‘We Now Have Something for Everybody’: Bruce Russell Talks Wild Turkey 101 8 Year Old Bourbon’s Stateside Release

After years abroad, Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon is finally coming home.

The age-stated bourbon, long beloved by overseas markets like Japan and Australia, has earned a cult following among collectors and whiskey enthusiasts. But starting this spring, U.S. drinkers will have the chance to buy it alongside the classic Wild Turkey 101 — and not as a limited-time release, but as a permanent fixture in the Wild Turkey lineup.

“It’s coming to the U.S. because there’s a market for it,” Wild Turkey Associate Master Blender Bruce Russell said. “We have the liquid to do it.”

Why Now? A Shift in Consumer Taste

While many bourbon fans have clamored for its stateside release, Russell made it clear that the return of Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old was driven by more than nostalgia.

“I wish it would have stayed here forever, too,” he said. “The U.S. consumer just wasn’t into our premium products; that’s not where American whiskey was at the time.”

That tide has shifted. The growing domestic appetite for age-stated and premium pours paved the way for the comeback.

Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon vs. Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary: What’s the Difference?

“We heard everybody loud and clear,” Russell said, referencing the consumer response to Wild Turkey’s limited-edition Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary bottle in 2024 — also an 8-year-old, 101-proof blend. “People proved to us by word of mouth, by talking online, by reviews and also with their wallets … that they went crazy for an age-stated $45 product. And once we saw that fanfare, we were able to talk with the powers that be and everybody was on board and like: It’s the time. It’s the right time to bring back out the 8 -Year-Old 101.”

Russell emphasized that Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon has a significantly different profile than the 70th anniversary release, which was blended specifically to satisfy the palate of Jimmy Russell, Wild Turkey master distiller and Bruce’s grandfather.

“[Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old] is not the 70th, and I want people to know that,” he said. “If you’re looking for the 70th flavor profile, find the little middle-of-nowhere liquor store and buy some more 70th, because that’s not what this is. 70th is 101-plus. This 8-Year-Old is different. It’s richer, it’s darker, it’s got more fruit going on.”

@bottleraiders What’s the difference between Wild Turkey 101 8 Year Old and Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary? 🤔 Bruce Russell explains! 🥃 #whiskey #bourbon #wildturkey ♬ original sound – Bottle Raiders

While many think of 101 8-Year-Old as an older version of the classic Wild Turkey 101, Russell views it more as a younger version of Wild Turkey 101 12 Year Old — which is still an export-only release.

Russell says the classic Wild Turkey 101 remains his go-to bourbon for cocktails. The 8-year-old, on the other hand, is his new favorite for sipping neat. He noted a shift in flavor dynamics compared to the original: “101’s a little punchy up front. It’s got a lot of that spice, a lot of that heat. … The 8-Year-Old really builds up that flavor, it builds up that heat. It’s really chewy on the back end.”

Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon is bottled at 101 proof and has a suggested retail price of $45.

“We now have something for everybody,” he said. “If you want that awesome bang-for-your-buck, $25 product … you’ve got 101 ready there for you. But now this 8-Year-Old is a step above and a different flavor profile.”

Looking Ahead: Could 12-Year-Old Be Next?

Could Russell’s Reserve 101 12 Year Old return to the U.S. in the future?

@bottleraiders What’s next for Wild Turkey following the US release of 101 8 Year Old? Feat. Bruce Russell #WildTurkey #Bourbon #Whiskey ♬ original sound – Bottle Raiders

“Never say never,” Russell said when asked. “When we say: ‘It’s not happening’, what we mean is it’s not happening in the near future. So, right now there are no plans to bring back 12 101, but again, I won’t say it’ll never happen.

“Because let’s say this 8-Year-Old 101 goes nuts — which I think it will; I think people are going to go crazy for this — that might tell the parent company that there’s room for more 101 expressions. We don’t have the liquid currently to do enough 12 to satisfy the market, but I don’t want to say never.”

What Does Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon Taste Like?

@bottleraiders Tasting Wild Turkey 101 8 Year Old with Bruce Russell! #WildTurkey #Bourbon #Whiskey #whiskeyreviewer ♬ original sound – Bottle Raiders

Russell has already made room on his bar cart for the new-to-America bottle.

“An 8-year-old product at $45? It’s going to be my daily sipper,” he said. “This is going to take over probably Rare Breed as my daily drinker, because I’ve got a similarly aged product, so I know it’s high quality, but I don’t have to sit there and sip all day on 116 proof. … I don’t get to drink perfect whiskey all day every day, and so I’ll take pretty damn close to perfect in 8-Year-Old.”

Russell notes a darker profile on the 8-year compared to the regular 101: “It’s going from those citrus fruits, maybe cherry [on 101] to medicinal cherry, dark fruit. … You’re definitely getting a dessert sweetness.”

“The finish on this is nuts,” he added. “It’s got this kind of candy sweetness on the back end that really sets it apart.”

With its deep roots in Wild Turkey’s legacy and a profile tailored for today’s bourbon fans, the return of Wild Turkey 101 8-Year-Old Bourbon is more than just a nod to the past — it’s a confident step into the future. For longtime fans and curious newcomers alike, this bottle offers something rare in the American whiskey world: an age-stated, well-proofed product will hopefully be easily accessible at a good price.