The Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey Experience

Bourbon Legacy, Barrel Proofed by Time

📍 Lawrenceburg, Kentucky

Rising high above the Kentucky River, the Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey Experience is not just a distillery—it’s a monument to American bourbon itself. This is the home of Jimmy Russell, the longest-tenured master distiller in bourbon history, and a place where bold, high-rye whiskey has been crafted with near-unchanged methods for generations.

At Wild Turkey, bourbon is made the old-school way: high rye mash bills, low entry proof, deeply charred barrels, and long aging in traditional rickhouses exposed to Kentucky’s dramatic seasonal swings. The result is whiskey with muscle—rich caramel, toasted oak, vanilla, baking spice, leather, and heat that earns its proof.

This experience blends hands-on production tours, deep barrel education, rare tastings, and panoramic river views—bringing the Russell family’s uncompromising approach to bourbon vividly to life.

🥃 Bourbon Experiences That Dig Into the Barrel

Wild Turkey’s tours go far beyond the surface. Each experience is designed to explain why Wild Turkey tastes the way it does—from mash bill decisions to barrel placement and proofing philosophy.

The Wild Turkey Distillery Tour

⏱ ~1 Hour | 📅 Daily | 🎟 Reservations Recommended

A comprehensive introduction to one of Kentucky’s boldest bourbons.

  • Follow the full bourbon journey, from grain selection and high-rye mash cooking to fermentation and distillation

  • See the massive column stills that produce Wild Turkey’s robust new make

  • Learn why Wild Turkey barrels are entered at a lower proof than most competitors, allowing deeper wood interaction

  • Tour the rickhouses where barrels age under fluctuating river-valley temperatures

  • Finish with a guided tasting of Wild Turkey 101, Rare Breed, and Russell’s Reserve, exploring proof, age, and flavor intensity

This tour explains why Wild Turkey drinks big—and why that boldness is intentional.

Rickhouse & Russell’s Reserve Maturation Tour

⏱ ~1 Hour | 📅 Daily | 🎟 Reservations Recommended

A deep dive into aging, selection, and barrel philosophy.

  • Walk through traditional rickhouses stacked with thousands of barrels aging naturally

  • Learn how char level, warehouse location, humidity, and time influence caramel, vanilla, oak, and spice

  • Explore the meticulous barrel-selection process behind Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel

  • Taste rare expressions, including single-barrel and limited Russell’s Reserve releases

  • Gain insight into how Jimmy and Eddie Russell evaluate barrels for balance, power, and maturity

This is where bourbon becomes personal—one barrel at a time.

🍸 The Generations Cocktail Experience

⏱ ~1 Hour | 📅 Fri–Sun | 🎟 21+ | Reservation Recommended

Bourbon history, served with ice and imagination.

  • Enjoy expertly crafted Wild Turkey cocktails in the Generations Lounge

  • Overlook the Kentucky River while learning how three generations of Russells shaped Wild Turkey

  • Discover how different proofs and mash bills perform in classic and modern cocktails

  • Optional add-on: rare and limited Wild Turkey tasting flight

A relaxed, social experience that blends heritage with hospitality.

🥃 Private Tasting Rooms & Vintage Flights

⏱ 30–60 Minutes | 📅 Daily | 🎟 Add-On or Standalone

Designed for collectors, enthusiasts, and serious bourbon drinkers.

  • Vertical tastings of Russell’s Reserve across ages and proofs

  • Flights from the Master’s Keep Collection

  • Side-by-side comparisons of Wild Turkey 101 vs. barrel-proof expressions

  • Seasonal, experimental, and distillery-exclusive bottlings

These tastings highlight how proof, age, and barrel selection shape Wild Turkey’s unmistakable profile.

🌉 Scenic Sipping & Southern Hospitality

🍃 Outdoor Pavilion & Bourbon Bar

  • Sip Wild Turkey pours with sweeping views of the Kentucky River, Jo Blackburn Bridge, and Young’s High Bridge

  • Rotating selections include Russell’s Reserve, Rare Breed, Longbranch, and limited releases

  • One of Kentucky’s most scenic bourbon bars—where river air meets oak-aged spirit

🧭 What Makes This Experience Legendary

  • Celebrate Jimmy Russell, a living bourbon icon with over 70 years behind the still

  • Learn Wild Turkey’s no-nonsense philosophy: flavor first, proof with purpose

  • Access distillery-only releases, including Single Rickhouse and Master’s Keep selections

  • Explore interactive exhibits dedicated to bourbon science, family legacy, and Kentucky tradition

🛍️ Distillery Shop Highlights

  • Distillery-exclusive and limited-release bourbons

  • Signed bottles and Russell family memorabilia

  • Apparel, glassware, and collector-grade barware

  • Personalized bottles and one-of-a-kind keepsakes

🕰️ Hours of Operation

  • Mon–Sat: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  • Sun: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

🎟 Reserve tours: wildturkeybourbon.com/visit

🔥 Where Bold Bourbon Lives On

The Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey Experience isn’t about trends or shortcuts—it’s about time, oak, and conviction. From barrel-proof tastings in the rickhouse to quiet moments overlooking the Kentucky River, every stop reinforces why Wild Turkey remains one of bourbon’s most powerful and respected names.

Come for the legend.
Stay for the barrels.
Leave understanding bourbon at full proof.

🥃 Jimmy Russell Wild Turkey Experience – Where Bourbon Legacy Runs Deep.