Wild Turkey Master's Keep Decades

Whiskey: Wild Turkey Decades – Master’s Keep The absolute best. I've been eager to try this for a long time. In fact, it's been a year since I last had a drink of this. The bottle has a good weight. The cork has a copper engraved top attached to it. The front and left side of the bottle features the turkey sculpted into it. This has wonderful detail and is a great display piece while you're drinking it and after it's empty. When pouring this beauty into your glass, it flows like water and seems quite thin for 52% ABV. If you're new or unaware of why it's called "Decades," this is because the contents are bourbons aged from 10 to 17 years. Alright – let's get to the main points! Nose: Right away, you can get a slight sense of corn and cinnamon / brown sugar. One thing I can't pinpoint is the faint floral note. Could be mint leaf / grass. There is also a smell of toasted nuts...likely from the oak barrel since it is aged with multiple blends of different maturations. Palate: First sip and swirling it around, you get pronounced brown sugar. Leather also comes into play. Very, very, very few drinks can perfect this, and I like what the Russell's did here. Cinnamon follows along with a peppery spice. This definitely doesn't feel like 52% ABV. I personally find the finish quite short, but enjoyable. The front of the tongue feels the peppery heat, and the taste buds get to dance around with the body of Decades. Overall: Is it good? Yes! Is it worth the price? Too subjective – but if you live in an area where you can't access this and will savor it, get it! Any Wild Turkey fan will enjoy this; however, if you've never tried any Wild Turkey products before or haven't sampled a variety of what they offer, I wouldn't recommend buying this. Decades, I find, is more polished and slightly complex. If you understand different tasting notes, this would be something worth trying. If you're someone who doesn't care for identifying notes, I would then recommend sticking to Rare Breed or 101. I would repurchase this one personally. Damn good stuff! #WildTurkeyDecades #OMG #WildTurkey #JimBeam #WhistlePig #ElijahCraig #Blantons #Bookers #EagleRare #WoodfordReserve #BuffaloTrace #Kentucky #Scotch #TheDalmore #Aberlour #TheBalvenie #Glenmorangie #Aultmore12 #HighlandPark #Nikka #Laphroaig #TheMacallan #Whisky #Whiskey #Bourbon #Rye #abvcrew #WhiskyReviews #IdrinkAndiKnowThings #FollowMeOnFacebook

Nose: The richness and body here are more pronounced than the proof suggests, without any harshness or challenge. Classic notes of charred oak, vanilla, and salted caramel are present, along with all the desired baking spices. Roasted nuts, fresh ripe fruits, and dark chocolate are also detected. The level of craftsmanship and refinement is truly appreciated. An amazing example of a bourbon that even my girlfriend, who exclusively drinks Islay, enjoyed. It also has a buttermilk biscuit quality, complete with salted butter brushed on top. Maple bacon is there too. All of this is topped with a delicate layer of orange oil and sweet floral notes. Palate: The aroma's theme carries through, though it leans towards the drier side here. The classic combination of oak, vanilla, and brown sugar remains, but the brown sugar has receded, allowing the oak to become more prominent. Orange peel and pith are noticeable. Freshly ground cinnamon, clove, and anise are present, with a hint of subtle mint woven in. The bite comes from the oak rather than the ethanol, and it works effectively. This is a rare instance where the proof is not a disappointment; it seems perfectly suited. A touch of tart cherry is also present, along with some fresh, unfiltered apple juice. It engages the entire palate and is very well-balanced. The mouthfeel is medium-heavy. Finish: Oak, char, leather, and tobacco notes are prominent. Sweet oranges, apple pie, and bubblegum follow. Lactones emerge next, along with a bit of mint and fennel. The finish is medium-long, with cinnamon and oak alternating in focus. Other notes: With these descriptions, this might sound like many other bourbons. The distinction here is the superior quality. It's akin to comparing pre-ground spices to freshly ground ones – the essence is the same, but the latter is better and more robust. I can confidently recommend this to anyone who enjoys the Wild Turkey profile; I have yet to be disappointed by their products, and this is no exception. However, the price warrants consideration – if you're hesitant about the cost, you might want to wait. But if you're seeking a once-a-year special purchase for rare occasions, this could easily be the perfect choice for most bourbon enthusiasts. Cheers!

In my view, the Master's Keep collection stands out as highly distinctive. Apart from Forged Oak, no other spirit has ever resembled this flavor profile for me. As the third from this series I've sampled, I had a general idea of what to anticipate. The aroma is dominated by caramel, with fainter hints of citrus, oak, and a subtle mustiness common to the Master's Keep range. It's an excellent aroma. The initial taste mirrors the caramel and citrus from the nose, specifically lemon. This gives way to a pronounced mustiness, similar to what I find in all Russell's Reserve and Master's Keep products. While not my preferred note, it's less intense here than in RR. It could also be described as having elements of leather and brine. The finish is smooth in texture but offers a spicy flavor. I appreciate this aspect, even though spicy finishes aren't my favorite. It's intriguing: cinnamon and pepper are present, yet the sensation isn't as fiery as one might expect, giving it an elegant quality. While it won't become a personal favorite, I hold great respect for all the Master's Keeps, including this one. My recommendation is to try them if they fit your budget, as they are consistently expertly crafted and engaging. Revival is a true favorite, 17 Year is among the most complex bourbons I've ever had, and this one is characterized by its spice. Each is commendable in its own right and deserves consideration.

Regarding Decades, I'm uncertain of the batch, but I believe there were two, with one generally considered superior and older. Nose - This required significant time; it's quite potent upon initial pouring. The whisky's viscosity is immediately apparent on the nose, feeling closer to 120 proof than its actual 104. I detect rich caramel, citrus, cherry, some mature oak, and also younger, less integrated oak notes. Taste - I experience the vanilla, leather, and cherry oak often found in aged whiskies. I'm impressed by how much the character of this bottle seems to evolve with each tasting, appearing older each time. There are some sour and fruity notes, concluding with a significant but well-managed oak presence. It's a very good spirit, but I question if it surpasses Rare Breed or Kentucky Spirit. For me, it falls slightly short. It's a very nice bourbon, earning 3 stars. If the $130 price is acceptable, consider it. Otherwise, Rare Breed offers a very similar experience without the higher cost. Wild Turkey excels at producing outstanding, more affordable bourbons, which perhaps prevents their higher-end offerings from standing out further.

The aroma is somewhat lighter and more tart, with more rye present than anticipated. The taste offers a spicy richness, a tart rye character, and a slightly bitter undertone that is acceptable but not outstanding. Early notes of young red fruit transition into a slightly richer cherry syrup. There may be a hint of leather, possibly a combination of rye with coffee, and rich vanilla alongside some dark chocolate. Overall, this is a highly enjoyable spirit with pleasing complexity that I could readily drink, though it doesn't reach the heights of Master's Keep Revival. Its key appeal lies in the pleasant floral richness that emerges. This floral quality is refined, reminiscent of how Bushmill's 21 elevates apricot, though the outcome here is less remarkable. It's sweeter and seems less aged compared to Master's Keep Revival. It's very good, but not exceptional. The richness is appealing and delightful due to its scarcity. The combination of rich cherry syrup, floral notes, and hints of chocolate and coffee is quite pleasing. I still favor the Revival and wish this had less of that light, tart rye character, but it is very good. Beyond the light tartness, the balance of complexity is commendable, presenting an interesting and layered experience without being muddled or overwhelming.

Nose: Prominent leather, tobacco, oak, cherries, Fuji apple, a little grassy, cinnamon, nutmeg...it's bright, spicy, and slightly funky....hardly any alcohol fumes noticeable. Taste: More leather and tobacco, and a bit of funk...vanilla, charred oak, cinnamon, cherries, herbal, maple, almond skins...very rustic...it's much hotter on the palate than the nose. Slightly oily mouthfeel. Finish: More leather, charred oak, vanilla, herbal, touch of mint, quite spicy...allspice-like...medium-long length. Empty Glencairn aroma: Extremely funky...reminiscent of that brettanomyces band-aid smell along with maple syrup and oak. Admittedly, I am more of a Scotch enthusiast than a bourbon fan, but this is right up my alley. I tend to enjoy most Wild Turkey products, and this is the best of them I have had the pleasure of trying so far. I'd even venture to say that it's definitely one of the best bourbons I have ever had. It's quite rustic with a touch of funk without being overly sweet like many bourbons can become. It's a masterfully crafted whiskey. Too bad it's so damn expensive. Is it worth it? That's for you to decide.