Hypebeast Visits: The Kentucky Distillery Home to Three Generations of Bourbon Crafters
Wild Turkey ’s distillery is a true embodiment of its heritage in bourbon whiskey craftsmanship. Spread over 134,000 sqft, it comprises a production network of fermentation tanks, cookers and several rickhouses as well as a visitor center a…
Wild Turkey’s distillery is a true embodiment of its heritage in bourbon whiskey craftsmanship. Spread over 134,000 sqft, it comprises a production network of fermentation tanks, cookers and several rickhouses as well as a visitor center and museum for the countless whiskey enthusiasts that it welcomes every year.
The space, however, is as much a landmark for Kentucky as it is for the whiskey community. Sitting beside the Kentucky River, Wild Turkey has called the town of Lawrenceberg its home for over 75 years. While the area’s undeniable spirit for whiskey flows into every corner of its production, it's the unique climate that means Wild Turkey cannot be produced anywhere else, attributing a unique taste during the aging process.
Ahead of the launch of Wild Turkey’s Gold Foil Edition – the first release in the new Austin Nichols Archives series – Hypebeast joins third-generation Associate Master Blender, Bruce Russell, in a visit to the distillery, where he reveals the process behind crafting the exclusive blend. Having grown up in the warehouses, following around two Bourbon Hall of Famers with over a combined 100 years of experience, Russell shares “it helped develop a unique viewpoint and a pretty good whiskey palette” which he has channeled into the new release to pay homage to the best of Wild Turkey.
The tour kicks off in the heart of the distillery where rye, corn, and malted barley are fermented and brewed to an exact science. Though production is automated, Russell shares how the “magic” happens in the various rickhouses with some perched on a cliff-edge and others located deeper in land.
For the Gold Foil Edition, Russell selected the Camp Nelson campus with its extreme changes of temperature and increased airflow helping to achieve the “quality, flavor and intensity” of the original Cheesy Gold Foil first released in 1985. “Each of these barrels ages differently depending on where they’re sitting,” he explains. “Throughout building the Archives Series, I was able to figure out where our best whiskey is because our customers tell us so.”
Russell then heads to the Station Master’s house which features on the Gold Foil Edition canister. As one of the oldest buildings on the site, it’s filled with memories of Jimmy Russell – his grandfather and longest serving Wild Turkey Master Distillers. He reflects, “This is about honoring my grandfather Jimmy who has been here for 72 years and has devoted his entire life to the industry.”
Take a closer look around the Wild Turkey distillery by watching the full Visits episode above. You can now shop the Wild Turkey Gold Foil Edition online, retailing for $400 USD.
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