Jimmy Russell Talks Turkey

Jimmy Russell, the Master Distiller for Wild Turkey Bourbon, is the featured guest at the Carson Center's Distiller's Dinner, 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24. It's an important fundraiser for the center — and certainly that's reason enough why we should all go there and drink bourbon all night long. Mr. Russell is super cute and, like all bourbon drinkers, very funny. He's very famous in the Kentucky bourbon industry and for good reason: He's was born and raised just five miles from Wild Turkey and has worked there since 1954. I called up and asked him a few questions this morning in anticipation of his visit to Paducah: What’s the right age for your first taste of bourbon? 21, if you go by the law. How old were you? They tell me I was 6 months. I was raised in a bourbon family. When babies are teething, their mamas stick their fingers in some bourbon and rub a little on the babies' gums. People still do that. Didn’t your mama do that for you? No, but I suspect I’d be in better spirits today if she had! You might be! What time of day does bourbon taste best? Any time of day, I think. Many years ago, people started drinking after 5 in the afternoon. They’d have a little toddy when they got off of work. My theory is somewhere in the world it’s always after 5 o’clock. That’s a very good theory. I think so. How do you take your bourbon?
 In the winter, I like it neat in a brandy glass. I like to sit and sip on it. In the summer, I like it chilled. So I drink it with a couple of ice cubes in a rocks glass. Tall or short rocks glass? Short. But not too short. It must be so cool to have a bourbon named after yourself. Russell’s Reserve is excellent bourbon. It’s smooth, with a lot of vanilla and caramel. Good flavors, with a good aroma coming off. And the finish — it leaves a good, clean, refreshing taste in your mouth. I get a lot of caramel and vanilla. A lot of sweetness. You’ve been doing this sweet bourbon gig for quite a while. I totally want your job. I’ll keep doing it as long as I’m in good health and I’m enjoying what I’m doing. I like getting up and going to work every day. And what better job is there than to drink bourbon all day? Somebody’s gotta do the dirty work. Well, we'll drink to that, yes? Get your Distiller's Dinner tix by calling Debbie Wattier, 270.443.9932, ext. 240. Mention iList Paducah and you might get a $10 Roof Brothers gift certificate. Use it on Wild Turkey Bourbon — the Russell's Reserve kind!

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