Just about one month ago, my wife and I each had a birthday. Because our birthdays are within a couple of days of each other, we tend to celebrate them together. Usually, we’ll go out to eat, see a movie, and maybe buy a bottle of our favorite “Special Occasion” bourbon (Wild Turkey Rare Breed).
Well, this year we didn’t go out to eat. Instead, I smoked a couple of Ribeye steaks. We didn’t go out to see a movie. Instead, we bought the new Bill & Ted movie and watched that at home. I did buy a bottle of Rare Breed Bourbon, but as I was looking up the price ahead of my trip to the liquor store, I noticed that Total Wine was also listing the new Rare Breed Rye as being in stock at a few of the stores in the area.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon is one of our favorites and one that we will often celebrate special occasions with. I also really like Wild Turkey 101 Rye whiskey. So I was pretty excited to bring the new bird into our birthday celebration. Unfortunately, it wasn’t at my usual store. Luckily it was at a location a few suburbs away.
I consider that extra drive part of my wife’s birthday present.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye
Purchase Price: $61.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Total Wine, Chanhassen, MN
Price per Drink (50mL): $4.13
Details: 56.1% ABV
Nose: Mint, a hint of dill, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cedar
Mouth: Bright and lively. Mint, ginger, citrus zest, cinnamon
Finish: Medium and warm. Cedar and cinnamon notes linger.
Thoughts: This might just be my new favorite sipping rye. I really like the 100 proof Old Forester rye, but the added proof on this one raises Rare Breed Rye above that. Rare Breed Bourbon is my favorite Wild Turkey Bourbon. Depending on the day, I can see this competing with that for my favorite Wild Turkey product.
So, how does this newcomer compare to the other Ryes in the Wild Turkey lineup? In case you were curious, I’ve done a mini If You’ve Had… for the Wild Turkey Ryes below.
Comparison to Other Turkey Ryes
Rare Breed Rye vs 101 Rye:
Noses are very similar. Rare Breed is bright and lively whereas 101 tends more toward sweet caramel flavors
Rare Breed Rye vs Russell’s Reserve Rye
Russell’s Reserve is sweeter and fruitier on the nose. On the mouth, Russell's Reserve shows more ripe fruit compared to the citrus zest of Rare Breed. Russell's Reserve also shows more oak.
Rare Breed Rye vs 81 Rye:
The nose on 81 is less concentrated. Much like 101, 81 is sweeter in presentation and obviously Rare Breed Rye has much more burn due to the 30 point proof difference.
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