Day 24 is Wild Turkey 8 Year Old (1970s), a “Bourbon Whiskey” that’s 50.5% alcohol.

https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/wild-turkey/wild-turkey-8-year-old-1970s-whiskey/

As a bourbon drinker, it may be surprising to you, the reader, to learn that I’ve never had Wild Turkey. For whatever reason, it’s always had connotations of being the kind of thing that’s the drink of choice of drunks, rather than of drinkers. Not sure where that came from, but that’s what I realized as I was looking at this one.

This particular Wild Turkey was bottled in the 70s after being aged 8 years, so there’s a decent chance it’s as old as I am. If it was bottled in ’73, it was laid down in ’65, the year I was born. It could even be older, if it was bottled before ’73. So clearly, this is a whiskey that deserves respect.

It’s less dark than I expect, although given the high alcohol content I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I get notes of toffee and brown butter from the nose which carry through into the flavor. It’s quite smooth in the mouth, with a hint of late bitterness that Christina describes as “late backbite.”

This is a good bourbon, but not one that I’d seek out. I’m on the road to overcoming my prejudice against Wild Turkey, but not very far along it.

Two stars.

The updated rankings:

1. Blanton’s Gold Edition
2. Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7
3. Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel
4. Noah’s Mill
5. Bulleit
6. Elijah Craig
7. Evan Williams
8. Jefferson’s Reserve
9. Four Roses Single Barrel
10. Four Roses Small Batch
11. Wild Turkey 8 Year Old (1970s)
12. FEW
13. Booker’s 7 Year
14. Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2004
15. Jefferson’s
16. Four Roses
17. Smooth Ambler Old Scout 9 Year Old Bourbon (Cask 1868) Single Barrel Release
18. Michter’s
19. Eagle Rare
20. 1792 Ridgemont Reserve
21. Roughstock Montana
22. Hudson Baby Bourbon
23. Old Forester
24. Smooth Ambler Contradiction