Wild Turkey Decades Bourbon Review

BOTTLE DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Wild Turkey
• MASH BILL: 75% Corn | 13% Rye | 12% Malted Barley
• AGE: 10 Years (a mix of 10-20 years-old whiskey)
• YEAR: 2016
• PROOF: 104 (52% ABV)
• MSRP: $150
• BUY ONLINE: Wine & Cheese Place

POPS' NOTES

NOSE: Caramel  | Mint  | Leather  | Orange Zest  | Oak

TASTE: Vanilla  |  Caramel  | Toasted Oak  | Spices

FINISH: The sustained finish is unmistakably Wild Turkey with a balanced mix of vanilla, caramel, spices and charred oak. There’s even a hint of leather on edge to soften the lingering tannic oak.

SHARE WITH: The key to enjoying and appreciating this bourbon is knowing that it comes from Wild Turkey’s standard distillate. Therefore, I recommend sharing with folks who know this and understand how the same distillate can be bottled differently depending on variables such as age, barrel location, temperature, etc. In other words, someone who knows bourbon and enjoys trying limited expressions of a well-established brand like Wild Turkey. I’d suggest setting up a flight of Wild Turkey expressions with this included to highlight how the nose and taste evolve through the different bottlings.

WORTH THE PRICE: As far as limited MSRPs go these days, $150 is starting to be more common, but it still feels high to me. There’s still a lot of inventory sitting on shelves from previous Wild Turkey limited releases so you might want to wait and see how the market responds if the price is an issue. I like Decades better than Master’s Keep and Diamond so I would probably go ahead and buy at least one bottle as a diehard Wild Turkey fan. Save yourself some money though and see if you can find it a bit cheaper than the MSRP. If you’re local to St. Louis the link above will get you a bottle for about $130.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: If you’re a die-hard Wild Turkey fan then you’ll be okay grabbing a bottle but try to get a better deal than the MSRP. If you’re not a huge Wild Turkey fan (I’ve heard they exist), I’d suggest sampling this at your local bar before investing the money in bringing home your bottle.

OVERALL:  Wild Turkey Decades is a solid pour in my book. I like it far better than Wild Turkey Diamond and Master’s Keep – both of which I thought were too light in flavor and overly tannic for my preference. Decades does have an okay, tannic finish but it’s a better balance due to more intense flavors on the palate. While this won’t replace Rare Breed or Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel from my everyday line-up, it’s a bottle I won’t hesitate to enjoy with my Wild Turkey loving friends the next time they come over for a visit.

BRAND NOTES

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades, the second expression in a limited series of rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskies, celebrates a Master Distiller coming into his own. For more than 35 years, Bourbon Hall of Famer™ Eddie Russell has been a fixture at Wild Turkey, the distillery that has helped shape the global public’s fascination with Bourbons and Ryes. Sharing his father’s humility, sense of humor and passion for perfection, Eddie is crafting some of the finest whiskies to come out of the Bluegrass State.

Eddie began his tenure in 1981 under the tutelage of his legendary father, Jimmy Russell. Three and a half decades later, Eddie is building his own legacy by releasing this very special whiskey. With Master’s Keep Decades, Wild Turkey presents a stunning Bourbon made from an exclusive, hand-selected lot of precious and rare barrels aged from 10 to 20 years, representing the very best of two decades of Bourbon making.

A harmonious mingling of liquids spanning twenty years, Master’s Keep Decade is made entirely from barrels chosen from the center and upper floors of Wild Turkey’s McBrayer Rickhouse. The result is an extraordinarily enjoyable whiskey with the finesse and deep character found in older bourbons anchored by the bold, balanced, and vibrant backbone of younger bourbons.

Made from a blend of whiskies aged 10 to 20 years, this 104 proof (52% alc. /vol.) Kentucky Straight Bourbon has a nose of oak and caramel. It delivers beautifully intricate notes of butterscotch, dried fruit, chocolate, and smoke, and lingers with a smooth, sweet, and spicy finish. Available nationally and at the Wild Turkey Visitor Center in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades will retail for $150 for a limited time.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.