiskey fans to incorrectly assume that standard US-market 101 contained 8 year old bourbon. But by all accounts, the US version has pretty much always been a bit younger than the 8 year export bottles.
In 2013, Wild Turkey aligned their export 101 to match the roughly 6-8 year age range of the US version. So there is no longer an older, age-stated export version. Every bottle of 101 worldwide now contains whiskey approximately 5-8 years old.
Flavor Impact of Aging Time
Another question is around how aging time impacts 101’s flavor. Generally, longer aging results in a deeper, more oak-influenced flavor profile.
However, 101 maintains a signature taste despite fluctuations in age over the decades. It’s possible that Wild Turkey adapts their mashbill and barrel entry proof to account for less (or more) maturation time. This allows them to deliver a consistent product under 6-8 years.
Compared to other 6-8 year old bourbons, 101 punches above its weight class in flavor and complexity. The lower entry proof and Wild Turkey’s distilling techniques likely help amplify its maturation in the barrel.
Current Age Range
- A blend of bourbons aged 5 to 8 years on average
- With most barrels likely in the 6-7 year range
- No longer contains older 8+ year barrels specifically batched for export markets
- Flavor is consistent despite normal fluctuations in aging time
This age range can vary slightly year-to-year and batch-to-batch. But the master distillers at Wild Turkey have decades of expertise working with their particular whiskey recipes, yeast strains, grain bills, and barrel entry proofs.
All these factors give them significant flexibility to adapt 101’s maturation to achieve the ideal flavor balance, even with stocks less than 8 years old. The end result is a bold, distinctive, and affordable bourbon that remains hugely popular with whiskey enthusiasts around the world.
Other Wild Turkey Bourbons
For drinkers seeking an age statement, Wild Turkey does produce some other excellent options:
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Russell’s Reserve 10 Year is aged a minimum of 10 years and is non-chill filtered with a higher barrel proof. It offers an amped up, more mature version of the Wild Turkey flavor profile.
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Kentucky Spirit is a single barrel bourbon aged around 8-10 years. No age statement, but stocks are pulled from the more mature end of Wild Turkey’s warehouses.
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Master’s Keep releases feature age statements, often 17 years or older. These special editions showcase Wild Turkey’s stocks at their most refined and oak-influenced.
Hopefully this helps provide some clarity on how long one of the world’s most famous bourbons spends aging in barrels. While many details remain proprietary, Wild Turkey 101 likely contains a blend of whiskeys approximately 5-8 years old. This is down from 6-8 years several decades ago, but still young for such a full-flavored and affordable bourbon.
The takeaway for drinkers? Don’t get too caught up on age statements – even at under 8 years, a well-crafted bourbon like Wild Turkey 101 can deliver tremendous flavor and character. The quality of the distilling, type of oak, and skill of the master distiller all play just as big a role as sheer aging time.
So the next time you pour a glass of Wild Turkey 101, enjoy it for what it is: an expertly crafted Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey with decades of tradition and heritage behind it. Its bold flavor and supple drinkability make it the quintessential American whiskey, however long it’s aged!
OUR WILD TURKEY ESSENTIALS
Our water comes from the Kentucky River and is naturally filtered through limestone, removing iron and other impurities
We’re still using our original yeast strain – proprietary to Wild Turkey – which has informed our bourbon’s signature flavor for over 60 years.
Wild Turkey is one of the few distilleries to have never used a genetically modified grain in our bourbon.
Not everyone makes a big deal about char level – the intensity of burn inside American White Oak barrels used to age bourbon. But only a No. 4 “alligator” char, the deepest available, can produce our bourbon’s signature amber color and bold flavor. Others might be content with a No. 1, 2 or 3 char; but it’s something we can never compromise on. We use our No. 4 char across all of our bourbons and ryes, giving each one our distinctive Wild Turkey flavor.
We never pour a drop of Wild Turkey until it’s aged at least five years – often six or eight or more. Of course, we legally would only have to age it two years to call it a straight topshelf bourbon whiskey, but we’re not big fans of doing the minimum. Even our tin-clad, wooden rick houses where we store our barrels have stood the test of time; they allow maximum interaction between wood and bourbon, and they’ve been doing it since the 1890s. When we put “Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey” on our label, it’s because our bourbon earned it.
OUR BOURBON MAKING PROCESS
Bourbon takes time, and with almost a century of combined experience, our Master Distillers know that better than anyone.
It starts when the Master Distiller selects the corn, rye and malted barley for distilling. We use only the best ingredients at the Wild Turkey Distillery – nothing but our specially grown, non-GMO grains, which are quality tested at four separate times.
They say location is everything, and Wild Turkey distillery proudly sits atop a limestone shelf situation along the Kentucky River, allowing us to use quality Kentucky water straight from the source. The limestone naturally purifies the water of iron, and this non-acidic, limestone-filtered water is used to cook the grains during this stage, making for a better depth of flavor in our finished product. Once the malted barley is added, we introduce our sour mash – a previously fermented mash that still contains live yeast – to start a new fermentation process.
Yeast is added to the corn, rye and malted barley to create our yeast mash, naturally turning the starch into sugar, and giving Wild Turkey its full, rich flavor. Our yeast strain is unique to Wild Turkey, and a secret that is closely guarded by Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell.
The liquid mash is pumped into a continuous still. It’s vaporized at a high temperature, turned back into liquid, and distilled all over again, creating the highest quality spirit without sacrificing flavor.
After distillation, the spirit is poured into new American White Oak barrels with the deepest No. 4 “alligator” char. We choose to barrel our bourbon at a lower proof, so that by the time it’s finished aging we can add less water than other whiskey makers typically would in order to avoid diluting our bourbon’s signature flavor before bottling. That allows Wild Turkey to retain the true, rich flavor and deep auburn color it acquires from the barrel.
Once the barrels are filled, they’re stored for aging. Starting at two years, we taste our bourbon annually until its fully matured. We age our whiskey longer than most distilleries, giving it more of the time it needs to develop its distinctive, rich flavor.
Only the master distiller can decide when a barrel is mature enough for bottling. On their command, the bourbon is dumped, filtered and bottled, ready for you to enjoy.
For a complete start to finish Wild Turkey tasting experience, it comes down to these four qualities.
Bourbon’s color tells you a lot about its age. You’ll notice Wild Turkey has a deep auburn color because it’s aged longer in barrels with the deepest char.
Breathe in the bourbon. And then add a drop of water to release more flavor notes and breathe it in again. You’ll smell undertones of deep vanilla and oak, with traces of citrus and toffee on top. As Jimmy Russell will tell you: you can smell more flavor than you’ll ever taste.
Take a sip and breathe it in. You’ll notice that Wild Turkey 101 is rich with vanilla and caramel, with notes of toffee and light smoke.
A great bourbon lingers on the tongue. Wild Turkey is known for its long, full-bodied finish.
Is Age states Wild Turkey better? Wild Turkey 101 vs Wild Turkey 101 8 year
FAQ
How long are wild turkeys aged for?
Is Wild Turkey 101 really 101 proof?
How long is wild turkey 81 aged?
How long is wild turkey rare breed aged?
Is Wild Turkey 101 a good Bourbon?
When compared to other whiskeys, Wild Turkey 101 has a shorter neck and produces fewer tears, but it makes amends by providing a greater impact of flavor. Once opened, the bourbon has a wonderful odor that is easy not to get the nose in. As soon as you open the bottle, your nostrils are flooded with fruit, sweetness, and softness.
How old is Wild Turkey 101?
Early batches contained 18 or 19 year old barrels as well! Wild Turkey 101 12 year was also rumored to use much older barrels as well – perhaps in the 14 to 15 year range. So it’s not a stretch to imagine that Wild Turkey 101 8 year has older barrels in the blend too, probably as old as 10 years.
How long does Wild Turkey bourbon last?
As soon as you open the bottle, your nostrils are flooded with fruit, sweetness, and softness. This is a classic straight bourbon, aged for at least two years in white oak barrels. Or, as in the case with Wild Turkey 101, the age is six years. There’s no hint of smoke in the aroma. Wild Turkey 101 has a classic bourbon flavor.
Does Wild Turkey 101 12 year taste like wild turkey?
Last year in November, Wild Turkey 101 12 Year finished second-place in my Most Memorable Whiskey of the Year (2022) competition. That bottle seemed like it came out of nowhere and landed an arrow straight through my heart. Its complexity and profile left me shocked; it didn’t even taste like Wild Turkey to me.