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Wild Turkey 81 vs Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select
Wild Turkey 81 and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$20 – $25 vs. ~$45 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 81 | Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +13 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$20 – $25 ~$28 less | ~$45 – $55 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Wild Turkey 81 does 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.
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 81 Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 7 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/4 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 4 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 5 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 6 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- 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.
Best enjoyed highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81); neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select).