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Wild Turkey 81 vs Eagle Rare 12 Year
Wild Turkey 81 and Eagle Rare 12 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$20 – $25 vs. ~$50 – $80).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 81 | Eagle Rare 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$20 – $25 ~$43 less | ~$50 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Wild Turkey 81 and Eagle Rare 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 81 Eagle Rare 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/4 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10, Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81); neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year).