It looks like the news of new distillery announcements is picking up right where it left off last year with more bourbon on the way.
Campari Group has announced a $161 million investment at it Wild Turkey Distillery campus in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The investment includes a second Wild Turkey distillery that will produce up to 5 million gallons of Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey per year.
Wild Turkey is one of the most iconic and beloved bourbon brands in the world. Its history is long and winding, passing through several different owners over the decades. Tracing the ownership provides fascinating insight into the brand’s evolution from a small Kentucky distillery to a global whiskey powerhouse.
The Early Years
The foundations of Wild Turkey date back to 1869 when the Ripy brothers founded a distillery near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky They initially called it the Old Hickory Distillery and produced bourbon there for several decades
After Prohibition ended the Ripys rebuilt the distillery and resumed bourbon production. They sold their whiskey to wholesalers who bottled it under their own brands. One of these wholesalers was Austin Nichols & Co.
How Wild Turkey Got Its Name
According to company legend, the “Wild Turkey” name originated in 1940 after an Austin Nichols executive shared some warehouse samples with friends on a wild turkey hunting trip. They enjoyed the bourbon so much that it became known as “the whiskey from that wild turkey hunt.” Austin Nichols eventually adopted Wild Turkey as the official brand name.
Changing Ownership in the Postwar Era
In 1949 the Ripy family sold the distillery and Wild Turkey brand to the Gould family. The Goulds ran the distillery for over two decades but eventually sold Wild Turkey to Pernod Ricard in 1971.
Pernod Ricard continued producing Wild Turkey bourbon at the Lawrenceburg distillery through the 1970s. But the brand truly came into its own in the 1980s after legendary master distiller Jimmy Russell joined Wild Turkey in 1954.
Russell helped refine and popularize Wild Turkey’s distinct bourbon profile. New expressions like Wild Turkey 101 and Rare Breed hit the market and pushed the brand into the mainstream. Russell’s son Eddie later joined Wild Turkey as a distiller in 1981 and eventually succeeded his father as master distiller. Their continuous work further bolstered Wild Turkey’s reputation in the bourbon world.
Campari Group Takes Over
In 2009, Italian spirits company Gruppo Campari purchased Wild Turkey and its distillery from Pernod Ricard for $575 million. This acquisition brought one of America’s most prized bourbon labels under European ownership.
Campari Group continued operating Wild Turkey much as Pernod Ricard had. The Russell father-son duo remained in place as master distillers, providing crucial continuity. Exciting new releases like Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel demonstrated Campari’s commitment to investing in the brand.
In perhaps its boldest move, Campari tapped renowned actor Matthew McConaughey as Wild Turkey’s creative director in 2016. His fun, adventurous advertising campaigns introduced the bourbon to new generations of drinkers.
The appointment of Eddie Russell as master distiller and Matthew McConaughey as creative director ushered in an exciting new era for Wild Turkey in the 2010s. But its legacy and production processes remain deeply rooted in Kentucky bourbon tradition.
Still Crafted in Kentucky
Throughout all the ownership changes over the past 150+ years, Wild Turkey has always been distilled at the same Lawrenceburg, Kentucky distillery. This continuity of place has helped preserve the brand’s distinctive flavor profile.
Jimmy and Eddie Russell have provided remarkable continuity through their eight decades of combined experience crafting Wild Turkey. Their focus on quality and tradition is a central pillar of the brand.
Wild Turkey’s ownership history involves some surprising plot twists, but its identity is firmly grounded in its Kentucky roots. For bourbon lovers, taking a deeper dive into Wild Turkey’s past makes appreciating its present complexities that much richer.
Wild Turkey Distillery to Produce 14 Million Proof Gallons Annually
Campari Group will construct a brand-new distillery at the Wild Turkey campus that will significantly increase the current capacity from 9 million to 14 million proof gallons. The new facility will locate adjacent to the company’s existing distillery. The project also entails an expansion to the waste treatment dry house process to increase processing capacity, doubling the current dry house and waste treatment output. With this investment, Campari Group will also upgrade the current barrel filling operation to handle the increased volumes.
This investment adds to the over $300 million in operation and expansion commitments already financed by Campari Group since the acquisition of the Wild Turkey distillery 14 years ago and comes on the heels of another significant investment announced a few months ago with the acquisition of Wilderness Trail Distillery in Danville. The project is expected to break ground by October 2023 and be completed by the end of July 2025.
“We are delighted to announce this important investment and we appreciate the support received by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development and the local authorities,” said Ugo Fiorenzo, managing director of Campari America and Canada. “Since 2009, when Campari Group acquired the Wild Turkey Distillery, we have significantly invested in the bourbon category, which now represents Campari Group’s second major leg after the aperitif portfolio. This expansion project confirms, once again, our commitment to this category and it will allow for the continued growth of the Wild Turkey and Russell’s Reserve franchise, both in the United States and internationally.”
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“This investment by Campari Group adds to the historic momentum the commonwealth is currently experiencing in our signature bourbon and spirits industry,” said Kentucky Gov. Beshear. “Kentucky is coming off our best year for growth in the spirits industry, with over $2.1 billion in new investments and approximately 700 new jobs for Kentuckians. I want to thank Campari for expanding its Wild Turkey campus in the commonwealth and continuing to invest in Anderson County and the Lawrenceburg community.”
Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spreading across global, regional and local priorities. The group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. Campari Group has a global distribution reach, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. Campari Group is headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, and owns 23 plants worldwide with its own distribution network in 23 countries.
Campari America LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Davide Campari-Milano N.V. Campari America has built a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers. Campari America manages Campari Group’s portfolio in the U.S. with leading brands like SKYY Vodka, SKYY Infusions, Grand Marnier, Campari, Aperol, Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon, American Honey, Russell’s Reserve, as well as a variety of other whiskey, rum, gin and vodka products.
Anderson County Judge/Executive Orbrey Gritton mentioned the partnership that has formed between the county and Campari.
“Wild Turkey’s announcement to expand their facilities in Anderson County is evidence that our community is open for business,” said Judge Gritton. “It has been our pleasure to work with their team on expansions in the past and we are thrilled to see our partnership continue with this announcement. This investment from Wild Turkey/Campari is a decision we do not take lightly, and we would like to thank them for trusting our community with their business.”
Lawrenceburg Mayor Troy L. Young thanked local and executive Campari leadership for continuing to grow in the community.
“The City of Lawrenceburg is delighted Campari has continued to invest in our community with their most recent expansion,” said Mayor Young. “We take pride in knowing our community played a small role in assisting with this major project announcement. We have worked hard over recent years to put our community in a position to compete and ultimately win projects of this size. Wild Turkey’s announcement shows our hard work is paying off. We want to thank their local leadership and executive leadership at Campari for choosing to grow in Lawrenceburg and Anderson County.”
Chair of Anderson County Forward Amanda Schoonover showed excitement for the new employment opportunities the expansion is bringing.
“We are excited to support the growth and expansion efforts of Wild Turkey right here in Anderson County,” Schoonover said. “As one of our longest distillery staples in our community, we look forward to the new employment opportunities, the positive economic impact to this community and supporting them in any way we can.”
MainStreet – “Wild Turkey Distillery”
FAQ
Who is Wild Turkey owned by?
Is Wild Turkey made by Matthew McConaughey?
Who owns Russell’s Reserve?
Who are the master distillers at Wild Turkey?
Where is wild turkey distilled?
In 2011, Wild Turkey began to be distilled at a newly constructed facility near the old distillery. The new distillery sits where the old bottling facility was previously located.
Is wild turkey a Bourbon?
Wild Turkey uses a mash consisting of a relatively lower percentage of corn than most bourbons and attempts are made to counteract the alkaline environment of the company’s limestone-rich water. Additionally, the raw whiskey is distilled to about 55% alcohol by volume, much lower than the legally allowed maximum to be considered bourbon.
Who owns Jack Daniels whiskey?
A semi-family affair. The Brown family controls the majority of voting shares in the company, and thereby one of the largest American-owned distilling operations. Its brand lineup is small but powerful, headlined by the all-conquering Jack Daniel’s brand, which remains the world’s best-selling whiskey.
What liqueur is made with Wild Turkey bourbon?
Wild Turkey American Honey – A honey liqueur made with Wild Turkey Bourbon. The grandchild of the original Wild Turkey Liqueur. Wild Turkey American Honey Sting – Same as the above, but with some chili pepper to add some spice! Russell’s Reserve Small Batch 10 Years – The core base of the Russell’s Reserve line and an incredible value of a whiskey.