When I first heard about the Single Cask Nation Wild Turkey I looked at my buddy Josh (you read that right) and said “Excuse me what now? Did you just say SCN bottled a single cask, cask strength, Wild Turkey?” to which he replied “Yeah, that’s what I just said”. Being a massive Wild Turkey fan I immediately set about making a deal to secure myself a bottle as it sold out almost immediately after being released.
If you’re a savvy whiskey drinker, and I know you are, you’re probably thinking to yourself. “Hey, isn’t there already a high proof Russell’s Reserve single barrel?” The answer is yes, but there are some differences. The Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel is aged 8-9 years and bottled at 55% so it does have some water added. What sets this Single Cask Nation Wild Turkey apart is that no water was added. It’s a unique, single cask, cask strength, 9-year-old offering of Wild Turkey.
Single Cask Nation Wild Turkey Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Wild Turkey
Bottler: Single Cask Nation
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye & 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New charred oak
Age: 9 Years
ABV: 56.4%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Barrel: 2931
Price: $100
Single Cask Nation Wild Turkey Review
EYE
Mahogany
NOSE
Good hell this is bold and complex. Big notes of dark fruit, spice, oak, complex dark sweets, toasted rye bread, vanilla, leather and pepper roll through with light notes of hazelnuts and citrus peels floating behind. Add a bit of water and notes of tropical and orchard fruit emerge with a bit of dark honey and the more rustic notes of leather, pepper and oak broaden and further even out the complex sweetness.
PALATE
Yummy… or to put it more eloquently, yum. Heavy notes of dark fruit, oak, complex dark sweets (caramel, toffee, butterscotch, etc.), vanilla, toasted nuts and grains, leather and cocoa mesh with a touch of fresh dill and moves gracefully across the palate. A bit of water brings out notes of honey, peanuts, tropical and orchard fruit and a slight minerality.
FINISH
Long as long can be and driven by oak with notes of dark sweets, vanilla, toasted grain, leather, pepper and menthol coming along for the ride.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Perfectly balanced, a full round body and a rich oily texture that’s easy to sip. What else could you want?
OVERALL
Single Cask Nation Wild Turkey is everything I love about Wild Turkey. It’s heavy, it’s oaky, it’s sweet, it’s spicy, it’s complex and the full cask strength delivery gives the opportunity to leisurely explore what’s in your glass. Slowly adding water to strip away some of the levels of alcohol to reveal the rich tapestry of flavors and aromas that exist within.
I honestly feel like I could write an essay about how much I enjoy this Single Cask Nation Wild Turkey and what happens during the process of slowly drinking it while adding water bit by bit. There is poetry, there is tradition, there is pride and there is inspiration in a truly good glass of whiskey and this… this is a damn good glass of whiskey.
Cheers.
SCORE: 95/100 (A)
