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Whisky is a passion to explore. From the history of the spirit to the evolution of the industry, the story of whisky helps fuel that passion. Often, it’s easy to forget that whisky is also a global multibillion dollar industry. The stories of whisky — from news and new releases to in-depth inquires and what goes on behind the label — blend together to help us appreciate the spirit of whisky.
Wild Turkey: To Err Is Human, To Forgive(n) Divine
August 19, 2013 – Mistakes don’t happen very often in the whisky business, but as with anything involving humans, the occasional error takes place.
That’s the official story behind a new limited-edition release from Wild Turkey. Forgiven wasn’t created by Jimmy and Eddie Russell in their blending lab, but by workers at the distillery who accidentally vatted together high-proof 4-year-old Rye whiskey with casks of 6-year-old Bourbon. Eddie Russell, Wild Turkey’s Associate Master Distiller, said in a news release that the final blend of 78% Bourbon and 22% Rye turned out to be a good combination.
“Much to the distillery team’s relief, Forgiven highlights the best of both worlds to create a one-of-a-kind taste that will appeal to both Bourbon and Rye aficionados. I was mad when I first discovered our crew’s mistake, but once I tasted it, all was Forgiven.”
It’s not known how much whisky was involved in the mixup, but there was apparently enough to produce around 38,000 bottles at 45.5% ABV. Wild Turkey Forgiven will be available in the U.S. at a recommended retail price of $49.99.
A similar mixup has only been admitted publicly once in recent years. In 2006, a mistake at Glenmorangie’s bottling plant in Scotland resulted in casks of older Ardbeg single malt being dumped into a tank that also contained Glen Moray single malt distilled in 1992. Rather than dump the entire tank, the whisky was bottled as Serendipity and labeled as a blended malt.
Links: Wild Turkey
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