Kentucky Meets Spain: Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival's Aging Journey
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival is a truly special bourbon finished in Oloroso sherry casks. It was distilled at the Wild Turkey distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where only 1,600 cases were produced.
The bottle is one of the most distinctive features of this limited edition bourbon. The stopper is a heavy copper-wooden piece stamped with this series’ signature Wild Turkey Master’s Keep emblem. The tall, squarish glass bottle itself features the raised image of a turkey with outstretched wings.
The name Wild Turkey Revival is printed in metallic gold across the bottle, giving it an overall feeling of quality and value. Revival comes in a deep red faux-woodgrain box, perfect for displaying the limited edition spirit.
A tribute to a Master Distiller
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival is the third addition to their Master’s Keep series.
This prized series began in 2015 with the bottling of Wild Turkey Master’s Keep (the original)— a 17-year-old bourbon released at barrel strength.
The second release in the Master’s Keep series is Master’s Keep Decades. First sold in 2017, this bourbon blend is a special tribute to Wild Turkey’s Master Distiller, Eddie Russell.
Russell started at Wild Turkey over 40 years ago, and now serves as a chief taster and bourbon visionary, alongside his father. Decades is made from some of Wild Turkey’s oldest, rarest barrels, and it stands out with a distinctly rich flavor profile.
In 2018, Wild Turkey released its highly anticipated, and notably unique, third Master’s Keep series bottle, Revival. Decades paid tribute to Eddie Russell’s history with Wild Turkey, but Revival is a limited release that honors his accomplished father— Jimmy Russell.
Not only is Jimmy Russell the most experienced Master Distiller at Wild Turkey, having spent over 60 years at the distillery, he’s the longest-tenured Master Distiller in the world. And this layered, complex spirit is the best tribute a Master Distiller could hope for.
The stand out star of Revival
What makes Revival truly stand out is the Oloroso Sherry casks this spirit was finished in.
Oloroso Sherry is a dry, strong, full-bodied fortified wine made in the south of the Iberian Peninsula in Spain. Most Oloroso Sherry casks used by whiskey distillers were originally sherry transport casks, meaning they only held the potent sherry for a few years. But Revival is finished in exceptionally rare barrels that aged sherry for a full 20 years.
Eddie himself convinced a supplier in Jerez, Spain to sell him a few hundred of these scarce barrels. And the bourbon finished in them reflects the rarity of this find.
Coming in at 101 proof, this spirit packs a decent punch before finishing smooth. While Revival is an NAS bourbon whiskey— No Age Statement, meaning no official age is printed on the bottle— it contains bourbon which has been aged for 12 to 15 years.
It may not be the oldest special release bourbon, but its unique aging process and carefully chosen casks give it an extraordinary reputation.
A hidden gem, in plain sight
Unlike other dusty bourbon bottles, Revival is an attainable bourbon for new and serious collectors.
Though only 1,600 cases (19,200 bottles) of Revival were produced, this spirit doesn’t yet have a significantly expensive resell market.
If you can find a bottle locked away in a case at your local honey hole, it retails for around $150. Online retailers offer Revival for anywhere from $300 to $700 or more, and it’s still easy to find.
What gives this bourbon value is its aging process. While finishing in a special barrel is nothing new for Scotch drinkers, for bourbon fans, this less common technique, and the exclusive barrels used in the process, add to its sticker price.
As memorable as it is unique
When talking about bourbon, you’ll often hear distillers and tasters refer to the spirit’s “mash bill.” A mash bill is the ratio of grains used to make that bourbon.
Bourbon is legally required to start with 51% corn, but the other 49% can vary by distiller. Most bourbons are made using a mix of corn, rye or wheat, and malted barley. The sweetness of bourbon comes from the corn, the spicy, seasoned flavor comes from the rye or wheat, and barley (typically the smallest portion of the three grains used) gives the spirit more body.
Revival starts with 75% corn, giving it a sweeter, lighter taste. The other 25% consists of rye (13%) and malted barley (12%). As a result, the first scent you’ll notice is a sweet, caramel, fruity fragrance, with strong notes of sherry. That enticing nose, paired with its rich, orangey-red hue, makes Revival an exciting sip.
At first taste, Revival delivers an indulgent blend of cherry, raisins, and oak. And at just 101 proof, this softly sweet bourbon is an easy sip.
As you continue to drink, notes of spice and fig fruit come through, with a lengthy finish of dried apricots, honey, and the undeniable sweetness of sherry.
Revival is a bourbon many tasters enjoy more with a splash of water. With water, notes of chocolate, orange, and wood come through, while some of the spice and heavy sherry tones are diminished. Water also gives Revival’s finish a softer, settled flavor with less pungency.
A bourbon worth owning, for collectors and sherry-lovers alike
Finished bourbons aren’t exactly a widespread favorite among bourbon enthusiasts.
The practice is less common for bourbons than for whiskeys, Scotches, and other spirits. And bourbon drinkers tend to appreciate quality at a reasonable price over exclusivity and expense.
But the experimental Revival, and the entire Master’s Keep series, has tasters and collectors both asking whether finished bourbons are the future of this spirit— or at least a trend we’ll see more of soon.
In short, for collectors who seek this bottle for its special story and rarity, and bourbon drinkers who appreciate notes of sherry, this is a can’t-miss spirit.
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