Wild Turkey Distilling Co. has raised a glass to master distiller Jimmy Russell, who this month celebrated his 70th anniversary with the distillery. Russell first stepped foot in the distillery on September 10, 1954, and over the following years, his steadfast and sometimes stubborn dedication to making bourbon has cemented Wild Turkey as a world-class brand and helped to drive the success that the bourbon industry enjoys today. To thank him, the team at Wild Turkey marked the milestone with a celebration including the release of Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon.
Russell’s earliest days at the distillery were spent sweeping the floors at age 18. He rose through the ranks to become master distiller. In the 1970s and ’80s when the bourbon industry was close to collapse, Russell stayed the course. Consumers were favoring lighter spirits, but he refused to dilute his bourbon; embracing the pre-prohibition style that he learned from his mentor and predecessor Bill Hughes, Russell “didn’t change a damn thing.” His approach helped propel the popularity of many of the distillery’s classic bourbons, including Wild Turkey 101. That’s why the distillery now celebrates Russell’s milestone and legacy with a commemorative 101-proof bourbon tailored to his taste.
Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon features 8-year-old, 101-proof bourbon, along with an additional blend of 8- to 9-year-old whiskeys.
This bourbon has aromas of oak, honey, cinnamon and tobacco, the distillery reports, with tasting notes of sweet cream, butterscotch and black tea notes that transition to bitter chocolate, dark cherry and burnt sugar. The limited-edition release rolls out this fall for a suggested retail price of US $50 per 750-ml. bottle.
Russell’s list of accomplishments is as long as his career to date. He was one of the first to introduce many innovative whiskeys that are now industry mainstays, including a barrel-proof bourbon with the release of Wild Turkey Rare Breed and a single barrel release with Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit. He was also the first to introduce a honey flavored bourbon liqueur, American Honey. However, he’s most known for perfecting the recipe for Wild Turkey 101, the heart and soul of the Wild Turkey portfolio. Russell was named to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2000 and has been honored with countless titles during his tenure. He was anointed a Kentucky Colonel by three standing Commonwealth of Kentucky Governors, honored with a Resolution by the Kentucky State Assembly and the Governor, and received the key to Lawrenceburg. Russell is also famous for traveling the world with the other titans of the bourbon industry, as they spread the word of bourbon and helped fuel the industry.
Russell has received many accolades throughout the past seven decades, but Wild Turkey wanted to celebrate him in a new way on his 70th anniversary. In addition to creating the limited-edition bourbon, Wild Turkey honored Russell just as many of history’s greatest artists, musicians, athletes and heroes have been immortalized before – by commissioning a portrait of Russell to personify his icon status within American whiskey culture. Photographer Danny Clinch, who has photographed some of the world’s most influential celebrities, rock stars and performers, captured the portrait of Russell in Kentucky.
Fans can learn more about Russell’s legacy and history at the newly renovated Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey Experience in Lawrenceburg, KY.
“In my eyes, I’ve never worked a day in my life. The day I do, I’ll retire,” Russell says. “Until then, I’m going to continue making the bourbon I love.”
This follows the recent release of Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Triumph rye whiskey.
