Although you may know them better for their Bourbon, rye has served as a key pillar of whiskey production for decades on Wild Turkey Hill. While Prohibition caused rye whiskey to fall from favour for decades, Wild Turkey was among the few distilleries to remain dedicated to the craft.
And that dedication is shown through expressions including, Wild Turkey Rye, Wild Turkey 101 Rye, Russell’s Reserve 6-Year-Old Rye and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye. To add to this list, the distillery has released their latest expression, Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye, the fourth release in the award-winning Master’s Keep series.
This new expression is the triumphant culmination of more than 150 years of Kentucky artisanship and heritage. It’s not atypical for rye whiskies to be aged for around four years.
For Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye, Master Distiller Eddie Russell has re-examined the spirit and innovated this American classic through the flavours and complexity that only longer ageing can provide, resulting in a whiskey of extraordinary maturity.
For this limited release, Eddie hand-picked from among his oldest #4 alligator char barrels – each with rye aged between nine and 11 years. From there, Eddie crafted a perfectly balanced, high-aged rye whiskey that exquisitely showcases Wild Turkey’s signature bold and spicy flavors.
Eddie found inspiration for Cornerstone Rye within his own family – his son Bruce. While Bruce has returned to Kentucky to apprentice under the watchful eye of his grandfather and father, his appreciation for rye is rooted in his work as a brand ambassador – building relationships with bartenders around the country.
This influential community shares his fondness for the taste and quality of Wild Turkey Ryes, which has helped take overall rye whiskey production in the industry from 100,000 barrels in 2010 to now more than 1 million barrels (according to Impact Databank).
“Wild Turkey was one of the few legacy distilleries that remained loyal to crafting Rye even as vodka and gin became the new, hot thing,” said Eddie Russell, Master Distiller. “Cornerstone Rye celebrates our continued commitment to the grain.
“As my own son Bruce has reminded me given his devotion to rye in working with the bartender community, it’s a fundamental part of our history.”
Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye is an unmistakable nod to the iconic Wild Turkey flavour profile with its enticing, bold and spirited aroma. On the palate, it delivers notes of warm vanilla, black pepper and toasted rye, followed by a cascade of honey and baked apple.
At 109 proof (54.5 alc. by volume), the finish is bold, crisp and clean, with lingering notes of sweet spice and oak.
Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye will be a very limited release with approximately 16,000 bottles of this unique spirit available for purchase. For more information, visit wildturkey.com
