Wild Turkey Master's Keep Bottled in Bond 17 Year

Color is burnished copper, maybe not quite as dark as I'd expect for the age (but then again it's 'only' 100 proof). Nose - Dark and earthy with leather, oak, vanilla, tobacco, clove, cinnamon;  some caramel lurking underneath, but it's not a particularly sweet nose. Definitely has that WT funk note. After breathing for a bit, I get some dark cherry and red apple. Palate -  medium mouthfeel, slightly oily. Starts with burnt caramel, vanilla, black tea, leather, and oak; also some clove, a bit of cinnamon. There's a smoky note in there as well. Not really getting much fruit on the palate, maybe some baked/spiced apples.  Medium finish is fairly dry, with notes of oak, cocoa powder, and pepper lingering. I've enjoyed all of the Master's Keep releases, and this one is no exception. It's been a while since I've had Decades, but I remember it being a bit richer/sweeter while this one is drier and more complex. There's a dried leather note in this BiB that reminds me of RR2002. I'm deducting a quarter point based on the price (which I feel is reasonable in the current market but certainly not a 'value'), and for the fact that I think that the proof is holding it back from it's true potential.

Top 5 bourbons ever. Has a unique funk and smokiness. Really flavorful for such a low proof. Edit - still amazing but nothing compared to the first neck pour. Outside top 5 ever but definitely up there.

Funky oak and super complex. Nose is a top 5 in my book and I've been around the block.

One of the best I’ve had! This bourbon is so unique and the age shines through! Proof is perfect. Too many people think bourbons need to be barrel proof. Nose - Cherry Pie, Apples, caramel, sweet oak, barrel char, tobacco Palate - First thing that hits you is a dominate unique note that was hard for me to pinpoint. Finally pinpointed it as delicate smoke and clove that nearly make it taste finished. Big cherry pie note also! Hints of leather and tobacco. So beautiful! In addition you get red apples, caramel, sweet oak, and the most amazing creamy mouth feel with a finish that goes for days! Everything you want in a bourbon but unique enough to stand out! Wild Turkey flexed with this one!

Rich vanilla, baking spice, barrel spice, and barrel funk on the nose. This is a deep, robust, full bodied whiskey. It has a strong interplay between earthy and sweet. I get a lot of rye spice, damp earth - almost mushrooms, barrel, vanilla, tobacco, smoke, as well as oak spice, cream, and baked apple. The finish is very long and is dominated by apple, oak spice, wood, leather, and tobacco. I think that I might also be picking up some roasted marshmallow. It has a lot of sharp flavors that have been mellowed and married together, to create a whiskey with lots of strong distinct flavors that are ultimately very balanced, but still easy to pull apart. The sweet flavors are very well balanced and contrasted to the barrel and earthy elements.

Excellent bourbon, typical WT profile and the oak is a sweet oak with a great finish for 100 proof. Only fault I have is for a $175 bottle wish they would make this a higher proof non chill filtered for the price point, similar to the BTACs, would love to taste this straight from barrel. Still very good but have had some SB Russel’s reserve store picks lately for $59 that stack up to this. Update 6/11/20- the nose is a 5 * for sure, could smell this S*** all night. Still sticking with original rating, do start to get that Smokey note to, good though.