Wild Turkey Master’s Keep is an underappreciated limited release from Wild Turkey. Each year demonstrates Eddie Russell’s skill as a master distiller and shows how he innovates with different blends, grains, and requirements like Bottled in Bond. And damn if it doesn’t show that a solid Wild Turkey release upwards of 10-years-old is something special.
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Table of Contents
Which is the best Wild Turkey Master’s Keep?
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep One Toasted Oak Finish (2021) Review
| Toasted Oak Finish | Details |
|---|---|
| Mash Bill | 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley |
| Barrel Entry | Coming Soon |
| In the Bottle | 101 Proof |
| ABV | 50.5% |
| Type | Toasted Oak Finish |
| First Barrel | Coming Soon |
| Second Barrel | Coming Soon |
| Age | NAS |
| Rickhouse | 6 |
| Price | $175 |
| Distillery | Wild Turkey Distillery 1417 Versailles Rd. Lawrenceburg, KY 40342 |
| Pros | Coming Soon |
| Cons | Coming Soon |
| Rating | Coming Soon |
| Inventory | Coming Soon |
Full Review Upon Release of Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 2021.
Wild Turkey’s Tasting Notes: Rich Vanilla, Fresh Toasted Oak, Caramel, Spice, and Butterscotch
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Bottled in Bond 17-Year (2020) Review
| Bottled in Bond 17-Years-Old | Details |
|---|---|
| Mash Bill | 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley |
| Barrel Entry | 115 Proof |
| In the Bottle | 100 Proof |
| ABV | 50% |
| Type | Bottled in Bond |
| Age | 17-years-old |
| Price | $175 |
| Distillery | Wild Turkey Distillery 1417 Versailles Rd. Lawrenceburg, KY 40342 |
| Pros | Great Dusty Funk, Superb from Start to Finish |
| Cons | None |
| Rating | Gold 97 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Buy and Stock |
Thick and oily. Long legs run down my tasting glass.
Nose – 98 Points
Wild Turkey Bottled in Bond 17 Years opens with a hint of sweetness. Let’s call it fresh spring honey rounded out by mild rye spice. Imagine eating rye bread toasted and spread with butter and honey. But then the star shows up. It has a delightful dusty note like a musty library filled with old leather-bound books that have been poured over while its reader enjoyed its pages with a pipe or robust cigar. It’s a masterful nose.
Taste – 98 Points
This Master’s Keep keeps the surprises coming. It offers a creamy front of the palate on the tip of the tongue that splits either side with bright citrus. That creaminess transitions into burnt confection and charred baking spices down the top of the palate seamlessly transitioning into a solid finish. All of these notes are held in harmony by the musty leather that shows up throughout the palate. This is liquid jazz.
Finish – 96 Points
This aged bourbon has a medium to long finish. The finish starts off quiet but rolls into oak and charred baking spice (particularly cinnamon). The musty leather shows up straight down the back of your throat.
Verdict – Gold 97 Points
For me, a truly great whiskey paints a picture. You drink it and memories flood your mind — people, places, things, and words. That is the sign that the whiskey was crafted by a master with care.
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Bottled in Bond 17 Years is that kind of composition. What I truly love about this release is the dusty funk that’s found throughout the experience. I shared this with two fellow whiskey-loving friends who immediately identified that note as well. It was a rare experience of enjoying something one of a kind and beautiful with friends.
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye (2019) Review
| Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye | Details |
|---|---|
| Mash Bill | 52% Rye, 36% Corn, 12% Malted Barley |
| Barrel Entry | 115 Proof |
| In the Bottle | 109 Proof |
| ABV | 54.5% |
| Type | Cask Strength Straight Rye |
| Age | 9-Years-Old |
| Price | $175 |
| Distillery | Wild Turkey Distillery |
| Pros | The nose is out of this world |
| Cons | Lack of Sweetness on Palate |
| Rating | Gold 93.6 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Stock |
Master’s Keep Rye is deep golden amber in the glass. It’s thinner than I would expect from a Wild Turkey.
Nose – 95 out of 100 Points
My process when tasting includes letting it breathe for a few minutes in my Glencairn then put my cairn bamboo covering on right before I nose. Once I pop the lid on the Glencairn, I get a nice pop of flavor. I do get just a hint of alcohol on pop but it dissipated within seconds and I immediately get sweet floral notes. It’s intense, fresh summer strawberries, cotton candy, vanilla, and subtle baking spice.
Taste – 93 out of 100 Points
It starts with a tingle on my tongue that turns into creamy floral and cotton candies. These sweet notes are less prominent than on the nose partly because it transitions into bold rye and baking spice from mid-palate into the finish. I do get a second pop of summer fruit at the top of the mid-palate.
Finish – 93 out of 100 Points
The finish is The Lord of the Rings trilogy long with pronounced rye and baking spice and just a hint of the cotton candy sweetness.
Verdict – Gold 93.6 out of 100 Points
As I’ve continued to drink through these Master’s Keep, each release reminds me of how underrated these are. They are all complex and delicious but all the bourbon geeks are hunting other limited releases. Oh well. More Turkey for the rest of us.
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival (2018) Review
| Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival | Details |
|---|---|
| Mash Bill | 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley |
| Barrel Entry | 107 Proof for 15-Years-Old 110 Proof for 14 to 13-Years-Old 115 Proof for 12-Years-Old |
| In the Bottle | 101 Proof |
| ABV | 50.5% |
| Type | Finished in 20-year-old Spanish Oloroso Sherry Casks |
| Age | 12 to 15-Years-Old |
| Price | $150 |
| Distillery | Wild Turkey Distillery |
| Pros | Coming Soon |
| Cons | Coming Soon |
| Rating | Coming Soon |
| Inventory | Coming Soon |
Read: Rare Breed’s Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival (2018)
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades (2017) Review
| Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades | Details |
|---|---|
| Mash Bill | 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley |
| Barrel Entry | 107 Proof for the 20-Year-Old 115 Proof for the 10-Year-Old |
| In the Bottle | 104 Proof |
| ABV | 52% |
| Type | Blend of Straight Bourbon |
| Age | 10 to 20-Years-Old |
| Price | $150 |
| Distillery | Wild Turkey Distillery 1417 Versailles Rd. Lawrenceburg, KY 40342 |
| Pros | Balanced, Complex Finish |
| Cons | Missing That Funk from Older Turkeys |
| Rating | Gold 95 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Buy. Buy. Buy. |
Oily. Thick ribbons of bourbon coat the glass with a gentle swirl. Shimmering gold.
Nose – 92 Points
Cinnamon buns with toasted walnut drizzled with icing and caramel. Also, brown sugar and molasses.
Taste – 94 Points
The palate is all savory and spice. More of the cinnamon and walnut but less sweet. With mature oak, leather, and black spice.
This is an oak lover’s paradise. There are some light sweet notes mid-palate.
Finish – 97 Points
The finish is long and pleasant. It’s baking spice and more oak with molasses and brown sugar. It’s quite balanced.
Verdict – Gold 95 Points
As you can easily tell, the experience trended upward. The palate was just a bit abrasive and lacked balance. The finish was surprising. It took me back.
If the palate had just a bit more molasses to balance out the savory notes it may have been a more rounded tasting experience.
All that being said, this blend of 10 to 20 year Wild Turkey bourbons was a delight. I still firmly believe these Master Keep releases are severely undervalued by bourbon nerds.
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 17-Year (2015) Review
| Master’s Keep 17-Year | Details |
|---|---|
| Mash Bill | 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley |
| Barrel Entry | 107 Proof |
| In the Bottle | 86.8 Proof |
| ABV | 43.4% |
| Type | Straight Bourbon |
| Age | 17-Years-Old |
| Price | $150 |
| Distillery | Wild Turkey Distillery 1417 Versailles Rd. Lawrenceburg, KY 40342 |
| Pros | Got that Turkey funk |
| Cons | None to Speak of |
| Rating | Platinum 98 out of 100 Points |
| Inventory | Let's Get It On |
This was the first Wild Turkey limited release crafted solely by Eddie Russell, and man what a way to come out of the gate. What’s crazy is this release by all accounts sat on the shelf . . . and sat some more. I actually saw one of these in an ABC store in NC only two years ago. I’m beating myself up for not buying it now.
The other interesting thing about this bottle. 2015 was a great year for bourbon releases. Booker’s 2015-01 and 2015-03 were phenomenal. Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition was phenomenal. And now this. Something special happened the decade before 2015 which made some great whiskey. The 2015 Master’s Keep is oily with slow long legs and great viscosity.
Nose – 98 out of 100 Points
Dusty funk. White pepper. Apple pie w baking spice. Blackberries.
Taste – 98 out of 100 Points
Wild Turkey rye spice. Leather. Charred oak. Caramel and cinnamon.
Finish – 98 out of 100 Points
Rock fruit. Leather. Baking spice.
Verdict – Platinum 98 out of 100 Points
Wow. That’s all I can say. This whiskey has everything you could want — complexity, balance, boldness, and that classic Turkey dusty funk.
Start shopping for bourbon clothing and accessories for your journey. The Bard’s Shop has custom tees and hoodies, books, barrels, and more.
Written by Matty Sims
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