Despite the lack of many regularly available age stated products in the states, Wild Turkey has continued to offer several of them in the export markets. Our overseas drinkers have steady access to 8 year 101 and in the past a 12 year 101 product was available as well. The 12 year 101 was discontinued in 2014, in part due to Wild Turkey's low 107 barrel entry proof which made maintaining a steady supply of 12 year product at 101 proof difficult. As a replacement, the export markets saw a product a year older but lower proof which is what we have here today.
Aged 13 years; 45.5% ABV; 2014 bottle code; thanks to /u/tnpoplar for the gift
Nose: Healthy amounts of oak, sugary sweetness, and some spice bite. Typical vanilla/caramel and baking spices. Smells like a moderately aged spicy bourbon. I would guess a little higher than 90ish proof from the nose.
Taste: Echoes the nose. Vanilla caramel sweets, some oak, and some baking spices in the finish. The viscosity is rather thin and the flavors aren't very impactful, I would guess lower than 91 proof by taste. The sweet notes seem to be the most dominate and mask the amount of wood depth I would expect in a 13 year old product.
Thoughts: This is alright. The promise of the 13 year age statement looks good on paper but the proofing down works more against it than the extra age helps it. Tasting it side by side with 2015 8 year 101 export, I much prefer the 8/101 of the two. The first time I had this was in a blind 5 way turkey shootout and this barely edged out Forgiven for next to last place. I think that pretty much says it all.
Rating: C+
Note that price is not considered when assigning a rating.
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