Jimmy Russell

"The Buddha of Bourbon"

On September 10, 1954, a professional legacy was born at the distillery that would become 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 glean the art of distilling bourbon from whiskey legends Hughes and Earnest Ripy, Jr. During his early years at the distillery, Jimmy would learn that 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 some of the distillery’s ladies’ requests, Wild Turkey released its “Wild Turkey Liqueur with Honey,” the world’s first Flavored whiskey. This spirit came to be known as ‘American Honey’ and, despite its popularity and success, is one that whiskey purist Jimmy is slightly embarrassed by, and hopes he is not remembered for creating.

Jimmy Russell has always been dedicated to creating quality bourbon during his time as Master Distiller. Remarked Jimmy, “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 to introduce Wild Turkey's ‘Rare Breed’.  In 1994, Russell then created ‘Kentucky Spirit’, Wild Turkey’s first single barrel bourbon, and only second on the premium market to Blanton’s. Jimmy then literally put the Russell name on a premium line of bourbon, working with his son, Eddie, in 2015, 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 of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s Board of Directors, an honor that made him one of five persons 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.

Jimmy Russell, now 89 years old and well into his 70th year at Wild Turkey, is usually found at the distillery on the weekends signing autographs and greeting well-wishers, often with Joretta.

Contributed by: Dustin Bowman, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky