Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Barrel Proof
Abv: 58.4%

I don’t do a lot of bourbon journeys, but I do enjoy the occasional change to Canadian and American whiskies. The Wild Turkey Rare Breed packs a punch at barrel proof.

Nose
Spicy clove and cinnamon jumps out straight away. A dark, deep leather layer rolls under a smattering of spice, cake and maybe dark fruits. It kind of smells sticky. Solid, rich, big and holds the promise of a powerful palate. As the dram progresses, Christmas cake comes to mind, with dark raisins and baking spice.

Palate
The nose leads the way, and the palate fires hot with tons of spice, with a sticky sweet caramel holding it fast. The lovely wood notes are present, subdued a bit by the fire. For such a high abv, there is definitely spirit heat, but the strength of the spice keeps it together.

Finish
Long, lingering, the spice and sweet hold strong, gentle fade. Faint sticky smacking reminds of the sweet, and the spice retreats to the background. The fire holds initially, then burns lower, lower, until the spice and sweet are all that remain.

Final Thoughts
This is a nice dram. It is strong – really strong. If sipped too fast, it will punish your palate. If nosed too deeply, it will burn your senses. A gentle approach is rewarded with strong, lovely spice with hints of sweet, and that awesome leather note. A respectful sip returns memories of Aunt Gloria’s Christmas cake and wooden barrels.

The proof is so high, this probably benefits from one or several drops of water, but I have yet to try it like that. On its own, there is a deep, rich, powerful experience that is highly enjoyable, if you take your time. I needed time between sips to prevent the burn from taking over the experience.

It’s certainly a fine dram, and one that encourages me to stay the path on exploring more bourbon offerings.