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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Jimmy Russell’s 70th anniversary at Wild Turkey took place on September 10, 2024: the distillery says he began work there on September 10, 1954. To mark the milestone, the company announced a limited-edition, 101-proof, 8-year-old bourbon. The anniversary is a 2024 event, not a new 2026 celebration.
When did Jimmy Russell start at Wild Turkey?
Wild Turkey says Russell first stepped into the distillery on September 10, 1954. The company marked 70 years from that date with an announcement on September 10, 2024. A tribute entered in the Congressional Record by Representative Andy Barr on the same date also recognized the anniversary.
Russell grew up five miles from the distillery and started by sweeping floors, according to Wild Turkey’s biography of Jimmy Russell. He learned the craft from his father and from Wild Turkey predecessors Bill Hughes and Ernest W. Ripy Jr.
When did Russell become Master Distiller?
The Congressional Record tribute specifies 1967 as the year Russell became Master Distiller. Wild Turkey’s biography gives a less precise date, saying he rose to the position in the 1960s. The House tribute says he held the role for nearly half a century and later served as Co-Master Distiller with his son, Eddie Russell.
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Wild Turkey describes Jimmy Russell as the industry’s longest-tenured active Master Distiller, and the Congressional Record uses the same superlative. These are attributions to the company and the congressional tribute, rather than an independently audited world record.
What bourbon marked the 70th anniversary?
Wild Turkey announced the limited-edition Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon on September 10, 2024. The company described it as Russell’s signature eight-year-old whiskey alongside an additional blend of eight- to nine-year-old whiskeys selected from some of his favored rickhouses.
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- Proof: 101
- Age details: 8-year-old bourbon with an additional blend of 8- to 9-year-old whiskeys
- U.S. launch suggested retail price: $50 for a 750 ml bottle, as announced in 2024
- Launch distribution: select global markets beginning in fall 2024, according to the company
The price and distribution details describe the 2024 launch, not current retail pricing or availability. The announcement does not establish whether the bottle is currently in stock or what it may cost today.
Wild Turkey’s tasting description
Wild Turkey described aromas of oak, honey, cinnamon, and tobacco, with tasting notes of sweet cream, butterscotch, black tea, bitter chocolate, dark cherry, and burnt sugar. These are the company’s notes, not an independent tasting assessment.
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What products and legacy does Wild Turkey credit to Russell?
Wild Turkey credits Russell with Rare Breed and Kentucky Spirit and says he co-created Russell’s Reserve. Its anniversary announcement also associates him with American Honey and calls Wild Turkey 101 his best-known recipe. These are the company’s descriptions of his contributions.
In the 2024 announcement, Russell said: “In my eyes, I’ve never worked a day in my life. The day I do, I’ll retire,” followed by, “Until then, I’m going to continue making the bourbon I love.” Bruce Russell, identified by Wild Turkey as Associate Blender and Jimmy’s grandson, called the commemorative bottle a fitting way to mark the milestone and described its selected whiskey blend and 101 proof.
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