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Wild Turkey 101 vs Woodford Reserve
Comparing Wild Turkey 101 and Woodford Reserve is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (101 vs. 90.4).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 101 | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +11 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $30 ~$11 less | ~$35 – $42 |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 101 Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/6 spice: Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).