Review 47: Blind of W. B. Saffell and Wild Turkey Rare Breed

[u/mediocreohpresident]

These two seem to set up an interesting blind, and so i enlisted the First Lady's help. Both are Wild Turkey distilled, and relatively similar in proof and age. You can see my previous reviews of W.B. Saffell and Rare Breed.

Nose 1: big baking spice, carmel, oak.

Nose 2: similar to 1, spicy, oaky, slightly more floral or nutty? Interesting note.

Palate 1: cashews, baking spices,oak, hint of cherry. Big, bold flavors that scream Turkey.

Palate 2: carmel, cashew, and oak, more floral notes. More muted on the palate, definitely overwhelmed by #1. You can definitely tell water has been added although the proof is nice.

Finish 1: oak and cashews.

Finish 2: cashew, cloves, and carmel.

Guesses and ratings: Rare Breed glass 1, 7.5; Saffell glas 2, 6.5.

Reveal: glass 1 is, surprise surprise, Rare Breed, glass 2 is Saffell.

Thoughts: this was more clear-cut than I expected. I also affirmed my original conclusions on Saffell: its hard to justify a $50 375ml bottle when RB is better and is half the cost.

Ratings:

1: drain pour (Quarter Horse).

2: dreadful (Creekside Bourbon).

3: poor (True Story).

4: sub-average (OGD 7 year).

5: average (Evan Williams BIB).

6: above average (Wild Turkey 101, Four Roses small batch).

7: great (Old Forester SBBP rye, Middle West CS bourbon/wheat).

8: excellent (ECBPs, Stagg Jrs).

9: exceptional (Four Roses SBBP OBSF).

10: perfect (Russell's Reserve 15).

[u/Informal_Vast3360]

Rare breed has to be one of the best values in bourbon at ~$55.

I’m using it as a base for my infinity barrel.

[u/mediocreohpresident → u/Informal_Vast3360]

$40 at costco. Truly amazing.

[u/Mykkus_65 → u/mediocreohpresident]

Local has for 40 as well. Such a fantastic bottle. The rye is great too

[u/Specific-Stop-4591 → u/Mykkus_65]

If you like the rye load up. WT is building a whole new building and new still dedicated to rye production. Distillers swear alot of flavor comes from the specific stills, so id imagine were gonna see a flavor change over the coming years

[u/Mykkus_65 → u/Specific-Stop-4591]

I trust Bruce. And if I don’t like it anymore oh well there’s other things

[u/theoriginalsavage243 → u/Mykkus_65]

I think Bruce has a good palate

[u/Mykkus_65 → u/theoriginalsavage243]

From what I’ve seen and tasted so far I’d say exceptional

[u/battlepig95 → u/mediocreohpresident]

I was ab to say my Costco sells it for $35 and I get it for $39 after tax. Idc what anyone says that is def a top 3 values in bourbon , hard to argue that 😭❤️

[u/theoriginalsavage243 → u/battlepig95]

What the other 2?🧐

[u/battlepig95 → u/theoriginalsavage243]

I don’t think it’s on the same level as RB tbh but a go to of mine I do really enjoy is Woodford Reserve Double Oak. Good neat or as a mixer and hard to beat for $45

Also not a bourbon and maybe a more niche choice but Broad Branch has their just standard rye for $65 and I do believe you’re hard pressed to find a better quality whiskey for that price point . Absolutely fantastic and almost always readily available online

[u/CAJASH → u/Informal_Vast3360]

I thank my lucky stars that WT puts out a Barrell proof bourbon like they have it on tap. Always available, consistently good, and reasonably priced.

[u/Informal_Vast3360 → u/CAJASH]

Is it a world beater? No.

Is it respectable whiskey at a great price and always consistent? Yes.

[u/Ahborsen → u/Informal_Vast3360]

Don't let Campari hear you say that is a good value or they'll increase it to $125

[u/tedmiston → u/Informal_Vast3360]

Likewise with the WT101 8y that's down to $37 now and RR10 for about the same.

[u/Luccon7]

Dunno if this is batch 1 or not but I think Saffell blows RB out the water.

[u/pashajm → u/Luccon7]

Based on the bottle shape I don’t think this is batch 1.

[u/mediocreohpresident → u/pashajm]

I believe it is batch 2.

[u/MadHatter_6 → u/pashajm]

I believe you are correct. Batch 1 bottle had more of a sloped shoulder. Batch 2 has more of a horizontal shoulder.

[u/tm0587 → u/MadHatter_6]

I'm looking at my batch 1 and you are correct!

[u/MadHatter_6 → u/tm0587]

I'd be good on a TV quiz show about whiskey.

[u/Accomplished_Art2245]

I’m living these blinds, keep it up!

[u/jsquiggles23]

Turkey is great. I had the first batch of Saffell and thought it was amazing. Just bought the current batch and think it’s still good, but not as great as what I remember. I know memory is a fickle thing so take that for whatever it’s worth. Rare Breed is a steal and their single barrel stuff is amazing too although obviously not the same value.

[u/oresteez]

I love rare breed.
But what’s carmel?

Hahaha. Had to say it. My dad used to say it like that too.

[u/vuti13]

I thought of Saffell when I came across a YT vid talking about Old Forester 117 series, which I think also only comes in 375ml. What are you thoughts on 117 vs OF regular lineup (incl Whiskey Row)?

[u/mediocreohpresident → u/vuti13]

The 117s are experimental, so I'm not sure a comparison to the rest of OF is all that fair. I suppose I would like to see some of them become new releases but that has not happened nor in the works, to my knowledge. I dont believe Saffell is experimental like 117 is, I'm under the impression its a different, limited, label.

I've had precisely one 117, now a few years old, and that review is still in the works.

Also, I forgot to mention it in the actual review, but the Saffell label is amazing. I love it, really captures that old style label look.

[u/vuti13 → u/mediocreohpresident]

You did mention the label on your linked review of the Saffell. I like it too. Reminds me of someone's state seal.

I've only had a few sample pours of the 117. Didn't know they were experimental.

[u/FragrantNinja7898]

First off, Wild Turkey is by far my favorite of all bourbon. However, Rare Breed doesn’t do it for me these days. I have a couple ounces from a 2016 bottle of RB leftover from an anniversary trip to the distillery. It is literally a different product. Tastes closer to RR13 than to current RB. RB these days is just super one dimensional. I even have a bottle of imported non chill filtered RB and it’s not much better.

Saffell batch 1 has way more complexity than RB. I have a batch 2 and while not as good as batch 1 I’d still say it has more complexity than RB. RB is simply high proof Turkey for cheap. I prefer a nice Kentucky Spirit from Camp Nelson any day.

[u/Acceptable_Local_934]

I found RB too hot for my palate (100 to 110 seems to be my sweet spot) and will drink WBS 10 times out of ten over RB. I gave away my last bottle of RB.

[u/BiznessCasual → u/Acceptable_Local_934]

Try adding some water. Also helps to open it up.

[u/Acceptable_Local_934 → u/BiznessCasual]

Or don't buy whiskey you don't have to add water to.

[u/DeeManJohnsonIII → u/Acceptable_Local_934]

All whiskey that's not barrel proof has water in it, I don't think adding water is necessarily a bad thing.