This blend is one of my fall favorites, though it is just as enjoyable year-round. Combining these two Wild Turkey expressions creates a smooth, warmly spiced honey flavor that shines in hot drinks such as hot toddies, over a rock, or sipped neat by the fire. It is also an excellent introduction for those new to bourbon: Wild Turkey American Honey adds a touch of sweetness and makes the blend exceptionally smooth, with very little bite—or “Kentucky hug.”
Feel free to experiment with the ratios to suit your taste. I prefer a higher proportion of the core bourbon to keep the sweetness in balance and the proof around 90. For a sweeter, lower-proof option closer to 80 proof, try a ratio nearer to 1:1. Just keep in mind that the finished blend will be noticeably sweeter.
As for the name, I had to name this one after one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands, Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven.
How to Home Age and Blend
In a 750 ml glass bottle add:
- 500 ml- Wild Turkey 101
- 250 ml- Wild Turkey American Honey
- 1- Barrel Aged in a Bottle Oak Infusion Spiral
- Combine all ingredients above and keep sealed in a glass bottle.
- Let the ingredients and oak sit for at least 2 weeks. Make sure to look at the instructions that come with whatever oak stave or spiral you are using. It is best to follow those individual guidelines as far as the length of time you should let everything sit together. Make sure to take some small tastes throughout to make sure that your end product doesn't end up over oaked. By tasting you can make the decision to take the stave or spiral out whenever it feels right based on your palate as well. Remember you are blending and aging for yourself, there is no wrong way to do this as long as you think it tastes great!
- Strain out all particles and spiral using a coffee filter.
- Use hydrometer to get final ABV for bottling. My batch was bottled at 90 proof, 45% ABV.
- Place in sterilized glass bottle, label, and seal. For this specific one i added edible gold glitter to go with what I named this batch. Feel free to have as much fun with the customization and labeling as you want!
Tasting Notes:
- Bottled at 90 proof
- Color- Gold
- Legs- Thick & Fast "Legs"
- Aroma- Honey & Vanilla
- Palate- Vanilla, Light Brown Sugar, & Honey with Light Oak
- Finish- No Burn
- Mouthfeel- Light and Smooth
When looking at the gallery below, look at the difference between the colors in the picture above and the first picture in the gallery in comparison to the other pictures of it once it was bottled. The picture above along with the first one in the gallery were taken the day I married both of the Wild Turkey products and added the Oak spiral. You can see how much deeper the color transitioned during its 2 weeks of aging.
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