Fri Jul 20, 2012
Food and Drink

Hoarding Alert: Wild Turkey

The famed liquor of Hunter S. Thompson has been de-listed by the LCBO, and only a few bottles remain in the GTA.

This must have Hunter S. Thompson rolling over: Wild Turkey has been de-listed at the LCBO.

You heard correctly: Wild Turkey is on the verge of extinction in Ontario. Already, wide-scale hoarding in Toronto has begun. Shelves are almost empty in stores across the downtown core. Even North York is beginning to experience shortages (but there are at least 40 bottles up there for the asking).

Wild Turkey used to be considered bottom-barrel and, while it hasn’t exactly been elevated to top shelf lately, it’s definitely gone up a few notches as people realized it wasn’t bad, considering the price ($28.25) and that it works well in a fair number of cocktails. Plus, it has a certain blue collar appeal, similar to PBR.

Fear and Loathing might be the brand’s most famous cameo appearance, but it’s been referenced in many songs, films, books and television shows, including The Sopranos, Seinfeld, Bad Lieutenant, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and, naturally, Leaving Las Vegas.

The option to end it all in a blaze of Wild Turkey is being curtailed by the powers that be, however, so the smart hoarder will go stock up now, while he or she still can.

Wild Turkey, $28.25. LCBO 198184

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BooksnBooze

Haven’t hipsters had enough of drinking specific brands of booze just because certain dead authors and/or literary characters happened to drink the same brand in the 1950s? Why spend $28 on Wild Turkey when you can pick up the far superior Buffalo Trace for $38? And if the answer is “I can’t afford the extra ten bucks,” you need to get your drinking habit under control.
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2:27 pm on October 21, 2012

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gb

I talked to the lcbo. They told me it is being reintroduced sith a new label. It is NOT being delisted and will few weeks. Phew!
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5:42 pm on August 25, 2012

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Chris

NOOO!!! I can’t believe this shit! Wild Turkey is one of my favorites! I’ll have to start going State side to make booze runs from now on.

I hate the LCBO.
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10:47 pm on July 26, 2012

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Jizanthapuss

Are we sure that Wild Turkey is disappearing from LCBO shelves? They recently changed the brand name and the label to “Wild Turkey 81.” Could it be that this is just the de-listing of WT80, and that WT81 will be following quickly on it’s heels?

Probably.
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3:21 pm on July 22, 2012

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Jizanthapuss

Oh, and get the right picture. Gawd. Lazy much?
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3:22 pm on July 22, 2012
Chris

I spoke to a guy at the LCBO and he told me that they are in fact bringing in the 81 proof which is supposed to be better this month. Can’t wait to try it!

I want to have a Hunter Thompson party where everyone gets shitfaced on wild turkey, wears yellow aviators, and smokes cigarettes with those holder thingies he always used.
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12:49 am on August 3, 2012

Ed

Wild Turkey was also featured/mentioned in the book and movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” – “Billy always loved Wild Turkey”.
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8:44 am on July 22, 2012

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Dustin Parr

You can’t buy the much better 101 Proof in Ontario, the LCBO has always just carried the 80.
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11:40 am on July 21, 2012

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Pantz

I can recall them stocking some 101 during that upswing in bourbon interest (was it late 90′s? Early 2000s?) It was significantly better than the 80 and I’ve always wondered why they didn’t list it again. Perhaps they will?

In any case, why hoard the 80 when Jim Beam Black is the same price, not delisted and a much better whiskey.
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6:45 pm on July 22, 2012

Ugh

“…it has a certain blue collar appeal…”

Shut up.
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11:19 am on July 20, 2012

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W. K. Lis

I’ll just go to the privately owned store and pick up a bottle. Oh wait! Can’t. The LCBO is a legal monopoly.

End the monopoly of the LCBO and allow private stores to sell liquor.
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9:28 am on July 20, 2012

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