wild turkey

1855-1940

The Birth of Wild Turkey

1855 1893

Wholesale grocer Austin Nichols begins selling wine and spirits. The business would later go on to own and sell Wild Turkey.

The Ripy Brothers’ bourbon represents Kentucky at the World’s Fair in Chicago, Illinois.

1869 1940

The Ripy brothers open their family distillery on Wild Turkey Hill in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

Wild Turkey Bourbon gets its name after a distillery executive shares his bourbon with friends on an annual hunting trip — of course, they were after wild turkey.

2000 – Today The New Vision

2000 2016 1954

Master Distiller Jimmy Russell is inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame.

1954-1995 The Russell Effect

Master Distiller Jimmy Russell joins Wild Turkey. He learns his craft from becomes the third in a line of master distillers for the brand which includes second master distiller, Bill Hughes, and Ernest W. Ripy, son of the original distiller.

Eddie Russell, son of Jimmy Russell, joins Wild Turkey as a relief operator and begins to work his way up the distillery ladder.

2004 2018 1976

Jimmy Russell celebrates his 50th year at the Wild Turkey distillery.

Wild Turkey follows it up with the launch of Kentucky Spirit, a singlebarrel 101-proof bourbon, one of the only single barrel American whiskey offerings of the time.

Wild Turkey introduces the world’s first bourbon liqueur, introducing a broader audience and attracting even more drinkers to the bourbon world. The liqueur would eventually lead to the creation of American Honey.

2010 2020 1981 1995

Eddie Russell is inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame by his father, Jimmy Russell.

Eddie Russell is officially given the title of Master Distiller, then making Jimmy and Eddie the only active father and son duo of bourbon Master Distillers in the world.

Wild Turkey introduces our premium Rare Breed bourbon, one of the first barrel proof bourbons to hit the market.