Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell's 70th Anniversary 101 Proof 8 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)

"Outstanding... Perfection at 8 years... If there were a single bourbon to best represent Wild Turkey’s signature flavor it would be this bottle." - rarebird101.com

Wild Turkey's latest collector-worthy bourbon celebrates Master Distiller, Jimmy Russell's 70th anniversary at the distillery. The whiskey is an 8 year old with an additional blend of 8 to 9 year old bourbons, hand-selected from a few of Jimmy’s favourite Rickhouses. The bolder, higher-proof expression is one he's always preferred. When many began favouring lighter spirits, Jimmy refused to dilute his bourbon or change the distilling process, embracing a style that he learned from his predecessor, Bill Hughes. That staunch approach helped propel the popularity of many of the distillery’s classics, including Jimmy’s favourite, Wild Turkey 101, proving that a bold Kentucky bourbon would always have a place behind the bar.

Wild Turkey was known as Anderson County Distilling Co. when Jimmy started work. It would soon change its name to J.T.S. Brown & Sons. From his earliest days spent sweeping the floors as an 18 year old rookie, Jimmy moved from job to job as seen fit by his mentor, the pre-prohibition distiller Bill Hughes. Through changes in ownership and shifts in the market, Jimmy rose through the ranks to finally become Master Distiller in 1967. Four years later a company from New York named Austin, Nichols & Co. (a subsidiary of Liggett Myers Tobacco. Co.) purchased the J.T.S. Brown & Sons Distillery to produce their flagship Wild Turkey Bourbon exclusively. The new management kept Jimmy in charge and the rest, as they say, is history. Seventy years working at the same business is an extraordinary accomplishment in anyone's book. It would take a dedicated biography to cover it. "In my eyes, I've never worked a day in my life. The day I do, I'll retire," jokes Jimmy. "Until then, I'm going to continue making the bourbon I love."

Other reviews... This year, master distiller Jimmy Russell celebrated his 70th year at Wild Turkey, a remarkable milestone by any stretch of the imagination (and even more so considering that he still shows up to work most days of the week). In honor of this watershed year, Jimmy’s son Eddie and grandson Bruce created a celebratory bourbon. The nose is chock-full of fresh cherries, cappuccino, vanilla cream, butterscotch, and leather. Baking spice bubbles over on the palate, backed up by toasted coconut and salted caramel, and a lick of bright citrus. Vanilla buttercream, Mounds bar, and black currant end this celebration on a high note. 94 points - whiskyadvocate.com

Outstanding. Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary Release is perfection at eight years. It’s everything it should be and nothing it shouldn’t. If there were a single bourbon to best represent Wild Turkey’s signature flavor it would be this bottle.  - rarebird101.com

Notes from the producers... 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.