Jimmy Russell: The Man Behind the Bourbon

The folks over at Wild Turkey created this video to celebrate Jimmy Russell and his 60 years of making bourbon at Wild Turkey. It’s a terrific tribute to the “Buddha of Bourbon”.

Here’s a few words from the release that accompanied the video:

It is with great excitement that I share with you a new documentary that celebrates the illustrious career of one of the most revered figures in the Bourbon industry – Wild Turkey Master Distiller Jimmy Russell.  Jimmy has been making Bourbon at Wild Turkey’s distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY for an incredible 60 years, and has made numerous contributions to the Bourbon industry that have earned him a place in the Bourbon Hall of Fame™ and lead him to be one of only six people in the 134-year history of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association to be given a lifetime honorary membership.

Jimmy has made more friends than he can count as he has traveled the world, from New York to Japan, spreading the gospel of Wild Turkey Bourbon. Many of these friends, including Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and Fred Noe, Jim Beam’s grandson, are amongst the people who enthusiastically stepped up for this documentary to share their fond memories of Jimmy and give praise to the man known as the “Buddha of Bourbon” and the “Master Distiller’s Master Distiller.”

Hope you enjoy the video!

PS – I was personally pretty excited to see my bald head appear in 3 or 4 scenes of the video. They shot some of the footage while I was attending Jimmy’s 60th anniversary celebration a few months ago.