Wild Turkey 81 Proof Kentucky Bourbon

Originally crafted by Kentucky Bourbon Hall-of-Famer Eddie Russell as “Wild Turkey 81”, Wild Turkey Bourbon is aged in American White Oak barrels with the deepest, No. 4 “alligator” char. With notes of sweet vanilla, pear, and hints of spice, this bourbon finishes with a flavor that is full and rich, whether enjoyed straight or bourbon cocktail.

Taste : An explosion of vanilla and caramel, with hints of honey and orange.

Aroma : Deep vanilla with caramel and oak

Finish : Lingering finish with soft oak and notes of dried fruit.

Process : Aged in No. 4 alligator char, 81 proof

HOW TO ENJOY WILD TURKEY BOURBON

For an easy sipping, tried and true Kentucky bourbon cocktail, look no further than the Kentucky mule.

KENTUCKY MULE

This zippy combination of bourbon and ginger beer is a staple of Kentucky summers.

INGREDIENTS

2 ounces Wild Turkey® bourbon

1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed

Ginger beer, to top

Garnish: mint sprig.

HOW TO MAKE IT

Add Wild Turkey® bourbon and lime juice to a highball glass with ice.

Stir and top with ginger beer. Garnish with lime and mint sprig. This is how you make the Kentucky Mule cocktail.

HOW WE MAKE WILD TURKEY BOURBON WHISKEY

How we do, what we do — and where we do it — are equally important when it comes to making bourbon. Our master distillers have over a century of experience making Kentucky Straight Bourbon the right way, The Wild Turkey way.

OUR WILD TURKEY ESSENTIALS

WATER : Our water comes from the Kentucky River and is naturally filtered through limestone, removing iron and other impurities

YEAST : We’re still using our original yeast strain – proprietary to Wild Turkey – which has informed our bourbon’s signature flavor for over 60 years.

NON-GMO GRAINS : Wild Turkey is one of the few distilleries to have never used a genetically modified grain in our bourbon.

BARRELS : Not everyone makes a big deal about char level – the intensity of burn inside American White Oak barrels used to age bourbon. But only a No. 4 “alligator” char, the deepest available, can produce our bourbon’s signature amber color and bold flavor. Others might be content with a No. 1, 2 or 3 char; but it’s something we can never compromise on. We use our No. 4 char across all of our bourbons and ryes, giving each one our distinctive Wild Turkey flavor.

TIME : We never pour a drop of Wild Turkey until it’s aged at least five years – often six or eight or more. Of course, we legally would only have to age it two years to call it a straight topshelf bourbon whiskey, but we’re not big fans of doing the minimum. Even our tin-clad, wooden rick houses where we store our barrels have stood the test of time; they allow maximum interaction between wood and bourbon, and they’ve been doing it since the 1890s. When we put “Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey” on our label, it’s because our bourbon earned it.