Wild Turkey Aged 12 Years Distiller’s Reserve Review | The Daily Pour

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Wild Turkey Aged 12 Years Distiller’s Reserve

  • Distiller

    Wild Turkey

  • Bottler

    Wild Turkey

  • ABV

    50.5% ABV%

  • Age

    12 Years

  • Price $200+

An export-only release at this time, Wild Turkey's 12 Year, 101-proof release is an enviable combination of age, proof and price for the brand. Can it top the 13- and 8-year releases of the past? Let's dive in.

  • Raided Score: 95
  • The Bourbon Culture
  • By Mike & Mike
  • Wild Turkey has certainly crafted a stunner with this bottle of 12 year old bourbon.
  • Read Full Review
  • Raided Score: 92
  • The Daily Pour
  • By T8ke
  • This is easily one of Turkey's best releases in years. Available a touch more easily than Russell's Reserve 13 thanks to some vendors in the U.S., this export release is a gem in Wild Turkey's troubled crown of gems and gravel stones alike.
  • Read Full Review
  • Raided Score: 95
  • VinePair
  • By David Thomas Tao
  • This is an uncommonly flavorful and balanced bourbon, and the proof point is perhaps more a nod to tradition than the ideal ABV for a particular whiskey.
  • Read Full Review
  • Raided Score: 88
  • Malt Review
  • By Frank Dobbins
  • I absolutely loved this pour and I think that while it may be a bit sweet for some and still others may crave the additional proof and punch of Russell’s Reserve 13 year, this expression delivers nuance in spades.
  • Read Full Review

Raided Score is a conversion from an external site's score, to our in house uniform scoring system. Please see the FAQ for more.

  • Nose:

    Impressively rich on the nose and full of maple, brown sugar and rich toffee, with a hint of brown butter, cinnamon roll and some sweet oak.

  • Taste:

    Moderate on the palate at first, this release grows viscous and sticky with no time at all. Tannin and richness offset the moderately

  • Finish:

    Long finish, this may just be the best part. It's a hefty finish full of maple, brown butter and cinnamon bun straight from the oven, blending perfectly with some sweet oak and a faint — ever so faint — dash of pepper.

  • Overall:

    This is easily one of Turkey's best releases in years. Available a touch more easily than Russell's Reserve 13 thanks to some vendors in the U.S., this export release is a gem in Wild Turkey's troubled crown of gems and gravel stones alike.

  • Score:

    92

  • By T8ke
  • Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources