Today we have two bottles from Wild Turkey battling for your money! These are both the same mashbill of 51% Rye, 37% Corn, 12% Malted Barley. They are fairly close in price, and both non-chill filtered.

🥃Rare Breed) $65. Blend of 4, 6, and 8yr ryes, 112.2 proof.
-The Nose is interesting, with notes of black tea, cinnamon, lemon peel, vanilla, and oak char.
-The Palate starts with initial rye spice, dry-cinnamon, and black pepper, and then turns a little more sweet with caramel, oak-char, and some marshmallow.
-The Finish is medium in length, with those sweet notes turning into vanilla with loads of black pepper, and drying oak-char.
⭐️Overall this is a good, fairly complex rye, but it is definitely heavy on the pepper spice notes.

🥃Russell’s Reserve) $55. No age statement. 104 proof.
-The Nose is a little light, with some lemon peel, vanilla, cardamon, and fresh cut grass.
-The Palate starts with more herbal rye notes, and then a creamy lemon note develops, before some caramel, and white pepper appears.
-The Finish is medium, with mild oak-char and caramel leading into lingering cherry and herbal rye notes.
⭐️Overall this is another good Kentucky rye. Not overly complex, but has some great lemon and herbal rye notes.

🏆VERDICT) The tasting notes don’t really show how close these are in profile. Overall the Rare Breed has more black pepper spice and oak-char, and the Russell’s has more of those younger herbal, lemon, rye notes.
Considering the Russell’s is a little less expensive, and that I love a good herbal rye, I’m handing the Russell’s the win today.

I will also say though, WT bourbon is definitely more distinctive than their ryes, and considering the number of amazing ryes on the market these days, neither of these are memorable enough to keep me coming back for more… Although that could just indicate that I have way too many bottles of rye… 😜

What do you guys think!?