Wild Turkey is a straight bourbon whiskey produced in Kentucky. It is made from a mash bill containing corn and typically has an alcohol content of 50.5% ABV (101 proof).
History
Wild Turkey traces its origins to the Rip brothers who built a distillery in Tyrone near Lawrenceburg in 1869. After being rebuilt in 1905, it resumed operations following Prohibition. The distillery was acquired by the Gold brothers in 1952 and later sold to Pernod Ricard in 1980. The Wild Turkey name was adopted in 1971, though production under this name began in 1940. In 2009, Gruppo Campari purchased the brand and distillery.
Types and styles
Wild Turkey offers several variants including 81 proof, 101 proof, Kentucky Spirit, Russell's Reserve, and Rare Breed. Kentucky Spirit is a single barrel whiskey at 101 proof. Russell's Reserve is a 10-year-old bourbon named after distiller Jimmy Russell, bottled at 90 proof. Rare Breed is a blend of 6, 8, and 12-year-old whiskies at 108.4 proof mixed with American honey liqueur. Other releases include Traditional Wild Turkey, rye bourbon, and spiced versions.
How it is served
Wild Turkey is used in several cocktails available on this site, including 252, ACID, Shot-gun, and Turkeyball. The whiskey is typically served neat or on the rocks, though its higher proof versions are sometimes used in cocktails to add robust flavor and strength.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Wild Turkey, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.