Welcome to the first installment of this year’s Fall Limited Release Series here at the Whiskey Jar. I realize this bottle was announced in May, so calling it a “fall” release deserves an explanation. It took a while to reach Louisiana, and for years the Wild Turkey Master’s Keep releases have anchored my fall lineup. This bottle is the successor to that series, so it belongs here.
Introduction
Regular readers know I have a long history with Master’s Keep. I have bought a bottle nearly every year since 2020, skipping only the 2024 Triumph because it was a rye. I reviewed the Master’s Keep 17 Year Old Bottled in Bond in 2020, when it was $160. I closed out the series last December with Master’s Keep Beacon, the first Master’s Keep to carry Bruce Russell’s signature alongside his father Eddie’s.
In that Beacon review, I predicted that with Eddie and Bruce at the helm, Wild Turkey’s limited editions would get older and oakier. The Austin Nichols Archives Collection is the next step in that story; in short, my prediction was spot on.
The Background
The Austin Nichols Archives Collection is a new annual limited series. It is the first Wild Turkey series led entirely by Associate Master Blender Bruce Russell, son of Eddie and grandson of Jimmy. His is the only signature on the bottle. Wild Turkey says he first conceived the idea more than a decade ago as a tribute to Jimmy. The series is named for Austin, Nichols & Co., the company associated with the creation of the Wild Turkey brand in the 1940s.
The inaugural bottle, the Gold Foil Edition, pays homage to the “Cheesy Gold Foil” Wild Turkey 12 Year Old, a 101 proof bourbon sold in metallic gold packaging between 1985 and 1992. The nickname started as a joke about the packaging. Today those vintage bottles are among the most sought-after dusties in American whiskey, and they sell for thousands of dollars at auction. Wild Turkey is clear that this is a tribute and not a recreation. Instead of copying the old bottle, Bruce aimed for the depth and the “mature oak funk” of that Glut Era whiskey. To get there he used more age and a higher proof.
The Specs
- Producer: Wild Turkey Distilling Co., Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
- Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Age: 16 years
- Proof: 120 (60% ABV)
- Filtration: Non-chill filtered
- Mash bill: Reported as 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
- Maturation: Camp Nelson rickhouses D, E and F
- MSRP: $400
According to Food & Wine, Bruce selected roughly 500 barrels, all 16 to 17 years old, from the upper floors of those Camp Nelson rickhouses. The batch came in above 140 proof, and the team then proofed it down to 120. In other words, this is not a barrel proof bourbon. It is a deliberately chosen bottling strength. Bruce told Whisky Advocate that Wild Turkey’s best whiskeys all land between 110 and 120 proof. Given that I am a huge fan of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel at 110 proof, I heartily agree with that assessment.
Rare Bird 101 reports that the whiskey was distilled in 2008 at the former Austin Nichols distillery. It also attributes to Bruce the statement that this is the last international Wild Turkey release made entirely from whiskey distilled there. I can’t verify that claim independently, but it adds to the historical weight of the bottle.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: The color is a dark amber with lots of reddish tones. That reflects its long aging in a warmer part of the rickhouse. On the swirl there is a thick film and thick legs. That is just what you want to see in a bourbon that was proofed down from above 140 proof.
Nose: The nose is deep and rich, with vanilla, caramel and oak. It is distinctly Wild Turkey, just really amped up.
Palate: This is unabashedly Wild Turkey bourbon, with the oak and the candied cherries turned way up. Vanilla and caramel come along with them, plus a decent amount of rye spice and a hint of citrus. It is really lovely on the palate. On the second tasting, the flavors became even better integrated after getting a little oxygen in the bottle.
Finish: Baking spices come to the fore along with drying oak. The baking spices are a little muted compared to some finishes that have prominent clove notes. That works in this bourbon’s favor. Without clove or other spices crowding the finish, the oak is free to show off its complexity.
How It Compares
The cherry, vanilla and oak profile is what drew me to Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Old, which cost me $250 in 2024. It is also the profile I enjoyed in Beacon. Compared with those, the Gold Foil shows the same family resemblance, but with more oak and more intensity. Against Wild Turkey Generations, which I paid $450 for and which is also bottled at about 120 proof, the Gold Foil is more focused. Generations is a blend of ages and shows a broader fruit range. The Gold Foil is a 16 year old bourbon that leans into oak and cherry. Compared with the Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old at 123.8 proof, it is deeper and more patient, with the spice more subdued.
I have never tasted an original Cheesy Gold Foil, so I can’t tell you how close this comes to the real thing. Reviewers who have tasted both say it is a worthy tribute but not a replica. VinePair scored it 96, while Amongst the Whiskey gave it 4 out of 5 and found it hotter and more tannic early in the glass. I didn’t find it hot at all. For me, the heat and tannins were well integrated.
Final Thoughts
For Bruce Russell’s first limited edition, this is a wonderful bottling that really shows off how great Wild Turkey bourbon can be. It is oak-forward without being overwhelmed by oak, and it remains unmistakably Wild Turkey. The 120 proof is well integrated and it never feels like a gimmick.
The $400 MSRP is a lot to ask. It is $100 more than Beacon and $150 more than Russell’s Reserve 15 cost two years ago. If you can find one at MSRP, I think it is worth serious consideration. For me, this was a must have for my collection, That said, it is now a bourbon for the faint of heart; it is definitely heavy on the oak particularly on the finish. While I personally love that, it isn’t everyone’s thing. What is for sure is that this bourbon is a fitting start to the Austin Nichols Archives, and I am looking forward to seeing where Bruce takes the series next. Moreover, as a first bottling that I reviewed for Fall Limited Release Bourbon season, Fall of 2026 is off to an auspicious start.
Thanks for reading Part I of this year’s fall limited release series. If you’ve found a Gold Foil on your shelf, let me know what you think in the comments.