The Master Distiller is the beating heart of the distillery. From overseeing production to ensuring final quality, their guidance and experience are critical to success. This day-in-the-life look at Wild Turkey explores the skills and responsibilities of the Master Distiller—and introduce you to the remarkable Russell family.
WHAT IS A MASTER DISTILLER?
Around the world, Master Distillers are highly skilled and knowledgeable producers of whiskey (or whisky, depending on their location). In Kentucky, that means crafting the finest Kentucky bourbon and rye whiskeys. Often seen as guardians of American distilling tradition, Master Distillers are responsible for crafting, blending, and ensuring the quality of every bottle. It’s a job not to be taken lightly, and one doesn’t just become a Master Distiller. It’s a position that’s earned through hard work and the gathering of knowledge over many years. At Wild Turkey, we’re lucky to have two of the best in the business: Jimmy and Eddie Russell—a father and son team who have both attained Master Distiller status.
THE ROLE OF THE MASTER DISTILLER IN PRODUCING FINE BOURBON AND WHISKEY
The Master Distiller is the driving force in any distillery. Everything begins and ends with them. While they might not physically adjust every valve or roll every barrel, it is their hand that steers the ship. Here’s a look at their daily routine:
A MASTER DISTILLER’S RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Quality control: every day is different, so tasting spirit and analyzing for consistency is a daily occurrence
2. Recipe development: everything from grain selection and mash bill percentages to water quality and yeast production is overseen by the Master Distiller
3. Fermentation and distillation: both elements are critical and absolute care must be taken with temperatures and timings to achieve the desired alcohol percentage and flavor
4. Barrel aging: barrel selection, rickhouse position, and the length of aging are all determined by the Master Distiller
5. Blending and bottling: blending is a crucial part of bourbon production, and it takes a skilled hand and palate. The Master Distiller must approve every batch before bottling
6. Public relations: the Master Distiller is often the face of the distillery, and many engage with the public and host tastings and educational sessions
THE IMPACT OF A MASTER DISTILLER ON WILD TURKEY
Wild Turkey is a brand known for producing world-class whiskey, and much of that is thanks to Jimmy and Eddie Russell. They are the heart and soul of the distillery, and every bottle produced must meet their exacting standards.
Between them, Jimmy and Eddie have over a century of experience, dedication, and skillThe Russell Legacy: Jimmy, Eddie and Bruce.
The legacy of the Russell family is etched into whiskey history. It’s a story that began with Jimmy Russell’s fist shift at the distillery in 1954—he celebrated his 70th anniversary at Wild Turkey in 2024. Since the 1960s, Jimmy has been Master Distiller and is a Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame member, a Whiskey Hall of Fame member, and a lifetime honorary member of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association—an impressive resumé, for sure. Eddie Russell joined his father at the distillery in 1981 and committed himself to decades of honing his own skills. He himself was elevated to the rank of Master Distiller in 2015, alongside Jimmy. Together, they have shaped America’s whiskey culture.
As Eddie says: “Jimmy is a legend for a reason, and it’s been an honor to work alongside him all these years. Jimmy and the distillers in his generation tended to focus on their signature offering, and with more consumer interest than ever before, I’ve focused on expanding our portfolio of whiskeys, finding new flavor profiles and unique offerings to continue to invite new fans into the Russell’s Reserve and Wild Turkey families. It’s been an amazing adventure working together to broaden our portfolio of whiskeys and see folks get excited as we continue to introduce new whiskies, whether that’s through finish, age statement, etc.”
Eddie’s son Bruce Russell is the third-generation whiskey maker at Russell’s Reserve and grew up around the distillery in Lawrenceburg. He joined the distillery team in 2010, initially as a tour guide, and then became an apprentice in 2014, absorbing the generations of knowledge in making whiskey from his father and grandfather. Bruce is now a Blender at Wild Turkey and committed to taking the family legacy and spirit of the distillery forward.
“I get along really well with my dad and granddad,” Bruce Russell says. “They’re the reason why I’m in the industry. They’re both really quiet at home. They’re pretty tough, stern guys. The best part of this job is that it’s allowed me to get to know them in a way that I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
He continues: “A thing that they’ve both instilled in me is: don’t do something unless you truly believe in it. Don’t let them put your name on a bottle unless you drink the product yourself. They want me to be myself and put stuff out that I’m proud of – as long as it’s still got that core Wild Turkey DNA.”
Discover the Wild Turkey collection here