Thanksgiving is upon us, and soon the hellscape that is holiday shopping, and well the holidays. To kick off the holiday season I offer you a recipe for success this holiday season. No, it is not the recipe for my delicious stuffing, though I wouldn’t be opposed to posting one once I figure one out, this Thanksgiving recipe is simple.
Ingredients:
Buy Wild Turkey 101.
Step 1. Drink Wild Turkey 101.
Step 2. Let those anxieties about gifts, crazy relatives, mass capitalism, and your developing gut melt away.
It’s quite obvious why Wild Turkey is the perfect match for Thanksgiving, and certainly many men before my time made this simple connection before I did. I’m sure there have been some sad Thanksgiving dinners where the liquor was the only turkey involved (hey, it’s a decent vegetarian substitute). If you’re one of those people that aren’t into word play perhaps this inherent connection isn’t enough to put Wild Turkey on your shopping list. I’m here to convince you otherwise.
The first obstacle I undoubtedly have to surpass for you Wild Turkey skeptics out there is the brand’s image. Turkey has long been perceived as a lower standard of bourbon, and quite frankly, an alcoholic’s bourbon. This view has been shaped by its media portrayal, no frills appearances, affordability (although prices have climbed into the mid-range), and of course, the high proof. So is this just some swill alcoholic’s bourbon? I refuse to answer that. But say you’re looking for an expert in pastries, do you ask some skinny guy who rarely eats dessert?—so would not an alcoholic not be a good resource on that bang for buck ratios of liquors? My point, however, is not that it will get you drunk a good 25% faster, which it will, but that for the price this is also a damned fine product.
What makes Wild Turkey great? That’s actually who: Jimmy and Edward Russell. The father/son team who run production at Turkey have dedicated themselves to making this bourbon great at any cost, and what that means is that they distill to a lower proof (108) than most competitors, which is far more costly to barrel and age. Then they take their project, and instead of diluting it to 80-90 proof, they add just a tad bit of water and sell you 101, and at a reasonable price. To summarize their competitor is giving you less of the product that actually aged in the barrel and a lot more water—which you’re often paying significantly more for. To be fair sometimes you get a fancier bottle with the competitor. Now, for the moment you’ve been waiting for, brief (and not that insightful) tasting notes. First of all the nose of this is a napalm bomb, baby—you can smell the warm vanilla, caramel, and booze of it from a mile away—gotta love the smell of it in the morning. Perhaps that’s why Ron Swanson said his father eat it on his breakfast cereal. The taste of the Turkey is just as big, with thick chewy caramel, cinnamon spice, soft vanilla, and a finish that leaves your palate clear and begging for more. Even though there’s 101 proof of high octane power, this is a sweet and balanced bourbon that doesn’t hide its flavors in a tongue numbing hell-fire. Not only is Wild Turkey great for your Turkey-day, it’s great to keep you warm all winter long, and good and buzzy any other time for that matter.
Blues in the Bottle 