American

Whiskey Review: Wild Turkey Rye 81

We review the back to basics Wild Turkey Rye 81, looking to see how the lower proof might impact the taste.

OVERALL RATING

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Tasting Notes

About:

Appearance:
Nose:
sweet notes predominate on the nose, with relatively little of the spiciness often associated with rye. Vanilla and honey are immediately noticeable, followed by spiced apple cider and toast.
Palate:
quite oaky, with a fair amount of honey sweetness and some charcoal. The hint of spice found on the nose is barely noticeable on the palate. Finish: the finish is somewhat astringent, not overly long, and dominated by woody notes like charcoal and oak. Overall, this is a rather woody, fairly sweet whiskey, which I probably wouldn’t have identified as a rye in a blind test (probably not surprising, given the low-rye mash bill). While not unpleasant by any means, it lacks the punch and complexity I like in a rye whiskey; there’s simply nothing particularly interesting about it. It’s decent for mixing, but I’d just as soon pick up a bottle of Wild Turkey 101, which also retails for around 20 bucks, for that purpose. I give Wild Turkey Rye 81 a score of 77. [graphiq id=”5U4XFL2wKuF” title=”Wild Turkey 81 Rye Overview ” width=”600″ height=”514″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/5U4XFL2wKuF” link=”https://whiskey.underthelabel.com/l/753/Wild-Turkey-81-Rye” link_text=”Wild Turkey 81 Rye Overview | UnderTheLabel”]
Finish:
the finish is somewhat astringent, not overly long, and dominated by woody notes like charcoal and oak.
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Katelyn Best

Katelyn Best, a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon, is a regular contributor to The Whiskey Wash. She has a particular passion for exploring the unique and unconventional aspects of the whisky world.

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