Wild Turkey Forgiven Batch 302

$399.00
Overview

Blend of Straight Bourbon and Straight Rye · Wild Turkey Distilling Co. 2013 First Release  ·  Lawrenceburg, Kentucky  ·  45.5% ABV  ·  750ml
This is a collector's item: only 2 Editions were ever made, with very limited stock.

Wild Turkey Forgiven has one of the better stories in modern bourbon. A distillery worker accidentally mixed a rare, high-proof rye with perfectly aged bourbon, owned up to it, and, rather than dump it, Associate Master Distiller Eddie Russell tasted it and decided it was worth bottling. Hence the name. Batch 302 is the first release, bottled in 2013.

The blend is 78% six-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon and 22% four-year-old Kentucky Straight Rye, bottled at 91 proof. What you get is the classic Wild Turkey character with an extra kick of rye spice running through it. Limited release, no longer made, and increasingly hard to find. One of those bottles you'll wish you grabbed two of.

Product Details

Brand Wild Turkey
Producer Wild Turkey Distilling Co.
Country / Region USA – Kentucky
Style Blend of Straight Bourbon and Straight Rye
Composition 78% 6-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon / 22% 4-year Kentucky Straight Rye
Age Statement NAS, components aged 4 to 6 years
ABV 45.5% (91 Proof)
Cask Type New charred American oak
Bottle Size 750ml
Release Batch 302, 2013, First Release (Limited Edition)

Tasting Notes

Nose: Caramel and vanilla up front, with orange zest, cherry, and ripe orchard fruit sitting alongside a hit of cinnamon and rye spice.

Palate: Rye spice leads the way, backed by caramel, orange zest, cinnamon, black pepper, and a touch of leather and dark chocolate.

Finish: Long and dry. Oak and rye spice fade slowly into caramel and toffee sweetness.

What sets this bottle apart

  • he first ever release of Wild Turkey Forgiven, batch 302 from 2013
  • Born from a happy accident, bottled because Eddie Russell said it was too good to dump
  • A blend of 6 year old straight bourbon and 4 year old straight rye
  • Bottled at 91 proof for proper flavour
  • Discontinued limited release, only two batches were ever made (302 and 303)
  • A genuine collector's bottle from the Russell era

Distillery Information

Wild Turkey has been distilling in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, for well over a century, and the Russell family have been at the helm for most of it. Jimmy Russell joined the distillery in 1954 and is one of the longest-serving Master Distillers in the world, with his son Eddie Russell now working alongside him.

Forgiven came out of a real moment on the floor: the crew accidentally mingled a high-proof rye with perfectly aged bourbon, owned up, and rather than dump the lot, Eddie Russell tasted it and gave it the green light. Batch 302 is that first release, dressed in the unmistakable Wild Turkey style.

Awards & Recognition

90 Points, Distiller.com Tasting Panel

Who this bottle is for

  • Collectors looking for a discontinued Russell-era release
  • Wild Turkey fans after a piece of brand history
  • Bourbon drinkers curious about a proper bourbon and rye blend
  • Drinkers who like a bit of rye spice cutting through their bourbon
  • Anyone who appreciates a bottle with a real story behind it

How to enjoy

Best neat. Give it a minute in the glass, and the rye spice and bourbon sweetness start working together. A few drops of water can soften it and let the sweeter notes come forward. Holds its own in a classic Old Fashioned if you want to dress it up, but for a bottle this rare, it's hard to argue against drinking it straight.

Why we curate it

Forgiven Batch 302 is a proper piece of Wild Turkey history. The first release of an accidental blend that turned out so good they bottled it, then quietly discontinued it after Batch 302. It's classic Russell-era Turkey character with a rye edge, increasingly hard to find, and one of those bottles that's worth grabbing while you still can.