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Wild Turkey 101 vs New Riff 8 Year
Wild Turkey 101 and New Riff 8 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$25 – $30 vs. ~$65 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 101 | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $30 ~$40 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- 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.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 101 New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/5 fruit: Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
spice 8/8 spice: Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- 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.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
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.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).