Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon and Associate Master Distiller Eddie Russell

BourbonBlog.com interviews Wild Turkey Associate Master Distiller Eddie Russell about his new Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon.

Except for limited edition releases, this is one of the first new Bourbons released by Wild Turkey since Russell’s Reserve around 2000. Wild Turkey 81 won Gold Medal and named Best in Class at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.

Eddie tells BourbonBlog.com that he created Wild Turkey 81 through extensive research in bars across America talking to bartenders, mixologist and whiskey fans. He had already collaborated with his father, Wild Turkey Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, on Russell’s Reserve Bourbon and Rye.

Eddie wanted to create a Bourbon all his own that would hold up in a cocktail but wouldn’t overpower it with proof. “For some people, 101 is a little too strong for them,” says Eddie. “The Wild Turkey 81 has a little of a lighter finish to it.”

We’re including a few Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon cocktails from Tales of the Cocktail 2011 below. Additionally, here is our review of Wild Turkey 81. Eddie says he likes the fruity notes, carmamel,

Filmed and edited by Scott Hendrickson at Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2011. Hosted and produced by Tom Fischer.

The Black Demure

1/4 oz Simple Syrup
1/4 oz Massenez Creme de Mure
1/4 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
2 oz Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain in Old Fashioned Glass over fresh ice.Garnish with a Blackberry.

Three Way

1/2 oz Lustau East India Solera Sherry
1/2 oz Cinzano Bianco
1 oz
Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon
1 Dash Bitter Truth Xocolatl Mole Bitters
1 Dash Orange Bitters (1-1 Fee’s & Regan’s)

Stir all ingredients over ice.Strain into Coupe.

81 Old Fashioned

1 Barspoon Demerara Syrup
2 oz Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon
2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
2 Dashes Orange Bitters (1-1 Fee’s & Regan’s)

Stir and Strain over ice into an Old Fashioned Glass.Garnish with lemon and orange twists.