OUR MASTER DISTILLERS
JIMMY RUSSELL
Some call him, “the Buddha of Bourbon.” He calls himself, “Plain old Jimmy from Kentucky.” Everyone calls him the longest-tenured active Master Distiller in the world.
EDDIE RUSSELL
Only bold vision can fill big shoes. Son of Master Distiller Jimmy, Eddie rose the ranks just like his father, joining him as a Master Distiller in 2015.
OUR CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Matthew McConaughey
It’s one thing to be the celebrity face of a brand. But when you’re truly inspired, you’ll roll up your sleeves and become a creative driving force for it.
OUR HISTORY
Discover how a rich past ushers in a bold future.
1855
Austin Nichols starts selling wine and spirits as a wholesale grocer. The business he starts would later own Wild Turkey.
1869
The Ripy brothers open their family distillery on Wild Turkey Hill in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.
1893
The Ripy Brothers’ bourbon represents Kentucky at the World’s Fair in Chicago, Illinois.
1940
Wild Turkey Bourbon gets its name after a distillery executive shares his bourbon with friends on an annual hunting trip — of course, they were after wild turkey.
1954
Master Distiller Jimmy Russell joins Wild Turkey. He’s the third in a line of distillers and learned his craft from Wild Turkey’s second master distiller, Bill Hughes, and Ernest W. Ripy, son of the original distiller.
1976
Wild Turkey introduces the world’s first bourbon liqueur as a way to attract even more people into the bourbon world, which eventually led to the creation of Wild Turkey’s American Honey.
1981
Eddie Russell, son of Jimmy Russell, joins Wild Turkey as a relief operator and begins to work his way up the ladder.
1991
Wild Turkey introduces our premium Rare Breed, one of the first barrel proof bourbons to go to market.
1995
Kentucky Spirit, a single-barrel (one of the world’s firsts), 101-proof bourbon, is released.
2000
Master Distiller Jimmy Russell is inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame.
2004
Jimmy Russell celebrates his 50th year at the Wild Turkey distillery.
2010
Eddie Russell is inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame by his father, Jimmy Russell.
2015
Eddie Russell is officially given the title of master distiller, making Jimmy and Eddie the only active father and son duo of bourbon master distillers in the world.
2016
Matthew McConaughey joins Wild Turkey as Creative Director.
2018
Wild Turkey introduces Longbranch, a small-batch bourbon refined with Texas Mesquite and American Oak charcoals, and the first co-creation by Master Distiller Eddie Russell and Creative Director Matthew McConaughey.
2020
Wild Turkey introduces Rare Breed Rye, our premium quality barrel proof rye
