65% Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit, 35% XO Cognac.
The WT sharp nose lives on. The floral elements of the Cgnac barely survive but have not given up completely.
'Tis in the taste that the Cognac prospers, taking a chunk from the rye bite and softening it considerably.
By my lights, this makes a formidable Whisnac or Cogniskey. Each stands alone on its own merits but neither suffers too much from the marriage.
Now, I will reverse the percentages, 65% Cognac and 35% WTKS.
The nose yields, as expected, to the floral Cognac elements. But the WT rye fights for its rightful place and does retake some of the middle ground. The nose is a battleground, with first the Cognac, then the WT taking the high ground. In the end the softness of the Cognac gives the ground over to the WT spicy rye...........although never completely.
The taste again favors the Cognac slightly, but the famous WT bite fights on and cannot be subdued. It has its final say in the finish, which, while retaining a touch of grapeness, has way more bite than Cognac ever has.
I like both vattings but would lean to the 65% WT, 35% Cognac combination. I like bourbon better than Cognac day in and day out but on some occasions, it is Cognac that I crave.
Although both vattings have merit, it is probably better not to play these games and take from each what it does best.............be itself.