| Beginning as a wholesale grocer in 1855, Austin Nichols | | | | brand. |
| specialized in tea, coffee, and spirits. Meanwhile, the | | | | In 1954, Master Distiller, Jimmy Russell, joined the |
| Ripy family founded their distillery in 1869 in | | | | distillery. When the Pernod Ricard Group purchased |
| Lawrenceburg, KY on what is now called Wild Turkey | | | | Austin Nichols in 1980, Wild Turkey Bourbon was |
| Hill. In 1893, the Ripy brothers' whiskey was picked to | | | | released to the international market. With over fifty |
| represent Kentucky at the World's Fair. Like most, the | | | | years in the business, Jimmy Russell, now collaborating |
| distillery was shut down during Prohibition, but reopened | | | | with his son, Eddie, has helped Austin Nichols release a |
| in 1933 after it was modernized. | | | | number of small batch premium Bourbons in addition to |
| In 1939, these two family histories collided when the | | | | its original Kentucky Straight Bourbon. |
| Austin Nichols Company made the decision to focus | | | | Since the early 1800's, Kentucky's famous distilleries |
| completely on wines and spirits and purchased the | | | | have crafted the world's finest bourbons, using secret |
| Ripy distillery. The next year, executive Thomas | | | | recipes and a long-established process passed down |
| McCarthy brought a batch of the Bourbon with him on | | | | from generation to generation. Our horse farms, quiet |
| a turkey hunting trip. When his friends asked him to | | | | countryside and easy way of life will entice you. |
| bring the "Wild Turkey" Bourbon back with him the | | | | Step into our country, and let it sweep you off your |
| next year, McCarthy turned the nickname into the | | | | feet as you enter Bourbon Country. |