Wild Turkey Releases Its Legendary 8 YO Bourbon In The US
Wild Turkey 101, 8 YO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Wild Turkey has just announced that its legendary 8 YO bourbon will become available to US consumers. Recently, we sat down for an exclusive interview with Master Distiller Eddie Russell, Associate Master Blender Bruce Russell, and Managing Director of Campari America Melanie Batchelor to discuss Wild Turkey's latest US release.
Wild Turkey, an American icon, has a history deeply intertwined with the evolution of American whiskey, particularly bourbon. The renowned American bourbon distillery, nestled in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, is celebrated for its bold flavor profile and steadfast commitment to traditional production methods.
The distillery uses a high-rye mash bill and distills the whiskey at a lower proof to retain more natural flavors. Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, one of the longest-tenured distillers in the industry, has helped shape Wild Turkey's identity over decades. The brand offers a range of expressions, emphasizing rich, robust bourbons aged in heavily charred American oak barrels.
JM: WT has offered the 8 YO expression internationally, most notably in Japan, for quite a few years. Is the international version different from the domestic expressions? If so, how is it different?
Bruce Russell (BT), Associate Master Blender: Rooted in a recipe that has stood the test of time, this age-stated bourbon pays homage to the original Wild Turkey 101, which was famously bottled after eight years of aging. This is the same bourbon fans in export markets have been enjoying for years, now in a 750ml bottle for the US. We're excited to bring this back to the US as a permanent part of our lineup – it will be hitting shelves alongside our classic 101 Bourbon, beginning at the end of April.
JM: When distilleries issue commemorative editions, they typically use rare and ultra-aged, expensive expressions, often utilizing high-end packaging. The 8 YO bourbon expression is much more mainstream and, at $45/bottle, very reasonably priced. Why opt for this route? Is there a larger message about accessibility and price that you were trying to convey here?
Melanie Batchelor (MB), Managing Director of Campari America: At Wild Turkey and within the wider industry, we're seeing increased excitement around age-stated whiskey in the US. We saw it firsthand last year when Wild Turkey released a limited run of age-stated bourbon in a commemorative bottle to celebrate Jimmy Russell's 70th anniversary at Wild Turkey.
That was a separate, one-time offering that was blended by Eddie and Bruce Russell and tailored specifically to Jimmy's taste profile as a tribute to him – but the success of that release re-emphasized the demand for a permanent and approachable priced age-stated offering from the distillery here in the US. The 8-Year-Old 101 rounds out the Wild Turkey portfolio so that there is always an offering that suits any bourbon drinker and any occasion.
Wild Turkey 101, 8 YO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Eddie Russell (ER), Master Distiller: There is a time and place for high-end offerings where we can experiment with the rare whiskeys and blends that get us excited, and we love bringing those to our fans through our Master's Keep series, our limited edition Russell's Reserve releases and more.
However, Wild Turkey 8-Year-Old takes us back to our roots – not only because of its ties to our brand's history but because it's truly a high-quality, age-stated, more widely available bourbon that any Wild Turkey fan or bourbon lover can enjoy at an approachable price point.
JM: WT bourbons are known for being flavorful, heavily extracted expressions that show a profound cask wood influence. How is the 8 YO different from the regular WT lineup?
BR: Like all Wild Turkey bourbon, the 8-Year-Old 101 whiskey uses our tried and true mash bill and distillation process. However, the extended maturation of 8-Year-Old 101 allows for the development of richer and darker flavors. Instead of the usual oak, vanilla, and bright fruit notes, you can expect toffee, clove, and dried fruit with a longer finish. These unique flavors make the 8 YO bourbon an ideal choice for savoring neat or on the rocks.
JM: To what extent is the 8 YO bourbon expression driven by specific cask selections as opposed to a different maturation protocol and rickhouse siting strategy from other WT bourbons?
BR: The 8-Year-Old 101 bourbon is meticulously blended in smaller batches than our classic 101. This precision in selecting the casks for the blend ensures that the bourbon delivers the richer and darker flavors that make it a standout, whether enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
JM: WT has not released many ultra-aged bourbons except for the Russell's Reserve. Was there a reason for this? Can we expect more ultra-aged bourbon expressions from WT in the future?
ER: At Wild Turkey, we hold our roots in high regard. Jimmy's unwavering focus on consistency is what has shaped Wild Turkey into the brand it is today, and we are committed to maintaining that legacy.
We've released some older offerings within the Master's Keep series, but otherwise, we've maintained the recipe, pre-Prohibition style, and flavor profile that Jimmy learned from his mentor, Bill Hughes.
On the other hand, the Russell's Reserve brand has allowed us to bring some older and interesting whiskeys to bourbon lovers looking for different flavors and styles.
JM: Are there any significant differences in the maturation protocol used for the Russell's Reserve and the WT 8 YO bourbons?
ER: We don't do anything to separate our bourbon as it matures. That said, we can hand-select the barrels to give each offering the taste we want. Generally, the main difference between Russell's Reserve and Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old is the location of the barrels within our traditional seven-floor warehouses.
For Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old, we select from all floors to ensure that the bourbon has those iconic Wild Turkey 101 flavors, just a bit richer and darker, given the longer maturation. For Russell's Reserve, we mainly use barrels from the middle floors, where the temperature helps produce really nuanced and creamy notes.
For other, new bourbon expressions from Wild Turkey, see also The Best New Bourbons To Try.
The Wild Turkey Core Whiskey Range
Below are tasting notes on Wild Turkey, 8 YO Kentucky Bourbon.
The whiskey is powerful and aromatic on the nose. While the Wild Turkey DNA is unmistakable, the aromas are richer and more intense. It features pronounced vanilla, toasted oak, and caramel aromas. There's a deep, earthy note of leather and tobacco, followed by classic Wild Turkey spice of cinnamon, clove, and a touch of black pepper. Subtle hints of dried orange zest and dark cherry syrup add a layered complexity.
It's full-bodied and robust on the palate, exactly how you would expect an 8 YO Wild Turkey bourbon to be. It features sweet and spicy notes, sweet corn and brown sugar, and a backbone of baking spices and charred oak. The rye influence becomes more pronounced as the whiskey opens up, presenting dried herbs, pepper, and a dry cinnamon heat. A layer of dark chocolate and roasted nuts adds more depth and complexity.
The finish is long and layered, with seasoned oak, spice, and a lingering caramel sweetness leading to a dry ending accompanied by leather, toasted barrel, and faint citrus zest notes.
The Wild Turkey 8 YO is an exceptional bourbon with an outstanding value at a $45 retail list price. It's a bold, flavorful, well-structured bourbon that punches well above its price point. Its age imparts a notable depth and complexity, which, while true to its Wild Turkey roots, also takes the whiskey to a new level. It's ideal for sipping neat, on the rocks, or in an amazing Old Fashioned. Run, don't walk to get a bottle or two; this will be a very popular bourbon. For an in-depth look on how high rye mash bills shapes the aroma and flavor profile of bourbon, see The World's Best High Rye Bourbons.
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