Creating something different and delicious might be just what your brand needs to give you the edge when it comes to your share of the market. When it comes to innovation in its industry, Wild Turkey ranks among the top performers. Longbranch is a quality bourbon that represents creativity and innovation. It tastes like a bourbon that Wild Turkey put a lot of thought and effort into, and hopefully results in more creative partnerships like the one employed by McConaughey and the Russells. Vital Stats While this bourbon may not have the allure to seasoned drinkers that other brands boast, it does provide an excellent way for newer drinkers to get involved in the bourbon community. For those looking for a recommendation when it comes to bourbon, Longbranch isn’t a bad place to start. Longbranch has a light palate that’s not too watery. First, you’ll not get a soft hint of honey-roasted nuts, along with a wave of earthy rye spices. This moves on to a deep and flavor-filled caramel, along with sweet stone fruit, peppery charred oak, and a splash of smoke and dark chocolate. Finish Caramel heavy dark sweets (maple, brown sugar, etc.), char, vanilla, cinnamon oil, pepper and some roasted corn, oak and fruit.

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. Excerpt: It will be interesting to see if this release connects with bourbon drinkers and if it will become a permanent expression for the company. Wild Turkey may not have reinvented the wheel here but there’s enough to justify its place on the shelf. Concocting this unique spirit took two years of note swapping and testing to create the process that results in allowing Longbranch to fork into its own bough in the Wild Turkey family tree. Two filtration processes are used, starting with charcoal from American White Oak and finishing with charcoal from Texas mesquite wood which gives the bourbon a hint of smoke. The resulting bourbon is bottled at a reasonable 43% ABV and does not provide an age statement, which means future batches could dip below that 8 year-old mark. McConaughey and the Russells say they were going for a sweeter, mellower, easier-drinking style of sipping whiskey but with a hint of Texas smoke. Let’s see how it turned out.

With the actor's help, master distiller Eddie Russell refined an iconic bourbon

Longbranch is an excellent gateway to greater things in the world of bourbon. Hopefully, this step is just one of the first taken by the industry in the journey toward more collaboration and creativity. The bourbon market needs more collaborations like the one between Russell and McConaughey to stir up and move purists. When it comes to smoking some ribs or brisket, then it makes sense to want some mesquite flavor in your meet. But in your bourbon? Has Wild Turkey lots its collective mind? Not at all. The reality is that there is a significant difference in using mesquite chips to flavor your food and using mesquite charcoal to add some flavor to your bourbon.

When Wild Turkey hired McConaughey [making him the highest paid creative director in the ad industry] they were most likely going to want to get the most out of the arrangement. They not only wanted to bank on McConaughey’s name and have him write and star in their commercials, but they also wanted his help developing a new Wild Turkey expression with his name on it. Enter Longbranch. Wild Turkey has developed and delivered a bourbon that successfully joins its 81 proof release and its classic 101 offering. Longbranch is an easy bourbon to drink, and you’ll notice all the traditional flavors that make Wild Turkey the popular brand it is today. Since that time, Wild Turkey has grown both domestically and internationally, releasing 11 various bourbons and rye whiskeys. These include their 81 and 101 proof offerings, as well as Wild Turkey Rare Breed, and American Honey Liqueur. The Wild Turkey distillery, located in Lawrenceburg, KY, sits at the top of Wild Turkey Hill. This well-known brand produces some of the most iconic bourbon whiskeys ever to exist. When you’re looking for a high-quality bourbon to enjoy on those quiet afternoons when all you want to do is watch the world go by, consider a glass of Wild Turkey’s Longbranch.The glass is etched with only three statements: “Small Batch,” “Aged in American Oak,” and “Expertly Crafted.” It is elegant, simple, and to the point. It gives off the impression that the bottle itself was made specifically for the bourbon contained within. 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. Throughout the next several decades, ownership of the brand would experience ownership changes, distillery changes, and the addition of Russell’s son to the ranks of distillation. Finally, in 2011, a new Wild Turkey Distillery opened its doors on Wild Turkey Hill. This bourbon can be enjoyed neat by those that are more into the “softer” bourbons. I found that it makes for a brilliant mixer and have enjoyed Manhattan’s made with this spirit.

The manufacturer has moved from producing only its 101 proof bourbon to also distributing rye whiskey. This included its first bourbon liqueur to hit the market. Wild Turkey has also extended out its permanent offerings to include Russell’s reserve. We live in a time when people are starting to drink whiskey, and by doing so are considered novice drinkers. As a result, Wild Turkey is doing its part by creating a bourbon that is targeted directly at this demographic. B and B-: Good and above average. The best of the mass market whiskeys fit in this category, as do the bulk of the premium brands. A B- is three stars. Across any industry – from whiskey to fashion, food, music and otherwise – when a celebrity (especially if they’re otherwise an “outsider” to said other industry) lends their name to a brand, results have historically varied greatly. This is especially true in the world of whiskey, and the broader spirits industry for that matter. What can also vary is the celebrity’s level of involvement – a “partnership” may simply be a fame-leveraging or financial tactic, or it can actually include more authentic creative and/or development involvement. In the case of Wild Turkey, it does seem like McConaughey is more intimately involved in its process, collaborating with Russell on Longbranch from ideation through testing and execution. 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 also offers limited edition single-barrel whiskeys, bourbon, and rye at lower proofs, and its always popular Master’s Keep series. The Longbranch collaboration only shows that Wild Turkey is taking the necessary steps to fill any gaps in its portfolio. 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. 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. Palate On their next hunting trip, Mr. Nicholls’ friends requested that he bring his ‘wild turkey whiskey’ along with him, and just like that, a brand was established. In the beginning, the whiskey was made and sold under the Austin Nicholls Co. label, while Wild Turkey was imported from several distilleries, including Ripy Brother’s Distillery. Longbranch is an excellent example of why more collaborations are needed in the current bourbon market. While distilleries continue to pump out the same great products using the same traditional processes, they are doing so at the cost of innovation and creativity in the industry.

Of course, not everyone is going to feel the same about Wild Turkey’s Longbranch offering, so here are a few alternative drinks if you want to explore other options: 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 The honest truth is that it’s difficult to find a reason why anyone wouldn’t want to own a bottle of Longbranch bourbon. It’s smooth, delicious, and offers just the right blends to make this an appealing drink to novice users who are just getting started in the world of bourbon. Wild Turkey carried out an unprecedented act (for their own distillery, not the wider industry) when they produced a bottle that carries a name of someone other than that of the Russells, their recently confirmed dynasty of master distillers. Eddie Russell collaborated with the Wild Turkey brand creative director, movie star Matthew McConaughey, and crafted a new bourbon to continue their mission of reestablishing Wild Turkey as a “barroom name.” The bourbon that resulted of this partnership is Wild Turkey Longbranch.This cookie is set by Rubicon Project to control synchronization of user identification and exchange of user data between various ad services.