Bourbon Reviews:




Bottling NameWild Turkey Rare Breed
Bottled ByAustin Nichols Distilling Co. Lawrenceburg,KY
TypeKentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Alcohol content108.6 Proof
Availability US: Available Japan: Available Duty Free: Available Europe: Available
Views (since 20080612) 139074
Bottling InfoPlease note the picture on the left is of an older Rare Breed bottling. While the newer bottles are of the same shape, the label has changed.

<From their website> Rare Breed is a "barrel-proof bourbon," meaning it is bottled directly from a variety of barrels at the proof it reaches in those barrels, with no added water to lower the proof or dilute the flavor.

This bourbon is a unique marriage of Wild Turkey 6-, 8- and 12-year-old stocks, which give the whiskey a rich, exceptional flavor that is remarkably smooth, considering its high alcohol content. It is assertive with hints of light oranges, mint, and tones of sweet tobacco that will remind you of your grandfather's pipe-bowl. The finish is long, warm and nutty and lingers in the mouth with hints of hot peppers and well-toasted whole wheat bread.

Jimmy Russell keeps his Rare Breed in the freezer so he doesn't have to add ice, which would melt and ultimately dilute the flavor.

Rare Breed is the recipient of a Gold Medal at the 2000 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.



Review from Watson Roadster (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 2381, Created:20171104013954, Updated:20191227194241)
Purchased at:Drake Party Centre,Kalamazoo,Michigan,USA
Purchased for:$ 44.51 USD
Info on this bottle:Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof
Nose:Vanilla, brown sugar, maple,leather, a sour citrusy thing at the end...
Taste:Wow....That was a punch in the mouth!!...More vanilla, mingling with prickly rye spice, fading to oak tannins and barrel char...
Finish:That rye spice really lingers!!!....This is very viscous so it coats your tongue really well which allows for that prickly spice the work its magic. . The wood tannins stick around on the tongue to dry things out.
Overall:This is very good stuff, but, it's more for the person who prefers bold, more woody bourbons that are a tad on the bitter side. Unlike Larceny,for example, that is sweet and silky smooth....Rare Breed is a definitely solid but also a definite bruiser in the classic Wild turkey fashion...

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Review from Mike (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 2379, Created:20170421202207)
Purchased at:Over Yonder
Purchased for:$49
Nose:Oak, vanilla, leather, touch of citrus, whiff of nutmeg, and an assortment of other aromas too subtle for me to identify. NICE now.
Taste:Corn, rye spice, vanilla, oak, tangerine, and rich thick barrel flavors.
Finish:Slightly hot with lingering cleansing spice......... long.
Overall:First rate bourbon, y'all. Does a body good.

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Review from Wasatch (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 2316, Created:20141203172057)
Purchased at:SLC, UT
Purchased for:$35 750ml
Nose:Nice golden amber color.

Very nice vanilla note, caramel, slight oaky scent, spicy, with some mint, and slightly citrusy.
Taste:Slightly sweet, very dry, very nice oak note, some caramel notes, slightly spicy, with a hint of mint note.
Finish:A very nice long finish, with a slight sweetness, pretty dry. Very smooth, and rich, but also a light body for such a high ABV.
Overall:Really like this new version. With the higher ABV, still very smooth. This one is definitely a keeper, top notch stuff. Highly Recommended!

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Review from Mike (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 2236, Created:20130903184108)
Purchased at:Habersham Beverage, Savannah, GA
Purchased for:$44
Nose:Leather, rye grain, oak, orange, toasted nuts, vanilla, caramel, and one of the softer spices, nutmeg maybe?
Taste:Deep and creamy sweetness followed on by tongue tingling cinnamon spice and grainy bite. Vanilla, oak, a smidge of orange and the tingle make their way across the mouth at a pace that suits them (and me).
Finish:Mouth coating richness fights off the rye spiciness as long as it can, but in the end the whole lot dies a long and satisfying death.
Overall:Among the best out there. Fundamental, elemental, essential bourbon.

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Review from Birdo (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 2233, Created:20130819124140) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:Liquor Barn in Louisville
Purchased for:32.99
Nose:Vanilla with spice
Taste:Complex with mint, spice, vanilla and carmel.
Finish:Thick mouth feel, very long and smooth.
Overall:I don't often shop the top shelf, but I'm glad I did in this case. Think Wild Turkey on steroids, huge interesting flavor with perfect amount of sweetness and a long finish. Be careful: at 108 proof you won't need too much. Right in there with my other favorites like Knob Creek, and 4 Roses single barrel. Far better than Russel Reserve and several other over priced bottles I've had. I put a single ice cube in a glass and let it dilute WTRB just enough and it really blossums.

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Review from JLH3 (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 2188, Created:20130416002511, Updated:20130416002544)
Purchased at:Bevmo
Purchased for:Approx $40.00
Info on this bottle:WT-03RB
Proof Of this Bottle:108
Nose:Vanilla, spice, lime-type citrus, shoe polish.
Taste:Rye, spice, oak, tangerine. Takes off quick and then planes out nicely.
Finish:Finish is long and dry. Lots of spice.
Overall:Very smooth with a great flavor. Once this bottle is gone it's going to be hard not to replace it PDQ.

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Review from dickelfanaustralia (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 2088, Created:20120627143933, Updated:20130126203226) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:Australia
Purchased for:$70AU
Info on this bottle:LBL174459. WT-03RB
Nose:Chocolate, Nuts and Fresh Jalapeno peppers pour out. Probably more smells.
Taste:Smooth as Wax. A Very Nutty Hard texture. Not mouth filling. Clean, Concentrated, complex on flavors. Fresh Jalapeno, Nuts, Chocolate. Lot of Heat from Peppers. Waxy like the skin on peppers. The Alcohol tinge is there which I dont like. The Distiller even said on this particular batch keep it in the freezer.
Finish:eucalyptus oil, menthol, drying, wet, clean. Has Menthol that never leaves!
Overall:Like Hot Fresh Jalpeno with the Waxy skin covered infused with Chocolate and Nuts. Would suit a Chilli Pepper Lover. Rare Breed just did not suit my palate. I can;t handle a very nutty texture. I wish I got Russel since I liked that big mouth fill and blanace of WT 101 Rye.

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Review from Wasatch (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 2061, Created:20120317155947, Updated:20120317160115)
Purchased at:SLC, UT
Purchased for:$35 750ml
Info on this bottle:Batch No. WT-03RB
Nose:Nice golden amber color.

Very nice vanilla note, caramel, slight oaky scent, spicy, with some mint, and slightly citrusy.
Taste:Slightly sweet, very dry, very nice oak note, some caramel notes, slightly spicy, with a hint of mint note.
Finish:A very nice long finish, with a slight sweetness, pretty dry. Very smooth, and rich, but also a light body for such a high ABV.
Overall:Cool looking bottle. This one is definitely a keeper, top notch stuff. Highly Recommended!

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Review from BuffaloBill (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1996, Created:20111005191820) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:Cape Cod
Purchased for:Nada
Info on this bottle:WTRB WT-03RB
Nose:Sniffin this in a vintage Courvoisier &quot;N&quot; Glass from the age of war and atom bombs. I wasn't impressed with this bottle upon opening an era ago. Slight fruit. Slightest leather = that's a drag. Slightest caramel. Stinging nose. Ain't much here folks.
Taste:Whew... zippy in the nose, ultra-quick. Getting perfume. This needs a lot of air, more time, but it's revealing chocolate notes and grass. Some leather but the in the multitudes. Smell the glove...
Finish:Nope!
Overall:Impress me with another year, another bottle, another. 2 Stars ** BB

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Review from Gant (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1933, Created:20110301164029)
Purchased at:Willoughby, OH
Purchased for:$36
Info on this bottle:Batch #WT-03RB
Nose:Wow! Initial scent is of pine and citrus and old leather with undertones of pipe tobacco and spice--an absolutely unique aroma in my experience to date.
Taste:Sweet, viscous, smooth. Complex and difficult to describe adequately but once tasted you won't forget it--absolutely delicious.
Finish:long, lingering (who can get enough), smooth.
Overall:One of the absolute greats, I cannot give it enough praise and at the price it is a true bargain. The perfect bourbon for sitting on the patio of a spring afternoon whilst pondering the mysteries of the universe with messr's Faulkner, Agee or Wolfe.

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Review from raleighrealtor (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1857, Created:20100723021728) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:Raleigh
Purchased for:38.00
Info on this bottle:Batch No. WT-03RB
Nose:Sweet
Taste:Nutty and warm
Finish:Smooth
Overall:An excellent way to leave the world's troubles behind! Seriously . . . Rare Breed is the best Bourbon ever produced. I like Knob Creek a lot, but when I want quality, I go with Rare Breed.

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Review from Mike (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1823, Created:20100322170534, Updated:20100322170854) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:Stolt it whilst nobodyone was looking
Purchased for:Oh, my conscience hurt so - Imo give a sip to my dog so he is guilty too
Info on this bottle:Free
Nose:Wild Turkey got the patent on how American Whiskey belongs to smell. Rare Breed got vanilla, charred oak, rye grain, spice, caramel, leather. And they opened all the barrels at Wild Turkey distillery to the air, all the bourbon drinkers in the hole worl would descend on the place like so many zombies, so seductive is that aroma to bourbon lovers. Gotta love RB! And you don't, I'm gone have yo momma take you to the bourbon doctor next week. He need to look in yo mouth to see if somthin has fell out that ort to be there!
Taste:Oh! Doctor, this stuff Sweet and Sassy, Thick and Hearty, Rich and Spicy. I'm callin in the dog now to give him a sip.........I gotta share a sip with somebody!! I be howling like a hound dog and he be singing like Elvis.
Finish:Nah, I ain't finished yet! Barleycorn just whipped out his mouth organ and commenced to play the blues on it. Him and me all both like Blind Willie McTell..........we like 'Statesboro Blues'.........then we gone listen to Leadbelly sing 'Good Night Irene', then we gone pour us another sip Rare Breed and we gone listen to John Lee Hooker sing 'Boogie Chillen' (its in him and its gonna come out).
Overall:And you let it, Rare Breed gone take you Downtown and let you out at the corner of Wait and Walk........and there is a groove hard by. The difference twixt 'Reality' and 'Imagination' ain't much and I favor 'Imagination'.......its way more real.......and interesting!

P.S. For anyone wondering, I have only had three small sips of WTRB and fail to meet the 'inebriated' standard. Look at the world 'logically' and much of it 'vanishes'. There is a place for rationality and we sure need it at times, but it is also usually black and white in color and has few aromas..........and no tastes. I am friends with that great American Whiskey Rare Breed and recommend it to you! Jimmy Russell of Wild Turkey fame is an American Saint (like our own bunghole)! Vive Wild Turkey American Whiskey!

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Review from charismajc (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1535, Created:20090415023436) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:BevMo
Purchased for:$35
Info on this bottle:WT-03RB
Nose:Strong honey, raisins, pipe tobacco (lovely), caramel &amp; vanilla
Taste:Honey, caramel &amp; vanilla, oak kicks in, spicy taste, rye sharpness, nice tanginess. Drinks smoother than one would expect for a 108 proof ryed.
Finish:Beautiful combination of vanilla, spices, tannins &amp; oak. Amazing!
Overall:One of my favorites! Deep, dark taste profile that's a nice contrast from the wheated Van Winkles, Weller's &amp; Maker Marks of the world. Hope Campari doesn't do to this what was done to Russell 101.

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Review from Dump Bucket (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1532, Created:20090413200521)
Purchased at:Andy sent me 50 ml
Purchased for:freebie
Info on this bottle:Rare Breed (W-T-01-96)
Nose:Come to daddy. This is the nose of the 1855 I remember from Japan??? (Same juice). Smooth rye and corn with almost a sawdust touch to it (oak of course). No real burn, just happy juice smells all day long.
Taste:MMMMmmmm smooth balance of rye and corn with the essential WT tastes. A pleasant bunt that does not overwhelm at 109 proof. Vanilla, spices and just the right amount of oak.
Finish:A little more spice than vanilla that pulls this slightly out of balance on the finish, but not to the point of unpleasantness. I bet a yr longer in the barrel and this would be perfect.
Overall:Yup, this is what I remember from the first ever cask strength bourbon I had. This is the juice that hooked my like a deep see bourbon fish.

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Review from azoth_melusina (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1380, Created:20081206200520, Updated:20081206201011)
Purchased at:PLCB store in Media
Purchased for:30.99 (on sale...usually 33.99)
Info on this bottle:the 'newer' label
Nose:pecans, oak, leather, haunting cigar box vapors
Taste:burnt molasses or brown sugar, pleasant alcohol burn
Finish:more haunted oakishness, the sweetness keeps its distance in a natural, strategic way...
Overall:to be honest, this is my second bottle...the first one (last year, about the same time of the year) was more 'impressive'...this one somehow confirms something, but i don't know what: is it WT or my tongue? last 2 bottles of WT101 and this latest RBreed have really shown a pronounced oakiness i just have never caught before. can't say i don't like that, but it's changed my experience in a mystifying way. i'll get another one of these, but i can only wonder now how much WHICH is more variable? the mashbill-flavor profile of a specific expression (which of course vary year to year despite the constants in making) OR the individual taster's own tongue-experience (which of course can vary wildly....mood, health, etc!)?

nonetheless, a highly recommended and MYSTERIOUS top shelf offering from one of my favorite distilleries. i am still a fan. a perplexed one, but a devoted one

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Review from Mike (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1330, Created:20081028172736) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:Ricky's Hard Times, Hard Liquor, and Soft Women Emporium
Purchased for:Traded for a 100 Year Old Shotgun
Info on this bottle:Has a label on it that says, 'Eat at Ricky's'
Nose:After 10 minutes in my $1 semi tulip el cheapo IKEA glass, the wonderful Wild Turkey vanilla, oak, leather, and rye leap from the glass straightway into the nose and wrestle it from the comfort of its repose into full alertness. I think I see a Cowboy coming down my street. I wonder do he want a sip of Wild Turkey Rare Breed Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey?
Taste:Mammy Jammer! That WTRBKSBW will throw yo taster into a tizzy!! This beautifully rich and spicy stuff is for us stout hearted souls!

'Hey cowboy!' 'You want a sip of mighty fine whiskey?' 'Let them doggies go a ways without you punchin 'em'.......pause.............'I knowed you would like that RB!'
Finish:Warm, spicy, long, delicious!
Overall:'What's yo favorite cowboy song, Cowboy?' 'Streets of Laredo!' 'Why, thats the same as mine!' 'Have another sip here, Cowboy, them cows can't go far, they's a highway just over that hill that will stop 'em'. 'Now, here we go now..............'As I walked out in the Streets of Laredo, as I wanlked out in Laredo one day.'

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Review from BuffaloBill (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1271, Created:20080905120036)
Purchased at:Cape Cod, MA
Purchased for:$37
Info on this bottle:Wild Turkey Rare Breed WT-03RB
Nose:After three-to-four months open (a nearly full bottle) a ripe amalgam of peaches and fine fruit surfaces. Truly unique and elegant. A firm hit of rye and spice. Much of the sharpness has burnt off and the leather mottled into a fragrant perfume. Rare flowers... Violets? Absolutely stunning and unlike anything else in my collection. And outstanding and beautiful nose.
Taste:It takes off like a rocket with a slow climb, suddenly ripe oranges appear, some orange peel as well, delivering fruitiness along with a floral essence.
Finish:After four months this bottle has peaked and is drinking beautifully. What a treat... moderately long finish with lots of lingering notes. Very interesting and contemplative.
Overall:It's within my Top-10 Favorites of all-time. (Used a tiny Hennessy snifter) BB

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Review from bourbonguyjapan (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1270, Created:20080904054538)
Purchased at:Bik Liquors
Purchased for:36.00
Info on this bottle:WT 03 RB
Nose:[Olfactory impressions]
Leather, caramel, aftershave? Slight cherry?
Taste:[Description of the initial taste impression]
Slight burn sensation that opens into some wood flavor, kind of a classic bourbon taste then some orange-ish something.
Finish:[Description of the lingering taste impression]
Intensely fiery then mellow into a dry tannin long trickling heat, followed by a slow and steady crescendo to dull tongue (hard to distinguish) what's-that-taste finish.
Overall:[Overall impression of this bottling]
For 36 smackers it is a very decent bourbon.
A lot of complexity and a plethora of flavors. While this is supposed to be the next generation to the 1855, I have to say that it pales in comparison. However, I have had the 1855 so it kind of spoils it for anything later.
In itself it is a very good bourbon. For the price I feel I have a sense of value.

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Review from BuffaloBill (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1214, Created:20080730175345) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:Cape Cod (MA)
Purchased for:$37
Info on this bottle:Wild Turkey Rare Breed / W-T-01-99
Nose:The good ol' WT bravado. I opened this bottle three months ago after finding it. 1/4 down without nitro. Rye is right up front, with a hint of lavender and tobacco. It's impeccably balanced and quite complex at this point. Less leathery than upon first opening. Dry spice. Caramel. Still opening... a firm hit of crushed Caraway seed... honey and salt.
Taste:Slow incoming... slooooow and very round, soft, smooth as silk. Wow! This is just too damn good. Earl Grey Tea. I'm going back for a second... caramel, rye, turkish delight, brown sugar, and you would not know this was a 108. All the alcohol burnt off...
Finish:Honey &amp; fine ground White Pepper (not Montauk, lighter). Semi-Dry and Clean. More honey... this bottle is at its peak.
Overall:I used a tiny Hennessy globe snifter from back when, the 90's? It stands 3 1/8 high with a mouth opening at an inch and one half. If I only could find another glass like this... it works wonders. Guys, we need a manufacturer that will do it. You can fit it in your pocket and it works wonders on high-octane +100 proof whiskey.

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Review from LogicalFrank (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 1160, Created:20080621134821)
Purchased at:Sam's on Roosevelt in Chicago
Purchased for:~$35
Info on this bottle:Batch No. WT-03RB
Nose:Mild but full. Warm and spicy, slightly fruity. Some floral notes as well as tobacco and leather.
Taste:A perfect amount of spicy bite to balance the sweetness. Leather, oak, dark fruit, cinnamon and vanilla are all present in moderation
Finish:Reminds me of a good rye as much as anything. A substantial and slightly thick lingering presence of spice and oak.
Overall:Everything that bourbon should be. Simply delicious.

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Review from Kendall (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 889, Created:20071105144636)
Purchased at:Liquor Mart, Richmond, Ky.
Purchased for:?
Info on this bottle:50ml/barrel proof
Proof Of this Bottle:108.2
Nose:beautiful light red color,
sweet,orange,flowery, light spice,.Very nice, makes you want to taste.
Taste:sweet, smooth, there is a lot going on but it is not overwhelming
Finish:moderate to long, warm in the chest
Overall:I am not good at describing, but this is a must have. If you know someone who would like a great bottle of bourbon, they would be very happy to receive this.

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Review from spun_cookie (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 878, Created:20071102145930)
Purchased at:Bevmo Sac, CA
Purchased for:32.99
Info on this bottle:Batch # WT-03RB
Proof Of this Bottle:108.2
Nose:
Taste:light leather that strengthens. Fig and apricot come is with vanilla
Finish:0-15 seconds is strong Leather, tobacco, and hard vanilla (not sweat)

15-30 seconds there is a mellowing of the tobacco and leather. Oak taste appears and a vanilla is more pronounced

30-45 seconds apricot begins to appear and the leather is nice and mellow with a deadening of the tobacco. The vanilla and the oak blend very nice.

45-60 seconds the flavors are all in harmony and more full than the KS.

Better than the KS, but not substantially. The RB has about half again the staying power as the KS (90-180 secs vs 60-90 secs)
Overall:I like it. Cost less than the Kentucky Spirit and I like it more. Does not hold a candle to the WT 1855 though ...

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Review from Bucc58 (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 804, Created:20070709134338, Updated:20070709134550) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:Anglers Liquor, Fort Smith,AR
Purchased for:~$35.00
Info on this bottle:Batch# WT-03RB
Proof Of this Bottle:108.2
Nose:Strong alcohol, spice, hint of cedar and caramel
Taste:Hot a first but mellows after a few seconds. Oak, charr and spice. There was also something else that my novice senses could not quite get a grasp of, maybe the fruits other people have noted?
Finish:short to medium with a mint quality.
Overall:I am quite suprised that i enjoyed this tasting but I am new at this game and did not give this a proper tasting the first few times. With my new skills learned from B.E. I can now see why everyone is so high on this Bourbon. It is correctly described above as 'not for the amature'. Correct. So, to all you newcomers, I would buy a bottle of this and try it. Taste it from time to time and when the day comes that you get this bottle out and, with a thought in your mind like 'let's get this over with', pour a taste and then through pursed lips and wrinkeld nose discover that the bourbon nomes have stollen your WTRB and switched it with something great! --- congrats! You just graduated to novice!

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Review from Mike (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 784, Created:20070531151614, Updated:20070531164914) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:Sigman Bottle Shop, Conyers, Ga
Purchased for:$30
Proof Of this Bottle:108.2
Nose:There is something in the Rare Breed nose that is downright inspiring. It is like the wind, the snow, the rain, the sunshine, the hot, the cold.........it is elemental, it is enticing, it is only itself, it imitates nothing...........it is quintessential bourbon. You want to smell 'bourbon', then smell Rare Breed...... you want to smell 'American', then smell Rare Breed! Its nose is extraordinarily complex, but never betrays its 108 proof. The alcohol is always contained and held in its place. A masterpiece of spiritual aromatic essence!
Taste:Who comes now to taste this masterpiece? 'It is I', says the bourbon novice. 'Go away,' says RB, 'Come again when you can know me.'

Who comes now to taste this masterpiece? 'It is I', says the apprentice. 'Go away', says RB, 'Come again when you can know me.'

Who comes now to taste this masterpiece? 'It is I', says the true bourbon lover. 'Welcome!' says Rare Breed.
Finish:Long, powerful, sweet, spicy, smooth.............incredible!
Overall:Absolutely no need to choose a favorite bourbon................ridiculous endeavor.........too many great choices...............Rare Breed.........always among the top few............too damn good to ignore...........ever! Bourbon not the equal of Cognac or Scotch?.............Bullshit!!

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Review from padron (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 780, Created:20070529211127) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:Grafton, Ohio
Purchased for:$29
Info on this bottle:Rare Breed
Proof Of this Bottle:108.2
Nose:Full, complex, and powerful. Aged fruit, nuts, tobacco, and raisins. What I like best about bourbon straight from the barrel is the smell....Very inviting.
Taste:Very smooth with a "wow" kick. Tobacco, corn, and a spicy vanilla. Roll it on your tongue and it shows off it's thickness, like warrm molasses.
Finish:Fruity...maybe aged fruity with heat, that makes you want to keep sipping.
Overall:It's a little unfair to compare bourbon straight from the barrel with that that's cut with water, but as far as I'm concerned this IS the BEST there is. As a cigar aficianado, I can say that the strong tobacco taste makes this a perfect compliment to big ol' hand rolled fat boy! Unlike many bourbons, I don't share this with friends. This one's just for me...

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Review from Jon (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 777, Created:20070529121422, Updated:20070529134204) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:liquor barn, lexington
Purchased for:30.00
Info on this bottle:rare breed
Proof Of this Bottle:108
Nose:Powerful and in your face with caramel, orange, toffee, vanilla, tobacco shed, charred oak, and honey suckle. Freakin' awesome.
Taste:A conglomeration of all the best flavors bourbon has to offer and not too much of any one! Read the nose above and it's there. Wow!
Finish:Long sought-after finish with a mild, peppery burn at the end from alcohol. Lets try another!
Overall:Truly the bourbon connoissures choice. Don't speak to others immediately after you take a sip, pay attention! Yes, the alcohol does kick in this one, but the flavor profile is so large you don't care. Your taste buds will be running into one another in exitement until they are numb. Be careful, this stuff is addictive! Whereas Pappy's Lot B is a melding of the sweeter flavors of bourbon with a very smooth finish, Rare Breed is a flavor explosion of every flavor bourbon can offer with a heated finish! Opposite categories, but respective equals. Put it in your cabinet!

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Review from BourbonJim (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 688, Created:20070116190130, Updated:20070116200549)
Purchased at:Toco Giant (Atlanta, GA)
Purchased for:$29.00? Gift
Nose:Sweet caramel, vanilla, charcoal, corn, raisin and, yup, a touch of orange. Every time I smell this bottle it brings a smile to my face.
Taste:Extremely well balanced. Caramel, sweet corn, cinnamon, honey, brown sugar, rye, sweet grass. This is a smooth bourbon that incorporates so many flavor characteristics that it is very difficult to describe. It's like tasting the notes on a pipe organ, each flavor contributing to the concerto as a whole. No one flavor overpowering the other, they are completely in harmony and simply coexist to realize this wonderful serenade.
Finish:There is no clear point at which the finish begins. Flavor is consistent throughout the entire sampling. It has a moderately long finish but still smooth and beautiful to the end.
Overall:OMFG wonderful! A must buy. The bottle should not even be in the same room as Coke. Don't even think about it. Drink straight with or without ice. Smell smell smell, and your nose will want more. It's in my top three: Bakers for a smacky, full bodied bourbon and Rowan's Creek for smooth, sweet, relaxing enjoyment.

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Review from daniel (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 646, Created:20061117140718) View discussion on this review.
Purchased at:Cornhusker Beverage, Omaha, NE
Purchased for:$31
Proof Of this Bottle:108
Nose:Sweet, fruits, not as strong as some.
Taste:Wonderful. Easy to drink. I wondered if the high proof would mean high burn factor. It did not. Add an ice cube if you would like, but nothing else.
Finish:Soft and smooth.
Overall:Easily my favorite bourbon at this point in my young tasting career.

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Review from Mike (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 539, Created:20060718124148, Updated:20060718124228)
Purchased at:Sigman Bottle Shop, Conyers, GA
Purchased for:$29
Nose:The classic WT nose, with the rye fruitiness and warm spice. A bit of corn, vanilla, oak, leather, and brown sugar. A nose that says 'bourbon' as well as any I know.
Taste:A balanced taste with the sweetness fading into the rye spiciness that gives way to a touch of alcohol. This is a nicely complex bourbon that wails out a soulful sax solo. Can you hear the music?
Finish:A moderate to long finish that has some staying power. It is viscous (does WT have a patent on viscousness?), balanced, and beautiful.
Overall:I just love this stuff. Austin Nichols Wild Turkey Rare Breed you is a bitch!

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Review from bourbonv (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 480, Created:20060426094543)
Purchased at:Bourbon's Bistro Bar
Purchased for:8.00
Info on this bottle:Standard Bottle
Proof Of this Bottle:108.2
Nose:Fruit - apricots and cherries with caramel and spice - nutmeg and cinnamon.
Taste:Caramel fruit - Apples and apricots with spice and lots of oak.
Finish:Very fruity to start but becomes a nice dry oak finish.
Overall:Very nice neat or on the rocks as an after dinner drink with a cigar or pipe.

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Review from abcgroup (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 236, Created:20050805161542)
Purchased at:Mike's Package Store, Marietta, GA
Purchased for:$35.99
Proof Of this Bottle:108.4
Nose:Deep vanilla, spicey...kinda like a good crumb cake.
Taste:This is an interesting drink to me. It's the first time a bourbon tasted more like a scotch than a bourbon to me. Heavy rye might add to that. It's got a good taste, very robust...nice kick in the chest. This bourbon is not, in my opinion, for the faint drinker. Wild Turkey lets you know it's there.
Finish:There is a very prominent oak finish, which leads me to my scotch comment above. It's nice, the burn settles in...it creeps into your chest. This isn't firewater, but it sure as hell isn't smooth like an Irish Whiskey. There's a healthy sustain with each sip.
Overall:I think I'm gonna have to have another. Overall, this is good, but I can't shake the Scotch feeling. I'd recommend this to bourbon drinkers for sure. It tastes like no other bourbon I've had (I have very little Turkey exposure). I would NOT recommend this to a newbie to bourbon. I'd say you need to shop around first. This in no way says anything negative about this product, but it's a step outside of most bourbons...which makes it good and unique.

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Review from Mike (BourbonEnthusiast Review ID 126)
Purchased at:Sigman Spirits, Conyers, GA
Purchased for:$28 ?
Proof Of this Bottle:108.4
Nose:Vanilla, rye, nutmeg, oiled leather, brown sugar, peaches, wee touch of orange
Taste:Well rounded taste, with plenty of complexity, seems to be true to the WT profile, keeping you honest with a stiff jab from the rye. Perfect viscosity, nicely thick and robust.
Finish:A satisfying, moderate length finish, with some residual rye that says this is unequivocally bourbon..... ah, very cleansing to the palate. It reminds me of the length and sharpness of a hoppy beer!
Overall:A classy pour that tells the 'bourbon' story very well. I think this is a bourbon that some of us will put on the top shelf, some of us will put on the middle shelf, but few of us would ever put on the bottom shelf. I strongly recommend it to anyone who has any interest in bourbons! On some days it will just suit your mood.......giving you the strength (to use someone else's quote) 'to get up and do what needs to be done'!

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