I Tasted 16 Wild Turkey Whiskeys. Here’s How I Rank Them From Worst To Best

#16. Wild Turkey American Honey, $20/£20

I feel bad for putting this one last. As far as flavoured whiskies and whisky liqueurs go, Wild Turkey Honey is actually quite good. Sadly, of everything on the list, it’s the bottle I would personally hunt for the least. If you are after something with that sweet honey hit, this is a very good style to go for.

#15. Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Old, $1,000/£800

This is more of a sourcing issue rather than it not being good. I was only ever given a 5cl sample of this from a good friend who is based in Kentucky. How she got it sent to me in the post is another marvel.

However, as delicious as this was, I did think the ABV was a little too hot. I rarely add water to any whisky, but I did with the last amount of this sample. It helped a little, but I felt it was a little unbalanced.

#14. Wild Turkey Generations, 60.4%, $826/£660

This is another resource situation when it comes to this release. There has only been one release of the Generations, and the makeup, ABV, and availability of it are very special.

A vatting of variable stocks from three generations of the Russell family. Jimmy sourced some 9-year-old stock, Eddie some 15-year-old stock, and Bruce some 12 & 14 year old stocks.

Highly sought-after and almost impossible to find, I would pay a lot to try this again. It was easily one of the creamiest, deepest styles of bourbon I’ve ever tried. Easily comparable with some famous BTAC releases and older Heaven Hill stocks.

#13. Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Rye, 45%, $30/£25

When it comes to rye, I think Wild Turkey makes a really nice style, but it isn’t my favourite. When it comes to the Russells and the Wild Turkey releases, they’re perfectly nice, but just don’t blow me away.

They’re amazing when it comes to Manhattan and Old Fashioned cocktails, however. Those super minty, very earthy rye notes really push through. But, when it comes to everyday sipping, my brain tends to wander to other releases.

#12. Wild Turkey 81 Rye, 40.5%, $44/£35

The same issue with this one, in all honesty. Rye is very affordable in the UK and, for the money, Wild Turkey is normally really hard to beat.

Sadly, in this situation, some other brands’ releases such as Sazerac, Rittenhouse, and High West, tend to deliver slightly better value for money.

#11. Wild Turkey 101 Rye, 50.5%, $25/£20

Apologies for being a little repetitive with this one. Here we do see that amazing showcase of how good Wild Turkey is for the money, but again, this just isn’t my favourite rye.

When it comes to bourbon, Wild Turkey walks over nearly everything, but the ryes have just always fallen a little flat for me.

#10. Wild Turkey Master’s Keep, 43%+, $250+/£200+

Now, I’ve been lucky enough to try three of these releases, and each one was simply wonderful. They can be really expensive when it comes to RRP and even availability in the UK.

Luckily, a part of this industry is all about who you know, as well as what you know. I tried them in a vertical – 2020 17YO 100 Proof (easily my favourite), 2023 Voyage in Jamaican Rum Casks (Fun, interesting and really tasty), and the 2018 Revival in Oloroso sherry (I didn’t love this, but it had stiff competition.)

If you’re a bourbon fan, then these are a must to search out and try, even buy if they’re reasonable.

#9. Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye, 57%+, $59/£45

Now this is where my mind was changed on Wild Turkey Rye. If I see a bottle of this behind a bar, then it’s normally in my glass a few moments later.

The Rare Breed releases are coveted for many reasons, the main one being that they’re simply incredible and of great value.

This is a powerhouse of minty, tobacco, earth spice, and sweet oak-drenched caramel. It really pushes through with the higher ABV, a must-have for any rye fan.

#8. Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Spirit, 50.5%, $50/£40

I would’ve loved to put this higher on the ranking; my only issue is finding a bottle of it. Having tried it at a bourbon fan meeting in 2025, it was one of the standouts of the day. Again, it’s just trying to get a hold of one.

I’ve seen them pop up on auction, but I’m reluctant to pay the premiums, the shipping, the tax, etc. I wish there were a full programme for this in the UK, as it would be an absolute triumph.

#7. Wild Turkey 81, 40.5%, $20/£15

An old classic. One of the bottles of bourbon that made me fall in love with the style. A standout point for this product is how it has such complexity for the price. It has classic bourbon sweetness, but I remember it having some mineral qualities and just being different from what I’d tried before.

Some of you may think this position is too high, but we owe a lot to this bottle. Without it, the world of American whiskey would be very different.

#6. Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old, 57%+, $270/£220

So this is the only really expensive one that breaks through that top 10 barrier. Being a whiskey writer doesn’t pay much, but it puts me in places where I can try absolutely incredible bottles of whiskey like this.

If I had the money spare and wanted to celebrate, I’d buy this over some of the more recent releases of George T Stagg and Eagle Rare 17 offerings. It’s so complex, balanced, and layered, you would never think this was a 57%+ bourbon.

An absolute gem of a style, but make sure you try it before you buy it. Chat to your bourbon friends, or see if you can buy a sample of it from someone.

#5. Russell’s 10 Year Old, 45%, $48/£38

Even though this is one of the cheaper and more readily available styles of Russell’s releases, it was the one I tried more recently – well, last summer. Even though I was late, I absolutely loved it.

I wouldn’t say it was complex, but what it does, it does very well. Lots of caramel, blackberry, powdered sugar, and sweet vanilla from American oak. A great product that should be on every bourbon drinker’s shelf.

#4. Wild Turkey 101 12 Year Old (Export Only), 50.5%, $155/£125

Again, right place, right time when it came to trying this. I was at a friend’s house and had a few drinks already. Luckily, I’m the kind of whisky nerd who always has empty sample bottles in his bag. Bottled this up and tried it a few days later.

What a style! It’s Wild Turkey 101 but with so much more power and length, and that’s saying something! It is mostly exported to Japan, but I would pay a decent amount to get it in the UK.

#3. Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, 50.5%, $50/£42

What a massive bottle of bourbon. I would’ve loved to have been there when the Russells first tried these single-barrel releases.

This is so dense with wood sugars, caramel, almonds, brown sugar, tropical fruits, and all of the hugely deep rye notes on the finish. Heavy with the grains, but so full and rich. A true delight and something that we should all try.

#2. Wild Turkey Rare Breed, 57%+, $50/£40

I sang the praises of the Rare Breed Rye. Even bigger ones are to be sung in the name of the classic Rare Breed Bourbon.

The first time this ever passed my lips, I felt as if I was on some sort of trip. It enveloped all of my senses, it took me on this daydream adventure through Kentucky warehouses, BBQ chats in warm summer gardens, and finally back into the room where I was trying it.

Massive flavour, incredible price, an absolute world beater and gold standard of any kind in the spirits world.

#1. Wild Turkey 101, 50.5%, $25/£20

I mean, c’mon. What else was going to take that number one spot? In the full, honest truth.

This might be the best value whisky on sale in the current world of whiskey. High proof, affordable price, globally available, extremely consistent, no corners cut. It never leaves the shelf in my house, and is one of the whiskeys that is always there for me, or anyone who wants to come in.

A triumph of history, legacy, and modern storytelling from a bourbon perspective.