Wild Turkey 8 Years Old, 101

Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 5 by Michael Jackson and Jim Murray.

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Tasting Notes

Michael Jackson Nose Dry. Molasses. Vanilla. Palate More malty flavours than might be expected in a Bourbon. Suggestions of Assam tea. The char flavours are not tea but wood. Finish Oaky, winey, raisiny. Very long. Comment Yes it is big and wild, but far more sophisticated than the name suggests.

Jim Murray Nose Heavy oak and vanilla, sweet and quite fat. Palate Rich and mouth-coating from the start, with a surprising burst of oaky spice at the centre. The honey sweetness lurks in the background. Finish Rye depth and fruitiness but unusually dry and oak-heavy. Comment A drier version of the old No. 8 101 brand, with the honey trademark keeping a low profile. Not quite so complex but a sturdy bourbon for all that.