DSR – KY – 021: Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 8 Years
Company/Distillery: Wild Turkey Distilling Company
Location: Lawrenceburg, KY
Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 13% rye and 12% barley
Age Statement: Aged 8 Years
Proof/ABV: 101 Proof/ 50.5% ABV
Color and Viscosity: In the bottle, Wild Turkey 101 8-Year displays a rich auburn color. In the glass, it settles into a tawny hue with slightly lighter highlights around the rim.
When tilted in the tasting vessel, the bourbon forms a thin, viscous line that develops into a medium lip before quickly breaking into pinhead-sized beads. Those beads soon turn into medium-to-fast moving legs that work their way down the glass.
Purchase Price: $44.95 from NC ABC store; 750 ml
Bottle Label Information:
Neck Label
Aged 8 Years
Jimmy Russell Master Distiller
1855
Front Label
WILD TURKEY 101
KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY
AGED 8 YEARS
Back Label
This remarkable 8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon has been expertly crafted by the legendary father and son Master Distiller team, Jimmy and Eddie Russell. Using Kentucky limestone purified water and made from the finest corn, malted barley and rye available, this bourbon has been aged for 8 years in classic no.4 char American oak barrels, giving it a richer, deeper and bolder taste. Complex notes of vanilla, caramel, oak and spice combine to create a uniquely satisfying whiskey experience. This is how bourbon is meant to be – bold, genuine, with no compromise.
Distilled and Bottled by Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, KY
Distillery Background
Wild Turkey Distilling Co.
Wild Turkey Distilling Co. traces its roots back to 1940 when an Austin Nichols executive by the name of Thomas McCarthy went turkey hunting with some friends and acquaintances. It is rumored that Mr. McCarthy shared a fine bourbon from the Nichols stock that was greatly enjoyed by his friends. On future hunting trips, as the story goes, these same friends would ask McCarthy for more of the “wild turkey bourbon,” thus creating an enduring brand that is still used today. Just 2 years after that hunting trip, the Austin Nichols company would release its first batch of the Wild Turkey bottling. For approximately 30 years, they would continue to source this Wild Turkey bourbon. Starting in 1971, the Austin Nichols company would purchase the distillery creating the Wild Turkey bourbon and begin taking over the distilling of its whiskey on site for the very first time. Since that time, the distillery has seen its ownership change multiple times, most recently falling into the hands of Campari Group in 2009. Campari would quickly invest $100 million into building a new distillery, which opened in 2011. In addition, a new bottling facility was built and completed in 2013. Finally, a state of the art visitor center was constructed and opened in 2014. Wild Turkey now has approximately 700,000 barrels aging in over 28 rickhouses on its facilities. If you ever get a chance to visit the Wild Turkey Distillery, we highly recommend it.
A Lasting Legacy as Master Distiller
In 1954, a young man by the name of Jimmy Russell would follow his dad’s footsteps and begin his career at the Anderson County Distilling Company (later J.T.S. Brown & Son’s Distilling and Austin Nichols Distilling). Russell would begin his career by sweeping the distillery floors and quickly work his way up through the facility. In his early years, Russell would learn distilling from Master Distillers Bill Hughes and Ernest Ripy, Jr. In 1967, Jimmy Russell would become the fourth Master Distiller at the Wild Turkey Distillery. Mr. Russell has built an amazing legacy as Master Distiller at Wild Turkey. With 60 years experience, he is the longest-tenured Master Distiller in the worldwide spirits industry. In 2000, Mr. Russell was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. He is also a lifetime honorary member of the Kentucky Distillers Association, Whiskey Hall of Fame member, and a key holder to the town of Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.
In 1981, Wild Turkey would add a third Russell to its history books. This time Jimmy’s son, Eddie Russell, would join the team. Like Jimmy, Eddie began at the distillery on the lower rung of the ladder as a relief operator. Eddie would work his way up through the company, like his father, and eventually be inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2010 and promoted to Master Distiller in 2015.
The Russells have had a lasting impact on Wild Turkey by developing different offerings such as Rare Breed, Kentucky Spirit, Russell’s Reserve, Wild Turkey 81, Unforgiven, Diamond, and many others.
Additional Rickhouse Ramblings Reviews: Wild Turkey and Review: Wild Turkey Longbranch
Tasting Notes
Tasting Date/Vessel: May 24, 2026 – Neat in Glencairn Glass
Nose
Christian: Every once in a while we get a bottle where the decorative neck label is glued on and overpowers the aroma released in the bottle. That is the case with this offering from Wild Turkey. Sadly, the Wild Turkey 101 8 Year label allows no other aromatics to escape the bottle.
In the glass, Wild Turkey 101 Aged 8 Years offers a very light nose. Soft notes of freshly milled cereal grains, including rye, rise slowly from the glass. Gentle hints of oak, vanilla, and toasted brown sugar are also present. Swirling the bourbon in the glass brings forward a punch of ethanol, honey, and graham cracker. Overall, the nose is delicate with a hint of acidity.
Mike: From the bottle, there is very little to pick up beyond a faint note that reminds me of the adhesive from the “tax strip” label.
In the glass, the bourbon opens with cereal grains and a light sweetness. As it sits, rye spice begins to emerge, bringing notes of cinnamon candy. The sweetness remains present but never becomes overly rich or heavy.
Overall, the nose is pleasant and approachable, with grain, sweetness, and spice remaining in good balance.
Mouth
Christian: On the palate, this bourbon is dry with a slight oily viscosity providing a light coating of the tongue. Like the nose, the flavor profile is extremely delicate and unassuming. Butter, sweet yellow corn, and vanilla bean are all present. A second pass allows the rye punch to come through with just a touch of oak barrel char and pepper. The traditional Wild Turkey flavor is present in the mouth. Wild Turkey 101 Aged 8 Years is mellow in flavor and aromatics.
Mike: The mouthfeel is medium-light and slightly dry. A semi-sweet note arrives first before quickly transitioning into flavors reminiscent of cinnamon candy. At times, it brings to mind an Atomic Fireball that has begun to lose some of its heat while becoming sweeter.
As the bourbon moves across the palate, a light earthy quality develops that I associate with the familiar Wild Turkey profile. The sweetness gradually gives way to a drier character, while white pepper spice begins building toward the back of the palate.
The flavor profile is fairly straightforward but enjoyable, with the sweetness, spice, and earthy notes working well together.
Finish
Christian: This 8 Year Old Wild Turkey 101 has a warming Kentucky hug that starts slowly, warming first in the throat before building to a nice cinder in the chest. I would describe the finish as medium in length and very dry on the palate. Cinnamon, warm vanilla syrup, and caramel are all present. The influence of 8 years in the oak barrel comes late and offers a nice compliment to the overall sweetness in this bourbon.
Mike: The finish begins with a subtle scratchiness at the back of the throat before settling into a long-lasting warmth.
White pepper spice continues to linger, and a soft cinder-like warmth develops in the chest before gradually fading away. The finish remains dry throughout and leaves behind a pleasant reminder of the rye spice that carried much of the palate.
Our Rating
Final Thoughts
Christian: Honestly, the verdict is still out for me. I am a fan of the traditional offering of Wild Turkey 101 and I think mentally, I expected more out of this version. The nose is simply a disappointment. Little to no aromatics from the bottle and a subtle nuanced experience in the glass just leave me wanting more. The flavors in the sip are there but not as robust and balanced as I had expected out of an 8 year bourbon. Traditional flavors – yes. Wild Turkey funk – yes. Differentiating itself from standard issue 101 – no. If I had to choose, I prefer Russell Reserve 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey which is offered by the NC ABC system at the same price point as this bottle and provides a smoother drinking experience while being more balanced in flavor.
I think a fun experiment we may undertake in the near future is blind tasting Standard Wild Turkey 101 against Wild Turkey 101 8 Year and Russell Reserve 10 Year. I am curious to see if we can distinguish between the three offerings, choosing our favorite when we don’t know which is which.
Rating: 2.5 Rickhouses
Mike: Wild Turkey 101 8 Year stays true to the profile that has made Wild Turkey 101 a longtime favorite among bourbon drinkers. The familiar combination of sweetness, cinnamon-forward rye spice, and earthy character is all here, though the additional age seems to bring a slightly drier and more mature presentation.
This is not an especially complex bourbon, but it is an enjoyable one. The flavors are balanced, the finish lingers nicely, and the profile remains unmistakably Wild Turkey from start to finish.
At $50 on the NC ABC shelf, it occupies an interesting spot in the Wild Turkey lineup. While standard Wild Turkey 101 remains one of the better values in bourbon, this 8-year version offers a more mature take on that familiar profile. For Wild Turkey fans looking to explore an older expression without moving into higher-priced offerings, this is a bottle worth considering.
Rating: 3.5 Rickhouses
Gallery
