Compare
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select vs Wild Turkey 81
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select and Wild Turkey 81 are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional Tennessee whiskeys, where the real difference is price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$20 – $25).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select | Wild Turkey 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) +13 proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$20 – $25 ~$28 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Wild Turkey 81 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
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Wild Turkey 81
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select: Barrels pulled from the top of the rickhouse, where the temperature swings are hardest, and it shows as considerably more oak than any standard Jack. A genuinely different proposition from the black label.
- 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 Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select if you want a distinctly oakier, more concentrated Tennessee whiskey with barrel-to-barrel character with more proof behind it.
- Go with Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select); highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81).