I believe we’re all accustomed to the “gold normal,” and in relation to Wild Turkey whiskey, that is that.
Wild Turkey simply introduced the launch of a brand new sequence, the Austin Nichols Archives Assortment, and the annual launch lineup is debuting with a contemporary model of its beloved “Tacky Gold Foil” expression from the mid-’80s: Wild Turkey Gold Foil Version.
For a short breakdown, Wild Turkey 12-12 months 101 Bourbon has are available in a number of kinds over time, however the “Tacky Gold Foil” expression, first launched in 1985, shortly grew to become one of the sought-after bottles within the model’s historical past. It featured a novel mix of Kentucky straight bourbons and got here in a bottle and accompanying tube with gilded labeling, thus the nickname.
Now, to honor the model’s historical past and have fun a few of its most iconic expressions, Affiliate Grasp Blender Bruce Russell created a brand new annual-release lineup, and Wild Turkey Gold Foil Version represents the primary fruits of that labor. This revived model options 16-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, blended by Bruce Russell, who conceived the lineup over a decade in the past — citing it as one of many coolest issues he might think about as a younger man charting his future with the distillery his household has helped convey to prominence over the previous 70+ years.
Although the primary expression on this lineup has some iconic sneakers to fill, the Austin Nichols Archives Assortment wasn’t created merely to breed “Tacky Gold Foil” and different choices, however somewhat to match their complexity, seize the spirit of every launch, and revive the attract of “dusty Turkey funk” that’s made classic bottles of Wild Turkey whiskey so coveted amongst collectors. That explains why they’ve opted to make the swap from 12-year bourbon to 16-year bourbon for this launch; it’s an effort to take care of its spirit, not its specs.
Lately, I visited the Wild Turkey Distillery, joined Eddie and Bruce Russell in Wild Turkey’s Warehouse A (the place the barrels for this launch had been housed), and obtained an early style of Gold Foil Version.
Let’s dive proper in and overview one of the extremely anticipated bourbon releases of the yr.
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Wild Turkey Gold Foil Version 16-12 months Bourbon Evaluation
ABV: 60percentAverage Value: $400
The Whiskey:
This 16-year Kentucky straight bourbon was distilled at Wild Turkey, blended by Affiliate Grasp Blender Bruce Russell, and bottled at 120 proof with out chill filtration to maximise taste. The concept was to seize the richness and “dusty Turkey” aroma and style of Wild Turkey’s unique “Tacky Gold Foil” bourbon, from the mid-’80s and early ’90s.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril on Gold Foil Version is launched with a fleet of aromas starting from kola nuts and cloves to brown sugar, date syrup, and smoked honey. A few of these extremely sought-after “dusty” notes arrive after the entire sweetness with faint leather-based, restrained cinnamon bark, vanilla pods, and at last the scent of pie crust.
Palate: The richness of this whiskey is straight away evident on the palate, which begins with a syrupy texture that enables for earthy kola nuts to coexist alongside brown sugar and black cherries drizzled in honey. The “funk” right here is much like damp tobacco and well-worn leather-based, with peppercorn and clove notes serving to to stability it out.
End: The end has a light-weight, candy raise that’s lengthy and silky with honey, vanilla, and Rainier cherries to begin earlier than including the flavour of cream soda to the combination.
Backside Line:
As a Wild Turkey fanatic, I’ve been hoping to do this expression since its label was first revealed on the TTB web site, and now that I’ve lastly tried it, I can let you know it’s 101% definitely worth the wait. Not solely does the Gold Foil Version do an enviable job of recreating the dusty, funky notes that collectors proceed to covet in classic Wild Turkey, it virtually matches the nuanced depth of taste in these expressions whereas on the identical time providing a bit extra chew due to its enhance in proof.
Proclamations of “bourbon of the yr” could appear foolish in Might, however there’s little question about it. Wild Turkey Gold Foil Version will completely be among the many final bottles standing when it comes time to crown the easiest expressions of 2026.
Begin in search of this bottle out now, and you’ll thank me in December.
