Wild Turkey Distilling Company has released the final instalment in its Master’s Keep collection: Master’s Keep Beacon – and Australia is the first market to welcome it.
Crafted by master distiller, Eddie Russell, and associate master blender, Bruce Russell, this limited-edition 118-proof release is a blend of two distinct, hand-selected bourbons and the highest proof in the collection.
Master’s Keep Beacon is a blend of 10- and 16-year-old bourbons, each hand-selected to reflect key moments in the distillery’s history. An aroma of dark fruit and cherry is followed by honey, vanilla and cola. Sweet notes of caramelised sugar, toffee and tea with warm baking spice are capped off with a long, warming finish with notes of mature oak and leather.
Eddie’s selection, a 16-year-old bourbon distilled between 2007 and 2008, was pulled from some of the last remaining barrels laid down in the original Wild Turkey distillery where he first honed his craft, just before the distillery’s major expansion in 2011.
Bruce’s 10-year-old selection, distilled in 2015, is among the first he produced alongside his father and grandfather, master distiller Jimmy Russell, when he joined the family business. Together, they’ve created a harmonious blend of flavours from distinct eras and the highest-proof release in the Master’s Keep series.
Dating back to 2015, the Master’s Keep series was originally the brainchild of Eddie Russell, offering a dedicated collection to explore new expressions beyond Wild Turkey’s iconic core lineup. Since then, he has continued to push the limits of bourbon craftsmanship to create some of the most sought-after limited releases in bourbon.
Over the last decade, each release of the series has received overwhelming response from the bourbon community, solidifying Master’s Keep as one of the most respected collections in the industry. For the final chapter, father-son duo Eddie and Bruce drew on decades of shared whiskey-making expertise to craft a release that both honours the series’ legacy and stands as its crowning achievement.
“When we set out ten years ago to launch the Master’s Keep series, we knew we had something special, but I never imagined the journey it would take us on,” said Eddie.
“Our first release was the most unique whiskey we’d ever released and with each expression since we’ve been able to share some of the rarest whiskies in our rickhouses, all while staying true to who we are as Wild Turkey. Looking back a decade later, I’m very proud of what we’ve created to date and looking forward to what’s next.”
This sought-after collection consists of 10 global releases since its inception: 17 Year (2015), Decades (2016), 1894 (2017), Revival (2018), Cornerstone (2019), Bottled in Bond (2020), One (2021), Unforgotten (2022), Voyage (2023) and Triumph (2024).
“Since joining the distillery, I’ve watched my dad craft some incredible bourbons as part of the Master’s Keep lineup, all rooted in the principles and dedication to bold flavour established by my granddad,” said Bruce.
“This final release feels especially meaningful, as the first Master’s Keep with my signature on the bottle and made using bourbon I helped create during some of my earliest days at the distillery. I’m proud to leave my mark on this iconic collection with a bourbon that represents a meaningful chapter in my own journey, and paves the way for the road ahead.”
Master’s Keep Beacon will be available in limited quantities for a suggested retail price of $390.
