Wild Turkey 12-Year
Overall Score: 7.25/10
Overall Value: 2.75/5
Distillery: Wild Turkey
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Campari Group
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 101
Age: 12- Years
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Color: Copper
MSRP: $150 (2025)
The Barrel Bros’ Review
Rich and expressive, the nose on this 12-year Wild Turkey opens with bold red fruits—think cherry, raspberry, even a hint of blueberry cobbler dusted with powdered sugar. There’s a dessert-like sweetness here, almost cake frosting or raspberry rhubarb pie. Alongside all that is a nuttier side, reminiscent of a PayDay bar and buttered popcorn, bringing a savory edge. A bit of “funk” also shows up—hard to pin down. Fans of Wild Turkey 101 will find familiar DNA, but with more maturity and richness.
The mouthfeel on the palate is smooth, buttery, and a touch oily. Fruity notes carry over, with cherry standing out most clearly—less candy, more natural fruit. There’s also a red rope candy quality that’s subtle but fun. Unfortunately, that promise doesn’t fully translate into complexity. A hint of oak appears mid-palate, accompanied by a slight sharpness—something like dry marker or Sharpie—which won’t appeal to everyone. Still, it's unmistakably Wild Turkey, just wearing a more refined 12-year suit.
The finish brings in the oak, as expected from the age. It’s not overpowering, but there’s a noticeable sawdust dryness. Some sips lean dry and woody, others leave a trace of cherry before fading. The transition from sweet to dry works well for those who like layered bourbon, but it does taper off a bit more flatly than anticipated.
This Japan-only release of Wild Turkey 12-Year is a classic case of high highs and moderate lows. At first pour, it gives the impression of a 9/10 bourbon, thanks to its outstanding nose. But once the sip is complete, some may feel it doesn't fully deliver on that early promise. Still, it’s a well-crafted, balanced expression that offers more depth than standard 101 and shows off what aged Turkey can do.
The MSRP varies depending on region, but secondary sale prices often push well above its retail value. For some, the price may not be justified given how close it comes to Rare Breed in flavor, but for fans of Wild Turkey—and especially collectors of Japanese-exclusive bottles—this one's still worth a serious look.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
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Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 7.5/10
Value: 3/5
THE NOSE:
It has both a nutty and a red fruit profile. I get a Payday bar plus the strawberry flavored hearts in a Runts package.
I think it’s mostly a sweet nose, but it does have a good deep forest woodiness to it that brings some balance.
There is a bit of a funk going on as well, but hard to describe. Maybe the savoriness of buttered popcorn.
THE TASTE:
Very full and buttery mouthfeel, just lovely. Surprisingly the red fruit seems to be the flavor that really stands out.
I would describe it as light cherry, more in the fruit category than candy although I do get a bit of the red ropes profile.
THE FINISH:
The woodiness from the age starts to show here, but very subtly.
It's not a punch to the face, it's more of a nice descent into a more complex bourbon.
It's a bit on the sawdust side of the woody profile. A bit of dryness creeps in but overall I'm very happy.
BUY OR PASS?
I think this is a very solid offering from Wild Turkey, unfortunately I think the exclusivity of the bottle hurts it a bit. There are other options from Wild Turkey like Rare Breed that are easy to find and fairly similar.
The Hunter Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 2.5/5
THE NOSE:
Wow, this nose is rich. Big, dark red fruits jump out right away—cherry, raspberry, even some blackberry and grape.
It honestly reminds me of a raspberry rhubarb pie or a slice of blueberry cobbler with powdered sugar sprinkled on top.
There’s so much sweetness, I’m even thinking about cake frosting.
Believe it or not, it reminds me a bit of Jack Daniel’s Coy Hill in terms of how bold and dessert-like it smells.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel is light and a bit oily. Some of that fruity sweetness carries through, especially cherry, but it doesn’t hit as hard as the nose promised.
There’s some oak, and unfortunately, a sharpness shows up—like a slight marker or sharpie note.
It’s definitely Wild Turkey, and while some folks love that profile, it’s never really been my favorite.
THE FINISH:
Here’s where the age comes through—oak takes over and dries out the palate.
Not much sweetness sticks around, and it finishes a little flat for me.
BUY OR PASS?
If you just went by the nose, you’d expect a 9/10 pour. But the taste and finish don’t quite live up to that hype.
It’s still a solid bourbon, just not my kind of pour. If you’re a Wild Turkey fan, you’ll probably be all over this. But for me, there are better 12-year bottles out there—especially if you're not into heavy oak.
