Is Wild Turkey Whiskey or Bourbon? Unraveling the Mystery of This Iconic American Spirit

For over 60 years, Wild Turkey has been one of the most iconic and beloved brands of whiskey in the United States. But a common question that both novice and experienced whiskey drinkers alike have is: is Wild Turkey actually a bourbon whiskey or a rye whiskey? The answer is not as straightforward as you may think.

A Brief History of Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey has a long and storied history dating back to the late 1800s. The whiskey was originally distilled at the Old Hickory Distillery in Tyrone, Kentucky near Lawrenceburg After Prohibition ended, the Ripy family (who owned the distillery) rebuilt and began producing bourbon again.

In the 1940s, a wholesale company called Austin Nichols began selling the bourbon produced at this distillery under the Wild Turkey brand. The brand name came about after an Austin Nichols executive took some warehouse samples on a wild turkey hunting trip with friends. The bourbon was such a hit on the trip they continued asking him for more of “that wild turkey bourbon.”

Austin Nichols purchased the distillery in 1971 and renamed it the Wild Turkey Distillery. Over the decades, Wild Turkey has changed ownership hands between several major alcohol corporations, but continues to be distilled at the Lawrenceburg, Kentucky distillery today.

The Mash Bill – Bourbon or Rye?

So is Wild Turkey technically a bourbon or a rye? To understand this, we first need to understand the “mash bill” used to make the spirit.

The mash bill refers to the specific recipe of grains used to make the whiskey. Bourbon mash bills must contain at least 51% corn, with the rest typically being rye and malted barley. Rye whiskeys conversely have a higher rye content and lower corn percentages.

Wild Turkey uses a high-rye mash bill containing around 35% rye, 13% malted barley and 52% corn. So despite having “rye” in the name of some expressions like Wild Turkey 101 Rye, all Wild Turkey whiskeys are indeed classified as straight bourbons.

This is because their mash bills fit within the legal criteria for bourbon containing a majority corn. The “straight” designation means it is aged a minimum of 2 years and contains no additives.

Why the Rye Confusion?

With its comparatively high rye content, Wild Turkey does have a spicier and more “rye-forward” flavor profile than many other bourbons. Rye grain provides a drier, spicier and more robust flavor.

This distinctive taste led the company to emphasize the rye component in the naming of some products, even though it’s technically a straight bourbon. Expressions like Wild Turkey 101 Rye and Wild Turkey Rye are simply rye-forward bourbons, not true rye whiskeys.

The company also produces a limited edition whiskey called Wild Turkey Rye that does contain a majority rye mash bill. But this is an exception to their core range that are all legally bourbons.

How Wild Turkey’s Flavor Compares to Other Bourbons

The most iconic Wild Turkey expression is Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon. This is a high proof (50.5% ABV) straight bourbon aged for at least 6 years in charred oak barrels. It contains no flavor additives and uses Wild Turkey’s standard high-rye mash bill.

Due to the higher proof and more robust rye flavor, Wild Turkey 101 provides a much spicier and fuller-bodied taste compared to lighter bodied bourbons like Maker’s Mark.

It delivers plenty of rye spiciness up front, transitioning to sweet vanilla, toffee and citrus notes before a long, peppery finish. The higher alcohol provides a noticeable warming bite that enhances the spicy rye flavors.

By comparison, sweeter and wheated bourbons like W.L. Weller Special Reserve have a softer, rounder taste with more pronounced corn and vanilla flavors and less rye spice.

So while Wild Turkey is legally a straight bourbon, the rye-forward flavor provides a distinctive taste that stands out from most sweet, wheated bourbons. The company decided to emphasize rye in its branding due to this signature spicy character.

Other Popular Wild Turkey Bourbon Expressions

Beyond the 101 proof classic, Wild Turkey produces a range of other bourbon products that all share the same mash bill DNA:

• Wild Turkey 81 Proof – The lower proof version of the iconic 101 bourbon. Aged 6 years with a lighter body and milder spice.

• Wild Turkey Longbranch – A laid back, easy-sipping 86 proof bourbon finished in Texas mesquite barrels.

• Rare Breed – Barrel proof bourbon blending 6, 8 and 12 year old stocks for robust flavor.

• Kentucky Spirit – Single barrel 101 proof bourbon showcasing individual barrel variation.

• Russell’s Reserve 10 Year – An elegant, smooth sippin small batch bourbon aged a full decade.

• Master’s Keep 17 Year – An extremely rare extra aged bourbon from select honey barrels.

While the age, barrel finishing and blending varies, all these Wild Turkey offerings are classified as straight bourbon whiskeys. But the high rye mash bill gives them a signature spicy kick that sets them apart from the sweeter, wheated bourbons.

So to answer the original question: is Wild Turkey a whiskey or a bourbon? The answer is definitively bourbon! All their core expressions meet the legal criteria for straight bourbon whiskey.

However, the comparatively high rye content in Wild Turkey’s mash bill does give their bourbons a more robust, spicy flavor profile reminiscent of rye whiskey. This unique taste explains why the company decided to emphasize the rye component in certain product names.

So while Bourbon is the technical classification, you can expect some tantalizing rye notes when you take a sip of these iconic American whiskeys!