This 5pm Dining contributor has never got into the habit of celebrating Thanksgiving Day.

We get more than enough turkey at Christmas.

However, we will happily make an exception for Wild Turkey and their range of whiskeys.

We have included a couple of Wild Turkey cocktail recipes at the foot of this blog.

I don’t think that pumpkin pie will be on my menu on the 24th of November but I will be lifting a Wild Turkey Old Fashioned to my lips and toasting the fact that America still produces plenty of liquid reasons to smile.

Blog readers with exceptional memories may just about recall that we wrote about the American whiskey makers back in 2013 and have been fond of the occasional Wild Turkey ever since.

Rye aye

Recently, the blog was sent a bottle of Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Rye and a bottle of their Rare Breed bourbon which was launched in the UK last month.

As the name indicates, the rye whiskey is made with at least 51% rye rather than the minimum 51% corn which is used in bourbon distillation.

This gives it a drier taste than most bourbons. The official tasting notes reckon that ‘the big, broad vanilla and spice notes burst through without changing the bold rye taste. Wild Turkey Rye stands up to any mixer and shines through in cocktails.’

To which we will add that it is very spicy. We got lots of white pepper on the nose. Lean and clean, it would certainly add kick to a cocktail.

Complex bourbon

The Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a different beast altogether. If the rye is a hot-headed straight talker, the Rare Breed is a smoother, more rounded, more complex proposition.

At 56.4%ABV, it is a barrel proof whiskey. Blended from barrels of six to twelve-year-old bourbon, it hasn’t been cut with water.

The official notes mention ‘tones of sweet tobacco and hints of orange and mint’ along with a long, dried fruit finish.

It’s also creamy with honey flavours and perhaps a touch of warming cinnamon. One to drink neat.

Wild Turkey Old Fashioned

This classic cocktail, and speakeasy favourite, was created in America.

40ml Wild Turkey Bourbon

1 brown sugar cube

2 dashes angostura bitters

Orange zest and rind as garnish

Place sugar, bitters and part of the whiskey in a rocks glass, break down sugar with a spoon, then add ice and stir. Slowly add more ice and whiskey whilst stirring to dilute the sugar.  Garnish with orange zest over the top, and place the rind in the glass.

Wild Turkey Manhattan

Rich, spicy and sweet, this classic cocktail is perfect to sip during a cold autumnal evening.

40ml Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Rye

20ml sweet vermouth

Dash angostura bitters

Maraschino cherry as garnish

Mix all ingredients with ice. Strain into coupe glass and garnish with a cherry.