Austin Nichols Wild Turkey 101 Proof 8-year 1986 No-Box (750ml)

Nose: (good ol’ dusty WT) cherry cordials, vanilla creme, herbal spice, floral perfume, sweet musty oak, honey, nutmeg, pipe tobacco, leather, clove, hints of dark chocolate

Taste: (notably oily) toasted caramel, dense vanilla, rich honey-maple, charred oak, tobacco, apple peel, sweet clove, blood orange, sassafras, licorice, herbal & floral spice

Finish: long & immensely flavorful – sticky caramel & vanilla, cinnamon, pepper, herbal spice, leather, clove, hints of citrus & funky oak

Overall: Outstanding! Virtually everything I look for in vintage Wild Turkey is found within this glass – fragrant herbal & floral spice, funky oak, and plenty of vanilla and honey-maple to balance it all out. And to think this bourbon was easily found “on the cheap” in 1986. It’s astounding Wild Turkey made it through the Glut Era, honestly. Not that Pernod Ricard didn’t lose money. Like every other corporation invested in the bourbon industry at the time, they most certainly did. But thankfully, Jimmy kept doing what Jimmy does best. Today’s pour is a resounding testament to that.