This episode is a tasting-heavy Bourbon Brass and Beyond conversation focused on three Wild Turkey bottles, with plenty of side-by-side comparison and bottle history. Nick and Michael join Dan and Bob for a relaxed but detailed look at an 1983 Wild Turkey 8 Year 101 proof dusty, Wild Turkey Generations, and the Austin Nichols Archive Gold Foil Edition 16 Year.The discussion matters because it goes beyond “good bourbon” and gets into how age, proof, packaging, and time in the bottle change the experience. If you like hearing how seasoned drinkers compare old and new releases, this one stays very specific and very useful.
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Key topics
- In this episode, Dan, Bob, Nick, and Michael compare three very different Wild Turkey pours:
- 1983 Wild Turkey 8 Year, 101 proof
- Wild Turkey Generations
- Austin Nichols Archive Gold Foil Edition 16 Year
- They start with the 1983 dusty bottle, describing a sweet, dusty nose, caramel sweetness, and the idea that old Turkey bottles have a distinct profile because of lower entry proof and older production methods.
- Generations gets a deep breakdown:
- a blend of 9, 12, 14, and 15 year old whiskey
- 120.8 proof
- notes of honey, molasses, dark citrus, rye spice, oak, and a long chewy finish
- The Gold Foil Edition 16 Year is framed as Bruce’s homage to the old gold foil Turkey labels and packaging, with a lot of detail called out in the label, topper, and box design.
- The tasting notes on the Gold Foil lean toward leather, tobacco, caramel, cherry, mint, cinnamon, and a dusty funk, with the group noting it drinks easier than the nose suggests.
- They compare the old dusty 1983 bottle with modern limited releases and discuss how older bottles could deliver huge flavor without today’s higher proof and more modern barrel strategies.
- The episode ends with a broader reflection on Wild Turkey’s legacy.
Timestamps
00:00 - Wild Turkey night kicks off with guests and the first dusty pour
00:41 - Introducing the 1983 Wild Turkey 8 Year 101 proof
01:48 - The estate sale story and how the dusty bottles were found
02:52 - Michael’s Navy band and trumpet background
04:48 - Why the estate sale turned into a bourbon hunt
06:32 - Old barrels, hot warehouses, and why future whiskey may change
08:04 - Setting up Wild Turkey Generations
09:03 - Generations blend breakdown and first flavor notes
10:58 - Dark molasses, blood orange, rye spice, and oak
12:23 - Why Generations feels unusually complex
13:31 - Proof discussion and the Kentucky hug
14:52 - Why the nose and finish keep growing on them
15:17 - First reaction to the Gold Foil Edition 16 Year packaging
17:24 - Confirming the 16 year age statement and non-chill filtered bottling
19:22 - Fresh crack nose: leather, tobacco, caramel
20:41 - Citrus, legs, and the nose opening up with air
23:07 - How open bottles change over time
24:25 - Why revisiting bottles can change your opinion
25:38 - Price, perception, and why double double oak comparisons come up
26:23 - Bruce’s role and why this release feels important for Wild Turkey
27:35 - Packaging details and the gold foil throwbacks
29:16 - Ranking the three pours and deciding the favorite
30:39 - Old Turkey versus modern Turkey and lower proof flavor
31:40 - Final comparisons between Generations and Gold Foil
33:14 - Availability, allocation, and whether bottles will ever be everyday pours
36:16 - Russell’s Reserve 15, Beacon, and future episode plans
40:19 - Old dusty bottles like 1983 Turkey and old Taylor still stand out
