Russell's Reserve

Russell's Reserve was established in 1998 by Master Distiller Eddie Russell as a tribute to his father, Jimmy Russell, celebrating Jimmy's 45 years of service at the Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The brand officially launched in 2001 with its 10-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon. Jimmy Russell, a legendary figure in bourbon, has served as Master Distiller at Wild Turkey for over 60 years, making him one of the longest-tenured Master Distillers in American whiskey history. Eddie Russell joined Wild Turkey in 1981 and later became co-Master Distiller in 2015, forming one of the industry's only father-and-son Master Distiller teams. Together, they boast over a century of combined experience in whiskey making. Russell's Reserve operates as part of the Wild Turkey lineup, which was acquired by the Campari Group in 2009.

Russell's Reserve produces both bourbon and rye whiskeys, utilizing a mash bill of non-GMO American-grown corn, rye, and malted barley, with a specific bourbon mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. The water used in their whiskey production is sourced from the Kentucky River and naturally filtered through limestone. The whiskey is distilled to a lower ABV before barreling, a method that minimizes the addition of water later and contributes to a more robust flavor profile. Aging occurs in new American oak barrels, all featuring a deep No. 4 "alligator" char. These barrels are carefully placed in the "center cut" (middle floors 3-5) of their seven-story timber rickhouses, where consistent temperatures facilitate optimal maturation. Master Distiller Eddie Russell personally hand-selects barrels for each batch based on their unique flavor characteristics.

A hallmark of Russell's Reserve is the collaborative expertise of its father-and-son Master Distiller team, Jimmy and Eddie Russell, whose combined experience exceeds 100 years. Their dedication to traditional methods includes the exclusive use of new American oak barrels with a deep No. 4 char and the strategic aging of barrels in the "center cut" of their rickhouses. Furthermore, many Russell's Reserve expressions are non-chill filtered, a choice that helps retain the whiskey's natural character, flavor compounds, and a more robust mouthfeel. This approach underscores their philosophy of crafting balanced, extended-maturation whiskeys that highlight the classic character of Kentucky bourbon and rye.

The brand's portfolio includes several acclaimed expressions, such as Russell's Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon, Russell's Reserve 6 Year Old Rye, and the non-chill filtered Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon and Single Barrel Rye. A particularly celebrated release is the Russell's Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon, introduced in 2021, which has garnered significant recognition, including being named "Best American Whiskey of 2021" by Fred Minnick and receiving a Double Gold medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Other notable offerings include the limited-edition Russell's Reserve 1998 vintage whiskey and the annual Russell's Reserve Single Rickhouse series. Both Jimmy and Eddie Russell are inductees into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, with Eddie also receiving the DISCUS Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026.