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Thursday, November 10, 2016

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:
- $43
- 112.8 Proof
- NAS

I have, for the most part, been pretty partial to Wild Turkey products, enjoying their spicier flavor profile compared to the other big boys. Why I haven't picked up a bottle of Rare Breed sooner is beyond me, as a barrel proof offering from Wild Turkey just seems to make so much sense.

As I've found with most Wild Turkey products, Rare Breed is very spice forward.  It's spicy on the nose, spicy on the palate and spice on the back end. It's a rye influenced, cinnamon spice, though, as opposed to a peppery spice. On my first pour, that spice paired with the high proof just made this a serious heater that buried any other flavors that may have been lurking within. My initial impression was very ho-hum.

However, after being open for just a couple days, this bourbon took on a whole new life. While it maintained its spicy character, the heat seemed to die down a bit and a very caramel heavy sweetness came forward, balancing very well with the cinnamon spice.

The one thing that stuck out the most to me, though, and what will likely make me buy more Rare Breed in the future, is that it had a light but present apple cider flavor. You know, that apple flavor that is sweet but with just a touch of bite. It wasn't overpowering in any way, but rather a subtle flavor. However, it was there just enough to notice and enjoy.

While I've enjoyed many a pour sitting around a campfire or backyard fire, I think it's that hint of apple cider mixed with the cinnamon and caramel that just made this pour go so well with a fall campfire and roasted marshmallows. It's for that reason that I could see myself grabbing another bottle in the future in anticipation of my next night by the fire, drinking whiskey, ducking smoke and cinders and trying really hard not to fall out of my chair.

This wasn't one of those bottles that slowly developed over time. Rather, it just changed within a couple days after opening the bottle, and then remained consistent from there, and luckily for me it remained consistently good.

Grade: B+

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