When it comes to bourbon’s living legends, Jimmy Russell and his son Eddie exist in a class of their own. With 107 years of combined experience between them, these master distillers were far ahead of any modern whiskey trend. To enjoy Wild Turkey‘s range of iconic expressions is to pick up what the Russells have been throwing down for decades and the distillery is all too aware of this fact. It’s in honour of the immortal duo that they’ve released Master’s Keep One, the seventh edition of an acclaimed and award-winning drink series. Priced at AUD$250, it will be available at selected independent liquor specialists from April 2022 and selected Dan Murphy’s from May 2022.
Image: Wild Turkey
Preceded by a string of stunning limited-edition releases, Master’s Keep One harmonises the distinct philosophies of Jimmy and Eddie Russell. Specifically, it combines Jimmy’s love of bold middle-aged bourbons with Eddie’s penchant for juice that spent more time in the barrel. Wild Turkey thereby drew from two separate batches—one aged 8-10 years and one aged 14 years—before maturing them together in specially toasted and charred new oak barrels in one of Eddie’s favourite timber rickhouses. If you know anything about this series, then you already know the results are extraordinary.
More than a brilliant release, Master’s Keep One spiritually embodies the yin and yang approach that’s always existed between Jimmy Russell—aka the “Buddha of Bourbon”—and his son Eddie. Through the unification of their unique sensibilities, the distillery has continued to experiment and innovate whilst staying true to its original legacy of elevated craftsmanship. That’s given way to an epic collection of signature bourbons and ryes, including personal favourites such as Rare Breed and Russell’s Reserve 10-Year (to name just a few). Even as a slew of new players enters the field, Wild Turkey remains king.
Image: Wild Turkey
“Wild Turkey’s heritage was built on family values, a love for whiskey-making, and an endless search for bold flavours,” said Eddie Russell. “Master’s Keep One honours the tools, techniques and tradition that my father handed down, and is a culmination of our shared love of bourbon. Jimmy instilled in me the most rewarding lessons for success in work and life – passion and discipline – and I’ll always be grateful to him for setting me on this path 40 years ago.”
Purposefully crafted in the Wild Turkey tradition, Master’s Keep One delivers rich and nostalgia-inducing aromas of sweet honey and brown spice, which come courtesy of the toasted and charred oak. The taste goes big on notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and caramel before trailing out on a finish of toasted oak. This is an “expression” in the truest sense of the word and it was recently awarded #11 in the Fred Minnick Top 100 Whiskies list. Aussie bourbon-lovers can score a bottle for AU$250 through selected independent liquor specialists from April 2022 and selected Dan Murphy’s from May 2022.
Image: Wild Turkey
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