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Wild Turkey 101 vs Buffalo Trace
Wild Turkey 101 and Buffalo Trace sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 101 | Buffalo Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +11 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $30 | ~$28 – $35 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 101 Buffalo Trace
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- Go with Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace).