Wild Turkey 12 year Old Distiller's Reserve is Kentucky Straight Bourbon is developed by Jimmy & Eddie Russel.  

This special release has been carefully selected from the distiller's favorite reserve, barreled at a lower proof and slowly matured to create a bourbon of exceptional quality. With notes of vanilla, rich caramel, hints of spice and a long chocolate orange finish, Wild Turkey 12 Year Old Distiller's Reserve is a showcase of the world renowned craftmanship of Jimmy & Eddie Russel and brilliantly reveals the bold and distinctive character of wild turkey bourbon.

TASTING NOTES

COLOR: Amber with a reddish copper color

AROMA: Vanilla and caramel scent, sweetness with hints of citrus and herbs

FINISH: Spicy, followed by caramel candy

About Jimmy

He learned from the greats and inspired the next generation, but Jimmy Russell’s distinctive and decorated career can’t really be stated so simply. His tireless dedication to the bourbon craft, mastery of time-honored secrets, and widespread contributions to bourbon-making process has not only defined Wild Turkey, it’s helped shape an entire industry.

AWARDS:
2017, Gold Medal - Beverage Tasting Institute

Enjoy the following cocktail recipe:

1 L Wild Turkey 101
20 g cardamom seeds
150 g dried, unsweetened cranberries
3 sticks cinnamon

In a wide-mouthed glass infusion jar, place the Wild lurkey 101 and the cardamom seeds. Close and leave in a cool dark place for 1 day. Strain out cardamom and add the cranberries and cinnamon. Close and leave for another 2 days, agitating once per day. Strain solids and store in the original Wild Turkey bottle with proper labeling.

Wild Turkey Rye is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.

AWARDS:
2017,Gold Medal - Beverage Tasting Institute

Master Distiller Eddie Russell tapped the southern roots and enthusiasm of Matthew McConaughey to help create this small batch bourbon. After a two year development process together, McConaughey knew they finally created what would become Longbranch after tasting the "83rd" sample on a camping trip. The result 8-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon refined with Texas mesquite and American oak charcoals, resulting in smooth, smoky sweetness and deep complexity.

AWARDS:
2020 - Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirit Awards
2019 - Gold, Beverage Testing Institute

Bottle Size: 750ml

Bottle Size: 750ml

Following the end of the American Civil War, the Ripy Brothers returned to their native state of Kentucky and together, opened a distillery on the slopes of a hill in Lawrenceburg. The distillery operated continuously for nearly fifty years until the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale of alcohol in the United States, was ratified. Following the end of Prohibition, the Ripy Brothers Distillery was reopened and a distillery executive named Thomas McCarthy took samples of maturing whiskey from the distillery on a turkey hunt with a group of friends. The next year, his friends asked him to bring "some of that wild turkey whiskey"on their next hunt, giving birth to the distillery's new name. Today, Wild Turkey Distillery is stewarded by Master Distiller Jimmy Russell and his son Eddie Russell (together, the pair have over 90 years of experience producing bourbon). "I was born and raised in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky," says Jimmy, "which was a small community when I was growing up, but there were four bourbon distilleries here, and you had families working all the distilleries. You wanted to get in the business. My grandfather and my father, me, and now my son, we've all been in the business." Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon is crafted using a high-rye mashbill, which gives the bourbon a unique and spicy flavor profile. Once the bourbon has been distilled, it is aged in American oak casks that have been charred with a #4 char. Typically, the degree of charring within a cask is measured on a scale of one to four, with a #1 char referring to casks that have been lightly toasted, and a #4 char referring to casks that have been charred so heavily that the interior resembles an alligator hide. After maturing for six to eight years, Wild Turkey 81 is bottled at 81 proof. The bourbon has a bold aroma of rye, cloves and baking spices that gives way to notes of almonds, honey and blackberries on the palate, which are complemented by a subtle spicy kick. Wild Turkey 81 earned a score of 89 points from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the Silver Medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

Following the end of the American Civil War, the Ripy Brothers returned to their native state of Kentucky and together, opened a distillery on the slopes of a hill in Lawrenceburg. The distillery operated continuously for nearly fifty years until the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale of alcohol in the United States, was ratified. Following the end of Prohibition, the Ripy Brothers Distillery was reopened and a distillery executive named Thomas McCarthy took samples of maturing whiskey from the distillery on a turkey hunt with a group of friends. The next year, his friends asked him to bring "some of that wild turkey whiskey"on their next hunt, giving birth to the distillery's new name. Today, Wild Turkey Distillery is stewarded by Master Distiller Jimmy Russell and his son Eddie Russell (together, the pair have over 90 years of experience producing bourbon). "I was born and raised in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky," says Jimmy, "which was a small community when I was growing up, but there were four bourbon distilleries here, and you had families working all the distilleries. You wanted to get in the business. My grandfather and my father, me, and now my son, we've all been in the business." Wild Turkey American Honey Whiskey shares Wild Turkey Real Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey's high-rye mashbill and patient aging in #4 alligator charred American oak barrels (typically, the degree of charring within a cask is measured on a scale of one to four, with a #1 char referring to casks that have been lightly toasted, and a #4 char referring to casks that have been charred so heavily that the interior resembles an alligator hide). Blended with real, pure honey, Wild Turkey American Honey Whiskey was originally invented by Master Distiller Jimmy Russell three decades ago. Today, it stands the test of time with its pleasant aromas of citrus and vanilla, as well as its thick, honey-coated palate and soft finish filled with butter and caramel. Wild Turkey American Honey earned a score of 91 points from Wine Enthusiast pick up the original honey whiskey today!

A legendary 101 proof straight rye whiskey known for its deep golden amber color and warm, smoky flavor with a rich, balanced aroma of vanilla and spice. Wild Turkey 101 Rye finishes long and spicy and stands up to any mixer and shines through in a classic cocktail like the Old Fashioned.

AWARDS:
2017, Gold Medal - Beverage Tasting Institute

Bottle Size: 1000ml

Enjoy the following cocktail recipe:

1 L Wild Turkey 101
20 g cardamom seeds
150 g dried, unsweetened cranberries
3 sticks cinnamon

In a wide-mouthed glass infusion jar, place the Wild lurkey 101 and the cardamom seeds. Close and leave in a cool dark place for 1 day. Strain out cardamom and add the cranberries and cinnamon. Close and leave for another 2 days, agitating once per day. Strain solids and store in the original Wild Turkey bottle with proper labeling.

MASTER'S KEEP UNFORGOTTEN

A masterful blend of 13-year-old bourbon and 8- and 9-year-old ryes, finished in rye casks

HOW WE MAKE OUR MASTER’S KEEP UNFORGOTTEN

The idea of marrying the straight bourbon and rye whiskies of Wild Turkey Distilling Co. was born in 2010 when a crew member accidentally mixed a batch of young rye with a barrel of mature bourbon. Over a decade later, Master Distiller Eddie Russell has leveraged his years of distillation experience to craft Master’s Keep Unforgotten, a high proof, extra-aged variation of the harmonious blend of straight bourbon and rye whiskies, this time finished in rye casks for a secondary aging period in the pre-prohibition Rickhouse B – the favorite rickhouse of Eddie’s father, Master Distiller Jimmy Russell.

TASTING NOTES

TASTE: Caramel, and sweet oak, complemented by flavors of dried fruit and honey

AROMA: Fruit-forward with notes of caramel and oak

FINISH: Black pepper and warm baking spices

PROCESS: 105 proof, 13-year-old bourbon blended with 8- & 9-year-old rye, finished in rye casks

Bottle Size: 750ml

Following the end of the American Civil War, the Ripy Brothers returned to their native state of Kentucky and together, opened a distillery on the slopes of a hill in Lawrenceburg. The distillery operated continuously for nearly fifty years until the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale of alcohol in the United States, was ratified. Following the end of Prohibition, the Ripy Brothers Distillery was reopened and a distillery executive named Thomas McCarthy took samples of maturing whiskey from the distillery on a turkey hunt with a group of friends. The next year, his friends asked him to bring "some of that wild turkey whiskey" on their next hunt, giving birth to the distillery's new name. Today, Wild Turkey Distillery is stewarded by Master Distiller Jimmy Russell and his son Eddie Russell (together, the pair have over 90 years of experience producing bourbon). "I was born and raised in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky," says Jimmy, "which was a small community when I was growing up, but there were four bourbon distilleries here, and you had families working all the distilleries. You wanted to get in the business. My grandfather and my father, me, and now my son, we've all been in the business." Wild Turkey Master's Keep series explores the premium end of American whiskey. Master's Keep 17 Year Old Bottled in Bond holds a special place in their lineup as the oldest whiskey they have on offer. Only the second expression with the bottled-in-bond designation from the producer, this 100-proof whiskey was hand-selected by Master Distiller Eddie Russell in order to create a truly big and bold expression. "We took the historic process and protocol of aging for four years to the next level and allowed the liquid to rest for 17 years. We aged and perfected this rare, 17-year-old bourbon in Wild Turkey's Camp Nelson rickhouses," says Russell. 

Maker Notes

HOW WE MAKE OUR AMERICAN HONEY STING

We took a smooth blend of pure honey and Kentucky Straight Bourbon and added just a hint of ghost pepper to craft our hottest Honey yet—American Honey Sting. At 71 proof its got more flavor, and more ghost pepper spice that’s 400 times hotter than your usual, tame hot sauce. It’s all followed by that unmistakable smoothness of real honey to keep you thirsty for more.

TASTING NOTES

TASTE: 71 proof, blended with real honey and ghost pepper

AROMA: Smooth with a sting

FINISH: Sweet & spicy

PROCESS: Real honey & chilis

The Wild Turkey distillery, then known as Boulevard, was built in 1935 by the Ripy Brothers in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The Wild Turkey brand name originated around 1941 when some, shared on a hunting trip, was referred to as "some of that wild turkey whiskey." It is distilled at bottled by the Austin Nicholls company and for many years they had sourced the whiskey from the Ripy's, but eventually bought the distillery from them in 1972, renaming it in the process. Of almost equal importance, the purchase of the distillery included the contract of legendary master distillery, Jimmy Russell, who started working there in 1954. His name is synonymous with the brand, and his son succeeded him 2015. In 2011 a new Wild Turkey distillery was built on the same site, replacing the original Ripy plant after 76 years.

Barrelled at a lower proof and stored in lower, cooler warehouse B to allow a slower maturation. 

Master’s Keep Voyage is a 106-proof expression of 10-year-old bourbon finished with a secondary maturation period in Jamaican rum casks, marking the first rum cask finish in Wild Turkey’s history. Crafted by Master Distiller Eddie Russell in partnership with Dr. Joy Spence, the renowned Master Blender of Appleton Estate rum, Voyage reflects over 80 combined years of experience in crafting exceptional spirits. This one-of-a-kind Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey draws inspiration from the lush isle of Jamaica and showcases the expertise of two masters of their craft.
The aim with Master’s Keep Voyage was to create a unique spirit that captured the hallmarks of both bourbon and rum-making. To do so Dr. Joy Spence hand selected some of the finest casks from the iconic Jamaican rum house – casks which previously held 14-year-old pot still rum and would best complement the bold top notes and rich caramel undertones of Wild Turkey’s extra-aged bourbons. The casks were then brought to the Wild Turkey Distilling Co. in Lawrenceburg, KY, where they were filled with Eddie Russell’s own hand selected batch of 10-year-old bourbon, which had been aged in Wild Turkey’s classic No. 4 char barrels. After finishing in the Kentucky heat of a timber rickhouse, the result is a tropically influenced American icon, bursting with a palate of fruits, caramel and aged oak, and a warm, long-lasting finish of chocolate and spice.

TASTING NOTES

AROMA: Notes of vanilla, oak, and fruit give way to molasses, rum cake, and allspice

PALATE: Sweet and creamy with notes of tropical and dried fruit, caramel and aged oak

FINISH: A warm and long-lasting finish with chocolate, fruit and spice

PROCESS: 106 proof, Jamaican rum cask finished 10-year old bourbon

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, with an additional blend of 8- to 9-year-old whiskeys, 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.

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