Latest news with #WT
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WT honors six students lost during 2024-25 academic year
CANYON — With campus flags lowered and the chapel filled to capacity, West Texas A&M University paused Friday, April 25 to remember six students who died during the 2024-25 academic year. The 42nd annual student memorial service was held at the Joseph A. Hill Memorial Chapel, followed by a reception. Organized by the university's Student Government Association, the event served as a tribute to the lives lost and a reminder of the university's commitment to honoring its community. 'The Student Memorial is a heartfelt and meaningful tribute to honor the lives of WT students who have passed,' said Student Body President Kyal Browne, a senior agribusiness major from Waxahachie. 'It serves as a reminder that every Buffalo is part of our WT family. Their presence is deeply missed, and their impact will never be forgotten.' The six students remembered were: Jesus Jose Alaniz, a senior sports and exercise science major from Roma; Kaley N. Bilyeu, a freshman nursing major from Pampa; Elyjah J. Black, a senior biology major from Amarillo; Trevor C. Gibbs, a junior accounting major from Ballinger; Matthew P. Loyd, a junior music education major from Amarillo; and Jodi Vance-Furlow, a senior sports and exercise science major from Tucumcari, New Mexico. Browne said the event held personal significance for her after the loss of her friend, Trevor Gibbs, shortly after she took office as student body president. "Throughout this year, his memory has been a driving force behind this event," she said. 'I don't think I fully understood the meaning it held for families until I experienced that loss myself.' Scholarships of $350 each will be awarded for the 2025-26 academic year to students pursuing similar fields of study as those remembered. Recipients include: Kylie Velasquez, sophomore sports and exercise science major from Amarillo, in memory of Alaniz; Betha Riddley, senior nursing major from Amarillo, in memory of Bilyeu; Ava Olivas, sophomore biology major from Seminole, in memory of Black; Kami Drinnon, junior accounting major from Vega, in memory of Gibbs; Christofer Gaspar, junior music education major from Amarillo, in memory of Loyd; and Arantza Covarrubias, sophomore sports and exercise science major from Roy, New Mexico, in memory of Vance-Furlow. Students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.5 and participate in extracurricular or community service activities to be eligible for the scholarships. Chris Thomas, WT's vice president for student affairs, said the memorial was originally created in 1983 by students and remains a student-led tradition. 'It's a human thing, and WT is a human place built on the lives of those who came before us and those who will come after,' Thomas said. 'In order to live, we have to honor the dead.' Thomas said the university works to match scholarship recipients to the hometowns and majors of the students being honored, preserving their academic legacies. 'Sometimes it's easy to find a nursing student from Amarillo, but other times we expand the search to find someone within the same academic college to carry on that legacy,' he said. Thomas added that hosting the memorial inside the chapel for the first time in years added emotional weight to the ceremony. More: WTAMU Hill Chapel reopened after $1.5 million renovation 'To be back in that hallowed space and see every seat filled — it shows how much these lives meant,' he said. 'It's both humbling and healing to be part of a moment that turns grief into purpose.' This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: West Texas A&M holds memorial for six students lost during 2024-25 school year
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two standout WT students honored at employment awards
CANYON — Two standout students — one praised as 'the ideal student employee' and another recognized for optimizing critical office operations — were honored Monday at West Texas A&M University's (WT) annual student employment awards ceremony in the Fairly Club at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium. Senior computer science major Kayden Burgess of Pampa was named WT Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year, and graduate student Mariam Adegbindin, originally from Lagos, Nigeria, earned the Graduate Assistant of the Year honor. Burgess, Adegbindin and 70 other nominated student workers were celebrated during the event. Burgess is a student manager, event manager and bartender in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center, where he 'is very attentive to all of the details of setting up a space properly,' according to a nomination letter from Chari Hill, JBK assistant director. 'He has excellent critical thinking skills, often seeing areas to improve,' Hill wrote. 'He can quickly troubleshoot problems during events and find solutions. He truly epitomizes the ideal student employee and has a passion for not only the JBK but for WT.' Hill said Burgess is so well regarded that clients specifically request him as event manager or bartender. 'This honor means that all of the work I put in for the past four years is really paying off,' Burgess said. 'I'm really lucky to have been able to work with the kind of people at the JBK that I have and been in such a welcoming ecosystem such as WT.' Burgess added that his time in the JBK taught him invaluable lessons in communication and resourcefulness. 'Working in the JBK has helped me refine my leadership skills, which I'll use long after I graduate,' he said. 'The experience of managing events and collaborating with so many different people has challenged me to be more organized and proactive.' Adegbindin works in the WT Office of Career and Professional Services, where she was hired to help manage and utilize large amounts of data. She 'developed gorgeous and functional data dashboards that allow for more streamlined data gathering and analysis,' according to a nomination letter from Jessi Barrientos, senior career services coordinator. 'Her work will have lasting positive impacts on students at WTAMU as it allows our department to assess and advocate for services that better meet student needs,' Barrientos wrote. Barrientos also commended Adegbindin for improving the office's free headshot service and the Professional Clothing Closet. 'I'm very shy, I'm very quiet, and getting this kind of honor makes me see that, even still, the work I do kind of speaks for itself and is making a difference,' Adegbindin said. Adegbindin added that gaining hands-on experience with data analytics has boosted her confidence. 'I came here wanting to expand my knowledge, and now I get to apply it in ways that help other students succeed,' she said. 'WT truly feels like a home away from home.' WT President Walter V. Wendler thanked the winners and nominees for their dedication. 'Your work, alongside staff and faculty, is essential to fulfilling the mission of WT,' Wendler said. 'You are an essential part of, not only the classroom through your studies, but the business of WT through your student employment.' In addition to the top two awards, five other students received special honors: Career and Self Development Award: Clayton Stevenson, senior animal science major from Earth Communication Award: Avery Feldman, senior agricultural media and communication major from Raton, New Mexico Critical Thinking Award: Celina Pinela, senior mechanical engineering major from Bovina Innovation and Technology Award: Sydnee Hendrick, senior graphic design major from White Deer Teamwork Award: Paityn Nicholson, junior agricultural media and communication major from Melrose, New Mexico Winners were chosen by a selection committee of WT staff and faculty, including representatives from the Office of Career and Professional Development and University Recruitment. The annual ceremony celebrates the integral role student employees play in fulfilling the university's mission. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Two WT students receive top honors at annual student employment awards
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Landman' co-creator to speak at WT, and Bob Dylan to be focus of AC events
CANYON — Screenwriter and journalist Christian Wallace, whose podcast series 'Boomtown' inspired Sheridan's hit series 'Landman,' will drill into the art of telling stories at an upcoming event at West Texas A&M University. 'From Boomtown to Landman: Storytelling in the West Texas Oil Patch' will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10 in Legacy Hall in the JBK Student Center in a co-presentation between the Center for the Study of the American West's Garry L. Nall endowed lecture series and WT's Distinguished Lecture Series. Admission is free. 'I think his example makes the case that wherever you are from, you have a story to tell, and if you tell it well, people will want to read — or watch — it,' said Dr. Alex Hunt, CSAW director, Regents Professor of English and Vincent-Haley Professor of Western Studies. 'I'm excited to hear Wallace's account of how he came to collaborate with Sheridan, for sure.' The series was created to honor Nall's exceptional service to WT and his scholastic accomplishments. The lecture series supports CSAW's mission to promote the study of the American West. Wallace, an Andrews native, was a writer for Texas Monthly when he wrote and hosted 'Boomtown.' He then co-created 'Landman' with Sheridan. An immediate hit for streaming service Paramount+, the series was renewed for a second season March 25. 'CSAW is pleased to bring a speaker who is west Texan himself,' Hunt said. 'He is a terrific writer for Texas Monthly, but of course it's his recent work as a writer on 'Landman,' produced by Taylor Sheridan, that is primarily what drives our interest right now.' With a renewed interest in Bob Dylan, this year's Amarillo College Creative Mind Lecture Series will include live music, a lecture, and rare film footage Wednesday through Friday, April 9-11 at AC's Washington Street campus. All events, sponsored by the AC Foundation, are free and open to the public. The event will kick off with live musical tributes to Dylan and food trucks at noon Wednesday at the Oeschger Family Mall, hosted by AC's FM-90. 'Last year we worked with WTAMU to bring Amarillo-born and internationally known author George Saunders to town,' said Chris Hudson, professor of English and director of AC's Creative Mind Lecture Series. 'This year we wanted the events to be more AC-centric and attract more AC students and faculty.' Dr. Tom Palaima, University of Texas MacArthur Fellow and Armstrong Centennial Professor Emeritus, will headline the event at 7 p.m. Thursday in AC's Concert Hall Theatre. Palaima earned numerous academic accolades including a Fulbright and later MacArthur for his research on Aegean scripts. He serves on the editorial board of The Dylan Review and was a prime mover in the decision of TDR to publish Dylan-inspired poetry and to emphasize inspiring the upcoming generation to explore and feel Dylan's music and express themselves about how his songs and performances affect them. His UT course 'Bob Dylan: History and Imagination' received the Undergraduate Studies Holleran Steiker Award for Creative Student Engagement in Spring 2022. 'AC and the Amarillo environs are fortunate to have Prof. Thomas G. Palaima come to town to share his seemingly infinite reservoir of wisdom on Bob Dylan,' said Robert Fulton, AC associate professor of humanities. 'I have known Tom for 30 years, and he is the epitome of a humanist as he combines the integrity of a world-class academic with a common-sense vision of life that he shares in numerous ways to the community, breaking down any distinctions between town and gown.' The three-day event will conclude with Steve Jenkins, director of the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Okla., presenting 'Stepping Into the Unknown from the Bob Dylan Archive' at 7 p.m. Friday in AC's Concert Hall Theatre. Spanning decades and musical styles, this program of short films and videos from the Bob Dylan Archive features rare and previously unreleased clips of Dylan on stage and in the studio. Film selections include Dylan's first film soundtrack for 1961's 'Autopsy on Operation Abolition;' a devastating solo rendition of 'Ballad of Hollis Brown' from the 1963 TV special 'Folk Songs and More Folk Songs;' a rollicking 1976 take on 'I Pity the Poor Immigrant' with Joan Baez; a gospel-infused 'Blowin' in the Wind;' an apocalyptically rocking 'When the Night Comes Falling from the Sky' with Dylan backed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; loving tributes to Johnny Cash and Tony Bennett; a glimpse into the Archive's film restoration project with never-before-seen footage of 'It's All Over Now, Baby Blue' from 1966; and many more treasures from the archive. Jenkins and Palaima will engage in a post-screening discussion with the Friday audience. The event also extends the visual aspect beyond the screen: 10 Dylan-song inspired prints designed by Morten Erhorn, a Danish artist, will be displayed in the Common Lobby outside of AC's Concert Hall Theatre before the Thursday and Friday events. The signed and numbered prints will be sold to support the Creative Mind Lecture Series. The Tascosa Drive-In shared its upcoming lineup of movie screenings planned for spring and summer. , it's all about making memories that last a lifetime. "Whether it's introducing your kids to a classic or experiencing something new together, we've got a magical lineup under the stars," the drive-in said on social media. The drive-in kicked off the month with "Minecraft: The Movie" April 4. Upcoming movies and dates include "The Goonies" special fundraiser night on Thursday, April 10, "Thunderbolts" on May 2, "Lilo & Stitch" on May 23, and "How To Train Your Dragon" on June 13. The drive-in said each movie typically plays for two to three weeks, and second features will be announced closer to showtime. "Bring the blankets, load up the car, and come share the laughs, the snacks, and the stories your family will remember forever," the drive-in said. CANYON — West Texas A&M University's Great Books Series will continue in April with one of the iconic American novels, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Daniel Klaehn, instructor of English and director of the University Writing Center in WT's Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages, will lead the discussion of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby.' The Great Books discussion will take place at 7 p.m. April 8 at Burrowing Owl Books's new Amarillo location, 2461 W. Interstate 40 in Wolflin Square. 'What does Gatsby teach us, 100 years later? Try as we may, we cannot relive our past. Yet, so many try. Instead, we should learn from our past, doing our best to move forward, evolve, grow, and live,' said Klaehn, who said the book was the first one that he truly appreciated as a student. 'Gatsby serves as a cautionary tale of what happens when we compromise ourselves to become someone else's happiness.' The discussion series—sponsored by the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities—is open to those who either have or haven't read the story, said organizer Dr. Daniel Bloom. WT professors and guest lecturers lead the monthly Great Books discussions. For information, email Bloom at dbloom@ The Arts in the Sunset will host a Signs of Spring Market shopping extravaganza from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19 at its venue located at 3701 Plains Blvd. in Amarillo. The event will feature dozens of local vendors, including EW! Creations, OTD Woodworking, Fuku Farm, Triple C Flower Farm, Yellow Sky T-Shirt Company, Mamies Backyard Farm, Fairly Wild Art, Blind Bird Designs, Eyel's Kitchen, Fen Wicks, MyHeartsBliss, Foster Sourdough Co, Back to the Garden, Frankenstein's Daughter, The Busy Baker, Low Prairie Gallery, DC's Flakes, Stacks Cookie Co., Drawings by David, Deena's Nail Bar, Twisted Shoe Creations, The Centered Pot Studio, Laurie Dellis Pottery and Fused Glass, Tammy Phillips, Brie&Bread, Divine Designs, Jack's Bees, Captivated Creatives, She is Divine 222, Amarillo College Dental Hygiene, Rain's Crafts and Crochets, Wood Burning Designs by Mark, Texas Panhandle Made, The Backyard Apothecary, The Social Pariah, Danielle Tanksley Art, The Savvy Sewist, Lemon and Honey Design Co, Katie Billstrom Photography, KB Scent Co, Wakpa Leather Works, Made By Denise Marie, The Soap Box, R and K Pie Shop, The 806 Cookie Momster, Hatice's Kitchen, LBJ Leather, Generations of Love- Impact Project, Victoriasvarieties, Diamond Star Halo, Sam and Becky's Eclectic Chair, Bella Bonded, Braxton Bjork, Tory Brooks Taylor, Tiffany LaFleur, Mike LaFleur, Margie Wright, Ndini Accessories and Mother Mettle's Facepainting/Design. For more details, visit the Arts in the Sunset page on Facebook or see their website. Kick off the spring season at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens, 1400 Streit Dr. with its GardenFest on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event features a day full of flower sales, shopping, crafts and more. Kick off spring in the Gardens, with more than 30 local vendors all throughout the gardens, as well as food trucks, and their annual geranium flower sale. General admission at the day of the event is $5, or free for members and children ages 5 and younger. For more information on the gardens, visit their website or page on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: 'Landman' co-creator Christian Wallace to give WT Nall Lecture
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
15 Minutes With ... Wendy Thacker of ScanSource
Wendy Thacker says she has her dream job. She has turned her service to the community, often performed as a volunteer in her spare time, into a full-time occupation. Now, as Vice-President of Philanthropy and Community Engagement at ScanSource, she collaborates with leaders across Greenville to expand her positive impact on those in need. Thacker plays a pivotal role in ScanSource's philanthropic efforts to create and fund programs that directly address needs in the Greenville community. She says she is especially passionate about addressing the needs of children, with her focus on the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential and grow into a capable and thriving adult. We caught up with Thacker to learn more about her new role at ScanSource and how it helps support children in reaching their potential. Here, she shares some wisdom on achieving career success, her background and how she hopes to help. TALK Greenville: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. Tell us a little about your background. Wendy Thacker: Greenville is my home. It's where I grew up and decided to build my career. I attended the University of South Carolina and hold a BA in Journalism with a focus on Advertising/Public Relations. My parents, brother and his family all live in Greenville, making it a city that holds a very special place in my heart. I'm a proud aunt to three nephews and I am 'Aunt Wendy' to all my friends' children as well. TG: Tell us how growing up in Greenville helped shape you personally and professionally. WT: Greenville is thriving but maintains its small-town charm. Growing up here allowed me to enjoy a wonderful childhood and just be a kid. Being from Greenville has given me the privilege of knowing many people. As we continue this journey to make a meaningful impact on our community, it's offered me the opportunity to know who to call on to come alongside us. TG: Can you describe your career trajectory? WT: I joined ScanSource in 1996 and have held roles across the organization. Most recently, I served as VP of Channel Marketing, and prior to that, I held roles as Director of Vendor Business and Marketing with the Networking and Security division and Team Leader in the POS division. I also oversaw marketing and business development for Motorola Solutions, in the services division and corporate marketing. TG: What piqued your interest in pursuing a career in community engagement and philanthropy? WT: I've always liked rolling up my sleeves and giving back. Early in my career at ScanSource, I participated in a project purchasing Christmas presents for children. I loved that employee-led initiatives created a meaningful impact, because community engagement and serving others have always been important to me. I approached our CEO with three big ideas for Greenville, one being to adopt a Title I school, giving us a chance to make an impact and let our employees be part of the journey. This pilot project is now under way and there are plans to extend it across the country to areas where our employees work and live. I initially planned to serve on a committee in my spare time to accomplish this goal, but now I've been able to make this my new role at ScanSource. It's my dream job. TG: Tell us more about the project and what it entails. WT: With the help of Greenville County Schools, we identified Thomas E. Kerns Elementary School as the school to adopt. Our Impact 360 program focuses on creating and executing specific activities within the school to foster knowledge and broaden experience. The program focuses on nutrition and food insecurity, education, clothing and hygiene, life skills and physical and mental health. Some of those initiatives have included a family fall festival, career day, field trip funding, staff appreciation, employee room moms and dads, and more. Our employees are focused on surrounding the school and using their time, resources and talents to make an impact on the children and staff. TG: How do you define leadership and what experiences helped you become a leader? WT: In this role, it's important to tell the story and to inspire others to come alongside you with the end goal in mind. Being a leader is all about painting the picture, having the goal in mind, and empowering others to use their talents and resources to help you accomplish the goal together. TG: What are your top three tips for success in business? WT: Fail often and fail fast. I believe you learn from your experiences, including mistakes. You'll never learn if you don't at least try. Surround yourself with great people who have different skills to offer, so you can always listen and see other viewpoints. Know your purpose. Purpose should drive everything you do. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: 15 Minutes With ... Wendy Thacker of ScanSource
Forbes
02-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
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.
