Wild Turkey Master Distiller Jimmy Russell was surprised with a “Lifetime Honorary Membersip” to the Kentucky Distiller’s Association. Russell celebrates his 60th year as Wild Turkey’s Master Distiller this year, and he joined the Association in 1978. Click here for more.
In additional Jimmy Russell news, Congress honored him this week as well. Mitch McConnell invited Russell to Washington D.C. to praise his sixtieth anniversary with Wild Turkey. Read McConnell’s entire speech here. Jimmy Russell is the longest serving Master Distiller in bourbon’s history and is most deserving of all these accolades.
In product release news, Parker’s Heritage will be released this month as well. This offering will feature a wheated mash bill. According to Heaven Hill, “Heaven Hill Master Distiller Emeritus Parker Beam, for whom the acclaimed series is named, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) several years ago. Last year’s edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection, called the “Promise of Hope” release, raised over $300,000 for the ALS Association’s Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund through a $20 per bottle contribution made by Heaven Hill. Heaven Hill will continue with this cause-related campaign, and will contribute $5 from the average national retail cost of $89.99 for every 750ml bottle sold of this year’s “Original Batch” release to ALS research and treatment. With every past edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection selling out of Heaven Hill’s warehouses, the company expects to generate an additional $65,000 to battle ALS through this year’s edition, which is not as broad a release as last year’s “Promise of Hope” bottling.” This is another great bourbon with a great cause and a meaningful story behind it.
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail has announced that the Kentucky Bourbon Affair will be back for a second year. The inaugural year had a few kinks, but was still a smashing success. The dates for the 2015 Kentucky Bourbon Affair will be June 3-7. Golden Tickets will still be limited, do be sure to get those early. Click here for details.
Art Eatables has been selected as a finalist in Martha Stewart's American Made competition. Click here for details.
There are still plenty of ways to celebrate National Bourbon Heritage Month. Click here to view the list of events I've compiled, and tweet me @LouGirl502 if you know of anything I've missed!
Photos Courtesy of Wild Turkey, The Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Heaven Hill, and Art Eatables
