Buddha of Bourbon says new Wild Turkey release ‘is going in my hall of fame’

Next week, turkey season begins for bourbon lovers: Wild Turkey season, that is.

The Lawrenceburg distillery announced a new release, Wild Turkey Generations, that marks the first time venerated distiller Jimmy Russell, his son Eddie and grandson Bruce have collaborated on a single whiskey.

Generations is a blend of 9-, 12-, 14- and 15-year-old bourbons selected by the Russells for a once-in-a-lifetime whiskey, according to a news release.

Master distiller Jimmy Russell, 80, has been at Wild Turkey for almost 70 years and is known as the Buddha of Bourbon.

In 2015, his youngest son, Eddie, was also given the title master distiller by Wild Turkey. Now, Eddie’s son Bruce Russell has been appointed associated blender.

“I’ve made some great whiskeys throughout my career, and Generations is going in my hall of fame,” Jimmy Russell said in the release. “The experience of working with my son and grandson to create a blend that celebrates our family and tradition has been a highlight of my career.”

“From the moment Jimmy, Bruce and I started talking about Generations, I knew we had something incredibly special on our hands,” Eddie Russell said. “Not only am I proud of the rich, intricate whiskey that we created, but I’m honored to have worked alongside my son for his first release as associate blender. Seeing his name etched into the bottle next to ours will forever bring me back to the memories we shared when creating this rare release.”

What does Wild Turkey Generations taste like, cost?

Wild Turkey Generations is 120.8 proof, with a suggested retail price of $450. According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of oak and vanilla, followed by floral ans spice notes with hints of baked apple, toffee and cloves. On the palate, it has notes of vanilla, caramel and dark cherry, with a finish of dark fruit and baking spice and lingering notes of sweet toffee and oak.

Where to buy Wild Turkey Generations Kentucky bourbon

Only about 5,000 bottles of the bourbon they created together will be released to buy, starting the first week of November. It will be available at select retailer stores nationwide. Wild Turkey fans in the U.S. will have exclusive access to a limited online pre-sale by signing up for the distillery newsletter online at wildturkeybourbon.com.

Wild Turkey is owned by Italian spirits company Campari, which also owns Wilderness Trail Distillery in Danville.

This story was originally published November 1, 2023 at 7:00 AM.

Janet Patton

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-379-5233

Janet Patton covers restaurants, bars, food and bourbon for the Herald-Leader. She is an award-winning business reporter who also has covered agriculture, gambling, horses and hemp. Support my work with a digital subscription