Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery for Wild Turkey
Proof: 124.0 (62.0% ABV)
Age: Sixteen Years
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Corn, 12% Malted Barley
MSRP: $400
A Case Study in Long Maturation Done Right
The Doc Holliday 16-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon represents the most mature release to date in the Doc Holliday line from World Whiskey Society. Marketed as an ultra-limited expression with fewer than a thousand bottles produced, it embodies WWS’s focus on rarity, age, and an elevated presentation.
The whiskey was distilled at Buffalo Trace and bottled for Wild Turkey, using a traditional high-corn mash bill. While this is bottled at 124 barrel proof, the sixteen full years oaked have concentrated the flavors into a complex profile that leans toward harmony—this definitely doesn’t drink like a 120+ proof point.
Positioned as a collector-grade release with an MSRP of $400, it invites a serious question: does the flavor rise to meet the legend that World Whiskey Society is building around the Doc Holliday name?
Doc Holliday 16-Year Aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes
Nose – 4.3/5
Fresh dipped caramel apple. Warm toasted pecans. Caramel corn. Old oak.
Strengths: Deep and rich notes. There’s a clear sense of the age.
Why It’s Not Higher: Held back by oak dryness. The fruit wants to shine but doesn’t fully escape the old oak barrel’s grip.
Rating Justification: Elegant and serious. Slightly restrained. The maturity is clear, but it doesn’t tip into over-oaked territory.
Palate – 4.7/5
Clove. Charred oak. Caramel. Baked apples.
Strengths: The Palate delivers tremendous depth—sweetness, spice, and oak work in three-part harmony. The mouthfeel is rich and creamy. The spice rises into a crescendo.
Why It’s Not Higher: An ever so faint dryness creeps in mid-Palate, hinting at the bourbon’s long time in wood. Even so, it remains elegant rather than tired.
Rating Justification: Powerful. Flavorful. Proof and maturity align beautifully.
Finish – 4.7/5
Long. Warm. Spiced. Lingering caramel. Hints of sweet pipe tobacco.
Strengths: The Finish extends—an oak spice carries while traces of sweet pipe tobacco bring a surprise. The fade is deeply satisfying.
Why It’s Not Higher: A whisper more fruit would make the conclusion sing from the heavens.
Rating Justification: Graceful and unhurried. A Finish that rewards patience and perfectly mirrors the whiskey’s maturity.
Value – 4.2/5
At $400, Doc Holladay 16-Year demands serious commitment. Its flavor delivery and craftsmanship are exceptional, showing none of the bitterness or wood fatigue that can plague high-aged bourbons. Yet its cost places it beyond reach for most enthusiasts. For collectors or connoisseurs seeking authentic, well-preserved maturity, it earns respect. Spectacular whiskey—steep investment.
Doc Holliday 16-Year Aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review: The Verdict
Doc Holliday 16-Year Aged Bourbon balances massive depth with mature elegance. The proof carries the structure very well–the flavors retain a vitality throughout. The interplay between fruit, spice, and oak is masterful. While its price keeps it just shy of Platinum, in the glass, it stands as a shining example of a great bourbon.
Verdict – 4.5/5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.5 – 5
- Gold – 4 – 4.5
- Silver – 3 – 4
- Bronze – <3
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.