Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell's 70th Anniversary Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Oct 19, 2025
- 5 min read
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
About This Spirit from the Maker
Commemorative bourbon release honoring Master Distiller Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary with Wild Turkey making him the longest-tenured spirits Master Distiller in the world.
To honor Jimmy’s incredible impact on the bourbon world, Wild Turkey is proud to present the limited-edition Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon.
This collector-worthy release is an 8-Year-Old, 101-proof bourbon, with an additional blend of 8- to 9-year-old whiskeys, hand-selected from a few of Jimmy’s favorite Rickhouses. Best enjoyed neat or over ice, this bourbon is a true tribute to Jimmy’s legacy.
TASTING NOTES
Best served neat or over ice, the bourbon offers rich aromas of oak, honey, cinnamon, and tobacco and a palate marked by sweet cream, butterscotch and black tea notes that transition to bitter chocolate, dark cherry and burnt sugar.
AROMA
Vanilla, oak, and honey with notes of cinnamon, brown sugar, tobacco, and orange peel
TASTE
Sweet cream, vanilla, butterscotch, stone fruit (dates), pecans, and black tea
FINISH
Warming with notes of caramel, dark cherry with a long lingering finish of oak, burnt sugar, and bitter chocolate
PROCESS
101 proof, 8-Year Old bourbon with additional blend of 8-9YO whiskeys from Jimmy's favorite rickhouses
About This Spirit from The Whisky Advocate
Wild Turkey 8 year old Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary
— Score 94 ● ABV 50.5% ● $50 ● Bourbon ● Kentucky
This year, master distiller Jimmy Russell celebrated his 70th year at Wild Turkey, a remarkable milestone by any stretch of the imagination (and even more so considering that he still shows up to work most days of the week). In honor of this watershed year, Jimmy’s son Eddie and grandson Bruce created a celebratory bourbon. The nose is chock-full of fresh cherries, cappuccino, vanilla cream, butterscotch, and leather. Baking spice bubbles over on the palate, backed up by toasted coconut and salted caramel, and a lick of bright citrus. Vanilla buttercream, Mounds bar, and black currant end this celebration on a high note. —Julia Higgins
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
How We Feel About the Spirit
Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary Bourbon Review: A Sipping Room Milestone Worth the Hunt
Written by Nancy Fae for His, Hers & the Good Life
Introduction
Every great collection has its defining surprises — those bottles that make you pause, smile, and rethink what you thought you knew. For us, the inaugural year of the Sipping Room was shaped by our mission to collect Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 of 2024. And one of the biggest surprises on that list was a Wild Turkey.
Jeff and I both laughed when we saw it. Wild Turkey … in the Top 20? But then we looked again. A #9 ranking. A 94 score. A special release honoring Jimmy Russell’s 70 years of bourbon mastery. Suddenly, the surprise felt more like an invitation.
We searched high and low, hoping this anniversary bottle might be hiding among the regular Wild Turkeys on store shelves. It wasn’t. After nearly a year of hunting — and with a few bottles left to complete our Top 20 collection, we finally gave in and purchased it on the secondary market. Premium price and all.
We haven’t opened it yet. But when we do, it will be in a blind tasting. Any bourbon celebrating seven decades of Jimmy Russell deserves a fair, honest first sip.
His Take (Jeff)
I’ll admit it. I didn’t expect to see Wild Turkey on the Top 20 list. When I saw it sitting at #9, I had one of those “Well… that’s interesting” moments. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Jimmy Russell has been shaping bourbon longer than most distilleries have existed. A 70th anniversary release? That’s not something you dismiss.
The hunt became a mission. Every store I walked into, I scanned the shelves for that familiar silhouette, hoping the anniversary bottle might be tucked beside the 101s. No luck. After months of searching, I finally said, “Let’s just get it.” Paying the premium wasn’t ideal, but nearly completing the Top 20 lineup was worth it.
Now that it’s here, I’m genuinely excited. A bourbon honoring Jimmy Russell’s seven decades, bottled at 50.5% ABV, and scoring a 94? That’s not hype — that’s craftsmanship. I’m ready to see if this bottle earns its ranking when we taste it blind.
Her Take (Nancy Fae)
I remember the moment we saw Wild Turkey on the list. I laughed first — then immediately felt guilty. Because if Whisky Advocate says it’s #9, there’s a reason. And the more I read about the release, the more I wanted it.
This bottle became our white whale. Every time we walked into a store, I hoped we’d find it casually sitting there, waiting for us. But no. It played hard to get. And when a bourbon plays hard to get, it becomes irresistible.
When we finally purchased it on the secondary market, I felt a mix of relief and triumph. Our Top 20 collection was nearly complete. And this one, celebrating Jimmy Russell’s 70 years, felt like a cornerstone of the entire lineup.
We haven’t opened it yet, but I’m eager. A blind tasting feels right. I want to experience it without expectations — just pure discovery.
Closing in the His, Hers & the Good Life Style
His (Jeff)
This bottle represents persistence, respect, and a little bit of bourbon humility. I’m glad we chased it. I’m glad we paid the premium. And I’m ready to see if Jimmy Russell’s 70-year tribute lives up to the legend.
Her (Nancy Fae)
For me, this bottle symbolizes the joy of the hunt and the satisfaction of building something meaningful — even if we’re still missing one bottle. It’s a reminder that great stories often come from unexpected places, like Wild Turkey landing at #9 and making us believers.
The Good Life
The Good Life is built on moments worth savoring — whether it’s the thrill of the chase, the pride of a nearly complete collection, or the anticipation of a first pour. This bottle fits perfectly into that philosophy. It’s a milestone, a memory, and a celebration all in one.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
How to Enjoy
When we finally open this bottle, here’s how we plan to enjoy it:
Blind tasting first, to honor the ranking and remove any preconceived notions.
Neat, to appreciate the full character of the 50.5% ABV.
With a couple of large ice cubes, to explore how the flavors open and evolve.
Side-by-side with other Top 20 bourbons, to see where it truly stands among its peers.
Shared with friends who appreciate the story, because some bottles deserve an audience.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY
Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age.
Disclaimer: Cigar smoking and drinking alcohol are for adults of legal smoking and drinking age. Life’s Rants promotes the responsible and legal enjoyment of premium cigars and alcohol by individuals of legal age. We do not endorse or encourage smoking or drinking among minors.
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