Maker: Wild Turkey, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, USA
Age: 14 y/o
Proof: 101 (50.5% ABV)
Retail Price: $100 (Binny’s)
Michigan State Minimum (when available): $120
Appearance: Auburn with long, regularly spaced legs.
Nose: Alcohol, leather, barrel char, citrus blossom, Genoese basil.
On the palate: Full-bodied and rich. Burn, purple Kool-Aid, oak, ginger, mace, brown sugar.
Finish: Fruity in the cheeks, dry on the tongue and the actual palate.
Parting words: This is Wild Turkey at its finest, complex but still powerful. It strikes a lovely balance between fruity sweetness, spice, alcohol and oak, even without water. Compared to its siblings, I would rank Tradition above American Spirit (some of my friends might reverse that ranking), but not as good as Tribute. It’s a perfect holiday or special occasion sipping bourbon.
The packaging is absurdly complex with a display stand covered by a chestnut colored cover, but the bottle itself is simple and elegant. The over the top packaging does mean that it travels and ships well, so that’s something.
Tradition was released in 2009, but I was still seeing them on shelves as late as a year ago. The price is steep for a bourbon but these limited edition Turkeys rarely disappoint, and it is officially a dusty now so if you see it for $150 or less, buy it. Wild Turkey Tradition is recommended.
