The number 3 spot on the Top 5 Budget Bourbon list is Wild Turkey’s 101 bourbon. This brand has a long storied history that begins in 1855 when the Fitts, Martin, & Clough Company forms in New York. That would eventually become the Austin Nichols Company, which was a NDP (non-distilling producer), who’s President in 1936 would take some of the company’s whiskey on a wild turkey hunting trip, hence the name. The company would eventually release a 101 proof bourbon under the Wild Turkey brand in 1942. The Distillery itself was originally built in 1850 as the Old Moore Distillery. It was eventually purchased by the Ripy brothers who rebuilt it as the Old Hickory Distillery. It was shut down during prohibition and would be rebuilt as the Ripy Brothers Ditillery, later changed to Anderson County Distillery. It would be purchased by the Gould family in 1949 and changed to the J.T.S. Brown Distillery (yep the same name as one of the bourbons tasted in this category). In the 70’s the Liggett Company would buy both the JTS Distillery and the Austin Nichols Company and merge the two as Wild Turkey Distillery with the legend himself, Jimmy Russell, as the Master Distiller. I love history and this one is definitely rich…now on the tasting results.

Stats: NAS (blend of 6-8 yr barrles), 101 proof, 75% corn 13% rye 12% malted barley, $17

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Verdict: It’s no secret now that the bottles left for the top 3 on the list are now Heaven Hill 6 year, Evan Williams BiB, and this one. They were all REALLY close in taste and I’m definitely splitting hairs to pick a ranking order. I think on some days my ranking may be slightly different but most days it stays pretty consistent (I blinded these 3 several times to check…you know, for the “research” 😉). Hopefully most have tasted the 101 at this point but if not, Wild Turkey does an impressive job balancing sweet, oak, & spice flavors. And you get all 3 on this one that come in waves. An absolutely excellent bottle for this price that every bourbon drinker should keep around!

(Credit to https://thewhiskeyjug.com for much of the history timeline)