Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a premium bourbon whiskey produced by the Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. It was first released in 1991 and is bottled at 108 proof (54% ABV). The “rare breed” name comes from the fact that this bourbon blend uses a higher proportion of barrel proof whiskey than standard Wild Turkey bourbons.
What is Wild Turkey Rare Breed?
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a barrel proof bourbon that was introduced in 1991 as a limited edition offering. It quickly became popular and was added to the Wild Turkey core range due to its robust and complex flavor profile. The whiskey is a blend of 6, 8, and 12 year old bourbons, bottled without chill filtration at 108 proof. This higher bottling proof allows more flavor from the barrel to come through.
Rare Breed gets its name from the fact that it uses a higher percentage of the older, more mature bourbons in its blend. Most Wild Turkey expressions are around 6-8 years old. By including a significant amount of 12 year old bourbon, Rare Breed has a more layered and nuanced taste than younger Wild Turkey bourbons.
Wild Turkey’s Master Distiller Eddie Russell hand selects the barrels that go into each batch of Rare Breed. He tastes and analyzes various aged barrels to create a balanced blend each time. So while age statements may vary slightly between different bottlings, the goal is always a bold, flavorsome bourbon that showcases Wild Turkey’s distilling style.
Taste Profile and Notes
On the palate, Wild Turkey Rare Breed leads with sweet flavors like brown sugar, honey, and orange, balanced by spicy rye and oak notes. It has a creamy, full bodied mouthfeel with the higher alcohol well integrated. Tasting notes commonly associated with Rare Breed include:
- Brown sugar
- Honey
- Orange
- Vanilla
- Spice
- Pepper
- Oak
- Leather
- Cocoa
- Toffee
The finish is long, warming, and flavorful with lingering notes of oak and spice. Overall, Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a great intersection of sweet and spicy flavors, with a bolder profile compared to younger Wild Turkey bourbons. The higher proof accentuates the concentration of flavors from the barrels.
How is Wild Turkey Rare Breed made?
Wild Turkey Rare Breed starts with Wild Turkey’s classic bourbon mash bill:
- 75% corn
- 13% rye
- 12% malted barley
This mash bill gives Wild Turkey bourbon its signature sweetness from the corn along with spicy rye character. The malted barley aids in fermentation.
After the mash bill is combined with water and yeast, the mixture ferments for 3-4 days, converting the grain starches into alcohol. It is then distilled through Wild Turkey’s column still at a relatively low proof to retain flavor compounds. The distillate is placed into new, charred American oak barrels at no more than 125 proof for aging in Wild Turkey’s rickhouses.
For Rare Breed, the distillate ages for at least 6 years, but includes a significant proportion of 8 and 12 year old bourbon as well. Master Distiller Eddie Russell hand selects these older barrels that have matured well and represent the Wild Turkey flavor profile. After blending, Rare Breed is bottled at 108 proof, without any chill filtration, allowing for maximum flavor and texture.
How to Drink Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is quite versatile when it comes to recommended cocktail recipes and places it can be enjoyed. Here are some popular ways to drink and appreciate this barrel proof bourbon:
- Neat or on the rocks – Sipped neat or over ice, Rare Breed provides the full experience of its bold, layered flavors.
- Old Fashioned – The higher proof stands up well in a classic Old Fashioned cocktail.
- Manhattan – Rare Breed’s spice makes an excellent Manhattan, balancing the sweet vermouth.
- Mint Julep – A Kentucky Derby favorite, Rare Breed’s sweetness pairs perfectly with muddled mint.
- Whiskey Sour – The bourbon’s oak and vanilla notes complement sour mix for a flavorful twist.
- With a cigar – Rare Breed has the complexity to stand up to and complement a full-bodied cigar.
A few drops of water can help open up the flavors of Rare Breed even more. While delicious neat, the higher proof means some water, ice, or cocktail ingredients help bring out the bourbon’s full range. But a touch of dilution shows why Rare Breed was crafted at barrel proof to begin with.
Where to Buy Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a widely distributed brand available at many liquor stores, grocery stores, bars, and restaurants. Here are some tips for where to find it and what to expect to pay:
- Liquor stores – Check bourbon or whiskey specialist stores, as well as major liquor chain store locations. Rare Breed can often be found for $45-60 per 750ml bottle.
- Grocery stores with liquor licenses – Larger supermarket chains like Kroger, Safeway, Publix, and more will carry Rare Breed when they have liquor departments. Price may be $5-10 higher than specialty liquor stores.
- Online – Many online liquor stores ship Rare Breed nationwide, though local state shipping laws still apply. Expect to pay $50-70 per bottle including shipping.
- Bars and restaurants – Upscale bars with a focus on bourbon selections will often have Rare Breed on their shelves. Expect to pay $12-18 per 2oz pour.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed can be purchased directly online through the Wild Turkey website as well, depending on your state’s shipping regulations. Availability and pricing does vary somewhat between states and retailers due to taxes, markup, and supply chain.
Is Wild Turkey Rare Breed expensive?
Compared to standard Wild Turkey bourbons and other entry level bourbon brands, Rare Breed sits at a premium price point. However, it offers excellent value when compared to other premium or small batch bourbons.
At around $45-60 per 750ml bottle at most retailers, Rare Breed is priced above cheaper bourbon labels like Evan Williams, Jim Beam, and standard Wild Turkey 101. However, it is very competitively priced for the quality and maturity compared to other specialty bourbon brands like Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve, or Maker’s Mark that can run $60-80 per bottle.
Given that Rare Breed includes a significant proportion of 12 year aged whiskey, it offers great value and quality for bourbon in the $50 price range. The higher bottling proof also means more flavor and complexity than a younger bourbon at 80 proof. Overall, while certainly pricier than bottom shelf bourbon, Wild Turkey Rare Breed represents an excellent intersection of price, quality, complexity, and drinkability that punches above its modest price point.
How does Wild Turkey Rare Breed compare to other bourbons?
Wild Turkey Rare Breed stands apart from other bourbons in the $50 price range due to its higher proof bottling and use of extra aged distillate. Here’s how it compares to some other popular bourbon brands:
Wild Turkey 101
Wild Turkey 101 is Rare Breed’s more affordable and widely available sibling in the brand’s lineup. 101 is bottled at 101 proof vs Rare Breed’s 108 proof barrel proof. As a result, 101 has a lighter body and smoothness, with more restrained flavors. Rare Breed delivers a bolder, more intense Wild Turkey experience.
Maker’s Mark
Maker’s Mark is a wheated bourbon, meaning it uses wheat instead of rye in the mash bill. This gives it a sweeter, softer flavor profile compared to Rare Breed’s spice and heat. Maker’s Mark is bottled at 90 proof for a smooth taste. Rare Breed is more robust, complex, and packs more flavor at its higher proof point.
Knob Creek
Knob Creek is aged for 9 years, 3 years longer than the minimum age of Wild Turkey used in Rare Breed. However, Rare Breed also includes older 12 year aged whiskey in the blend. Both are 100 proof. Knob Creek will taste richer with more oak, while Rare Breed has more rye spice and kick.
Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve uses a higher rye content in its mash bill, giving it a spicier flavor profile. It is proofed lower at 90.4 proof for a softer texture. Rare Breed has more sweetness from its higher corn content and bigger body at full barrel proof.
Overall, Wild Turkey Rare Breed compares favorably against more expensive boutique bourbons, punching above its weight class in terms of maturity, proof, and value. It delivers an excellent representation of Wild Turkey’s distilling legacy.
Is Wild Turkey Rare Breed limited edition?
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is no longer classified as a limited edition whiskey. After its initial release in 1991, it became so popular that Wild Turkey added it to their core range of bourbon offerings. It has been in continuous production for over 30 years.
However, because Rare Breed relies on extra aged whiskey stocks, supply is more limited compared to younger bourbons. It is produced in small batches batched by Eddie Russell which can lead to short term inventory shortages. While never intended to be limited, periods of low supply and high demand can make it harder to find bottles on shelves.
Special releases of Rare Breed with different ages or proof points have been introduced periodically as limited editions. These include:
- Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 – Released in 2013 at a “beyond barrel proof” 116.8 proof point.
- Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 17 Year – Included 17 year aged whiskey blended with 8 year old Rare Breed, released in limited quantities.
So while the standard Rare Breed bourbon is now produced year round, special variants may come and go. Finding a bottle takes more hunting than ubiquitous bourbons, but it should generally be available through major liquor retailers year-round.
Does Wild Turkey Rare Breed age after bottling?
No, Wild Turkey Rare Breed does not continue to age or evolve once it is bottled. Like all spirits, the aging process stops when it is bottled and removed from the oak barrel environment of the rickhouse.
However, some enthusiasts claim that Rare Breed can benefit from brief “opening up” after first cracking a new bottle as it aerates slightly. Allowing it to breathe for 15-30 minutes may allow some of the sharper alcohol aromas to dissipate, letting more nuanced notes come forward. But overall, no major changes happen during storage.
If a bottle is left unopened, it will taste the same 5, 10, or 20+ years later. And once opened, best practice is to consume Rare Breed within 2-3 months before oxidation and evaporation take effect. Proper storage by keeping bottles sealed and out of direct light or heat is recommended. But no additional aging or maturation occurs outside the barrel.
Does Wild Turkey Rare Breed get better with age?
Within the barrel aging process, yes – more mature Wild Turkey bourbon contributes to Rare Breed’s complex flavor. But once bottled, no – no additional aging or improving occurs. In fact, over years of storage, some degradation is inevitable.
What makes Rare Breed unique is it includes whiskey aged up to 12 years, far beyond most Wild Turkey bourbons. The extra maturation time allows more barrel interaction, resulting in richer, deeper oak flavors and other complexities. So in the pre-bottling stage, older is better.
But after bottling, the aging process halts. Some enthusiasts may perceive brief changes as the whiskey oxidizes slightly after opening, but its quality does not improve. And over many years of storage, evaporation, fading of flavors, and other deterioration slowly occur. So vintage bottles decades old would not necessarily taste better.
For the best Wild Turkey Rare Breed experience, focus on trying to find a newly opened bottle. And if you have an unopened spare, drink and enjoy it within a few years rather than saving it indefinitely and risking decline over time.
Conclusion
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a premium bourbon whiskey that offers an incredible value. It delivers bold, complex flavors courtesy of its blend of aged whiskeys and high 108 proof bottling strength. The result is a bourbon that strikes an ideal balance between sweet and spicy notes, with a full body and lingering finish.
While not the most inexpensive budget bourbon, Rare Breed punches well above its class. For bourbon enthusiasts or anyone that appreciates high quality American whiskey, it provides an outstanding and readily available spirit worth having on your liquor shelf.