NEW RELEASE: Wild Turkey’s First Ever Rum Finished Whiskey, MASTER’S KEEP “VOYAGE”, 10 Year Bourbon

Wild Turkey’s upcoming release has us saying “YA MON”! It’s a historical moment. For the first time in the brand’s history, it is debuting a rum cask finished Bourbon. For the inaugural occasion, they are going big as this will officially be the 2023 MASTER’S KEEP “VOYAGE”.

Getting “wild” on the finish naturally fits the mantra as the Master’s Keep series, first launched in 2015, was born from Eddie Russell’s desire to push the boundaries of traditional bourbon-making by experimenting with aging techniques and finishes.

Crafted by Master Distiller Eddie Russell in a first-time collaboration with Dr. Joy Spence, the renowned Master Blender of Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, this 106-proof expression of 10-year-old bourbon was finished with a secondary maturation period in Jamaican rum casks. It hits select shelves nationwide beginning early July.

“Every year, we look forward to the release of Master’s Keep as an opportunity to rethink what our bourbon can be,” says Wild Turkey’s Master Distiller Eddie Russell. “Creating Master’s Keep Voyage in collaboration with Dr. Joy Spence was a real privilege, and I think our shared passion for telling a story through our spirits comes through in this one-of-a-kind whiskey.”

Master’s Keep Voyage captures the hallmarks of both bourbon and rum making and reflects Eddie Russell and Dr. Joy Spence’s more than 80 years of combined experience in crafting exceptional spirits. 

Fact Sheet

• 2023 Master’s Keep “Voyage”
• 10 Year Bourbon finished in Jamaica’s Appleton Rum Casks
• Available nationwide starting early July
• SPR $275
• Limited Release

According to the brand, the journey began with Dr. Joy Spence hand selecting some of the finest casks from the iconic Jamaican rum house Appleton Estate – these casks previously held 14-year-old pot still rum and were chosen for their potential to best complement the bold top notes and rich caramel undertones of Wild Turkey’s extra-aged bourbons.

The casks then made the voyage to the Wild Turkey Distilling Co. in Lawrenceburg, KY, where Eddie Russell hand selected a batch of 10-year-old bourbon that had been aged in Wild Turkey’s classic No. 4 char barrels. The bourbon was finished in the rum casks in the heat of a Kentucky timber rickhouse, resulting in a tropically influenced American icon bursting with a palate of fruits, caramel and aged oak with a warm, long-lasting finish of chocolate and spice (per the brand).

“With Voyage, we set out to develop a spirit that allows the notes of the rum and bourbon to work in harmony,” said Appleton Estate Master Blender Dr. Joy Spence. “By aging Eddie’s hand-selected batch of 10-year-old bourbon in the finest casks we have at Appleton Estate, we were able to achieve a new level of flavor that gives whiskey and bourbon lovers a new way to enjoy their favorite drinks.”

The Master’s Keep series, first launched in 2015, was born from Eddie Russell’s desire to push the boundaries of traditional bourbon-making by experimenting with aging techniques and finishes. Each annual release in the collection is highly coveted and available in limited quantities.

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