Wild Turkey Master's Keep One

Aroma- Rich vanilla, butterscotch, and a bit of toasted coconut. It's an incredibly good whiff. Taste- I was surprised that there was little if any of the typical funky barrel note until towards the end. Being a fan of that funky note, I'm unsure how I feel about getting a bit of ginger snap, caramel, and then a cascade of french vanilla and peanut brittle. The mouthfeel is creamy, the back palate is like bullseye candies of vanilla and caramel. This is good, very good! Finish- The finish is medium and ends on a creamy peanut butter and funky barrel oak note. This seems to be just the right proof to be a winner with little to no adjustment needed. Overall- I was hesitant. Everyone is doing "toasted" finishes. I was worried the brand was jumping on a bandwagon, putting it in impressive packaging, and making a lot of money – masking a product, releasing it, and not being a very thoughtful release. Alas, as those who follow me know, I am a sucker for those particular releases. I can't resist, and my faith in the people behind it runs deep. I couldn't suppress my hopeful side. Wow! This is no gimmick. This is superbly well-blended spirit with a thoughtful finish that added a creamy, nuttiness with a touch of coconut. It takes something delicious and elevates it to a better level. Am I head over heels for it like I was for Russell's 13? No, but this and the 13 are completely different things. To me, Russell's 13 was my spirit of the year until November came, and I had to drop it to #2. This, though, makes my top 5 and is in impressive company. My Top 5 in 2021- 1. 4RS LE '21 2. Russell's 13 3. OF150 Batch 1 4. WTMK One 5. Thomas Handy '21 P.S. - Pappy 15 and 23 are never on my list as not enough people get to try them, but they were very delicious as always. More importantly though, be on the lookout for my sleeper of the year! That is coming up and will generate some discussion. Stay tuned!

WTMK One Served neat in a Glencairn glass, allowed to rest for 15 minutes. Appearance: A deep amber and honey hue. It coats the glass exceptionally well, leaving very slow-forming legs. Nose: Butterscotch, toasted marshmallow, deep red apples, and sweet oak. The aroma is very sweet and inviting, with virtually no ethanol present. Palate: Tastes like Werther’s Originals, red delicious apples, with a dry and sweet oak undertone. A nice cinnamon character is present throughout, particularly marking the transition to the finish. Finish: Tastes of cinnamon apple cider, dry oak, leather, brown butter, spearmint, and black pepper. What a treat. It's a bit sentimental, given it's on the bottle, but I can truly see the tribute to both father and son's preferences. Sweet, delicate, and inviting on the surface, but with many rich layers and depth underneath. It offers a thought-provoking experience without being pretentious or overly serious. A genuine delight. 92/100

AROMA Dried dark fruits, caramel, oak, leather, cinnamon, vanilla, marzipan with bits of chocolate and citrus peels. Good heavens, this aroma. It’s rich and moves through the nose like velvet. TASTE Caramel corn, dried apples, oak, dark chocolate, hazelnuts, vanilla, cinnamon and leather with touches of citrus peel. I didn’t think the taste would surpass the aroma… but wow. I’m loving what’s happening here. FINISH Long -> Oak, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon fade out evenly and sweetly.

Initial thought: this bottle costs a lot. Does it live up to the buzz and the price? Absolutely! The distiller's tasting notes were spot on. On the nose, I detected sweet brown sugar, butterscotch, char, and loads of vanilla. The palate is rich and sweet with an incredible amount of vanilla. You can taste a bit of the barrel char, and it finishes with a pleasant, lingering rye spice. This is an outstanding pour, fantastic stuff!

Acquired in early December 2021, this was opened and first sampled neat on Father's Day 2022. The Wild Turkey Master's Keep One tastes amazing and was well worth the cost. I would purchase it again if I found it available. While this review offers limited details, believe me when I say that if you see this on your local store's shelf, buy it.

Unlike most other toasted expressions! Instead of being overly sweetened, I find it has richer wood notes and a rounder texture. A light but complex palate with a luscious mouthfeel. As a fan of that brand, one of my favorite expressions. Classic flavor dialed up significantly.