Wild Turkey celebrates its legacy as a leading rye whiskey distiller with his latest expression – Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye, the fourth release in the award-winning Master’s Keep series.
The oldest rye ever released by Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell found inspiration for Cornerstone Rye via his son, Bruce. While Bruce has returned to Kentucky to apprentice under the watchful eye of his grandfather Jimmy and father, his appreciation for rye is rooted in his work as a brand ambassador as bartenders have a deep fondness for Wild Turkey ryes.
For this limited release, Russell hand-picked from among his oldest #4 alligator char barrels – each with rye aged between nine and 11 years (rye is usually aged only up to 4 years). From there, Russell crafted a high-aged rye whiskey that showcases Wild Turkey’s signature flavors.
“Wild Turkey was one of the few legacy distilleries that remained loyal to crafting Rye even as vodka and gin became the new, hot thing,” said Eddie Russell, Master Distiller. “Cornerstone Rye celebrates our continued commitment to the grain. As my own son Bruce has reminded me given his devotion to rye in working with the bartender community, it’s a fundamental part of our history.”
For decades, rye has served as a key pillar of whiskey production on Wild Turkey Hill. While Prohibition caused rye whiskey to fall out of favor, Wild Turkey was among the few distilleries to remain dedicated to the spirit. This expression is said to be “the culmination of more than 150 years of Kentucky artisanship and heritage.”
Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye will be a very limited release with approximately 16,000 bottles available for purchase. The whiskey will be available for a limited time at select retailers for $175.00 per 750 mL bottle.
