Dear Friends,

For Wild Turkey, “101??? has always held a special significance. It’s the hallmark Bourbon of the Wild Turkey portfolio, and the whiskey that my father and grandfather have spent their careers perfecting. Fans of our Bourbon have raised many a glass of Wild Turkey 101 to celebrate life’s many milestones, and today marks a milestone that makes me proud to share the Russell name with my father Eddie Russell and my granddad Jimmy Russell (or “Mimmy??? as his grandkids call him). This month – September 10th to be exact – “101??? takes on a new meaning as Jimmy and Eddie celebrate their combined 101 years of Bourbon industry experience – a touching homage to the Bourbon that put dad and Mimmy on the map.

The Russell legacy began in earnest in 1954 when Jimmy set his sights on employment at the Wild Turkey Distillery. Bourbon was already in Mimmy’s blood as a born and bred Kentucky boy with his forefathers before him working in the trade. But, you don’t accumulate 64 years of experience by accident. Many know Mimmy as one of the hardest-working, most passionate, loyal folks in the business. He always says “the day it becomes work, I’ll retire.???

With 37 years under his belt, Mimmy still calls dad “the new guy.??? What was supposed to be a fun summer gig has turned into a career that rivals any other distiller. Since that fated summer in 1981, dad has built a tremendous legacy all his own. This year alone, he’s released three new whiskies that are taking the Bourbon category by storm – Wild Turkey Longbranch, Master’s Keep Revival and Russell’s Reserve 2002. Dad has spent much of the year on the road – traversing a similar path to Mimmy before him but with a few farther flung destinations along the way.

Personally, I’ve enjoyed working with dad on the Private Barrel Program. The distillery is our second home, and it’s an honor to follow in his and Mimmy’s footsteps creating relationships with bartenders, Wild Turkey fans, customers and fellow distillery employees.

101 years can best be summarized by what’s in every bottle of Wild Turkey Bourbon. Conviction to do things the right way. Never cutting corners. Befriending and mentoring fellow distillers. And staying true to your craft.

You’ve been an important part of the extended Wild Turkey family, so please join me in congratulating Mimmy and dad on their incredible journey to 101 years @WildTurkey.

Bruce Russell
National Ambassador
Wild Turkey Distilling Co.

LAWRENCEBURG, KY (JUNE 26, 2018) As Bourbon collectors continue their quest for those hard-to-find whiskey “unicorns,??? Russell’s Reserve® unveils a real Kentucky gem with the release of Russell’s Reserve 2002 – a beautiful vintage hand-selected by Master Distiller Eddie Russell. This marks the first non-chill filtered, barrel proof bourbon from the venerable brand. To find the liquid for the release, this Bourbon Hall of Famer spent years searching through more than half a million barrels for the perfect sequel to the coveted Russell’s Reserve 1998, which received a 94 rating from esteemed publication Whiskey Advocate. A mere 25 barrels were chosen for this endeavor to create a truly sought-after spirit that will be a welcome addition for passionate connoisseurs.

What Eddie found was an exquisite batch distilled in 2002—the year the first-ever camera phone was introduced. While the world explored the wonders of mobile content capture, Eddie laid the barrels to rest in Wild Turkey’s Camp Nelson rickhouses. They sat quietly for 15 long years, aging until they reached peak maturity.

“When I tasted 2002 for the first time, I knew I couldn’t mess with it. It was exactly what I had envisioned, and I wanted Bourbon connoisseurs and collectors to experience the liquid in all its glory,??? said Master Distiller Eddie Russell. “The sweet spot for our Bourbon is normally eight-to-12 years, but every now and then you find a barrel that defies expectations.???

This is the newest in a line of outstanding innovative whiskies created by Eddie Russell. In the past several years, Eddie has released some of the oldest Bourbons to come out of Wild Turkey warehouses, a feat that speaks volumes about his skills as Master Distiller. Eddie, a 37-year industry veteran, has mastered the craft of small-batch Bourbon.

As of late, he has been hunkered down, crafting awarding-winning, innovative and ultra-rare whiskies that have spirits aficionados and bartenders around the world buzzing. This year, Eddie and his legendary, beloved father Master Distiller Jimmy Russell celebrate 101 years of combined experience at the Wild Turkey distillery – a touching homage to the Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon that launched Jimmy’s career more than 60 years ago.

Made from a mingling of whiskies aged 15 years, Russell’s Reserve 2002 is a 114.6 barrel proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It has a nose of stone fruits, pear, citrus, oak and a hint of white pepper. It features notes of grapefruit, white chocolate and gentle spice with a finish that is long and malty with notes of cream, banana and coconut. Bottles will be available in extremely limited quantities in TX, OH, CA, FL, NY, NC, Il, OR, GA, TN, WA, AZ, NV and KY for a suggested retail price of $249.99.

This limited-edition offering joins other sought-after whiskies in the Russell’s Reserve portfolio, including Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Bourbon, Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Rye, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon, and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye.

LAWRENCEBURG, KY (APRIL 10, 2018) –Today, Matthew McConaughey and the legendary Wild Turkey® Distillery are proud to announce the introduction of Wild Turkey Longbranch™, a collaboration between the iconic whiskey brand’s creative director and Master Distiller Eddie Russell. Inspired by McConaughey’s Kentucky and Texas roots, this rare small-batch Kentucky bourbon is refined with Texas Mesquite and oak charcoals – a unique method that deepens the flavor and complexity of the whiskey. This launch marks the first time Wild Turkey has unveiled a product that bears a signature of someone other than the Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell. A video of the creation of Wild Turkey Longbranch with McConaughey can be found here

Wild Turkey Longbranch is the latest collaboration to come from the multi-year partnership with the Academy Award® winning actor. McConaughey, who has served as the brand’s creative director since 2016, has worked behind the camera and in front of it in television commercials to reintroduce the world to Wild Turkey, and this new bourbon is a natural evolution of the partnership. The name is inspired by the friends that form the longest branches of our family trees.

The connections that McConaughey and the Russells have to both the great states of Kentucky and Texas were a major inspiration for this collaboration. McConaughey’s parents met at the University of Kentucky, a mere 15 miles from the Wild Turkey Distillery, while Eddie Russell’s youngest son, Bruce, now lives in McConaughey’s hometown of Austin, Texas.
“Longbranch, in its simplest form, is an extended hand, inviting a friend into your family,??? McConaughey says. “So the branch that was extended to me from the Russells was a long one, one that reached from Kentucky to Texas and back again. I offered the Mesquite from my great state to add to their legendary Kentucky whiskey and together we made Longbranch.???

To create Longbranch’s signature flavor, McConaughey and Russell spent countless hours sharing notes, then, after two years of testing, perfected a proprietary process that combines two separate charcoal filtration methods to give Longbranch a smooth and full finish. The first of the filtration process uses charcoal made from American White Oak and the second uses charcoal made from Texas Mesquite wood, giving the bourbon notes of smoky sweetness.

Made with eight-year-old Wild Turkey Bourbon, Wild Turkey Longbranch is an exceptional bourbon with a bright gold color and aroma that is a balanced blend of vanilla and spices. Flavors of caramel, pear, and hints of citrus round out the palate. The subtle, smoky finish is buttery smooth, with notes of gentle pepper and toasted oak. “When we were creating Wild Turkey Longbranch, we talked at length about how to make a product that represents elements of both Texas and Kentucky,??? said Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell. “Our goal was to make a straight bourbon whiskey with a soft sweetness that was still unmistakably Wild Turkey. The result was a bourbon that we both truly enjoy drinking neat, and look forward to sharing with others.???

“Matthew McConaughey has been ingrained in the Wild Turkey brand as creative director for several years now,??? said Bob Kunze-Concewitz, CEO at Campari Group, owner of Wild Turkey. “As a lover of bourbon, and an integral part of the team, it was a natural next step for Matthew to partner with Eddie to create a new product for Wild Turkey. We are proud of the work they’ve done and have great expectations for this amazing new whiskey.???
Wild Turkey Longbranch will be available on shelves across the US in May for a suggested retail price of $39.99 and will roll-out to additional markets around the world later this year.

LAWRENCEBURG, KY (APRIL 10, 2018) –Today, Matthew McConaughey and the legendary Wild Turkey® Distillery are proud to announce the introduction of Wild Turkey Longbranch™, a collaboration between the iconic whiskey brand’s creative director and Master Distiller Eddie Russell. Inspired by McConaughey’s Kentucky and Texas roots, this rare small-batch Kentucky bourbon is refined with Texas Mesquite and oak charcoals – a unique method that deepens the flavor and complexity of the whiskey. This launch marks the first time Wild Turkey has unveiled a product that bears a signature of someone other than the Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell. A video of the creation of Wild Turkey Longbranch with McConaughey can be found here

Wild Turkey Longbranch is the latest collaboration to come from the multi-year partnership with the Academy Award® winning actor. McConaughey, who has served as the brand’s creative director since 2016, has worked behind the camera and in front of it in television commercials to reintroduce the world to Wild Turkey, and this new bourbon is a natural evolution of the partnership. The name is inspired by the friends that form the longest branches of our family trees.

The connections that McConaughey and the Russells have to both the great states of Kentucky and Texas were a major inspiration for this collaboration. McConaughey’s parents met at the University of Kentucky, a mere 15 miles from the Wild Turkey Distillery, while Eddie Russell’s youngest son, Bruce, now lives in McConaughey’s hometown of Austin, Texas.
“Longbranch, in its simplest form, is an extended hand, inviting a friend into your family,??? McConaughey says. “So the branch that was extended to me from the Russells was a long one, one that reached from Kentucky to Texas and back again. I offered the Mesquite from my great state to add to their legendary Kentucky whiskey and together we made Longbranch.???

To create Longbranch’s signature flavor, McConaughey and Russell spent countless hours sharing notes, then, after two years of testing, perfected a proprietary process that combines two separate charcoal filtration methods to give Longbranch a smooth and full finish. The first of the filtration process uses charcoal made from American White Oak and the second uses charcoal made from Texas Mesquite wood, giving the bourbon notes of smoky sweetness.

Made with eight-year-old Wild Turkey Bourbon, Wild Turkey Longbranch is an exceptional bourbon with a bright gold color and aroma that is a balanced blend of vanilla and spices. Flavors of caramel, pear, and hints of citrus round out the palate. The subtle, smoky finish is buttery smooth, with notes of gentle pepper and toasted oak. “When we were creating Wild Turkey Longbranch, we talked at length about how to make a product that represents elements of both Texas and Kentucky,??? said Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell. “Our goal was to make a straight bourbon whiskey with a soft sweetness that was still unmistakably Wild Turkey. The result was a bourbon that we both truly enjoy drinking neat, and look forward to sharing with others.???

“Matthew McConaughey has been ingrained in the Wild Turkey brand as creative director for several years now,??? said Bob Kunze-Concewitz, CEO at Campari Group, owner of Wild Turkey. “As a lover of bourbon, and an integral part of the team, it was a natural next step for Matthew to partner with Eddie to create a new product for Wild Turkey. We are proud of the work they’ve done and have great expectations for this amazing new whiskey.???
Wild Turkey Longbranch will be available on shelves across the US in May for a suggested retail price of $39.99 and will roll-out to additional markets around the world later this year.