About Russell's Reserve 1998 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Back in 1998, Jimmy Russell and his son Eddie — now joint master distiller of Wild Turkey — decided to lay a select few barrels (23 to be exact) down to rest, intending to save them for a special occasion. At that point, Jimmy had spent 45 years at the distillery, and it was presumed he would retire later that year. Fate had other plans in store, however, and today Jimmy Russell remains Wild Turkey’s joint master distiller with 61 years of experience under his belt.
In 2014, Eddie was checking on these special barrels when he noticed they were evaporating much quicker than anticipated. He shared some samples with his father, and the duo decided not to wait: they’d found something spectacular and wanted to share it with the world immediately.
“Typically, a bourbon this old picks up a lot of flavor from the barrel and can taste quite woody and dry. We like to retain the caramel, vanilla and fruity notes in our whiskies and this particular liquid seemed to reach a sweet spot around the 15 year mark,” says Eddie. “It was important for us to stop the aging before those less desirable flavors took over the overall profile of the bourbon. I guess I am going to have to find another bourbon to celebrate Jimmy’s retirement… if that ever happens.”
Caskers has secured an extremely limited number of bottles for our members, so make sure you pick up a bottle today!
About Russell's Reserve
Following the end of the American Civil War, the Ripy Brothers returned to their native state of Kentucky and, together, opened a distillery on the slopes of a hill in Lawrenceburg. The distillery operated continuously for nearly fifty years until the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale of alcohol in the United States, was ratified. Following the end of Prohibition, the Ripy Brothers Distillery was reopened, and a distillery executive named Thomas McCarthy took samples of maturing whiskey from the distillery on a turkey-hunting trip with a group of friends. The following year, his friends asked him to bring "some of that wild turkey whiskey" on their next hunting trip, and the distillery was renamed Wild Turkey. Since 1954, Wild Turkey Distillery has been operating under the tutelage of Master Distiller Jimmy Russell. "I've never been drunk," says Russell, who is a genuine bourbon aristocrat and a living legend in the business, "but I love my work. People tell me, "I hate to get up and go to work," he says. "I go seven days a week. You know, on Saturdays and Sundays, I may go out there and sit around for an hour or so."
About Bourbon
There are not many things more American than bourbon, and although most of it is produced in Kentucky, it can be produced all over the USA.
It must be made with at least 51% corn and bottled at 40% ABV or higher. So why not give this American classic a try?
Check out our impressive selection of bourbons, find your new favorite in Top 10 bourbons, or explore our treasury of rare & hard to find bourbons.
