Russell’s Reserve is a celebration of bourbon’s past and present, crafted by one of the most enduring father-and-son duos in the whiskey world, Jimmy and Eddie Russell. Known affectionately as “the master distiller’s master distiller,” Jimmy Russell began shaping Wild Turkey’s legacy in 1954 and remains the longest-tenured active distiller in the industry. His son Eddie, having joined the family distillery in 1981, rose through the ranks to co-create Russell’s Reserve in 1998, honoring his father’s 45th anniversary.

The inaugural release debuted in 2001 as a refined 10-year-old bourbon bottled at 101 proof. By 2005, the proof was reduced to 90, and the label evolved into the familiar red-faced expression known today. Continuously expanding the line, the Russells introduced a 6-year-old rye in 2007, followed by a bold single-barrel bourbon in 2013. Eddie earned the title of Master Distiller in 2015, completing a rare father-and-son stewardship with over a century of combined whiskey-making experience.

Recent years have seen the release of ultra-aged, limited-edition expressions like the 13-Year-Old Bourbon, celebrated as “Best American Whiskey of 2021” and later honored with a Double Gold at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The single rickhouse offerings and bold 15-year releases further showcase the distillery’s dedication to nuance and depth.

What sets Russell’s Reserve apart is not just its illustrious namesake, but its exacting process. Made with non-GMO American corn, rye, and malted barley, the whiskey is distilled to a lower proof using naturally filtered limestone water from the Kentucky River. It's aged in deeply charred No. 4 American oak barrels, hand-selected from the “center cut” of rickhouses, floors 3 to 5, where temperature and humidity are ideal. The result: whiskies that are richly flavorful, balanced, and consistently outstanding.

Today, the Russell family continues its legacy through a third generation, with Bruce Russell stepping into blending roles. Whether sipping their bourbons neat, on the rocks, or in a classic cocktail, drinkers are enjoying more than whiskey; they’re drinking in a legacy.