The 2026 Wild Turkey Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition 16 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey is the inaugural release in a brand-new, limited-edition annual series honoring the most coveted vintage bottles in Wild Turkey's history. It's the first Wild Turkey series led solely by Associate Master Blender Bruce Russell — third generation of the legendary Russell distilling family — who conceived the project over a decade ago as a tribute to his grandfather Jimmy Russell.
Gold Foil Edition pays direct homage to one of the most beloved "dusty" bourbons among collectors: the original Wild Turkey "Cheesy Gold Foil" bottlings of the 1980s and '90s, era-defining whiskeys born from a glut of older barrels and prized today for their unmatched richness (vintage bottles now fetch upwards of $3,000 at auction). This modern tribute is built from just 50 barrels aged 16 years in Wild Turkey's celebrated Camp Nelson rickhouses, bottled non-chill filtered at a bold 120 proof to recapture that same mature, old-school intensity.
Expect aromas of aged oak, dark caramel, dried cherries, vanilla, and baking spices, opening into a rich, complex palate of toffee, cola, toasted nuts, cinnamon, tobacco, and dark chocolate, balanced by Wild Turkey's signature spice. The finish is long and warming, with lingering notes of leather, brown sugar, charred oak, and sweet spice.
With only 50 barrels produced and select-market allocation, Gold Foil Edition is already proving difficult to find at its $400 suggested retail — reflected in the premium pricing here. For collectors chasing the Cheesy Gold Foil legacy or simply searching for an exceptional aged bourbon, this is a true piece of Wild Turkey history.
Highlights
- Inaugural Release — Austin Nichols Archives Series (2026)
- 16-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- 120 Proof (60% ABV), Non-Chill Filtered
- Only 50 Barrels Produced
- Crafted by Associate Master Blender Bruce Russell
- Tribute to the Legendary "Cheesy Gold Foil" Bottlings of the 1980s-90s
- Highly Collectible, Limited Allocation
Buy the Wild Turkey Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition 16 Year Old Bourbon online and own a piece of Wild Turkey's most legendary era, reimagined for today.
Note: This is a limited edition release — one bottle per customer.