Well, it seems as though this quarantine is never going to end, so I guess I should take advantage of every opportunity to start drinking through my collection and open some bottles I intended on saving for a special occasion. For this review, I decided to pop open a bottle I have been saving for some time: the Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival.
Wild Turkey Revival is the third release in the Master’s Keep program and was originally released in 2018. Inspired by his father’s popular Wild Turkey Sherry Signature expression in the early 2000s, Eddie Russell decided to create a finished bourbon as a tribute to his father’s 64th anniversary at Wild Turkey. The bourbon in this blend is classic Wild Turkey (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley) that has been aged from 12-15 years and then finished in 20 year-old Oloroso Sherry casks that were hand selected by Eddie Russell in Jerez, Spain. A total of 1600 cases of this limited edition bourbon were produced. This bottle comes in at 101 proof (50.5% abv) and originally retailed for $150.
Tasting Notes:
Appearance – polished mahogany.
Nose – a soft dose of ethanol gives way to notes of classic Wild Turkey, including vanilla, baking spice, toffee, and oak char. From there, the sherry finishing really takes over, creating a rich and decadent profile full of layers of dark cherry preserves, golden raisin, and just a hint of citrus peel.
Palate – the initial mouthfeel is soft and creamy, and full of oak, dark cherry, honey, a bouquet of baking spice, and a hint of cocoa powder. The overall presentation is quite sweet but the oak stands out and a relatively sharp spice also develops mid-tongue.
Finish – the finish is long and warm, with a thick, viscous mouthfeel. There is some ethanol initially but it fades quickly and reveals some dry oak, vanilla, and plenty of spiced dark cherry. A soft blend of oak and golden honey linger on the back end.
Overall – I think its fair to say that I absolutely love any product Eddie Russell gets involved with. This bottle is no exception.
This is classic, well-aged Turkey and the Oloroso Sherry finish blends perfectly with the heavy oak and toffee notes from the bourbon. The sherry finishing imparts plenty of rich, dark fruit notes that also work well with the spice profile, culminating in a very well-balanced pour. I’ve had the opportunity to taste a lot of finished products but this is by far the best finished whiskey I’ve ever tasted.
Unfortunately, the Master’s Keep expressions seem to be impossible to find nowadays, but if you ever have an opportunity to taste or buy this bottle, I can’t recommend it enough.
Cheers y’all!