Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Beacon: The Final Chapter? | Review

Wild Turkey just dropped what might be the best bourbon of the year, and they’re saying it’s the last ever release in their legendary Master’s Keep series.

In this episode of Arsenic Culture, Matt, Jason, Drew, and Jordon crack open Master’s Keep Beacon, one of the most hyped bottles of 2025. We break down the nose, palate, and finish, and weigh in on whether this finale really lives up to its reputation or if the hype has outpaced the pour.

Is Beacon the perfect sendoff for Wild Turkey’s Master’s Keep line, or just another collector’s flex?


#WildTurkey #MastersKeepBeacon #BourbonReview

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Transcript

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Fact that basement, mustiness wet basement. It's never dried out Yeah, the mold is gray, Not quite black. but it's getting Know your lungs aren't great when you're down there. You like Cancer yet. Welcome back. We are Arsenic culture. I am Jason. I I am Matthew. I'm Drew. Jordan, and today love the casual, It's like Jody b, Today we have a bourbon review of Wild Turkey Masters Keep Beacon. Let's do a quick shot. No, Oh, my bad, my bad, my bad. Long shot. let's draw this out a little bit, Jason. So actually, we reviewed this one on one of our shows. We actually tried this one before, like a couple weeks back. but I think it's worth. A show of its own. Okay. I mean, I think, I think the, uh, Response was positive. We'll go ahead and say that out in the Open, but I would like to dive into a little bit more. Yes, sir. sir. So, wild Turkey. Um, probably when people ask me what's my favorite bourbon, I go two things. I go Wild Turkey and four Roses. Now again, I can't pick that I want everything, right? I want all the, the special releases and single barrels and all that, but. If it's an everyday drinker, I love Wild Turkey 1 0 1, I love four roses and their small backs that select the single barrels, all that stuff. so I enjoy it. Let's go for this one though. So the masters Keep is like their special release series. It's their limited edition. Um, it's not done on any kind of schedule that I can tell. Do you know, of any schedule Jordan. Uh, probably when they want to make a big fourth quarter run, it's probably, uh, probably, uh, the scheduled release, a good point. These aren't cheap. So MSRP on this one's three and a quarter, so 3 25. yeah. I mean, so Campari is their parent company. That's who sets the pricess. Let's go ahead and say that, um, I've actually got to meet the Russells Several times. Got You said Camp Par, like it's some guy's name, like old Ken. no, that's, uh, Kaari. That's a, that's an, that's a venture capitalist. kind of group, you know, like they're pretty very much is. Yeah. They're counting pennies on the corn recipe, you know, but, uh, I, wild Turkey themselves really don't set, set the price on this one. Uh, Campari wood. So this is the 11th overall release in the series. A strong rumor. Is this the last release? in the series. Really? it is. This is the highest proof released at 118. proof. MSRP, we talk 3 25. so good. Secondary is roughly four 50. Honestly seems cheap compared to the like hype I've heard This is getting a lot of whiskey of. the Year talk so and that's a narrow range from MSRP to secondary being that tight, which tells you Camp party's doing their job, right. They're trying to meet that probably secondary. Yeah. I think a lot of your, your distilleries are doing that. They're trying to price their products to meet that. So where there's not so much of a margin's smells sweet. And I'm, I'm getting like a very light, very light floral note. Yeah, that's good Is that, is that an Air. freshener or the, or the chamomile. I'm, I'm getting like sweet, like peanut butter. Okay. Like Skippy, Damn specific. You went Skippy. Wow, wow, wow. I'm naming names. Yeah, yeah, Yeah, I didn't know he was gonna go crunchy or smooth. what I was gonna say. Is it crunchy? went real smooth. So this is a blend of 10-year-old bourbon, and 16-year-old bourbon. This is the only masters keep with two. signatures on it. So you have the signature of the master distiller Eddie, and then the Associate Master Blender Bruce, which is the youngest of the Russells, but even though his title says Associate Master Blender, he's, he's coming up I mean, he's gonna be the man. soon. You know? Um, the 16-year-old bourbon was selected by Eddie produced at the former Wild Turkey distillery before they expanded. And in the 10 year distillate was by Bruce under supervision of Jimmy. in 2015. So. Man, that new distillery, it's built out there. It was actually developed in 2011 and the last time I was there, they're in the process of actually expanding the, the the canvas. Yeah. This smells so good. Honestly, like why don't they make air fresheners out of the, like, you think they make candles that are similar, but they still, like, they don't capture like these Yeah. I mean, yeah. Blanton's candles, right? You seen those like 50, 60 bucks? I mean like wild Turkey could, if you could. Package this in. I mean, think about that over like the fall, winter it, that's a, that's a really nice for sure. Now, while we're sipping that, I'm gonna step out for a second, and grab a couple glasses, we're gonna try something else. too, Okay. While he's doing that, we're gonna give a shout out to our sponsor. Never say Die Bourbon. These guys are, uh, aged at sea for a portion. Jordan keep stealing the focus I gotta put the bottle in front of your face, put my hands right behind it. So we'll just keep it very close. Uh, always a good poor though. You can find a liquor store near you. you Think you never say die. die. I wanna talk about this. but he's away. I think this is one of those. I think This is one of those occasions where price meets quality. right? That See, Ah, so okay, let's just fucking, let's go ahead and do it. I'm, I'm okay, go ahead. You say yours I three 20, is that what he said?$320 I, i, I it's 3 25, I I think it's actually mic is still hot, so feel free to talk I think it's actually 300, but but still. Okay, so 300 like that is still a lot for me. And I'm not just talking about bourbon, I'm talking about. any beverage. You give me the nicest bottle of wine and it's like $10,000. I'd still be like. Fuck. I wouldn't pay $300 this, but you know what I mean. I think This is like just smelling this bourbon. It's fantastic. Like it just takes, Oh man, I'm in another place. When I, very, very few situations where I, where would I be? Like I would pay $200 for a bottle and I would pay $200 for this bottle. I still think 300 for anything in my mind, as great as it can be, is still just, I just don't think a beverage is worth that, as good as it can be. Well, mean, to be honest with you, it's a hard pill to swallow when you look at how the price is. MSRP not talking secondary have raised so much. I think we're at the cap. I mean, There's not much more to go. I'm a huge four OHS guy. But when you're, when your MSRP on your four OHS is limited editions over $200. Yeah. I'm Kind of out. I mean, I wanna try it before I buy it, right? I Right. But this one at three and a quarter, I mean. I'm not even drink this poor yet, but I'm still, I'm still, savoring the nose. I've been over there getting glasses, but still it's, it's and I think you know, know, I think there's gonna be different tiers of these le like the limited edition, uh, offerings. I think like it's kind of what we have here, right? Yeah. You just pulled out the Russell's 13. This is the newest one. This is Ms. Rrp for what? Two 50? Ms. Rrp is 200, but you couldn't get it for that. Yeah, So it's two 50 plus. The proof on this one, the, the Russell's 13 is 123.8. It's the youngest in the batch is 13 years old. Right. So it's there's older whiskey in there too. Secondary on this is 300. So secondary on this one is roughly retail of. the master keep. So we're gonna try to pour that You know, and I know Matt feels the same way. Like Russell 10 is one of my favorite, favorite pores. I love it hundred I mean, it's' and, and it, well, the value adds to that. Right. you know what I mean? Well, and, and that's, that's kind of where I was getting with that because like, again, I, I really enjoy bourbon. The most expensive bottle I have is. At retail was like a $200 bottle. yeah. And we went to a local store and, and picked up a, um, some bottles. And Matt got the one bottle of the William LaRue Weller. Was it William? William LaRue? Uh, right. William Heaven William? Yeah. Yeah, that's what it I was. like, damn, you got a B Tech, didn't sorry. Sorry. I misspoke. I didn't, I didn't get the invite to That party, but. But, and so I got, you know, like, and I spent $180 on my bottle and I was like, Jesus. You know, and that was like, what, eight or 10 years ago? Yeah. But I'm, I'm even probably like on the pecking order or the totem pole, I'm the, the furthest down out of this group in terms of like what I would invest in, in bourbon. Right? And so I think that this, the Wild Turkey. Fantastic. I love it. Um, I'm so glad to be sitting here drinking it. There's no way. Not that it's not good that I'm gonna spend that. I just, I won't, you know, is a once a year purchase for me, and I'm into bourbon. Like, I don't, I don't like spending that kind of money. on one Bottle. Like it's, this is The most expensive bottle I own. Like, retail, right? Like, I have some bottles that are like, a King Kentucky. But I think even after taxes, it was cheaper than this bottle. Was it really? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. it's like, I mean, and, and honestly. like King Kentucky's fantastic. One of my, one of my favorite pores. But this I'm jumping ahead a little bit but it's pretty good. So What do you think about the, the Russell's 13 compared to, it? I mean, the, nose to me, I haven't tasted either, but the nose to me is totally different. Right. Yeah. Well, I've always, loved this one the few times that we've had we've had it with you. Now this is, is a much milder proof. What is this one? Mm-hmm. Nose No, roughly the same. So this is 118 proof, The beacon, This is 123.8. Are you fucking kidding me? Really? Like, this is, It smells milder. It does smell It is. It has been open about another month and a half longer than the beacon. So it's got a little time to open. up. We also have about a third of the bottle gone, which this is a quarter gone. Yeah, that's true. I mean, it's, I don't know if like oxidation plays a role in that it does a little, I Think I think especially noses, Um, yeah, this is, it Fuels a lot more mild, the Russell 13. But I love. I love this one. I I think it's a testament to that The 13 though, right? Like it, even though it's higher proof, it drinks lower, I feel like, you know? Yeah. Um, so what do you think comparison wise? Just talking about not, not value, just talking about the two. I think, uh, the 13, I'm getting more, uh, fruit, notes coming forward on it. Maybe like a, Maybe like a strawberry or like a red fruit Um, compared to the, the beacon. is like a sweet oak which you get in that older. oaked bourbon that I love. I love that. note. Personally. though. I don't, I don't the, you can get too over oaked, You know, when you you can, but, but sometimes that sweet oak, you can get over oaked to where it's like stringent, and like Real dry. But the sweet oak like this has, which you get out of some of the, some of the older beam stuff, it's just awesome. It's like uh, you Totally true. It doesn't dry you out like some of the other older. uh, age bourbons I've had. And the reason the comparison here just to transparent. So the beacon's a blend of 10 and 16-year-old. We don't know the, the proportions, right? But this one's a 13-year-old. So tell youngest, so we assume it's roughly the same right? close. Right. So, so what do you think Drew, like, difference wise, similarities, anything? Um, the Russell doesn't drink with it, but it's proof that, um. I got a little bit of like sugar, caramel on the, the wild Turkey on the beacon. Um, maybe a little bit of fruit on this. This is The one you're talking about now Is is the, is the Russell 13? Yeah. Yeah. Um, I feel like I should go last on this. I feel like you're, you're ha you just happen to see, sit to left of Jordan, so. Yeah. Right. I don't need to deal the opposite direction. not getting, I'm not getting fruit on there. I'm not saying. I know Sometimes you will pick out some and stuff in there. I'm getting Jordan probably Jordan probably picks out the best flavors of anybody. Qui. Yeah, Like no, no joke. It is, it is know, there's no wrong There's a hundred percent. because like everybody Drew like you're saying like, you're the, you're the the Novice, you're not, I mean, again, you get what you get. We want to have people like get that feeling like we're not trying to be pretentious with this. Right. Like, We're being honest. Yeah. So the Russell 13, I get, I get something a little more decadent like. Borderline chocolate maybe like a, Yeah. Like I get, and I wouldn't say I go far as pastry, but it is something like more like decadent and sweet. Um, something borderline, borderline chocolate. So in interesting, like you say that, so the tasting notes for the masters keep beacon vanilla bean, cherry toffee, red apple leather honey, red apple leather, or red apple and I tried to go quick. Now what? I would like to try A red I know, I, I would I mean, I would be in for that leather? That'd be I got a belt It's weird. It's think that's like what they call fruit rollups, like fruit, lemon. Yeah. that actually, I actually thought Iir cut truck Jordan. I, I actually tasted a little bit of red apple there, which astonished me. Then when you said that, I was like, yeah, just dumb luck, Seriously though. Yeah. And in the last couple ones, warm, spices, cinnamon, they said. specifically, and then candied citrus peel, Which I don't know that I've ever like thought about, but Okay. Maybe. But to me, on the nose, I think the 13 has more of a nuttiness, more of a full flavor in the nose. It could just be that's been open longer. But I love, I love the nose on the beacon too. Now, taste wise, I think that the the beacon has more depth. It is a little hotter to me, like the proof. is. And, and maybe again, that comes down to the time it's still really good. Like I'm not, it's not too hot. It's just a little hotter than Beacon Has that oak funk. that I, I kind of like when I try to talk about that with somebody, like that, don't know what I'm talking about. It's like, like that basement mustiness, like wet basement. like, you know, if you're, a Turkey dried out down there and. Yeah. like It's got a little bit mildew and Well, yeah, yeah. the mold is gray. Not quite black. but where You, you know your lungs aren't great when you're down there. but you know it's okay. but, but like Cancer, yet, but you're, you know, I still got four good years. Yeah. It's got Yeah. It's got that. It's got that sweet and sour funk. that that turkey's known. Turkey. like if you're a Turkey head, that's what they call us. They what they call it Turkey, Turkey Fans Like me. but you know what that old funk is, right? Like that's what Beacon is, one of the Knocks people had against the 13 this year. is It doesn't have that funk and it doesn't, but it's still really good, poor. so it's, it's it's different. So the beacon is traditional Turkey funk. The 13 is kind of the different different path. When people say it's like more refined or like what, how would they I it's off profile. So if You think about that, like old Turkey, we opened up the canner a couple weeks back. right? That is funk. Yes. That is what I want in Wild Turkey. If you can replicate that, I think beacon. gets the new age I was gonna say the same thing. You could tell me this guy, this Guy. this guy, this guy poured out. of One of those decanters and I, I would've said, yeah, I mean I would've said, this tastes like it might've came from, from yesteryear, uh, bourbon, you know. So, looking at this, so retail wise, three and a quarter, we're talking about the beacon right now, would you buy at three and a quarter, Jordan? Yeah. What about secondary at four 50? Yeah. Wow. mean, I would, All right. There's no wrong answer. Matt, dammit. you know my answer. answer. True. drew. Yeah. 3 25. Would you buy Yeah. I'm a no on, I mean, I'm a no on obviously on both of them. Well, what would be, talking about that? What would be your top price point you think? for that? Well, again, given the fact that the most expensive bourbon I have is an 11-year-old fits, you know, in the decanter. Yeah. BIB. Yeah. Um. I would, I, I would, if you said, Hey, this is $200 and they've got two bottles of it and there's a drawing, I'm gonna go try to get it. You know? Um, but that's, again, that's where my cap is for just about everything. In reality, in my mind, I'm like $10 a year. I've had that thought process for a long time. So when you look at age bourbon, if it's, a, if it's a 10-year-old bourbon, it's at least a hundred, you know? in my mind. Sure. So I get that. Matt, what about you? I, I said it earlier, 200 is is my max. Um, and I think it's fantastic, but like you give me a 10,000 bottle of wine. and I'm, still gonna be like, I wouldn't pay 300. for that bottle. Yeah. Like a Chateau Lafitte, Rothchild 79, whatever. Fantastic. But there ain't no fucking way. It's worth 10,000. Much Less 400. I I'd agree with that part and I've never had it. But, um, so, so for me, MSRP at three and a quarter, while it is steep, I would buy. it, I would buy multiple at that price. And I, and I don't spend, this is my most expensive ball? of bourbon, Is that because you're a a Turkey love, Turkey, love Turkey. but. with that price, I want to try it before I I buy it. Well, and I think you should be able I got this. Yeah, right. But I got this at Costco, which is the cheapest you're gonna find. it. Right? So again, I mean my, my M-S-R-I-I paid the M-S-R-P-A lot of stores around town. You're looking three 50 plus to even get this bottle or. Using your points from like a membership kind of And, uh, you know, kinda, we were talking about this for Drew, and Matt came over, over. Mm-hmm. I'm a, I'm kind of, uh, uh, doing like an equivalent of some of the current releases I'm seeing on the market. I'm seeing 12-year-old. uh, slip for, three 50, and then this is a blend of 16 and 10 masterfully done. So I don't care to pay 300 for that. knowing that I see other new releases that people are, are really excited about for three 50.'cause I'm just, you're saying? But I can't compare that? I can't compare those two things because well, there's a don't even see value in the 12 year, Yeah. I don't see, Yeah. I think that's there's, a value in that perspective. I, I get that. I'm gonna pay it Anyway, but my perspective is they're way overpriced on both like this, this bottle. should be. In my mind, retail should be two to two 50 tops. I understand they can get three, they, they probably get 400 for it, but it'd sell out, and I can tell you this, after tasting this, if it, if they did another year, which they say they're not going to, if they did another one, now I'm in the market. Yeah, Right. You're so, 2, 2 50. But honestly for me, even, even at four 50, I would buy a bottle. And That's big for me to say. Yeah. Like, I'm not. I'm not one to go full secondary on something. Yeah. I probably have three bottles downstairs that I pay full secondary on. This would be one, honestly, I think at four 50 it's still kind of a value and I hate to say that. Yeah. Like that's, that's still a value to me.'cause you look at older balls of Turkey, like Jordan said, just remind him of, If, if I bought one for my birth year, I'm looking at a thousand dollars. This is damn close to a birth year bottle. Like, I mean, the way it tastes and, and knowing this will never be made again. Yeah. huge. You know, Jordan, don't say that. Make it again. Yeah. So So one thing they at least one, Mr. Russell, make it again. But thing they've done though is they've said this is the last the Masters keep series, so the box, but they have done some boxes that aren't Masters Keep, They're like, so I could see them doing that my friends, it's called marketing. and Next year return of cheesy gold foil, Turkey, shit, you, You call that right? Me? We're in.

Me and yous gonna be in there at 4: 20:02

00 AM three days before it opens. We're gonna camp out. Jordan me and you. Yeah. Yeah, If Turkey uh, wants to start a membership. I'll gladly pay just to get bottles. So Let's do a rating. So one to 5.25 increments. You can take price consideration, that's fine. Uh, Jordan, what would you rate the beacon? The The beacon? I'm still at a five out of five for me personally. because there's not a lot of bourbons, current release bourbons that I try and I'm like, damn. yeah, you know, I totally get it, and This does that for me. So what about the 13? The Russell's? 13. 13? Actually, I actually like it better the second time around, but I'm still at maybe a four, four out of five. on the 13th. That's fair. Uh, drew, I'm a I'm a four and a half on the Beacon and I'm a four and a quarter on the Russell 13. All right. Matt, what do you think? I'm a four and a half on the beacon and the knock is the price. yeah. Like If, if it was, if it was down to like two, even two 50 at that point, like I might be closing it on 4, 7, 5 or higher, but Sure. I'm four and a half. It is a fantastic. fucking poor, The Russells. I do love that. one. Um, first time having bourbon Jordan, Beers don't count. That's, good. uh, the Russell. honestly, it's, it's different Poor, It really is. But I mean, it hits a lot of check marks that I like. Like I'm gonna go four and a half on that one too. Alright, so I'm gonna go on the 13. I've raid this in past podcasts or past shows, but I'm a four and a half on the Russell's 13. I really like that one. I think I might have been four a quarter 4, 7, 5, whatever, the beacon. I'm leaning in Jordan's number five. Um, one thing I'll say about this, I'm gonna give it a 4, 7, 5, But I want to, I wanna qualify ratings here. Just because we say something to five does not mean no other product can have that rating. Correct. So there can be multiple products that we rate to have a five, Right. I think some shows, some reviewers think five's never obtainable. Like there's always improvement. The highest I would ever rate, something's a four and a half. Well, that's not what we do. So I'm a 4, 7, 5 on this one, although I could be really easily convinced. it's a Five. Fantastic for me. Now, if, if that, if that Beacon was open as long as that Russell's reserve, I would really, be might, I'd be interested to see, like, does it, does it push it over the, honestly, over the hump? I think it'd even get, I think it'd even get better. I think. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I went 4, 7, 5 for that reason. Drew, like I was thinking, it's already like, I think it's like appropriately. proofed. I think it's like super, Just, Like just I, I don't know how much more this will open up. That one still drinks. The restless 13 still drinks a little bit hot to me, you were kidding me. See that I think it's the opposite. I could chug That whole bottle. right Yeah, but I could do, that. I could do that with a beacon. He it to me, yeah. We need, we need A funnel First off, we need four. funnels, but me and Jordan's the only one sitting next to the bottle. So you all are out We're going, we're gonna just rush your roulette. Just take them around. Well, I, I think the cool thing about kind of what you said is like, it's masterfully, what'd you say? It's masterfully proof. Yeah. Proved. That's the one thing I think the Russells do, I mean, maybe better than anybody else is. Like they, they, they're kind of spot on with how They do it. Well, I've said before, I, I did a tour there a long time ago. I've done a few tours, at wild Turkey, but it was Bruce who's now the, whatever his title is. he's essentially Gonna be the man. at Wild Turkey. But he, uh, he led our tour group, so going through there and just the pride that he had, even at that young age, I think he was like between 21, 24, somewhere through there. Just to see that though, was like all the pride. They take in that. And then Jimmy, um, being the master distiller working at working at Wild Turkey for over 70 years, like, where the hell you gonna see that? And the dude's pallet's still still kicking, you know the kicking chicken? yeah. So, I mean, kind of crazy. Um, if you all have had this one, um, let us know what you think. So there's two Russell's 13 and Wild Turkey Beacon. Appreciate you tuning in. Uh, for more arsenic culture, please like, follow, subscribe on all the social medias @arsenicculture. We'll see you next time. time.