Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 17 Year

A little background

Back in 2015 Wild Turkey released the first of its Master’s Keep lineup. The first release was, and still is, the oldest Wild Turkey released in the US at 17 years. Interesting it was bottled at a near cask strength proof of 86.8 proof. Due to the barrels being aged on the first floor of multiple warehouses throughout their life, including an Old Crow brick warehouse, the barrels lost proof points as alcohol evaporated out instead of water. Retail price of $150 (and can still be found on shelves around the country).

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Caramel

Nose

Overripe tropical fruit, guava and mango, covered in maple sugar. Dank, soggy oak and window caulk. I wouldn’t think this would be for everyone but it’s right up my alley.

Palate

Thinner viscosity than I would have hoped but nice complex flavors of maple syrup, strawberry purée, and soap (yes soap). While that last tasting note might seem extra odd, even by my standards, it is a fairly common note in bourbon that some say is “over oaked” but to me it is just an extra layer of complexity that shows up from time to time. If this bourbon was thicker on the palate it would be top tier but as it is it’s just not at that level.

Finish

Fairly short with that soapy note as a constant that is layered with vanilla and dried cranberries.

In conclusion

With the ever-decreasing availability of old bourbon barrels this release may be many of our only chance to try out a truly unique profile. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t a profile everyone will love but one every bourbon lover should at least try. With pretty much every other bourbon in this age range running at least a few hundred dollars I feel this is a great price on this bourbon and you can still find it on shelves if you are lucky.