I've Reviewed Hundreds of Whiskeys. This Classic Bourbon Is Affordable, Delicious, and Versatile

18.07.2024 16:48

Just as good neat as it is in an old fashioned, this storied whiskey has remained a shelf staple since its introduction in the 1940s.

Wild Turkey 101 is a classic American whiskey, its origins reaching back to the 1940s. But despite its healthy age, it remains a modern favorite. As is true at many bars around the U.S., it's a go-to bourbon at my neighborhood spot, where bartenders pour it neat into a lowball or mix it into an old fashioned when my palate and wallet are looking to meet in the middle.

But 101 is more than just a reliable order. It's one of the most consistently lauded affordable bourbons on the market (under $30 per bottle at my local liquor store). And, like Kentucky peers Woodford Reserve and Maker's Mark, the brand outmatches competitors twice its price.

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

To learn more about the storied spirit, I traveled to Lawrenceburg, KY, to tour the Wild Turkey distillery and taste different Wild Turkey 101 vintages and styles. I gained a reinvigorated respect and admiration for a whiskey that's remained at a high level for decades—without sacrificing quality or affordability along the way.

Want the latest whiskey news, deals, and reviews? Sign up for the Whiskey Wednesday newsletter.

Wild Turkey 101 at a Glance

Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Courtesy of Wild Turkey

Bottom Line: Thanks to its slightly higher ABV than other bourbons at the same accessible price point, Wild Turkey 101 is a great whiskey to enjoy on the rocks or in any dependable bourbon cocktail like the old fashioned—which is probably why it’s a mid-shelf staple for bartenders everywhere.
Type: Bourbon
Cask: Charred American white oak barrels
Still: Double distillation through column stills
Proof: 50.5 percent ABV, 101 proof
Age: No age statement (said to be aged between six to eight years)
Mash Bill: 75 percent corn, 13 percent rye, 12 percent barley
Appearance: Deep auburn
Nose: Vanilla, cinnamon, oak
Mouthfeel: Rich, oily
Taste: Vanilla, caramel, oak, baking spice, pecan pie
Finish: Medium, full-bodied, with spice and orange peel

Pros and Cons of Wild Turkey 101

Pros	Cons
High quality whiskey for a great price	Not as complex as other bourbons at the same proof
Ideal for mixing into cocktails	Some drinkers notice a funky aftertaste
Storied history and stable recipe

Wild Turkey 101 Review

Wild Turkey 101 has been on the market since the 1940s, its recipe mostly unchanged. As a result, it has garnered many admirers, notably writer Hunter S. Thompson, who was often depicted in interviews with a glass of the stuff in front of him.

But you don't have to pen generation-defining books to enjoy Wild Turkey 101. One of the bourbon's strengths is its accessibility. You can find it at most liquor stores for $30 or less, and that one cheap bottle will go a long way to tasty sipping or crafting great cocktails.

Before you do any mixing, you should drink Wild Turkey 101 neat to understand its nuances. After pouring into a glass, swirl the liquid around and take in its oaky vanilla scent with a touch of ethanol heat toward the back end. If you add a drop of water, which is recommended by the Wild Turkey website, you release deeper aromas of orange and brown sugar. Upon first sip, those aromas materialize into similar flavors, eventually morphing into cinnamon and smoke—all of which makes it taste like pecan pie.

The whiskey has a longer-than-average finish. It starts out with notes of baking spice and orange peel before transitioning into what some folks call the Wild Turkey funk—an earthy spiciness that might not appeal to everyone, but dissipates when diluted with an ice cube or mixed into a cocktail.

Perhaps most impressive about Wild Turkey 101 is the family legacy behind it. Three generations of the Russell family have guided this bourbon, from master distiller Jimmy Russell to his son and master distiller Eddie—and now to Eddie's son and associate blender Bruce.

"It's a lifetime job. My dad was coming out here seven days a week when I was a kid," Eddie says. While that full-week schedule didn't last, Jimmy's dedication never wavered.

"A big reason why people love our brand is because of Jimmy, and the legacy, and our traditional methods," adds Bruce.

Over his 70 years with the brand, Jimmy has kept Wild Turkey 101 the reliable, affordable classic it is now and will continue to be—even when the next generation of Russells eventually take over.

How to Drink Wild Turkey 101

If you're drinking Wild Turkey 101 Jimmy Russell's way, then you're sipping it neat—period. But even though Eddie is definitely his father's son—he told me he also prefers his bourbon neat—he embraces the popularity of cocktails. With the distillery under his helm, 101 isn't just meant for bourbon purists. It's a bottle that appeals to a wider audience.

Wild Turkey 101 tastes great on its own, but also shines in cocktails.
Courtesy of Wild Turkey

As such, it's a fantastic mixer. Over the course of three days in Kentucky, I tasted Wild Turkey 101 in classics like the old fashioned or bourbon smash to half a dozen unique cocktails on the Wild Turkey Visitor Center bar menu. It shined in each one, thanks to Wild Turkey 101's proof. It's not easily diluted by mixers and added ingredients, so the bourbon plays well with others while maintaining its character.

That being said, there's no "right" way to enjoy Wild Turkey 101. Its versatility is its strong suit. Personally, I like to sip it with a small ice cube. Upon first sip, you're met with all those delicious neat notes. But, as the ice melts to awaken those water-aided aromas and flavors, it gradually softens into a smooth-drinking pour with an easy burn going down.

History of Wild Turkey 101

Wild Turkey has a long, slightly convoluted history that traces back to the mid-1800s, a melding of the stories of the Irish immigrant Ripy family and wholesale grocer Fitts, Martin & Clough. Over a few decades, the wholesaler added new partners and changed ownership until it became Austin, Nichols & Co. in the late 1870s. Meanwhile, the Ripy family built and acquired distilleries in Kentucky, establishing the Ripy Bros. Distillery in 1905.

In 1942, just under 10 years after Prohibition was repealed, Austin, Nichols & Co. began sourcing Ripy Bros. whiskey to sell in stores under its own label. Because a Ripy Bros. executive used to bring a bottle of bourbon on turkey hunting trips, friends nicknamed the liquor Wild Turkey. Thanks to those huntings trips and its now-signature 101 proof, Austin, Nichols & Co. began to sell Ripy Bros. whiskey as Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon.

Bourbon fanatics know that Wild Turkey wouldn't be what it is today without the Russell family. Jimmy Russell started at Wild Turkey in 1954, not making bourbon, but sweeping floors. By 1967, he was master distiller, eventually bringing Eddie on in 1981, who also worked his way up to master distiller by 2015. Bruce joined the family business in 2014 and is now associate blender.

At age 89, Jimmy still hangs around to oversee operations and greet fans at the visitor center while Eddie and Bruce carry on the distillery's legacy. Though they ensure that Wild Turkey 101 remains the same delicious whiskey it's always been, that doesn't stop them from experimenting with new whiskeys. Eddie added a new label, the award-winning lineup of Russell's Reserve bourbons, to the Wild Turkey family in the early 2000s, while Bruce has folded in his affinity for rye whiskey.

"I'm here at a great time in whiskey, 'cause we're able to put out cool, new, innovative products and our fans actually want it," says Bruce about newer releases like the Master's Keep Rye.

But Wild Turkey 101 remains the distillery's pride and joy. "101 will never change," Eddie says.

Jimmy Russell stands in front of his namesake Wild Turkey Experience at the brand's visitor center. Customers here can taste Wild Turkey releases and find out how the whiskeys are made.
Courtesy of Wild Turkey

How Wild Turkey 101 Is Made

Bourbon begins as three separate ingredients: grain, water, and yeast. First, Wild Turkey selects specially-grown non-GMO corn, rye, and malted barley.

Then, the brand sources fresh water from the Kentucky River, as the distillery sits atop a limestone shelf that naturally filters out impurities. This water is used to cook the grains before workers introduce sour mash containing trace amounts of yeast to begin fermentation.

Here's where the fun begins. Wild Turkey then mixes in its proprietary yeast, which has been used since the 1950s to ensure the same reliable taste over decades. This yeast mash is then pumped into a continuous still, where it's vaporized at high temperatures, returned to liquid, and re-distilled.

The distilled spirit is then poured into new American white oak barrels that have been heavily charred inside. Wild Turkey chars at the highest level, No. 4, known as "alligator" char—the inside barrel is torched for 55 seconds. The process imparts those vanilla and cinnamon flavors that drinkers expect from bourbon. The liquid stays in barrels for between six to eight years until Eddie determines it's ready for bottling.

Wild Turkey barrels its bourbon at a low proof, so when it's time to bottle, the whiskey won't be diluted with too much water. The distillery does this to preserve ideal bourbon flavor and color—a deep, rich auburn.

If You Like Wild Turkey 101, You'll Also Like...

Rittenhouse Rye

Made by Heaven Hill, Rittenhouse Rye is an economical choice for your home bar, as it's cheap and goes great in a number of cocktails, thanks to its sweet and spicy, full-bodied flavor. At 100 proof, it also carries a similarly pleasant burn to Wild Turkey 101.

Old Grand Dad 114

Named our best bourbon for an old fashioned, Old Grand Dad 114 features notes of orange zest and cinnamon, which balance out the added heat of its 57 percent ABV. Those flavors make it an ideal bourbon for mixing.

Russell's Reserve 15-Year-Old

The Russell's Reserve label is part of the Wild Turkey family. It's Eddie Russell's baby, introduced in the early 2000s in honor of his father's legacy. Russell's Reserve 15 Year is aged two years longer than Russell's Reserve 13—which won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2023. That additional maturation piles more complexity onto an already delicious whiskey. At 117.2 proof with a candied cherry flavor and toffee finish, it's worth the price tag.

Why You Should Trust Me

As senior editor for Men's Journal, I test dozens of whiskeys every month, comparing and contrasting their flavor profiles and evaluating their quality as I go. I've also worked with numerous spirits writers, bartenders, restauranteurs, and distillers, and I regularly engage in intense debates with likeminded (or not) brown liquor aficionados about what makes great whiskey.

For this Wild Turkey 101 review, I flew to Kentucky to visit the distillery, where I spoke with the folks behind the bottle. As I explored the distillery and studied the brand's craft, I tested the bourbon neat, on the rocks, and in a variety of cocktails to discern the depth of its flavor and the extent of its versatility.