" Masters Keep Decades is 104 proof (52% ABV) bourbon created exclusively from a hand-selected lot (alas, making this a limited spirit) of barrels that have been aged from 10 to 20 years. These barrels are special not just because of the age, but because they are specifically chosen from the center and upper floors of Wild Turkeys McBrayer Rickhouse. The top of the rickhouse is hot and dry, causing water to evaporate much faster which means the barrels mature at an accelerated pace. This is where the younger barrels are obtained. The more mature barrels come from the most prime locations in the rickhouses, which would be levels 3 to 5. These levels are what are known as the Center Cut, because they have less variation than the upper and lower levels.
This well-balanced marriage of the two barrels resulted in a spirit with the playful liveliness of younger bourbons smoothed with the intense richness found in older bourbons.
The Bourbon
The bourbon has a brassy hue with flashes of mahogany when the light hits it just right. With the earthiness of oak and the sweetness of caramel it has the familiar nose of Wild Turkey bourbon, with the subtle enhancements of butterscotch and chocolate.
Masters Keep Decades hits the front palate with a peppery flair that is followed with a hint of butterscotch sweetness. This is light, smooth bourbon with a viscosity that briefly coats the tongue before leaving a pleasant lingering caramel impression. It gives a smoldering, velvety finish that gently reminds you of the higher proof." ~Distiller notes