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Wild Turkey Rare Breed vs Wild Turkey 81

Put Wild Turkey Rare Breed next to Wild Turkey 81 and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.

Key Specifications

Feature Wild Turkey Rare Breed Wild Turkey 81
Type / Style High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof Traditional Bourbon
Mash Bill 1 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
Age No age statement No age statement
Proof 116 proof (58% ABV) +35 proof 81 proof (40.5% ABV)
Approx. Price 2 ~$45 – $55 ~$20 – $25 ~$28 less
  1. Wild Turkey 81 does not publish an official mash bill.
  2. US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.

AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Good flavor.

Wild Turkey 81

Not rated yet

No notes yet.

Flavor Profile

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Wild Turkey 81
sweetnessspiceoakfruitheatnuttiness

Axis by axis, biggest gap first

heat 8/2 heat: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 8 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
spice 8/4 spice: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 8 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
oak 8/4 oak: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 8 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10

Flavor Profile Differences

These two land very differently on the palate for heat.

  • Wild Turkey Rare Breed: Barrel-proof Wild Turkey at a price that still looks like a mistake. Everything the 101 does with considerably more force, and one of the most consistently praised bottles in its category.
  • 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.

Which One Should You Choose?

  • Go with Wild Turkey Rare Breed if you want barrel-proof spice and oak with a reputation to match, at half what comparable bottles cost with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
  • Go with Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a lower price point.

Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Wild Turkey Rare Breed); highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81).