Jimmy Russell honoured by Kentucky Distillers
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) has awarded Wild Turkey master distiller Jimmy Russell with a Lifetime Honorary Membership of its board of directors as he celebrates his 60-year tenure.
Jimmy Russell, master distiller for Wild Turkey, has been awarded lifetime membership at the Kentucky Distillers’ AssociationRussell, the longest-serving active master distiller in the US and member of the Bourbon Hall of Fame, celebrates 60 years working with the Wild Turkey Kentucky distillery this year.
To mark his achievement, the KDA has awarded him with an honorary membership previously only five other individuals in the organisation’s 134-year history, the most recent of whom was Bill Samuels Jr., of Maker’s Mark.
“If there was a Mount Rushmore of Bourbon, Jimmy would be one of the first faces on it,” said Eric Gregory, president of the KDA. “He’s a true entrepreneur and has dedicated his life to making Wild Turkey his way – with passion, dedication and enormous respect for the craft.
“We are proud today that he joins this elite group as a Lifetime Honorary Member and we welcome his continued service to the KDA, to our signature industry and to our great Commonwealth.”
To mark his 60-year anniversary with the company, Wild Turkey plans to launch a series of events this year, in what it’s calling “the year of Jimmy Russell”.
As part of the celebrations, the distillery has released Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary – a limited edition mingling of 13-year-old and 16-year-old whiskies hand-selected by Jimmy Russell’s son, Eddie.
Having started work at the Lawrenceburg-based Wild Turkey Distillery in 1954, Russell has created 10 different Bourbons and has been credited with creating the world’s first honey-flavoured Bourbon.
He received his honorary membership in a surprise ceremony at the KDA’s board meeting at the Wild Turkey Distillery yesterday.
