Wild Turkey has announced the latest in their Master's Keep line... with this expression called 'Voyage'. This release is a 10-year-old bourbon finished with a secondary maturation period in Jamaican rum casks which previously held 14-year-old pot still rum. Master’s Keep Voyage comes in at 106-proof (53% alcohol) and was crafted by Master Distiller Eddie Russell in partnership with Dr. Joy Spence, the Master Blender of Appleton Estate rum.
It will be available starting this month (July) and carries an MSRP of $275 for a 750ml bottle. Voyage contains the following tasting notes:Every year, we look forward to the release of Master's Keep as an opportunity to rethink what our bourbon can be. 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.
Nose: Notes of vanilla, oak, and fruit give way to molasses, rum cake, and allspice
Taste: Sweet and creamy with notes of tropical and dried fruit, caramel and aged oak
Finish: A warm and long-lasting finish with chocolate, fruit and spice
My Take
I think it's weird when distilleries try to mix multiple liquors together. There is a reason some people like Rum and some people like Bourbon. They are distinct flavors with distinct profiles. In my view, trying to combine them is like combining coke and sprite. You'll get a beverage, but it's going to taste horrible. While I haven't tried this and can't comment directly on Voyage, I have tried way too many bourbons finished in secondary non-bourbon casks and, in my opinion, they are always worse than bourbon. For that reason, this is a release I'm going to give a hard pass.... especially at $275 a bottle.
What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below.
Source: Wild Turkey