Wild Turkey Longbranch Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey 70 cl, 43% ABV - Small Batch Sipping Bourbon

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Palate: Medium body. Dry, despite the sweet aroma notes. Tons of oak, heavy root notes (root beer, sassafras, etc.), and balanced charcoal. I might taste mesquite, or it could be marketing. Either way, this is a tasty slightly-sweet bourbon with just barely enough tongue burn to feel legitimate.

Wild Turkey was founded in 1855. In 2016, McConaughey (a bourbon lover) was a clear addition to the team. Since his time on board, the company’s global portfolio grew 14.6%, and he helped launch a special signature bourbon. Matthew McConaughey’s Whiskey Origin Story To create Longbranch's signature flavor, McConaughey and Russell spent countless hours sharing notes, then, after two years of testing, perfected a proprietary process that combines two separate charcoal filtration methods to give Longbranch a smooth and full finish. The first filtration process uses charcoal made from American White Oak and the second uses charcoal made from Texas Mesquite wood, giving the bourbon notes of smoky sweetness. My first thought on the Wild Turkey Longbranch was “it’s soft”. And it is, but lately I’ve been drinking a lot of Russell’s Single Barrels and so when my brain thought “Wild Turkey” that’s immediately where it goes. Which is, of course, wrong, because the two are nothing alike for several reasons: charcoal after distillation, age and also ABV. For the Longbranch version of this whiskey, notable Austin, Texas resident Matthew McConaughey worked with master distiller Eddie Russell to come up with a signature whiskey designed to Matthew’s tastes. The “Longbranch” name comes from the idea of reaching out an invitation — extending the olive branch so to speak. Product Longbranch consists of an eight-year-old bourbon from Wild Turkey. Its mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 10% malted barley. It is distilled through the process of two charcoal filtration processes.The campaign features 11 ad spots, ranging between seven and 47 seconds, all of which were shot in a single day on a ranch just outside of McConaughey’s native Austin, Texas. McConaughey is the only character and speaks in each spot.

Longbranch is well-balanced in regards to flavor. One flavor, however, that has left many shaking their heads in question is mesquite. However, there is a misconception associated when it comes to involving mesquite in bourbon. That doesn’t mean the use of charcoal didn’t make a difference to the Longbranch product. It makes the finished product enjoyable, improves the overall taste, doesn’t carry any burn, and doesn’t add any flavor. It polishes up the finished result quite nicely. Collaboration Irish brothers John and James Ripy started off what would become a long history of distillation excellence when they established their bourbon recipe in 1869. However, the Wild Turkey brand itself wasn’t established un 1942.

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Wild Turkey Longbranch is made with eight year old Wild Turkey Bourbon at 86 proof (43% ABV). First glance tells the trained eye that this wheat-colored bourbon is not the richer, deep amber that fans of the 101 proof associate with the brand. There is the familiar scent of spicy vanilla, however the fragrance of Longbranch seems to be rather delicate. There are secondary notes of leather and mellow smoke that drift in after being allowed to breathe. This subtleness continues into the flavor, where you will find caramel swirling along with the vanilla and it finishes with a biting note of the toasted oak barrel. With its low bottle proof and traditional Wild Turkey taste, it’s the perfect bourbon to serve as a gateway into what the whiskey community has to offer. Of course, having Matthew McConaughey involved doesn’t hurt either.

You’ll notice an undeniably traditional Wild Turkey nose when you open a bottle of Longbranch. Aromas of nutty caramel, hefty vanilla, a hint of cherries, orange peel, and just a touch of charred oak. PalateFINISH: The familiar Wild Turkey spice and oak take over on a medium length finish with a very slight hint of smoke. The charcoal filtering has sweetened the finish a bit thereby rounding off the spice corners a bit. When he started working with Wild Turkey, McConaughey says they tried to dispel the perception that bourbon is “male, over 60, after work, on the porch” with a campaign featuring younger people socializing. Last year, a campaign titled “Wonder What If” featured the actor alone in a field talking and asking questions of a bottle of bourbon. A third campaign, which debuted this summer, was meant to be “simple, self-assured,” and focus once again on the distillery’s history.