Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Wild Turkey 81 is an 81 proof (40.5% alcohol) bourbon aged 6-8 years, longer than any other bourbon in its class. To give it that signature kick, Eddie Russell uses the classic Wild Turkey high-rye mash bill and ages it in our famous #4 alligator char American oak barrels. 81 shines on its own, but it’s best in a mixed drink like a Manhattan or Old Fashioned. Unlike other whiskies, which lose flavor when mixed with other ingredients, Eddie Russell’s Wild Turkey 81 gives drinkers “an everyday whiskey that can stand up to any mixer or in any cocktail with the bold, in-your-face taste that is distinctively Wild Turkey.”

Nose: Deep vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak lead, backed by honey, pear, and light maple sweetness. Supporting notes suggest orange peel, brown sugar, faint baking spice, and a soft cereal grain note underneath.

Palate: Sweet entry brings vanilla fudge, caramel corn, and honeyed corn bread with orange candy, pear, and a touch of red apple skin. Cinnamon, nutmeg, light clove, and a hint of maple ride over gentle char and the subtle rye tingle.

Finish: Medium finish with lingering vanilla, soft oak, dried fruit, and a little maple and cinnamon spark. Mild warmth glows in the chest while sweet grain and light char fade slowly from the palate.

Classic Kentucky bourbon loves smoke and fat.
Pair it with grilled burgers, barbecued chicken, or smoked pork shoulder; the vanilla, caramel, and spice tuck into char and glaze.

Comfort dishes make this bottle shine.
Mac and cheese, fried chicken, or chicken pot pie echo the sweetness while the oak and rye keep everything from feeling too plush.

On a board, reach for mild cheddar, young Gouda, and toasted pecans with a little dark chocolate.
For dessert, think pecan pie, bread pudding, or vanilla ice cream over warm apple crisp, mirroring the bourbon’s caramel, fruit, and baking spice.