Master’s Keep Voyage is the latest entry in the Wild Turkey Master’s Keep annual line of limited-edition whiskeys.
Made by Master Distiller Eddie Russell in a first-time collaboration with Dr. Joy Spence, the renowned Master Blender of Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, this 106-proof expression of 10-year-old bourbon finished with a secondary maturation period in Jamaican rum casks.
This marks the first rum cask finish in Wild Turkey’s history.
“Every year, we look forward to the release of Master’s Keep as an opportunity to rethink what our bourbon can be,” says Russell. “Creating Master’s Keep Voyage in collaboration with Dr. Joy Spence was a real privilege, and I think our shared passion for telling a story through our spirits comes through in this one-of-a-kind whiskey.”
To begin, Spence selected casks from the Jamaican rum house Appleton Estate. These casks previously held 14-year-old pot still rum. They were chosen for their potential to complement the rich top notes and caramel undertones of Wild Turkey’s older bourbons, the company says.
The casks then made the voyage to the Wild Turkey Distilling Co. in Lawrenceburg, KY. Here, Russell selected a batch of 10-year-old bourbon that had aged in Wild Turkey’s classic No. 4 char barrels. The bourbon finished in the rum casks in the heat of a Kentucky timber rickhouse, resulting in a tropically influenced American whiskey with a palate of fruits, caramel and aged oak, plus a finish of chocolate and spice, the company reports.
“With Voyage, we set out to develop a spirit that allows the notes of the rum and bourbon to work in harmony,” says Spence. “By aging Eddie’s hand-selected batch of 10-year-old bourbon in the finest casks we have at Appleton Estate, we were able to achieve a new level of flavor that gives whiskey and bourbon lovers a new way to enjoy their favorite drinks.”
The Master’s Keep series first launched in 2015. It reflects Russell’s interest in pushing the boundaries of traditional bourbon-making by experimenting with aging techniques and finishes. Each annual release in the collection comes in limited quantities.
Master’s Keep Voyage is available nationally at select retailers beginning in July. The suggested retail price is $275 per 750-ml. bottle.
This follows recent news of Wild Turkey re-releasing Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
