Bourbon never goes out of style, and with the celebration of Master Distiller Jimmy Russell‘s 60th Anniversary with Wild Turkey, it’s only getting better. Russell, now considered the longest tenured, active master distiller in the world, has dedicated his life to the craft and skill of whiskey making. Only a small handful of his successes include the creation or co-creation of 10 bourbons, inventing the first honey-flavored bourbon, induction into the Bourbon Hall of Fame and a formal acclamation in the Kentucky legislature thanking him for his life-long contributions to the bourbon industry and Commonwealth of Kentucky.
In honor of this remarkable milestone, Wild Turkey has released the Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary, a commemorative bourbon in Russell’s honor. Jimmy Russell’s son Eddie, who works alongside him at Wild Turkey, wanted to create something very special for his father and mentor for this momentous occasion. To create the Diamond Anniversary bourbon, Eddie hand selected rare barrels that had been aging 13 and 16 years, which promoted notes of caramel and vanilla, along with a spicy oak finish.
Earlier this week, a handful of New Yorkers joined Jimmy Russell and the Wild Turkey team to celebrate his anniversary and the release of Diamond Anniversary. The fete took place at Back Forty, where guests enjoyed four impeccable Wild Turkey bourbon cocktails (recipes below), crafted by Naren Young, an impressive selection of hors d’oeuvres and dinner, as well as backyard games and fun. The spectacular evening was capped off with a tasting of the Diamond Anniversary bourbon, which will be available exclusively for $124.99 at selection retailers nationally, beginning in August.
Chamomile Old Fashioned
2 oz. Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Rye
1/4 oz. chamomile syrup
3 dashes chamomile tincture
Stir with ice and strain on fresh ice in a rocks glass. Spray with chamomile tincture.
Cherry Fix
1 1/2 oz. Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit
1/4 oz. maraschino liqueur
1/4 oz. Heering Cherry Liqueur
3/4 oz. cherry puree
1/2 oz. lemon juice
Combine ingredients, shake and strain on crushed ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a fresh white Rainier cherry.
Southern Buck
1 1/2 oz. Wild Turkey Rare Breed
1/2 oz. peach liqueur
1/2 oz. lemon juice
ginger beer
Build on cubed ice and top with ginger beer. Stir. Add a straw and garnish with a large mint sprig.
Boulevardier Swizzle
1 oz. Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon
1 oz. Cinzano Rosso
1 oz. Campari
3 dashes orange bitters
Build over crushed ice. Swizzle and add more crushed ice. Garnish with orange twist.
Twisted Talk: Are you a fan of Wild Turkey Bourbon? Will you toast to Jimmy Russell’s 60th Anniversary? Discuss below!
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