Old Forester 1920 vs Wild Turkey Rare Breed: Discover the Better!

DIscover the differences between Old Forester 1920 vs Wild Turkey Rare Breed in this head to head comparison and decide which bourbon is better for You!

Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style

Nose	Caramel, banana, spice, ethanol
Palate	Brown sugar, vanilla, caramel
Finish	Medium, cinnamon, caramel, oak, spice
Alcohol content	115 proof (57.5% ABV)
How to drink	Neat, rocks
Similar to	1910, Statesman, WR Double Oaked

Nose is sweet, rich in caramel, with a hint of banana, rye spice and just a whiff of alcohol coming behind.

On the palate, 1920 displays a creamy texture. Flavor provides vanilla and caramel, along brown sugar and a rich nutty note. There is a bit of warmth to it as you would expect from the high proof.

The finish has a medium length, somewhat dry and warm, leaving a nice cinnamon aftertaste in the mouth along caramel, oak and a tad of spice.

Old Forester 1920 is a very good sipper, well balanced and flavorful where the proof does not get in the way as it does not drink as a high proof bourbon.

The finish lacks depth but it’s full of the things I associate with a good pour: sweet, pleasantly warm, rich in oak and no off-putting notes.

Old Forester is one of the six bourbons allowed to continue operations during Prohibition. During that time all whiskies were sold for “medicinal purposes” and had to be bottled at 100 Proof.

The 115 proof release represents a barrel sample that company president Owsley Brown I would have batched at the beginning of Prohibition.

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Old Forester 1920:

• It doesn’t have an age statement but is aged for around 4 years.

• Made from a mash bill comprised of 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley.

• Old Forester is owned by the Brown-Forman Corporation along the Jack Daniel’s and the Woodford Reserve; they are all crafted at different distilleries.

• Old Forester (Best Bourbon) has been on the market continuously since 1870, which is longer than any other bourbon.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Nose	Vanilla, caramel, oak
Palate	Baking spice, burnt sugar, vanilla, oak, old leather
Finish	Vanilla, old leather, oak char
Alcohol content	116 proof (58% ABV)
How to drink	Rocks, cocktails
Similar to	Eagle Rare, Kentucky Spirit

On the nose, the Rare Breed offers an aroma rich in honey, along cinnamon, charred oak and very little ethanol to it.

On the palate, the Rare Breed delivers a good creamy texture, pleasing warmth up-front, with butterscotch, brown sugar, vanilla and oak.

The finish is medium to long, warming, rich in vanilla, old leather and the signature charred oak note prevalent in every Wild Turkey release.

It drinks warm as you might expect from something bottled at 116 proof, yet it does not overwhelm as it is sweet and satisfying.

In fact, it drinks quite nicely as it has a creamy texture and rich sweetness well balanced against oaky and spicy notes.

This Rare Breed Bourbon is one of the best in its class and it tastes better than bottles priced twice as much making it a champ in terms of value for the money.

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Wild Turkey Rare Breed:

• Rare Breed is barrel-proof, meaning it’s uncut, bottled directly from the barrels at the proof it reached in those barrels.

• Rare Breed is a blend of whiskeys aged between 6 and 8 years and 12 years.

• This whisky was not chill-filtered, this is a common practice among the industry as it prevents the liquid from becoming hazy, but some purists assure that the filtering also removes precious tasting notes from the dram.

• The mash bill is made from 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% barley.

• Gold at the New York International Spirits Competition 2020.

• Wild Turkey belongs to the Campari Group based in Milan, Italy.

Old Forester 1920 vs Wild Turkey Rare Breed: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whiskey	Price
Old Forester 1920	$64
Wild Turkey Rare Breed	$55

Old Forester 1920 vs Wild Turkey Rare Breed: Which is Better?

Price and not being chill-filtered gives the edge to the Rare Breed

• The Wild Turkey is a champ in terms of value. This is a non chill filtered dram, bottled at high proof that is well hidden as it does not feel.

• Incredibly tasty, yet supremely drinkable either neat or rocks or a great option to make tasty cocktails.

• This is one of my favorites and one I can’t recommend enough.