Cigar Weekly

jazznut · 09-11-2014, 09:26 AM

Pursuent to BigO's "Lift a Glass!" thread, I offer some excerpted portions from a recent article profiling one of Bourbon's great individuals...

Kentucky’s ‘Buddha of Bourbon’

Bruce Schreiner
The Associated Press

Celebrating his 60th year in the business, Jimmy Russell has overseen production of about three million barrels of bourbon as Wild Turkey’s master distiller… Known among his peers as the “Buddha of Bourbon,” Russell is the longest-tenured master distiller in the tradition-filled industry.

Russell still comes to work almost every day and rarely takes a vacation. If he’s not sampling bourbon in a storage warehouse or checking on production, he’s taking a brand-building trip or chatting up distillery guests in the new visitors’ centre.

Jimmy Russell shrugs off his longevity.

“It’s never been a job to me,” Russell said. “It’s something I enjoy doing.”

Russell grew up a few kilometres from the distillery and went to work there Sept. 10, 1954 at age 19.

When he started, the distillery produced about 60 barrels a day. Now production is about 560 barrels daily, he said.

“This is the best time that I’ve seen,” Russell said. “When I started, bourbon was a Southern gentleman’s drink. Now it’s become a worldwide drink.”

Cheers to Jimmy!

sevenmag · 09-11-2014, 05:06 PM

That remimds me, I might have to seek out a bottle of Russell's Reserve. That last one I went through was stellar.

flipflop · 09-12-2014, 06:15 AM

Jimmy Russell's famous "Give em the bird" pose.

jazznut · 09-12-2014, 07:24 AM

A '1-½ finger' pour then, I gather.

09-11-2014, 09:26 AM	#1
jazznut Managing Editor Emeritus Herf God Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 26,082	Kentucky’s ‘Buddha of Bourbon’ Pursuent to BigO's "Lift a Glass!" thread, I offer some excerpted portions from a recent article profiling one of Bourbon's great individuals... Kentucky’s ‘Buddha of Bourbon’ Bruce Schreiner The Associated Press Celebrating his 60th year in the business, Jimmy Russell has overseen production of about three million barrels of bourbon as Wild Turkey’s master distiller… Known among his peers as the “Buddha of Bourbon,” Russell is the longest-tenured master distiller in the tradition-filled industry. Russell still comes to work almost every day and rarely takes a vacation. If he’s not sampling bourbon in a storage warehouse or checking on production, he’s taking a brand-building trip or chatting up distillery guests in the new visitors’ centre. Jimmy Russell shrugs off his longevity. “It’s never been a job to me,” Russell said. “It’s something I enjoy doing.” Russell grew up a few kilometres from the distillery and went to work there Sept. 10, 1954 at age 19. When he started, the distillery produced about 60 barrels a day. Now production is about 560 barrels daily, he said. “This is the best time that I’ve seen,” Russell said. “When I started, bourbon was a Southern gentleman’s drink. Now it’s become a worldwide drink.” Cheers to Jimmy! __________________ My whisky adventure began at the age of nine. Good things DO take time!

09-12-2014, 06:15 AM	#3
flipflop Contributing Editor CW Butt Whisperer Herf God Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Marietta, Georgia Posts: 50,560	Jimmy Russell's famous "Give em the bird" pose. __________________ "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats." -- H. L. Mencken "I am the punishment of God. If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you." -- Ghengis Khan

09-12-2014, 07:24 AM	#4
jazznut Managing Editor Emeritus Herf God Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 26,082	A '1-½ finger' pour then, I gather. __________________ My whisky adventure began at the age of nine. Good things DO take time!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kentucky Bourbon Festival	Uncajim	I'll Drink to That!	7	08-26-2005 01:22 PM
Buddha Daddy...why Buddha why!?!	MrJerry	Cigar Talk	3	04-18-2005 09:41 PM
Kentucky Bourbon Festival	britan	I'll Drink to That!	18	09-15-2004 10:55 AM
Kentucky Bourbon Festival	parshooter	I'll Drink to That!	5	09-17-2003 10:14 AM

09-11-2014, 05:06 PM	#2
sevenmag Contributing Editor Herf Meister Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Charleston, SC. USA Posts: 9,864	That remimds me, I might have to seek out a bottle of Russell's Reserve. That last one I went through was stellar.