Wild Turkey

Originally established in 1855 as the Old Moore Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Wild Turkey is one of Kentucky's most famous whiskeys. It was purchased by the Ripy brothers in 1905. In 1940, executive Thomas McCarthy selected some 101 proof straight bourbon for a turkey hunt. The next year his friends asked him for "some of that wild turkey whiskey", and a brand was born. Austin Nichols purchased the company in 1970 and was purchased by the French drinks conglomerate Pernod Ricard in 1980. Although Wild Turkey's recipe remains a closely guarded secret, the company has revealed that it uses a higher proportion of malted barley and rye in its bourbons lending them more complexity and spicy pepper notes. It is distilled to 115 proof and aged in heavily charred barrels. Wild Turkey's line currently includes: -an 80 proof bourbon -an 86.8 proof bourbon -a 101 proof bourbon -8-year-old bourbon (101 proof) -12-year-old bourbon (101 proof) -Kentucky Spirit, a single-barrel bourbon (101 proof) -Rare Breed, a barrel-proof bourbon (108.4 proof) -a 101 proof rye whiskey -American Spirit, a 15 year old bourbon (100 proof) -American Honey, a bourbon-based honey liqueur (71 proof) – Description from Rodolphe Boulanger    (hide)