Wild Turkey ‘minimum 9 years’ Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye Whiskey 54.5% Batch 04529 vs Parker’s Heritage Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey 13 yo 63.4%
Wild Turkey ‘minimum 9 years’ Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye Whiskey 54.5% Batch 04529
As a bourbon, Wild Turkey tends to have a spicy character and Cornerstone is their Rye. Does that make it extra spicy? Well not really. Certainly a fair amount of dry black pepper is evident, and that comes with heaps of desiccated bark and dusty pine cones. But the Rye is textured with unctuous spices like sweet cinnamon sticks and nutmeg, though punctuated with strong turpenic hints and perhaps an acrid accord. So, bitter orange rind, brown sugar, charred wood, dry leather, but also warming eucalyptus rub, camphor and cedar staves. Not exactly sweet yet undoubtedly rich and layered with intense woody overtones. I find this very good. 88 pts
Parker’s Heritage Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey 13 yo 63.4%
Who said wheat whiskies tend to be plainly smooth and sweet? I find this very complex with a wealth of flavours like sweet cocoa powder, dried cranberries, toasted bread, dusty cinnamon, wet leather, caramelised brown sugar, gula melaka, hard licorice candies, blackstrap molasses and hot ginger. A fruity edge that drives the tongue to the finish gives much pleasure as well. A degree more depth than the Wild Turkey, and utterly drinkable. 89 pts
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