Wild Turkey American Honey Liqueur is 35.5% abv. / 71 proof and is made with honey and Wild Turkey bourbon. The color is a medium to dark gold. I am not a fan of most of the Wild Turkey products, but was intrigued by this bourbon and honey liqueur. So when I saw it on sale really cheap at the New Hampshire State liquor store I said "what the heck" and picked up a bottle.The aroma is slightly sharp and sour/sweet and tangy. You can sense the presence of bourbon under some very strange top notes that are camphor like, and salty, and of hot and volatile machine oils. The more I tried to smell the liqueur, the less I smelled anything, until my nose went numb. Then I had a difficult time discerning the aroma at all. I never had my nose go blind before and I wasn't sure I actually wanted to taste it, but I got up my nerve and proceeded on.
The taste was a lot like the aroma, and not very pleasant at all. I kept taking sips trying to find something to like in this liqueur, but could find nothing to like at all. My tongue got as numb as my nose had earlier, and although I am a glutton for punishment I finally had enough of this and poured out the rest of the glass. I don't believe that I actually paid for this stuff. I'd give it away but that would be mean. I rarely write about bad things and prefer to think that I like to make recommendations for products that I like or that sound interesting, but I felt I had to warn other unsuspecting folks about this stuff. When I try to put my thoughts on this into one word, what comes to mind is VILE.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-29-2007 @ 2:05PM
PEGGY said...
from the description it sounds a lot like an american drambuie, but after your taste discription, maybe not.
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8-29-2007 @ 2:22PM
SeanMike said...
It's too bad you didn't like it. This is one of my favorite summer drinks - we used to enjoy it on the rocks after a nice cookout, usually with a cigar, just hanging out on the porch. (Hi Marshall!)
It's also good in the wintertime in tea.
I'm guessing if you're not a fan of Wild Turkey - I am and have been known to drink it straight - then you're less than likely to enjoy this. (I'm the same way with many Jim Beam products, I just can't take the smell or taste of them.)
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8-29-2007 @ 2:30PM
Marshall said...
Hi Sean!
Seriously, I have really enjoyed this liqueur for a long time. I wonder if you had it on the rocks or straight? Personally, I enjoy it much more on the rocks when it gets a chance to mix with a little water, it tends to bring out the nose of the bourbon and smooth out the edges of the drink.
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8-29-2007 @ 4:20PM
dan turner said...
How's it compare to Baron Jaeger? I've got a buddy who loves it, she might like this even if you don't.
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8-29-2007 @ 6:34PM
MJ said...
I have never liked wild turkey myself. I have seen this on many trips to the store, and never have wanted to try it . Dont really like honey either. Hope your nose is well again! Nice that YOu reported on a bad one. Been there too many times. Use it when you have the flu..It will cure you fast! Cheeers~
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8-29-2007 @ 6:37PM
Mike Wallace said...
I can't bring myself to drink it straight, but it's fantastic over French toast.
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8-29-2007 @ 8:32PM
Geckofiend said...
Seriously? It's no Wallace but it's every bit as good Drambuie. It's FAR from vile.
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8-30-2007 @ 4:23PM
Darryl said...
Honestly, it kinda sounds like you just don't like whiskey.
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8-30-2007 @ 4:28PM
JMForester said...
After reading the positive comments I went back and tried it again. Straight, on the rocks, with a splash of water, etc. I still think it's lousy stuff. It's not very well made and completely unbalanced.
And Darryl... I'm a whiskey lover. I have over twenty bourbons and thirty single malts in my "Spirits Library" but Wild Turkey isn't one of them. I have tried several of their whiskeys and they just aren't to my taste. So maybe it's a Wild Turkey thing, but I had others try this liqueur in a blind taste test and they all thought it was mediocre at best. -JMF-
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10-22-2007 @ 4:13PM
JOE DEMRO said...
Well I have to tell you, I was very disapointed in your review. I am a retired GYSGT. from the USMC and a public servent now and nothing ends my day better after the turmoil I go through. Pour a glass on the rocks (the water and ice mixture really makes it smooth) and sit back with a cigar or my pipe and life tends to slow down for a bit so I can get reacquainted with the world.
I encurage you all to give this a try, I thank you will all be satisfied.
Semper FI,
GUNNY D
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