101

Wild Turkey 101 takes its name from a 1940 hunting trip, when an Austin Nichols executive shared bourbon samples with friends who kept asking for more of that "wild turkey" whiskey. The name stuck, and today it represents unpolished Kentucky tradition.

This straight bourbon is bottled at the characteristic 101 proof (50.5%), which drives its assertive character. The mash bill comprises 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley — a recipe that foregrounds corn sweetness over the rye spice you might expect. After 6 to 8 years maturing in heavily charred new American oak, the whiskey develops its distinctive profile.

The nose opens with allspice and pepper, followed by vanilla and honey. On the palate, the spirit feels silky, with toffee and cinnamon giving way to a lingering, sweet finish. This is no polished bourbon — it's a whiskey that lets its proof speak, but without being rough.