Style: Kentucky straight rye whiskey
Age: 10 years
Proof: 104 (52% ABV)
Region: Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
Among the upper echelons of yearly whiskey releases, few are so hotly awaited as Wild Turkey’s annual Master’s Keep release. Second generation master distiller Eddie Russell conceived of the Master’s Keep series as a way to pursue unique expressions outside of the legacy distillery’s iconic core lineup. This year’s bottling, Master’s Keep Triumph, is a 10-year age stated rye whiskey — the oldest the distillery has ever released. Let’s see how this blend of 10 to 12-year old barrels stacks up against the rest of the Master’s Keep lineup.
Tasting notes
The rich aroma of this whiskey is filled with vanilla, nutmeg, and baking spice with a hint of red orchard fruit and mint — a subtle nose for a rye whiskey. When sipped, the whiskey begins with notes of honey and dried fruit accented by clove and freshly cracked black pepper. A background of dark chocolate and oak keeps the palate balanced. The whiskey finishes into warm flavors of spice, caramel, and chocolate with a pronounced lingering note of mint.
Final thoughts
Master’s Keep Triumph is, well, a triumph. It’s elegant and balanced, tempering the sometimes overpowering spiciness of rye grain or the strong notes of dill and mint with deft aging and blending. It’s complex, but not jarring — no one flavor overpowers this whiskey and nothing feels out of place. Even drinkers who favor Wild Turkey’s bourbons over their rye whiskeys will find Master’s Keep Triumph to be worthy of its place in the series.
