The new barrels that WT began to lay down in earnest finally came of age towards the end of 2019 in enough quantity to necessitate a new product being created. That’s because the secret about the whiskey industry is that young barrels must be sold.

Overall:It would be remiss of me to call 2018’s Rare Breed 116.8 an average pour. It’s far from that; however, it’s nowhere near as impressive as I assumed it would be in comparison to my recent experience with Wild Turkey 101. In other words, where I’d previously noticed distinct differences between 2017 and mid/late-2018 Wild Turkey 101 … well, I’m simply not getting the same level of distinction between 2017 and 2018 Rare Breed. There are differences, though in the grand scheme of things (and considering no dilution), they’re relatively minor in terms of profile and overall satisfaction. Rich velvety caramel hefts itself from the glass and saunters down my sinuses with butterscotch, cinnamon, honey and oak in tow. Skulking about the glass behind these giants is some nutmeg, citrus, clove, vanilla, leather and a bit of mint.It’s not like I don’t like dusties either. My preference seems to lean towards the ones made by National Distillers during the same time periods as dusty Turkey. I’ve also fallen in love with a lot of the old bourbon made at Bernheim. You can enhance the Wild Turkey’s drinking experience by pairing with a variety of foods, because Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye is a versatile whiskey: This is the latest batched iteration of Wild Turkeys Rare Breed. Based on how long WT RB 03 was around, who knows how long we can expect to this on the market also. The proof is no doubt the result of the batching, and while we can believe this is a single batch, it's easy to hit specific proofs in batches this large, which is almost certainly the case and why this release will be around for a long time. We may sell, license, transfer, assign or in any other way dispose of the Service (including Members) to any third party without any notification to you, e.g. (but without limitation) in connection with any reorganization, restructuring, merger or sale, or other transfer of assets.

What’s cool about this is that the higher proof makes all its flavors pop even more, giving you a richer taste of the rye grain and all the other yummy notes in the whiskey. Rare Breed Rye also takes things a step further by not chill filtering (NCF) the liquid. This is something that not even the US version of Rare Breed Bourbon can claim. If you’re unfamiliar with chill filtering, it’s the act of passing the whiskey through a media (sometimes silk or paper filters, sometimes a layer of fine charcoal) after chilling it down to 40 degrees or less. The answer to the question is yes there is. Introduced as an extension for their Wild Turkey Rare Breed lineup. “Rare Breed Rye”, showcases Wild Turkey’s commitment to producing high-quality spirits across various categories. It is an undiluted whiskey, giving enthusiasts a chance to experience the bold and spicy characteristics of rye whiskey in its undiluted form., The bottle I’m reviewing today is batch L0173022. That should indicate that it was bottled in 2001, a full 3 years before Wild Turkey changed the barrel entry proof from 107 to 110.This batch wears a barrel proof of only 108.4 proof. That’s barely higher than the barrel entry proof these barrels went in at.Most limited releases from major distilleries are gobbled up by thirsty drinkers or greedy flippers before regular folks have a chance. For whatever reason, the hype train skipped Master's Keep and continues to feast on allocated bottles like Blanton's, Weller 12-Year, Four Roses Limited Edition, Michter's single barrel releases and so on. Don't ask why, just be thankful the retail prices you find aren't being pumped up by illegal sales on Facebook. Finish: Moderately long finish (but wishing it was longer), I continue to get more dry oak notes. They don’t become too dominant though as root beer flavors remain along with the telltale Turkey nuttiness, a sprinkling of citrus zest and cinnamon. Score: 7.6/10

If you’re in search of a fresh rye whiskey experience, Rare Breed Rye should be on your list. Its distinct blend and non-chilled filtration make it a notable choice among many rye whiskeys. Whether you’re a longtime whiskey aficionado or just venturing into the realm of rye, this rich and intricate whiskey is sure to impress. Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye: An Overview This causes the natural fatty acids that are in the distillate to congeal, clump together and become trapped in the filter.The reason why this is done is mainly cosmetic. Producers don’t want their customers thinking their whiskey is defective if it is exposed to cold temps (like a car trunk in the winter or a big cube of ice being added to a glass). From mass-produced products like 101 to highly limited releases like Master's Keep, you could make the argument that Wild Turkey is the only major American whiskey maker whose lineup hasn't been compromised by the Bourbon Boom. Its products are available widely at or near their suggested retail price, and are generally ignored by rare whiskey hunting communities that have driven many a bottle to extinction. This makes Wild Turkey whiskey — weighed by price, age, proof — one of the best brands for value in the whiskey world.When I reach for a bourbon, there are only a few that can carry the day for me. This is one of those bottles. It’s not something that makes me lose time when I sip it, but I do enjoy it. A good, solid pour when you have a bourbon itch to scratch.

Before signing off, I have one last thing to reiterate. There’s no reason for domestic Rare Breed to be chill filtered. From all I’ve researched, chill filtration is completely unnecessary above 86 proof. Why push barrel-proof whiskey through an extraneous process that, if anything, is subtractive? Sure, you might get a touch more gleam out of it, but does it really benefit the consumer? I’d argue it doesn’t. And if it did, I highly doubt an NCF travel-retail Rare Breed would exist. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof states it’s non-chill filtered. Booker’s and Stagg Jr. each state they’re unfiltered (which infers NCF). Hell, Rare Breed Rye is non-chill filtered. I think it’s past time we make NCF Rare Breed the standard – for all markets. Who’s with me?Whiskybase B.V. (“Whiskybase”, “we” or “us”, company details below) offers a whisky enthusiasts online platform that provides its members access to the most comprehensive, transparent and trusted resource of whisky bottles and allows and stimulates its members to contribute information about whisky bottles to the platform (“Service”). The strong tastes of barbecue dishes, be it ribs, brisket, or pulled pork, go hand in hand with the hearty flavors of Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye. The rye’s spicy undertones perfectly match the barbecue’s smoky essence, creating a mouthwatering combo. Bourbon Mash: though it's never been confirmed by the brand, it's widely understood all its bourbon whiskey products start with a mash of 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley (Wild Turkey 101, Russell's Reserve, Longbranch, Wild Turkey Master's Keep, etc.). Huge clove, spicey allspice and sweet musty caramel. Caramel and vanilla are present here also, although they are hidden away behind the big, powerful spices. Wild Turkey’s products, which also includes the Russell’s Reserve product line, find themselves in a tighter band than other major distilleries. Wild Turkey’s barrel entry proof is lower than the more common legal maximum of 125, with distillate entering barrels from 107 - 115 proof. It’s also well known that Jimmy Russell likes bourbon in the 8-12 year old range. While bourbon can increase or decrease in proof as it ages, this puts a lower cap on overall proof compared to many other bourbons in the marketplace. On top of that, Wild Turkey offers a lot of their products at a higher proofpoint than normal, with their flagship Wild Turkey 101 coming in at a high proof relative to the competition at the same price point. Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel hits the 110 proofpoint, just a few shy of Rare Breed. As for age, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year lands right in the midst of the 6, 8, and 12 year old blend that makes up Rare Breed. There are other Wild Turkey products of course, but the point is it’s very easy to draw similarities from one to the next.