Wild Turkey releases 35th anniversary bottling

Wild Turkey has launched Master’s Keep Decades, a new Bourbon created in honour of master distiller Eddie Russell’s 35th year at the distillery.

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades celebrates Eddie Russell’s 35th year at the distillery

The second limited edition Bourbon in the Master’s Keep series is made from a blend of whiskies aged from 10 to 20 years and is bottled at 104 proof (52% abv).

On the nose it has notes of “oak and caramel”, while on the palate, it delivers “butterscotch, dried fruit, chocolate, and smoke, and lingers with a smooth, sweet, and spicy finish”.

“For Master’s Keep Decades, I went all out and used some of the rarest and most precious barrels in our stocks,” said Russell.

“The final product is a whiskey with the finesse and deep character of older Bourbon, anchored by the bold, balanced, and vibrant backbone of younger Bourbon. I have to say, this is a whiskey I truly love and I’ll be holding a few bottles back for my personal collection.”

Russell began working in the distillery in 1981 alongside his father, Bourbon veteran Jimmy Russell. In January 2015, Eddie was promoted to Wild Turkey master distiller, a role he shared with his father.

“When Eddie started working at the distillery, I didn’t make it easy for him. I didn’t want people to think I was giving him special treatment, so I made him do a lot of hard, thankless work to earn everyone’s respect,” recalled Jimmy Russell.

“Watching him step into his own, earn the admiration of his peers and create some of the best whiskies I’ve ever tasted has been the most fulfilling experience a father could ask for.”

Available nationally and at the Wild Turkey Visitor Centre in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Master’s Keep Decades is available at an RRP of US$150 for a limited time.