July 25, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer
Wayne and I have been wanting to open this bottle and finally found a moment to relax and enjoy a pour. “Crafted with Conviction” by Eddie Russell, this year’s limited release of Master’s Keep – Triumph – is a passion project at Wild Turkey. This release is a nod to Eddie’s son, Bruce, Associate Blender at Wild Turkey and someone with a passion for rye. At 10-years old, this is the oldest age-stated rye ever released by Wild Turkey.
Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Triumph – Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Mashbill – 51% Rye, 37% Corn, 12% Malted Barley
Age – 10 Years
Proof – 104
Price Paid – $275 (plus tax and shipping)
Appearance – Copper. Legs are somewhat slow to form but very substantive when appear.
Aroma – Initially, it is light and not very distinct. As it opens and the nose acclimates, a lot begins to happen. There is a sweetness often reminiscent of bourbon with vanilla and crème brûlée. Then the rye components of mint, allspice, and cloves drift into the aroma. Finally, there is a hint of light fruits such as apples and pears with a touch of nutmeg. It is quite a journey just on the nose!
Tasted Neat – Much like the nose, tasting requires several approaches to allow the flavor profile to touch each part of the mouth. It shifts and turns with each sip. The viscosity, as indicated by its legs, really provides a wonderful mouthfeel and the texture coats the palate very pleasantly. There is a lovely sweetness of honey, vanilla, and baked apples or pears. The flavors transition to deeper notes of dark chocolate, brown sugar, dates or possibly figs. The barrel notes come forward with oak and baking spices.
Finish – The finish is very long and lingering. Wood notes are dominate with oak and black pepper. However, there is also a light mint sensation to lighten up the otherwise darkness of the finish. It is certainly a journey!
Tasted with dried cranberry – At first sip, it became a spice bomb of red hot cinnamon. However, it calmed down to release a hint of citrus on the front and a brighter, but still a spicy finish.
Tasted with a pecan – This is interesting as it brought the wood notes very forward with dark chocolate and mint. Still a spicy finish but more along the line of ginger.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Wow, this became a chocolate desert drink, almost like Mexican Hot Chocolate with cinnamon.
Discussion and Final Notes
Perhaps it is the length of time in the barrel, the 37% corn, or the specific barrel selections, but this rye tends to waiver between a bourbon and a rye experience. As such, it would be a great pour for someone who hasn’t regularly enjoyed a rye whiskey.
That aside, this is an outstanding rye whiskey. With a 51% rye mashbill, the rye spices and rye grass notes don’t hit you upside they head; instead, they dance around and play with your nose and palate. As noted above, the journey it takes you on is an incredibly pleasant one and one that has a surprise around every turn.
Overall, I’m glad that we were able to get a bottle at MSRP directly from Wild Turkey. This is a wonderful addition to our Wild Turkey collection as well as our rye options.
Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne
Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Spirit Requirements
Rye Whiskey Basic Requirements – Rye whiskey must be made from at least 51% rye. It must be distilled at 160 proof or less. It then must be placed into a new, charred oak container at a proof of 125 or below. Straight rye whiskey is a subcategory of rye whiskey that has been aged for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels and doesn’t contain any additives. If aged less than four years, the label must include an age statement. In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Whiskey, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky. For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Rye Whiskey.
NOTE: The whiskey in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
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