We love getting invited out to dinner, especially when it’s to a dining experience to accompany the release of a new beverage. Wild Turkey unveiled Longbranch in Melbourne last night at an exclusive launch event at Craft & Co, where we were treated to delicious food which was paired with amazing bourbon cocktails served in fancy glasses. The rare, small-batch bourbon is refined with Texas mesquite and oak charcoals for deeper flavor and complexity.
Master Distiller, Eddie Russell flew all the way from Kentucky to host the event and unveil the premium bourbon which was created in collaboration with Matthew McConaughey. Eddie shared stories of his experience of working side-by-side with the Hollywood star, to create the new release.
The Longbranch cocktails included:
Longbranch Old Fashioned (my favourite) – with aniseed myrtle, cassia sugar syrup and fresh native pepper berry leaf which greeted us on arrival.
Longbranch Highball – with soda, pink grapefruit and Shiso leaf.
Longbranch Manhattan – deliciously sweet cocktail with burnt coconut oil infused cynar.
Longbranch, served neat – This has caramel, pear and citrus notes, hints of pepper with toasted oak and s subtle smoky finish.
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 1984 – layers of toffee and honey, spice and fruity notes with a vanilla caramel finish.
Each course of our dinner was meticulously prepared to enhance our experience of each drink. We enjoyed entrees of Scotch quail eggs and bourbon pickle stick, cold smoked cured tuna with avocado, wasabi and chicken wafer. The WA crab and asian salad was refreshing with gilled lime and sesame. For the main, we enjoyed wood fired pinnacle short rib of beef, Burgundy style with new season horseradish. The dessert was a valrohona chocolate mille feuille with spiced poached pear.
It was a fabulous experience, with great conversations with fellow bourbon and whisky connoisseurs. We enjoyed alcohol responsibly and took an Uber home.