Meet the ‘Buddha of Bourbon’—the frontman of Wild Turkey’s brand

The Russell family has a long history of being top executives heading the production and, in later years, the promotion of the brand.

As bourbon fans flocked to the Wild Turkey visitors’ center, sitting near the entrance was no ordinary greeter. Jimmy Russell, who has lived through so much of the distillery’s rich history, was at his post as a goodwill ambassador, signing whiskey bottles, posing for photos and chatting up tourists about his favorite topics — making bourbon and sipping it.