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Wild Turkey® Launches Master's Keep Cornerstone Rye

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#whisky #whiskey #scotch #bourbon
Published
08/21/2019 by

During his almost 40-year tenure at Wild Turkey, Eddie Russell has distilled and enjoyed his share of rye whiskies, but it was more recently that he began to reexamine the spirit and innovate on the American classic. Today, Eddie celebrates Wild Turkey's legacy as a leading rye whiskey distiller with his latest expression – Master's Keep Cornerstone Rye, the fourth release in the award-winning Master's Keep series.  The result is a whiskey of extraordinary maturity, and the oldest rye ever released by Wild Turkey Distilling Co.

For decades, rye has served as a key pillar of whiskey production on Wild Turkey Hill. While Prohibition caused rye whiskey to fall from favor for decades, Wild Turkey was among the few distilleries to remain dedicated to the craft – which continues to this day with expressions including, Wild Turkey Rye, Wild Turkey 101 Rye, Russell's Reserve 6-Year-Old Rye and Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Rye. 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, Eddie explored what flavors and complexity longer aging can provide. 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 Kentuckyto 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 flavor 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. The whiskey will be available for a limited time at select retailers in the United States for MRSP $175.00 per 750 mL bottle. 

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