Edward Freeman Russell

Edward Freeman Russell is the youngest of 3 sons of Jimmy Russel. He began working at the family business at the Wild Turkey distillery with his father on June 5th, 1981. He learned the ways running and operating the distillery from the bottom up working about every position as Jimmy had done years prior. He is the third generation of the Russell family to work at the distillery.

Eddie started working at the distillery as a relief operator, then promoted to new production supervisor and later warehouse supervisor. After 20 years he then took on the position of barrel maturation and warehouse manager. It was in this position that he worked with his father on creation of Russell’s Reserve 10 year that went on to become an award winning bourbon.

In 2008 Eddie was named Associate Master Distiller and in 2011 Eddie developed the Wild Turkey 81 bourbon that is an approachable bourbon that is great neat or in a cocktail. Wild Turkey 81 is a bolder and spicier bourbon than the Wild Turkey 80 that it replaced.

Eddie has gone on to branch out from his father’s shadow and gone his own way developing new and innovative products along the way. In 2010, he was given the distinction of being inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame by his father Jimmy who was inducted into the hall of fame in the inaugural class in 2001.

Wild Turkey 81 was followed by Wild Turkey Spiced which was a short lived product that was discontinued a year or so after introduction, however Eddie was testing new markets.

Wild Turkey Forgiven soon followed, which according to the tale an employee accidentally batched bourbon with rye whiskey. Eddie liked the taste and pushed to release it, and after Jimmy approved as well, the mistake was ‘Forgiven’. It was released in 2013 and another batch in 2014.

Also in 2014 in celebration of Jimmy’s 60 years at Wild Turkey, he created Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary using a blend of 13 and 16 year whiskies.

After working his way from the bottom to the top of Wild Turkey, Eddie Russell was named Master Distiller alongside his father Jimmy in 2015. They were at the time the only active father and son master distillers at a single distillery in the world.

Under Eddie’s leadership, Wild Turkey continued to come up with new releases including the Master’s Keep line which are all different experiments that Eddie leads. The Master’s Keep line have only Eddie’s signature for this reason as he leads the development.

In 2016, actor and bourbon enthusiast Matthew McConaughey joined Wild Turkey as Creative Director. He worked with Eddie and developed and released Longbranch bourbon in 2018. This bourbon is finished with Texas Mesquite and American Oak charcoal.

In 2020, Eddie released Rare Breed Rye which is a premium barrel proof rye.

Eddie then developed Russell’s Reserve 13 year which was released in 2021 and has gone on to be a highly sought after bottle now with 3 releases.

And then in 2022 Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Collection was released which is a limited release from a single rick house. For the first release of this collection came from Camp Nelson C and bottled from a blend of 72 barrels. Camp Nelson C has been dismantled since, so this will be one of a kind.

Eddie and wife Judy have 2 sons and live in Lawrenceburg where he himself was born and raised. Eddie like his father travels the world visiting stores, giving talks and spreading the word of Wild Turkey to eager whiskey enthusiasts. Eddie himself now as been at the distillery for over 40 years and jokes that he will likely retire before his father Jimmy.

Contributed by Daniel Snyder, Whiskey Founders Committee Chair, Champaign, Illinois

Wild Turkey Signature Line including 101 bourbon, 81 bourbon, 81 rye and 101 rye

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon line through the years, Wild Turkey Forgiven, and Rare Breed Rye

Forty Creek Super Premium line of limited releases

Russell’s Reserve 10 year, Single Barrel, Single Barrel Private Selection, 6 year rye and single barrel rye

Russell’s Reserve 1998, 2002, 16 Year, 13 year and Single Rickhouse

W.B. Safely, Bond & Lillard and Old Ripe Whiskey Baron’s Collection

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Collection, 17 year, Decades, 1894, Revival, Cornerstone, Bottled in Bond, One and Unforgotten

Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon

Wild Turkey Longbranch bourbon developed by Eddie Russell and Matthew McConaughey

Contributed by Daniel Snyder, Whiskey Founders Committee Chair, Champaign, Illinois