Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
A blend of 6, 8 and 12 year old Wild Turkey bourbon bottled at barrel proof, 116.8 proof (58.4%) on the current label. Strength varies by batch and earlier releases came in near 112.8 proof. Uses Wild Turkey's standard high-rye mashbill.
- Filtration
- Barrel proof
- Aging
- Blend of 6, 8 and 12 year old straight bourbons, new charred oak
- Mashbill
- Corn 75%Rye 13%Malted barley 12%
- Grains
- corn, rye, malted barley
- Congeners
- Very High
- Histamines
- Moderate
- Polyphenols
- High
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Very High
- Sugar
- Very Low
- Additives
- Very Low
- Calories
- 143
- Sugar
- 0g
20.4g ethanol at 58.4% ABV. No sugar, so every calorie here is alcohol.
In its favor
- ✓No additives permitted in bourbon
- ✓Disclosed blend ages
What to watch
- !Barrel proof strength means a much larger ethanol dose per pour
- !12 year old component adds heavy oak extraction
- !Barley and rye in the mash = gluten grains
Factor by factor
Congeners Very High ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Moderate ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols High ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Very Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Very High ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Very Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Very Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Rare Breed stacks three drivers at once: bourbon aged up to 12 years, the same mashbill as Wild Turkey 101, and bottling at roughly 117 proof. A 1.5oz pour carries about 30% more ethanol than a 90 proof bourbon, and the older barrels in the blend are the reason it scores a point above Wild Turkey 101. Proof varies by batch, so check the label.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed questions
How many calories are in a shot of Wild Turkey Rare Breed? ▾
About 143 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 58.4% ABV. All of them come from the alcohol, since there is no sugar.
Does Wild Turkey Rare Breed have sugar? ▾
No. Wild Turkey Rare Breed has 0g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is Wild Turkey Rare Breed gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. Wild Turkey Rare Breed is distilled from rye and barley, so US rules bar it from claiming gluten-free. Distillation does remove the gluten protein, and the Celiac Disease Foundation considers distilled spirits safe for most coeliacs. If you would rather avoid the question, pick a spirit distilled from corn, potato, grape or agave.
What is Wild Turkey Rare Breed made from? ▾
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is made from corn, rye, malted barley, with a mashbill of 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley and filtered through barrel proof.
What proof is Wild Turkey Rare Breed? ▾
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is 116.8 proof, which is 58.4% alcohol by volume.
Does Wild Turkey Rare Breed give you a bad hangover? ▾
Wild Turkey Rare Breed scores 8/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 7/10 for bourbon overall. The main drivers are its congeners, polyphenols and tannins.
Is Wild Turkey Rare Breed vegan? ▾
Yes. Wild Turkey Rare Breed is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.