101 Wild Turkey Rye vs 81 Wild Turkey Rye
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 6:30 pm
Most of us on BE do not seem to find bourbons less than 90 proof worth our time. Gary Gillman recently did a review of Wild Turkey 81 proof rye and found it to be a 9 out of 10 whiskey.......... enough of a recommendation to lead me to buy a bottle and give it a try. I have always found the 101 WT Rye to be exceptionally good whiskey, but it is hard if not impossible to find now (has it been discontinued? I think it has).
So, I tried some 81 against the old 101. Quite a difference! The 101 is quite hot and spicy by comparison. So I decided that a fair comparison could only be with a 101 cut to about 81 proof. I am compelled to agree with Gary that this 81 proof rye whiskey is not just 101 cut. The two are quite different in taste. I would suspect that the 81 proof is lower in rye grain in its recipe than the 101 is/was. As to the winy element, the first taste that came to my palate with the 81 proof was a nice Chardonnay wine with its buttery overtones. Chardonnay is known for the influence of the barrel in its taste.
And, to my palate, this whiskey has some cognac resonances in its delicacy. All whiskies do not have to rush the palate and conquer it to bring it to life, some can fraternize with the palate and win it over with persuasion.
Although Gary and I disagree in regard to the benefits of barrel aging (I am in the definite minority here), here is a whiskey upon which we agree. It was my respect for his knowledge and experience with whiskey that I tried the 81 proof Wild Turkey Rye.
Thanks, Gary. I will keep this whiskey on my shelves and go to it often.
So, I tried some 81 against the old 101. Quite a difference! The 101 is quite hot and spicy by comparison. So I decided that a fair comparison could only be with a 101 cut to about 81 proof. I am compelled to agree with Gary that this 81 proof rye whiskey is not just 101 cut. The two are quite different in taste. I would suspect that the 81 proof is lower in rye grain in its recipe than the 101 is/was. As to the winy element, the first taste that came to my palate with the 81 proof was a nice Chardonnay wine with its buttery overtones. Chardonnay is known for the influence of the barrel in its taste.
And, to my palate, this whiskey has some cognac resonances in its delicacy. All whiskies do not have to rush the palate and conquer it to bring it to life, some can fraternize with the palate and win it over with persuasion.
Although Gary and I disagree in regard to the benefits of barrel aging (I am in the definite minority here), here is a whiskey upon which we agree. It was my respect for his knowledge and experience with whiskey that I tried the 81 proof Wild Turkey Rye.
Thanks, Gary. I will keep this whiskey on my shelves and go to it often.