Jimmy Russell

"The Budda of Bourbon"

On September 10, 1954 a legacy was born at the distillery that would become known as Wild Turkey.  After his wife Joretta introduced him to Master Distiller Bill Hughes James C. “Jimmy” Russell started his employment sweeping the floors at the distillery not five miles from where he grew up in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Jimmy would learn the art of distilling bourbon from Hughes and Earnest Ripy, Jr.  During his early years at the distillery Jimmy would learn there are no details too small in making a great American spirit.

After only six years, Russell earned the title of distiller.  In 1967 Jimmy was named the third Master Distiller at the distillery that would come to be known as Wild Turkey.  Although originally introduced in 1942, Jimmy began refining Wild Turkey 101 in 1971, with Austin Nichols purchase of the JTS Brown Distillery, making it the distillery’s flagship product and a bourbon icon. In 1976 as an effort to pacify the some of the distillery’s ladies’ requests, Wild Turkey releases its “Wild Turkey Liqueur with Honey,” the world’s first Flavored whiskey. This brand has become Wild Turkey's American Honey and one that Jimmy hopes he is not remembered for creating.

Jimmy Russell has always been dedicated to creating quality bourbon during his time as Master Distiller. As he says, “We’re still doing it the old-fashioned way with good water, good grains, and good barrels.  In 1991 he would use those ways to create a premium barrel-proof offering and introduced Wild Turkey Rare Breed.  1994 Russell created Kentucky Spirit, Wild Turkey’s first single barrel bourbon, and only second on the market to Blanton’s. Jimmy literally put the Russell name on a premium line of bourbon working with his son, Eddie, to create Russell’s Reserve.  2017 saw Russell’s most recent premium bourbon line with the introduction of Master’s Keep.

During his time as Master Distiller with Wild Turkey, Russell has received many accolades.  These include being elected to the inaugural class of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association Bourbon Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2014 Russell was made a lifetime honorary member as a Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s Board of Director, an honor that made him only the fifth person to be granted this distinction.  In 2016 Jimmy received The Kentucky Distillers’ Association Parker Beam Lifetime Achievement Award for his work and representation for the bourbon community as a global ambassador.  These accolades reflect Jimmy Russell's enduring legacy and his profound influence on the bourbon industry over the past seven decades.

Contributed by: Dustin Bowman, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky