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Buffalo Trace vs Wild Turkey 101
Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey 101 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | Wild Turkey 101 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 | ~$25 – $30 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Buffalo Trace does 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
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace Wild Turkey 101
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
- Go with Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101).