Wild Turkey Distilling Co. announced that it’s bringing Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon to the United States as a permanent offering.

In recent years, Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon has exclusively been available in select export markets, where it has garnered a devoted following and become a best-selling cult favorite among consumers and collectors around the world, the company says. Despite its rarity in the United States, the bourbon remains one of Master Distiller Jimmy Russell’s favorite whiskeys — making the permanent U.S. launch particularly special for Russell as he begins his eighth decade at Wild Turkey, it notes.

“Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon has always been a favorite — not just for my granddad Jimmy, but for bourbon lovers around the globe. After one sip, you'll see why,” said Wild Turkey's Associate Master Blender Bruce Russell, in a statement. “This bourbon holds a special place in our distillery’s history, and its return to the U.S. proves the timeless quality of its recipe. As age-stated expressions become more popular across the category in the U.S., we are looking forward to more bourbon enthusiasts being able to enjoy this masterfully crafted bourbon.”

The United States’ eagerness for an age-stated Wild Turkey 101 was evidenced last year when the distillery released a limited run of age-stated bourbon in a commemorative bottle to celebrate Jimmy Russell's 70th anniversary at Wild Turkey, the company says. That one-time offering, blended by Eddie and Bruce Russell as a celebratory tribute to Jimmy, featured the iconic Master Distiller's signature 8-year-old, 101-proof bourbon along with an additional blend of 8- to 9-year-old whiskeys that were hand-selected from a few of his favorite rickhouses, it notes.  

The extended aging of Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old brings complex notes of toffee and clove with an even longer finish than traditional Wild Turkey 101, enhancing the bourbon’s profile and making it ideal for sipping neat or on the rocks, according to the company. It’s a mature and rich expression of the bold character of Wild Turkey 101, which has long been a favorite of bourbon lovers and bartenders for the depth and flavor it brings to classic whiskey cocktails like the brand’s signature “Bold Fashioned,” it says.

Compared with the standard Wild Turkey 101 offering that is made using a blend of 6- to 8-year-old bourbons, Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old is blended from a smaller batch of barrels that are hand-selected for the characteristics and complexity they’ll bring to a neat pour, the company notes. The resulting bourbon features refined notes of vanilla, clove, toffee, charred oak, lemon zest and black cherry complemented by a long, lingering finish of brown sugar, dried fruit, vanilla, and allspice, it says.

Packaged in a 750-ml bottle, Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old now is available to purchase for a suggested retail price of $45. 

www.wildturkeybourbon.com