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Ancient Age vs Wild Turkey 81
Put Ancient Age next to Wild Turkey 81 and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Wild Turkey 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$7 less | ~$20 – $25 |
- Ancient Age and Wild Turkey 81 do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Wild Turkey 81
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10
oak 3/4 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10
spice 4/4 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
heat 2/2 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
- Wild Turkey 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat.
- Go with Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81).