Wild Turkey Celebrates Master Distiller Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary With the Brand With a Bourbon ‘Crafted Just the Way He Likes It’
(Photo: Danny Clinch/Wild Turkey)
On Tuesday, Wild Turkey Distilling Co. unveiled a special bourbon released to celebrate Master Distiller Jimmy Russell’s 70th anniversary with Wild Turkey.
According to Wild Turkey, Sept. 10, 1954 was the first day Russell stepped foot in the Wild Turkey Distillery. Since then, he’s become a true icon of the whiskey industry. The milestone bottling is named Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon, and according to Wild Turkey, the bourbon is “crafted just the way he likes it.”
According to Wild Turkey, Russell started out sweeping the floors as an 18-year-old at Wild Turkey. The brand attributes Russell’s success in the decades since to his commitment to making bourbon “the right way” even when that wasn’t popular. During his long tenure, Russell has introduced many expressions that went on to become extremely popular: Wild Turkey 101, Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit and Wild Turkey American Honey.
Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon is bottled at 101 proof, an homage to the popular Wild Turkey 101, which the brand says is Russell’s favorite.
(Photo: Wild Turkey)
Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon is a blend of an 8-year-old bourbon described as “Jimmy’s signature” bourbon, along with a blend of 8- to 9-year-old whiskeys that were selected from some of Russell’s favorite rickhouses. The bourbon is bottled at 101 proof.
“While it’s hard to put Jimmy’s impact on the bourbon industry into words, I can’t think of a more fitting way to mark this milestone than with Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon,” Wild Turkey Associate Blender and Jimmy’s grandson, Bruce Russell, said in a news release. “We chose a special blend of choice whiskies from a few of his favorite rickhouses, and at 101 proof, it’s meant to be just what he loves most about bourbon. We can’t wait for fans around the world to enjoy it, and in the words of Granddad himself – if you don’t like it, he’ll drink it.”
The limited-edition release will hit shelves this fall in select global markets. It has a suggested retail price of $50 per 750-milliliter bottle.
Russell was inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2000, anointed a Kentucky Colonel by three standing Kentucky governors, honored with a Resolution by the Kentucky State Assembly and the Governor, and given the key to the city of Lawrenceburg, where the Wild Turkey distillery is located.
Wild Turkey fans can learn more about Russell at the recently renovated Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey Experience in Lawrenceburg, which reopened in spring 2024.
“In my eyes, I’ve never worked a day in my life. The day I do, I’ll retire,” Russell said. “Until then, I’m going to continue making the bourbon I love.”
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