Wild Turkey Master’s Keep "Decades"

Time, patience, and old Kentucky oak collide in this bottle. Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades is a limited-edition Kentucky straight bourbon, blending barrels aged between 10 and 20 years from the McBrayer Rickhouse. It was created to honor Eddie Russell’s 35th anniversary at the distillery, and it feels like a love letter to Wild Turkey.

The nose arrives rich and layered. Toffee, caramel, and vanilla fudge drift over notes of orange peel, polished oak, roasted nuts, and a hint of fresh-cut grass and earth. It smells like someone opened a rickhouse door beside a candy shop and let the aromas dance together for a moment.

On the palate, Decades turns generous. The high-corn, rye-lifted mash bill brings waves of sweet oak, dark caramel, dried figs, baking spice, and citrus peel across a velvety, almost oily texture. Earthy notes of leather, tobacco, and damp soil keep all that sweetness grounded, giving the whiskey a confident, grown-up backbone.

This is a bourbon made for lingering. At 104 proof and non-chill-filtered, it shines neat in a Glencairn, but takes a single cube without losing intensity or nuance. Collectors prize the limited Master’s Keep presentation, yet the whiskey feels too expressive, too downright charming, to leave sleeping in its box.

Nose: First swirl releases toffee, orange oil, and vanilla layered over polished oak and brown sugar, immediately signaling mature Kentucky straight bourbon. Then come roasted nuts and soft florals. Hints of fresh-cut grass, mint, and damp earth drift in around the edges, giving the nose an elegant, slightly nostalgic, rickhouse character.

Palate: The first sip glides on, thick and composed, with caramel, vanilla fudge, and honeyed oak washing smoothly across the tongue. Sweetness arrives first, then structure. Dried figs, baked apples, cinnamon, cloves, and gentle black pepper build with each sip, balanced by leather, tobacco, and a quiet echo of cocoa.

Finish: The finish runs long, steady, and warming rather than sharp, holding onto oak spice, dark caramel, and a thread of orange peel. Nothing feels rushed or abrupt. Lingering notes of leather, toasted nuts, sweet pipe tobacco, and faint mint keep humming for minutes, inviting that inevitable, curious second pour.

Big, layered bourbon deserves equally expressive food. Grilled ribeye with a peppered crust and herb butter mirrors Decades’ caramelized oak, spice, and fat-friendly richness without ever overwhelming the palate. Slow-smoked brisket or charred pork shoulder also play beautifully, echoing the whiskey’s smoke, brown sugar, and subtle earthy depth.

A well-built cheeseboard works wonders. Try aged Gouda, nutty comté, or crumbly cheddar with toasted pecans; their salt and fat amplify Decades’ caramel, vanilla, and roasted-nut character. Even something as simple as country ham on a biscuit can create a salty-sweet echo that makes each sip feel brighter.

For dessert, consider dark and indulgent options. High-cacao dark chocolate with sea salt, pecan pie, or bread pudding with caramel sauce all complement the bourbon’s toffee, spice, and oak notes. Serve a modest pour alongside late-night conversation, and the long finish quietly turns dessert into a relaxed, memorable little ritual.