Wild Turkey American Honey Bourbon Liqueur 750ml

Before honey whiskey was a category, there was American Honey. In 1976 — long before flavored spirits became a commercial phenomenon — Jimmy Russell, the legendary Master Distiller at Wild Turkey who would go on to become one of the longest-serving distillers in American bourbon history, created the first honey-flavored bourbon recipe at the Lawrenceburg, Kentucky distillery. It launched as Wild Turkey Honey Liqueur and was renamed American Honey in 2006. Everything that followed in the honey whiskey category — every brand, every competitor, every imitation — followed from Jimmy Russell's original recipe.

The concept is simple, the execution is honest, and the result has remained one of the most consistently popular and most accessible expressions in the Wild Turkey portfolio for nearly five decades. Real pure American honey blended with genuine Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey — not a flavored neutral spirit, not an essence, not a concentrate, but the actual Wild Turkey bourbon that Jimmy Russell's family has been making on the banks of the Kentucky River since 1940, combined with real honey into a smooth, approachable liqueur that works equally well served cold from the freezer, over ice, or in any cocktail format where honey, bourbon warmth, and natural sweetness belong.

At 71 proof — 35.5% ABV — American Honey occupies the most accessible position in the Wild Turkey family: lower proof, sweeter, and more immediately welcoming than the standard bourbon, while retaining the genuine Wild Turkey character beneath the honey's generous sweetness. It is the most approachable introduction to the Wild Turkey family for the customer who finds straight bourbon too intense, and the most reliable component for honey-based cocktails for the customer who already knows exactly what they want.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Wild Turkey Distillery has operated in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky — on a high bluff above the Wild Turkey Bend of the Kentucky River — since its establishment in the 19th century, becoming one of the most respected and most consistently recognized bourbon producers in American spirits history. The Wild Turkey name itself traces to 1940, when Austin Nichols executive Thomas McCarthy took warehouse samples on a wild turkey hunting trip and the bourbon proved so popular with his companions that they kept asking for "that wild turkey bourbon." The brand was formally established in 1942.

Jimmy Russell joined Wild Turkey in 1954 and served as Master Distiller for over six decades — one of the longest tenures in American distilling history and the source of the institutional knowledge and philosophical consistency that defines every Wild Turkey expression. His son Eddie Russell joined the distillery in 1981 and serves as Co-Master Distiller alongside his father — a generational continuity of craft that is genuinely rare in the American spirits industry. American Honey was Jimmy Russell's own creation in 1976 — a deliberate departure from the standard bourbon range that recognized honey and bourbon as natural partners and formalized that relationship into an official product before the broader market had any category framework for it.

American Honey is produced by blending Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey — matured in charred new American white oak barrels using the standard Wild Turkey mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley — with real pure American honey. The honey addition is genuine rather than artificial: actual honey, not honey flavoring or essence, combined with the bourbon in proportions that produce the 71-proof finished liqueur. The lower ABV compared to standard Wild Turkey 101 is a natural consequence of both the honey's dilution effect and the deliberate targeting of a softer, more accessible proof point for a product designed for broad appeal across every experience level.

Critics Reviews

There are no widely published numeric scores from Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, or Whisky Advocate available for American Honey. The expression's standing is built on nearly five decades of commercial success, consistent consumer recognition as the original honey bourbon liqueur, and Jimmy Russell's founding pedigree — a credential no competitor in the category can claim.

Tasting Profile

Nose Warm, inviting, and immediately legible — this is exactly what it promises to be from the first approach. Honey dominates with a rich, floral sweetness that is entirely genuine rather than artificial — the real honey's natural complexity apparent in a warmth and slightly waxy quality that distinguish it from synthetic honey flavoring. Vanilla follows alongside warm caramel — the Wild Turkey Bourbon's own character present as a backdrop of American oak and grain sweetness. A light citrus note — orange and candied lemon — adds brightness and lift. Subtle bourbon spice threads beneath the sweetness: cinnamon and a whisper of rye adding warmth without sharpness. Light oak in the background confirms the genuine bourbon foundation.

Palate Silky, smooth, and honey-forward throughout — the 71-proof bottling delivering warmth without intensity, sweetness without cloying weight. Honey sweetness dominates the entry in a thick, generous wave that coats the palate immediately. Vanilla and caramel from the Wild Turkey bourbon base build through the mid-palate alongside a hint of orange peel that adds a bright, slightly tart counterpoint to the honey's richness. Toasted oak and a subtle rye spice add complexity and prevent the sweetness from becoming one-dimensional — the genuine Wild Turkey bourbon beneath the honey making its presence felt as a structural element rather than simply a base spirit. Spiced cookies and warm baking spice add a comforting, dessert-adjacent warmth at the palate's center. The mouthfeel is smooth, slightly thick, and entirely inviting.

Finish Gentle, warm, and pleasantly lingering. Honey and candied lemon carry the close together — sweet, slightly tart, and deeply easy-drinking. A whisper of oak and toast adds a dry counterpoint to the honey sweetness before the whole experience resolves into a soft, warm close with a mellow bourbon heat. The finish is considerably more substantial than most lower-proof liqueurs — the genuine Wild Turkey bourbon's presence evident in a warmth that persists beyond what purely honey-forward sweetness produces.

Quick Overview

Serving & Occasion

Wild Turkey's own recommendation — and the most consistently praised serving format across every review — is served cold straight from the freezer in a shot glass or over ice in a rocks glass. The cold temperature tightens the honey sweetness and amplifies the citrus brightness into something particularly vivid and refreshing. Over a large ice cube works beautifully as a slow sipper. Outstanding in hot toddies where the honey, bourbon, and citrus combination is the most natural and most comforting version of the classic cold-weather drink available from a single bottle. A versatile cocktail ingredient for any recipe where honey and bourbon belong — see below. The most broadly appealing gift for whiskey-curious drinkers who haven't yet connected with straight bourbon, and a reliable party staple for mixed-audience entertaining.

Cocktail Suggestions

American Honey Bee Sting 1.5 oz Wild Turkey American Honey · squeeze of fresh lemon · topped with ginger beer. Built over ice in a highball. The honey and citrus character plays naturally against ginger's heat — a refreshing, slightly spicy long drink that is one of the most crowd-pleasing American Honey serves and requires almost no preparation.

Honey Bourbon Sour 1.5 oz Wild Turkey American Honey · ¾ oz fresh lemon juice · splash of simple syrup (optional). Shaken over ice, served up or over ice. The honey provides most of the sweetening — lemon cuts through with precision — and the result is a whiskey sour that requires no additional sweetener and remains entirely balanced and refreshing from the first sip to the last.

Hot Toddy (the natural home) 1.5 oz Wild Turkey American Honey · hot water · fresh lemon slice · cinnamon stick. Built in a mug. American Honey is the most efficient hot toddy ingredient available — the honey, bourbon, and citrus are already combined, requiring nothing beyond hot water and a lemon for a genuinely warming and deeply satisfying cold-weather drink.

American Honey Iced Tea 1.5 oz Wild Turkey American Honey · cold brewed sweet tea · lemon wedge. Built over ice in a tall glass. The honey and bourbon combination bridges naturally with sweet tea in an exceptionally Southern and entirely irresistible long drink that makes American Honey its most broadly accessible.

Frozen American Honey Shot 1.5 oz Wild Turkey American Honey — served ice cold directly from the freezer. The simplest and most consistently praised serve — the cold temperature concentrating the honey sweetness and softening the alcohol into something smooth, warming, and immediately satisfying.