Info
My wife wanted to fly Southwest so I’m limited to their excellent whiskey selection this evening but it seemed like as good a time an any to review some Wild Turkey 101 and some Jack Daniel’s #7. Typing this up on mobile so forgive any typos. Also the photo is the Turkey; you guys can imagine what Jack looks like in a plastic cup.
Wild Turkey
Mashbill: Unknown but high rye
Abv: 101 proof (50.5% ABV)
Age: NAS
Price: ~$7 USD for a 50ml bottle
Review
Color: A darker amber
Neat
Nose: Somewhat alcohol forward with sweet and spicy notes
Taste: Hot and a little harsh though the baking spice comes through after the initial taste
Finish: Surprisingly nice medium finish that is spicy and just a little sweet
On a rock
Nose: More muted but still alcohol forward. The spice remains but any sweetness was muted.
Taste: Much less heat with baking spice and a touch of honey. Surprisingly nice.
Finish: The finish holds up well with the ice with a balance of sweet and spice
Jack Daniel’s
Mashbill: Unknown
Abv: 80 proof (40% ABV)
Age: NAS
Price: ~$7 USD for a 50ml bottle
Review
Color: A medium golden color
Neat
Nose: Sweet smooth and a little fruity, easily the best part
Taste: Bananas with nuts, almost like a somewhat disappointing bananas foster. I’m disappointed there is alcohol heat in something 80 proof
Finish: Medium finish with banana notes and then something a little funky at the end
On a rock
Nose: Muted but light alcohol and fruit notes
Taste: The banana and nuttiness are still there but less so and any alcohol heat is gone. Somewhat dull and bland.
Finish: Just that little bit of funk
With Coke Zero
Nose: Sweet notes of cola
Taste: Tastes heavily of cola but with the banana note sneaking through
Finish: Blessedly gone, just a bit of that cola tatse
Conclusion
I’ll start by saying the Turkey was definitely better than flying without whiskey but it won’t be a regular choice for me. I’d definitely be happy to use it as a mixer or drink it on the rocks in a pinch.
As for the Jack it was not good though I did enjoy it with a Coke Zero. It still baffles me how this became one of the most popular whiskies in America. On a completely random note my brother has picked up a bit of taste in whiskey from me and is trying to convert his Air Force squadron away from Jack to something better in a similar price range. I’ve already suggested Evan Williams and Old Grandad but let me know if you have any better ideas.
Wild Turkey
5 - I would drink it if offered and I didn’t have to pay for it
Jack Daniel’s
4 - Maybe a mixer though I wouldn’t want to pay for it
Scale
My reviews are mostly about taste but occasionally take price into consideration generally dropping a point from whiskies in the 8-9 range that seem significantly more expensive than similar quality bottles.
10 - a unicorn, I haven’t found it yet
9 - a favorite that I almost always have a bottle of on my shelf
8 - an excellent bottle I’d be happy to buy
7 - a solid whiskey I’d happily order at bar if they don’t have something 8+
6 - a decent whiskey that I don’t prefer but wouldn’t avoid and would be fine having as a mixer or in a pinch somewhere with a poor selection
5 - I would drink it if offered and I didn’t have to pay for it
4 - Maybe a mixer though I wouldn’t want to pay for it
3 and below - no thanks