“Cornerstone” is an interesting name for a limited release from a distillery otherwise known for its everyday, budget-friendly bottles. One could easily argue it’s a name more befitting a core product that anyone can walk into a store and purchase, making it a foundational piece for the producing party. The discussion becomes more interesting when considering Wild Turkey’s history with rye whiskey, especially in recent years. Although Wild Turkey claims to have “used rye as a part of their whiskey production since 1869,” the minutiae of this claim is on the fuzzy side. Since we know little about the rye whiskeys sold under the Wild Turkey name prior to the 1950s, perhaps we’re meant to interpret this claim as using rye for bourbon production rather than rye-dominant spirits?

This possibility becomes easier to rationalize when considering veteran Wild Turkey distiller Jimmy Russell is far from the biggest rye whiskey fan. In fact, it’s purported that Wild Turkey National Ambassador Bruce Russell pushed the recent introduction of more rye-based products, such as Rare Breed Rye and the 2019 Master’s Keep release, which brings us back to Cornerstone proper.

Although Bruce is known as the rye-loving Russell, Master’s Keep is more or less Eddie Russell’s baby, similar to Jim Beam’s Freddie Noe with the arguably more experimental Little Book line. To that end, the most adventurous iteration for a time was 2018’s Revival, which took 12-15 year bourbon and finished it in old sherry casks. So when word hit the street that Revival’s follow-up would be a rye whiskey, fans breathed a sigh of relief followed by a sharp inhale of excitement. Not only would Cornerstone be the oldest rye whiskey Wild Turkey had produced, but also the most potent until Rare Breed Rye launched in 2020 (it remains the highest proof Master’s Keep at 109). This sounded like a perfect, punctual combination for Turkey enthusiasts, especially since 2019 is around the time that rye whiskey gained serious momentum as an appreciable spirit in the modern era.

Whiskey fans often hear about how tricky the rye grain can be to distill when compared to corn. Perhaps conveniently, American rye whiskey tends to fare better at a younger age than bourbon, with many hitting their peak around 6-8 years. Rye often provides a bright and unique personality, manifesting as anything from a bouquet of herbs and spices to luscious fruits when well produced. Those notes can quickly become drowned out if left to sit in oak casks for too long. This is why you’ll rarely see rye whiskey aged into the double digits unless it’s produced in Canada, where temperatures are lower and less volatile. Wild Turkey’s rye options reflect this by being almost exclusively NAS; the one exception is Russell’s Reserve 6-Year while Rare Breed Rye blends whiskey aged 4, 6, and 8 years.

With this context in mind, it’s easier to see why Cornerstone was something of a big deal. Old rye whiskey can be difficult to pull off, but given how consistent the Russells are at crafting quality whiskey, there’s no doubt they’re more than up to the task. Let’s see just how well this one turned out. Master’s Keep Cornerstone consisted of rye whiskeys aged 9-11 years, with 16,000 bottles made available for the U.S. market while 6,000 were allocated internationally. MSRP was roughly $175.

Nose: Potpourri-like. Has a backbone of lime and dehydrated green apple, but the exterior is loaded with clove, dried blackberries, fresh tobacco, and vanilla bean. A touch of orange cream creeps in and out as well. The older barrels are well at work, providing a leather meets sweet earth essence (think mint and not-quite-fresh mulch during a damp afternoon) that’s kept in check with the more dominant, aforementioned notes.

Palate: Delightful, moderately rich consistency offset by the slightest touch of pepper spice. Enters with the sweet, earthy tones from the nose, bringing compote, caramel, and whispers of mint. Wonderful depth with the clove and slightly fennel-like notes while traces of caraway, dried pineapple, and familiar vanilla notes occasionally pop off.

Finish: Settles more into the sweet oak and a bit of the leather notes, playing up the rich mouthfeel by adding an extra, fuller dimension as the pour finishes. Tobacco and sage become more distinct as this sits, pairing nicely with the warm, slightly sweet barrel essence and soft presence of white pepper.

The fact that Cornerstone followed Revival is interesting, particularly in hindsight. Where the reaction to Revival amounted to bewilderment before slowly gaining a passionate following (including yours truly), Cornerstone seemed to make a big splash at launch only to fade into the background. Those who’ve been fortunate enough to try most (if not all) of the Master’s Keep releases usually name Decades, Revival, or the 17-Year Bottled in Bond as their favorite. Although I’m one of those individuals, I also feel Cornerstone somewhat fits the role of a sleeper bottle. You know, as far as limited edition releases go.

My first impressions on Cornerstone fell in-line with how others likely remember it: a great whiskey that struggles to captivate. I initially passed it off as a bit heavy-handed on the spice and barrel notes, putting it up against Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye and regularly choosing the latter. Yet time has been good to this rye whiskey, allowing it to flourish in a way that other rye whiskeys and even other Master’s Keep releases don’t achieve. The influence of older whiskey is wonderfully apparent, mingling with a hearty spice portfolio in a way that produces exciting dark fruit notes. All of this comes complete with an herbal presence that feels appropriately subtle. All of this is carried by a wonderful texture, no doubt aided by the lack of chill filtration.

Cornerstone has been the most exciting Master’s Keep to revisit over time, despite my recent adoration for Revival. Although its predecessor has arguably more depth and complexity, it remains the epitome of a mood pour. By contrast, Cornerstone has transformed into something I could drink any given night or day. Sometimes the best pours are those you can easily see yourself pouring whenever you feel like it, but can also sit with and appreciate if so desired. Wild Turkey absolutely achieved this with flying colors in Cornerstone.

As for where this ranks in the distillery’s rye whiskey catalog, it comfortably sits at the top of my list while Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel holds a respectable candle. Both expressions are strong examples of how incredibly Wild Turkey rye whiskey can be at the upper echelon, which has me hoping they’ll do a recurring rye release in a similar vein to Russell’s Reserve 13-Year. A cask strength Wild Turkey rye aged 8 to 10 years sounds like a dream come true based on Cornerstone and reception to the 13-Year; I think Campari would be wise to consider.