Cherry | Raspberry | Aged oak | Old leather | Brown sugar | Cola | Hickory syrup | Light clove

Raspberry | Cherry | Plum | Cherry cola | Brown sugar | Vanilla | Cranberry

Black pepper | Aged oak | Hot pepper spice | Black cherry | Cardamom | Leather | Light lingering funky oak

For the newly launched Austin Nichols Archives series, Wild Turkey is “looking to its own legendary past for inspiration to inform its future,” and there is no better place to look than the brand’s infamous “Cheesy Gold Foil” period of the 1980s and early 90s, as it has become known today. This was during bourbon’s “glut” era of excess supply and lessening demand. Though only featuring a 12 year age statement, according to the company, Master Distiller Jimmy Russell often “blended older barrels into standard bottlings, creating bourbons with remarkable depth, intensity and the distinctive ‘mature oak funk.’” The result is that bourbon enthusiasts continue to seek out, and where once, not even that long ago, could still be found on shelves, covered in dust, representing a forgotten time in bourbon's not-so-distant past.

Tasting a late 80s/90s “Cheesy Gold Foil” next to the latest release, there are plenty of similarities Associate Master Blender Bruce Russell was able to replicate, and in some cases improve upon. Though at this point many “Cheesy Gold Foil” bottles have been open for some time, the new Gold Foil Edition definitely jumps out of the glass - though some of that can be attributed to its higher proof. Traditional red fruit scents of cherry and raspberry are most dominant, and rich aged oak plays a complementary role. Old leather, brown sugar, cola, and a savory mix of hickory syrup and light clove provide excellent weight.

The palate is flushed with Wild Turkey red fruit notes, but they are far less sweet than you’d might expect from more recent Wild Turkey releases, especially from single barrel releases of Russell’s Reserve. Raspberry, cherry, and plum are all a shade darker, adding weight to the overall sip. Combined with cherry cola and brown sugar sweetness, and a touch of cranberry tartness, the palate is exactly what you want out of a high-aged Wild Turkey bourbon.

The finish turns spicy, thanks to black pepper and hot pepper. This lingers throughout the rest of the finish, joined by ample amounts of aged oak, black cherry, cardamom, leather, and a touch of funky oak on the backend.

The bourbon’s 120 proof seems perfectly dialed in for the intensity it needs to deliver its flavor. It never gets in the way and enhances the flavor notes as needed. The proof also amplifies the bourbon’s oak component, creating a warm, rich, evolving sip that somehow never goes overboard in either intensity or funkiness. There is some dry oak present, which is to be expected. And while some additional sweetness would have helped balance it, as a 16 year old Wild Turkey release, it's measured well.

Austin Nichols Archives is set to replace the company’s long-running Master’s Keep series (which the 2025 release was priced at $300). There’s no ignoring the fact that the Gold Foil Edition’s price is high, pushing the high end segment of the major Kentucky distilleries' pricing tier to new levels; it's at least somewhat justified. Wild Turkey very rarely releases bourbon at this age and proof, and as a throwback to what has now become a renowned and perhaps even romantic era of the company’s past, few who make the purchase will be disappointed at the bourbon that’s delivered. Hopefully, Wild Turkey takes a page from this release and also does a 12 year old version, emphasizing more sweet fruit notes, and can charge less for Wild Turkey fans out there. As is, Gold Foil Edition remains an excellent example of how great Wild Turkey bourbon can get at a high age.