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The Story Behind Matthew McConaughey's Wild Turkey Longbranch Whiskey
Writer: TJ Editorial Team
Not just a face on a whiskey bottle, part-time actor, full-time style icon Matthew McConaughey was a creative force behind Wild Turkey’s Longbranch bourbon. The unique collaboration has resulted in a whiskey with a story as intriguing as its flavour.
Made using bourbon aged for eight years, the goal was to craft a drink to reflect McConaughey’s Kentucky and Texas Roots. The name Longbranch was chosen as a tribute to family trees and welcoming gestures.
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A Whiskey to Reflect McConaughey's Roots
Longbranch’s bottle features the signature of Matthew McConaughey alongside that of Master Distiller Eddie Russell – the first time a Wild Turkey bottle has borne the signature of anyone other than the distillers themselves.
In 2016 McConaughey officially joined the Wild Turkey bourbon family as Creative Director, feeling deeply connected to the roots and story of the Russell family. Matthew wanted to be more than just the face of a campaign, and being a whiskey enthusiast himself, he knew there was an opportunity
Tasting Notes
- Nose: The aroma is a balanced blend of vanilla and spices.
- Palate: Flavors of caramel, pear, and hints of citrus round out the palate.
- Finish: The subtle, smoky finish is buttery smooth, with notes of gentle pepper and toasted oak.
- Character: A full-bodied and balanced bourbon, at once fresh, sweet, and smoky, all delivered with a rich and rounded mouth-feel.
Not Just Another Celebrity Gimmick
McConaughey helped Wild Turkey create a whisky that was both mellow and accessible.
“Celebrity brand ambassadors come and go, but McConaughey has been with Wild Turkey in the capacity of creative director for a couple of years now. And it seems like he’s been working to make his own bottle the whole time.”
According to the company, Longbranch had been in the works for most of this period, going through numerous iterations before finally hitting shelves. It wasn’t really a new concept—just a finishing process on the tail end of good whiskey making—and it has roots in another classic American whiskey style from another state: Tennessee.
“Tennessee whiskey is, for all intents and purposes, bourbon. It’s made with 51 percent or more corn, bourbon style. The key difference is the Lincoln County Process: a charcoal filtration. Brands like Dickel and Jack Daniel’s make maple charcoal, and filter their freshly distilled whiskey through the charcoal before it hits the barrel.”
What’s interesting to note here is that Gentleman Jack, one of the smoothest American whiskeys on the market, is actually filtered twice: once before the barrel and once as it leaves the barrel.
Longbranch takes this finishing process and, arguably, improves on it: 8-year-old Wild Turkey Bourbon is filtered through charcoal made from a mixture of white oak (what whiskey barrels are made of) and mesquite wood from Texas.
“The process results in a mellowed whiskey with a hint of smoke. It’s a lovely bourbon (with modifications) that takes the potent potable nature of Wild Turkey and makes it more accessible.”
Simply put, this collaborative effort proves that not everything has to be a palate punisher, rather a rich, smooth and delicious pour.
A Whiskey with a Story
It sounds like that was the intention McConaughey had when they sat down to make a bottle.
In a statement, McConaughey said, “Longbranch, in its simplest form, is an extended hand, inviting a friend into your family. The branch that was extended to me from the Russells was a long one, one that reached from Kentucky to Texas and back again. I offered the Mesquite from my great state to add to their legendary Kentucky whiskey and together we made Longbranch.”
At $40 a bottle, having this on your bar is a gift to your less hardcore friends and family. And on the porch on a summer day, neat, in the afternoon, it sure does taste alright, alright, alright.
So, whether you’re a whiskey connoisseur or just looking for a friendly, approachable bourbon to share with loved ones, Wild Turkey’s Longbranch is a testament to the power of collaboration and the allure of a well-crafted spirit.
The spirit of choice for “The Gentlemen” actor, and maybe it should be yours too…