John is at Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg. The 101 is the workhorse, but the premium pour list — Master’s Keep, Diamond Anniversary, the older Russell’s — is where the visit pays off. The Russell family is American bourbon’s longest active distilling line, and the bottles tell that story.

What is Wild Turkey?

Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, is the home of Jimmy Russell — the longest-tenured Master Distiller in the bourbon industry, hired in 1954 and now in his seventieth-plus year of service — and his son Eddie Russell, also Master Distiller. Bruce Russell, the third generation, is Associate Blender. The brand was named in 1940 by Austin, Nichols & Co. executive Thomas McCarthy; distilling on the site dates to 1869. Campari Group acquired Wild Turkey in 2009.

The flagship Wild Turkey 101 is the workhorse; the premium pour list — Master’s Keep, Diamond Anniversary, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, the older Russell’s Reserve releases — is where the visit pays off. The new visitor center, The Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey Experience, opened in May 2024 as part of a Campari investment exceeding $160 million.