When rye whiskey began its return to popularity a decade or so ago, no one knew just how long the ride would last. Would it follow in the footsteps of bourbon, with certain brands and bottles skyrocketing in price and collectability? Or, would it be another trend to fall by the wayside?
At this point, it’s safe to say rye isn’t going anywhere, and many of America’s top whiskey brands have noticed, starting to produce the style of whiskey once again. Wild Turkey, meanwhile, never lost faith, as it continued to produce products like Wild Turkey 101 Rye, which traces its history back to the 1950s.
Master distiller Eddie Russell's son, associate blender Bruce Russell, has a long-standing affinity for rye. So, 10 years ago, Eddie hand-selected and laid down the latest whiskey to join the Wild Turkey Master’s Keep collection: Triumph.
It's the oldest age-stated rye ever released by the Kentucky whiskey maker. The small-batch, 10-year-old whiskey offers a profile of sweet honey and warm spice with notes of clove that transition to dark chocolate, dates, and spice, leading to a peppered finish.
The 104-proof expression is the second rye to be released in the Master’s Keep collection, which launched back in 2015 as a way for Eddie to showcase unique whiskeys. Previous editions of the series include last year’s Master’s Keep Voyage, a collaboration with Appleton Estate that saw the iconic bourbon finished in Jamaican rum casks.
"The Master's Keep series continues to be a display of our creativity and quality at Wild Turkey. We've always seen the collection as a vehicle to tell stories that celebrate our heritage and who we are as a distillery," says Eddie Russell. "This particular release was inspired by Bruce's fondness for rye and is a nod to his influence on my work. Triumph is a rye you'll be proud to serve neat and is a testament to the tenacity of the spirit."
Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph sells for a suggested retail price of $275. It's available at select U.S. retailers and at the distillery's newly renovated Visitor's Center.
Related: 16 Best Rye Whiskeys to Spice Up a Sazerac or Manhattan
