Commemorative bourbon release honoring Master Distiller Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary with Wild Turkey making him the longest-tenured spirits Master Distiller in the world.

To honor Jimmy’s incredible impact on the bourbon world, Wild Turkey is proud to present the limited-edition Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th. Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon. This collector-worthy release is an 8-Year-Old, 101-proof bourbon, hand-selected from a few of Jimmy’s favorite Rickhouses. Best enjoyed neat or over ice, this bourbon is a true tribute to Jimmy’s legacy.

From his earliest days at the distillery sweeping the floors at age 18 to rising through the ranks to become Master Distiller, Jimmy has remained committed to crafting bourbon one way, the right way, even when it wasn’t popular. In the 1970’s and 80’s when the bourbon industry was close to collapse, Jimmy stayed the course. 

When many began favoring lighter spirits, Jimmy refused to dilute his bourbon or change the distilling process at all. Embracing the pre-prohibition style that he learned from his mentor and predecessor Bill Hughes, Jimmy “didn’t change a damn thing.” This approach helped propel the popularity of many of the distillery’s classic bourbons, including Jimmy’s favorite, Wild Turkey 101. He knew bold Kentucky bourbon would always have a place on the bar, a legacy that endures today.

TASTING NOTES

Best served neat or over ice, the bourbon offers rich aromas of oak, honey, cinnamon, and tobacco and a palate marked by sweet cream, butterscotch and black tea notes that transition to bitter chocolate, dark cherry and burnt sugar.

Aroma: Vanilla, oak, and honey with notes of cinnamon, brown sugar, tobacco, and orange peel

Taste: Sweet cream, vanilla, butterscotch, stone fruit (dates), pecans, and black tea

Finish: Warming with notes of caramel, dark cherry with a long lingering finish of oak, burnt sugar, and bitter chocolate

Process: 101 proof, 8-Year-Old bourbon with additional blend of 8-9YO whiskeys from Jimmy’s favorite rickhouses