DISTILLERY · LAWRENCEBURG, KENTUCKY
Wild Turkey Distillery
Bold, high-proof and unbothered by trends — the bourbon that made 101 a household number.
Wild Turkey is a Lawrenceburg, Kentucky distillery owned by Italy's Campari Group and guided by the Russell family, bourbon's most storied father-and-son team. The house style rests on a single mash bill (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley), an unusually low barrel-entry proof, and whiskey aged in the 6–12 year sweet spot — rich, spicy, caramel-and-oak bourbon that never chases extreme proofs or trendy finishes. It matters because 101 remains one of the great everyday bourbons, while Rare Breed, Russell's Reserve and the annual Master's Keep series prove serious depth up the ladder.
THE WILD TURKEY RANGE
High-proof, no shortcuts.
One mash bill, low barrel-entry proof, and the Russell touch — from everyday 101 to the Master's Keep halo.
Wild Turkey 81
entry · 81 proof
Softer, sweeter everyday pour and mixer.
COMING SOON
Wild Turkey 101
FLAGSHIPflagship · 101 proof
The high-proof value benchmark — caramel, baking spice, oak.
Rare Breed
barrel proof · 116.8
Layered 6/8/12-yr blend — one of the best barrel-proof values.
Longbranch
finished · 86 proof
Refined with oak and Texas mesquite charcoal; smoother, faint smoke.
COMING SOON
Kentucky Spirit
single barrel · 101 proof
A hand-selected single-barrel take on the 101 profile.
COMING SOON
WILD TURKEY BOTTLES · REVIEWED & RANKED
The bottles.
SCORED / 100 · US PRICES CHECKED JULY 2026
| Rank | Bottle | Note | Score | Price | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Russell's Reserve 13 Yearbourbon · limited · high proof | WT's highest-proof batched whiskey; deep and mature. | 93SCORE | $200 SRP | COMING SOON |
| 02 | Master's Keep Beacon (2025)bourbon · annual · 118 proof | The series' final release — a 10/16-yr bourbon blend. | 92SCORE | $300 | COMING SOON |
| 03 | Wild Turkey Rare Breedusa / wild-turkey / bourbon / rare-breed | Layered barrel-proof value; an enthusiast benchmark since 1991. | 91SCORE | $50 | READ REVIEW → |
| 04 | Russell's Reserve Single Barrelbourbon · single barrel · 110 proof | Single-barrel intensity in the Wild Turkey profile. | 89SCORE | $65 | COMING SOON |
| 05 | Wild Turkey 101usa / wild-turkey / bourbon / wild-turkey-101 | The value benchmark — high proof, classic WT spice. | 89SCORE | $23 | READ REVIEW → |
| 06 | Russell's Reserve 10 Yearusa / wild-turkey / bourbon / russells-reserve-10 | Refined, oaky and excellent value. | 89SCORE | $35 | READ REVIEW → |
| 07 | Wild Turkey Kentucky Spiritbourbon · single barrel · 101 proof | 101-proof single barrel; more oak and spice, bottle to bottle. | 88SCORE | $68 | COMING SOON |
| 08 | Wild Turkey Longbranchbourbon · finished · 86 proof | Mesquite/oak charcoal-refined; smoother but polarizing value. | 85SCORE | $42 | COMING SOON |
WILD TURKEY — THE STORY
Two Russells, one river bluff.
Whiskey has reportedly been distilled on Wild Turkey's Lawrenceburg site since the Ripy family era around 1869, though exact dates and continuity vary and are best read as heritage. The name is far younger: it emerged around 1940 when Austin Nichols executive Thomas McCarthy brought the bourbon on annual wild-turkey hunts, and friends kept asking for 'that Wild Turkey bourbon.'
The modern brand is inseparable from the Russell family. Jimmy Russell joined in 1954 and became the industry's longest-serving active master distiller; son Eddie was named co-master distiller in 2015, and grandson Bruce joined as associate blender in 2022. Ownership passed from Pernod Ricard to Italy's Campari Group in 2009, which has since invested heavily in Lawrenceburg — including a new second distillery — while keeping Wild Turkey a core brand.
One myth, corrected: Wild Turkey wasn't 'founded 1869' as a brand — 1869 refers to distilling on the site; the Wild Turkey name only dates to about 1940. And its 'high proof' reputation aside, its barrel-entry proof is unusually low, which shapes the house style.
Answered by Everett Boone · The American Seat
Who owns Wild Turkey?
Italy's Campari Group, which bought it in 2009 from Pernod Ricard for about $575M. Despite trimming its portfolio in 2025–26, Campari is keeping and investing in Wild Turkey, including a major new Lawrenceburg distillery.
Which bottle should I buy first?
Wild Turkey 101 (~$27) — the flagship, a high-proof classic and one of bourbon's best values (our review scores it 89). For more intensity, step up to Rare Breed (~$54).
Why 'high proof' but geeks call it 'low proof'?
Two different measures. Bottling proof is high (101; 116.8 for Rare Breed), but barrel-entry proof — the strength going into the barrel — is unusually low (107–115 vs the 125 max many rivals use), which many believe concentrates flavour.
Can you visit?
Yes — the Wild Turkey Distillery and Visitor Center sit on the Kentucky River palisades in Lawrenceburg, a stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Check current hours before you go.
Can we send you our whiskey?
Yes — and it's the only way to earn a Superior Rating. Distilleries are welcome to send bottles for the full panel: two per expression, one decanted into blind samples for the three of us, one sealed on file. All three seats taste it blind and the scores are averaged. Sending buys three honest opinions and nothing else — nobody sees a score before publication.