Pride of Anderson County 9 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

Anderson County, Kentucky has been synonymous with fine whiskey for generations — pre-Prohibition barons, modern bourbon icons, and, resting high above the Kentucky River in the historic community of Tyrone, Wild Turkey Distillery itself. Pride of Anderson County is a tribute to that specific heritage, built on a genuine collaboration between Rare Character Whiskey Company and David Jennings — better known as Rare Bird 101, one of the most respected independent chroniclers of Wild Turkey history working today. Jennings had spent years documenting the distillery's legacy and dreaming of bringing barrel-proof, single-barrel Wild Turkey to a wider audience of enthusiasts. In 2022, a chance encounter with Rare Character's Pablo Moix turned that dream into reality.

This bottling represents a genuine milestone for the project: the first-ever Pride of Anderson County release to ship broadly to retail, marking the brand's transition from an exclusive, lottery-only allocation into an ongoing single barrel series available more widely. Sourced from Wild Turkey Distillery stock — the same source that has previously yielded barrels from Camp Nelson's rickhouse E and Tyrone's rickhouse Q, specifically earmarked for this project by Wild Turkey's own Bruce Russell and Grant Wheeler — this 9-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon spent its full maturation in new charred American oak before being bottled uncut, unfiltered, and at natural cask strength. Only two carefully planned releases arrive each year, each one representing a distinct, individually selected barrel and a specific chapter in an ongoing Kentucky story.

The brand's own tasting notes describe a complex profile of caramel, vanilla, and oak, combined with a subtle hint of baking spices — remarkable depth, balance, and character built through nine full years of time, wood, and craftsmanship. For fans of Wild Turkey's own barrel-proof single barrel releases — the kind of pours that Eddie Russell himself has called the truest way to experience the distillery's bourbon — Pride of Anderson County offers that same uncut, unfiltered intensity in an individually curated, historically framed package, honoring the whiskey heritage of the county that gave Wild Turkey its home.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Pride of Anderson County was created through a collaboration between Rare Character Whiskey Company, a purveyor of fine American whiskey known for its special relationships with top distillers and exclusive access to expressions never released to the public, and David Jennings — the writer and historian behind Rare Bird 101, whose years of research into Wild Turkey and Kentucky whiskey history have made him one of the category's most respected independent voices. The project draws its whiskey from Wild Turkey Distillery in Anderson County, Kentucky, with barrels specifically selected and earmarked for the Pride of Anderson County program by Wild Turkey's own team, including Master Distiller Bruce Russell and Grant Wheeler.

Earlier releases in the series have drawn from specific, named rickhouses — a 12-year bourbon from Camp Nelson's rickhouse E, an 8-year rye from Tyrone's rickhouse Q — underscoring the project's commitment to genuine barrel specificity rather than generic sourcing. This 9-year expression continues that single-barrel philosophy: aged the full nine years in new charred American oak, then bottled uncut and unfiltered at natural cask strength, preserving the authentic character that time, wood, and Wild Turkey's own distilling craftsmanship built into the barrel. Only two releases are planned per year, each one representing an individually selected barrel and a distinct chapter in the brand's ongoing story.

Critics Reviews

No published numerical critic score is available for this specific 9-year release at this time — a first-to-market bottling from Rare Character's ongoing series.

Rare Character official description:
"Aged for 9 years in new charred American oak, this Kentucky Straight Bourbon develops remarkable depth, balance, and character. Each barrel is bottled uncut and unfiltered, preserving the authentic profile created through time, wood, and craftsmanship."

Rare Character Whiskey Company (brand tasting note, house style consistent across the series):
"A complex flavor profile with notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak, combined with a subtle hint of baking spices. This bourbon is a true testament to the patience and skill required to create a fine spirit."

David Jennings ("Rare Bird 101"):
"Seeing Pride of Anderson County come to life has been a dream come true."

Peter Nevenglosky, Co-Founder, Rare Character Whiskey Company:
"This collaboration with Rare Bird 101 is a testament to our commitment to producing exceptional and unique whiskeys. By uniting our distilling expertise with David's deep understanding of the Wild Turkey legacy, we've created something truly special that pays homage to the whiskey heritage of Anderson County."

Tasting Profile

The following profile reflects the confirmed house-style tasting notes for the Pride of Anderson County series.

Nose
Deep amber-copper, reflecting nine full years of maturation in new charred American oak. Caramel and vanilla lead the nose with warm, classic bourbon sweetness, joined by oak and a subtle hint of baking spices.

Palate
Remarkable depth and balance carry through the palate, the full nine years of barrel time and Wild Turkey's own distilling character coming through undiluted at natural cask strength. Caramel and vanilla continue from the nose, layered with oak-driven structure and warm baking spice.

Finish
Long and character-driven, closing with the same balance of caramel sweetness, vanilla, and oak spice that defines the nose and palate — an authentic, unmediated expression of the barrel exactly as it emerged from nine years in Wild Turkey's Anderson County rickhouses.

Quick Overview