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Kentucky bourbon icon Jimmy Russell celebrates his 70th anniversary at Wild Turkey

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Kentucky bourbon icon Jimmy Russell celebrates his 70th anniversary at Wild Turkey


LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. (AP) — As bourbon fans flocked to the Wild Turkey visitors’ center, sitting near the entrance was no ordinary greeter. Jimmy Russell, who has lived through so much of the distillery’s rich history, was at his post as a goodwill ambassador, signing whiskey bottles, posing for photos and chatting up tourists about his favorite topics — making bourbon and sipping it.

For 70 years, the distillery in the heart of Kentucky’s picturesque bourbon country has been Russell’s home away from home. He learned his craft from a distiller who endured the dark days of Prohibition. Decades later, Russell was a key player in bourbon’s revival — creating some of the premium whiskeys that are cocktail staples and becoming a global front man for his brand and the bourbon sector.

The 89-year-old Russell, known affectionately as the “Buddha of Bourbon,” marked his 70th anniversary at the distillery on Tuesday. For nearly a half-century, he was master distiller at Wild Turkey, putting him in charge of every step of production — from distillation to bottling.

“I always said, ‘The first day I have to come to work I’m retiring,’” he said recently.

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That day still hasn’t arrived.

Russell is a beloved fixture at the distillery, nearly a decade after turning over master distiller duties to his son, Eddie. Both father and son are members of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, and the next generation is building on their legacy. Bruce Russell, Eddie’s son and Jimmy’s grandson, works as associate blender, putting him at the center of creating new Wild Turkey products.

The Russell family has a long history of being top executives heading the production and, in later years, the promotion of the brand. It also isn’t uncommon for master distillers to have long careers with a distillery and later become brand ambassadors. But Jimmy’s longevity puts him in a special class.

The elder Russell teamed up with his son and grandson on a special project recognizing the family’s whiskey-making tradition. Wild Turkey Generations was created by combining aged bourbons selected by each of them to reflect their own personal preferences. The bourbons were then blended to create the ultra-premium whiskey that had a limited release last year.

“I got to work on a project with him where all our names are on the bottle,” Bruce Russell said. “And that’s super special for me.”

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No longer part of the daily grind of bourbon making, Jimmy Russell still samples and offers his unvarnished opinion about some of the newest renditions of Wild Turkey being developed. But he typically spends time greeting tourists a few days each week at the visitors’ center.

His easy-going charm was on full display a couple of weeks ago as Mark and Donna Barton asked him to sign bottles of Wild Turkey they purchased in the gift shop. Eddie Russell topped it off by adding his signature.

“Heck yeah, this is going to go on display,” Donna Barton said.

Whether the couple from Princeton, West Virginia, drinks the contents of the signed bottles, or keeps them as unopened souvenirs, was “up for discussion,” Mark Barton said.

“We may crack it and have an ounce and then put it back up,” his wife added.

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Jimmy Russell is a seasoned hand at charming and educating bourbon fans, having spent decades traveling the world to promote Wild Turkey. One big change through the years, he said, is the level of knowledge whiskey fans now have about their favorite bourbons.

“When I started, it was all whiskey, it didn’t make any difference,” Russell said. “Nowadays, people know every little drop, every little thing about it.”

When he started in 1954, he said, the distillery had a different name — Anderson County Distilling — and the operation was much smaller, with about 40 barrels of whiskey produced daily and stored in four warehouses for aging, when bourbon gets its flavor and golden brown color. Wild Turkey — owned by the Italian-based Campari Group, which purchased the brand from French liquor company Pernod Ricard in 2009 — now produces 700 to 800 barrels of whiskey daily, stored in nearly three dozen warehouses. The brand sells globally and its biggest overseas markets include Japan and Australia. A second distillery is being built at the Wild Turkey complex to keep up with demand.

Unlike other distillery workers who typically stuck with one task, Russell rotated jobs early on, giving him the broader perspective that prepared him to take over as master distiller in 1967.

“As soon as I learned a job real well, they’d move me and put me on something else,” Russell said. “So I’ve done everything here.”

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His son Eddie, now 64, had the same extensive training when joining Wild Turkey in 1981.

“He wanted me to learn it from the ground up, the same way he had,” Eddie Russell said.

Within a couple of weeks, he said he “knew it was home for me.” Other lessons he learned from his father: putting maximum effort into the job and being a stickler for product consistency, he said.

“The number one thing I tell everybody that I learned from Jimmy was if you’re going to do something, do it right or don’t do it at all,” Eddie Russell said.

Kentucky distillers are a close-knit group, and another renowned bourbon baron, Fred Noe, a seventh-generation master distiller at Jim Beam, says Jimmy Russell has been a valued friend and mentor, especially after the death of Noe’s father, famed master distiller Booker Noe. Russell and Booker Noe were close friends.

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“When I took over for my father, Jimmy became a second father figure to me, guiding me as I stepped into the role of bourbon ambassador,” Fred Noe said. “His friendship and passion for the industry he and my father loved shaped me into the man I am today.”

In Kentucky, where 95% of the world’s bourbon is produced, the master distillers are treated as celebrities. If there was a Mount Rushmore of Kentucky bourbon, Jimmy Russell would be on it, said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

“You think about the names of him and his peers at the time, you’re talking some of the most treasured, beloved and cherished names in the history of Kentucky bourbon,” Gregory said. “And they were doing this at a time when bourbon was not celebrated as it is today. They paved the way for the success of Kentucky bourbon today.”

Watching his son and grandson follow in his footsteps is what Russell treasures most.

“That’s what I’m so proud of, to see what they’re doing,” he said. “To see how far Eddie’s come along. He’s well-known everywhere now. Bruce is coming that way.”

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His wife, Joretta, now 93, has been with him every step of the way, and Eddie Russell said she deserves credit for his father’s longevity. The bourbon business wasn’t discussed at home, as she made sure to keep her husband’s work and home lives separate to help him relax, their son said.

“Jimmy and Dad are master distillers at work. But at home, granny’s the boss,” Bruce Russell said.

Of all the questions fans ask him, one constant is: how does he like his bourbon? Jimmy prefers it neat — without ice or a splash of water. However it’s served, it should be sipped and savored, he said.

“Bourbon’s not something you sit and throw straight down,” Russell said. “You sit and enjoy the flavor and taste of it. And I’ve always said, you know one thing about bourbon, you drink when you’re happy, you drink when you’re sad.”

And his sense of humor hasn’t dimmed. Asked to name his favorite bourbon, he replied: “One of each.”

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What We Know So Far About the Kentucky Shooter, Still On the Loose

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What We Know So Far About the Kentucky Shooter, Still On the Loose


Authorities in Laurel County, Kentucky, are on their third day in the pursuit of Joseph A. Couch, 32, who is the lead suspect in Saturday’s shooting that injured five and shut down I-75 for three hours. 

Couch reportedly fired a total of 20 to 30 rounds into both south- and northbound lanes of the interstate, hitting up to 12 cars and causing numerous collisions. On Sunday, London, Kentucky, mayor Randle Weddle told The Courier Journal that there were no fatalities but that all injured victims were in the hospital. 

What happened in Laurel County on Saturday?

Around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, authorities responded to calls of an active shooter on I-75, near Exit 49 in Laurel County. According to police, Couch is believed to have been firing from a hillside that overlooked the congested road. Earlier that morning, authorities say that Couch legally purchased an AR-15 rifle and up to 1,000 rounds of ammunition in London, Kentucky, a city eight miles from Exit 49, which has a population of 7,600 and sits 75 miles south of Lexington. 

Later that Saturday, authorities recovered Couch’s SUV on a service road near the scene, and on Sunday later retrieved the weapon from a wooded area, which they believe is the location from which he shot into the interstate. 

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Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, a spokesman for the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, told The Courier Journal that as of Sunday, all five victims are in stable condition and are expected to survive. Acciardo reported that of the five victims shot, one was shot in the face, another in the arm, and another in the chest. 

Who is Joseph A. Couch?

Joseph A. Couch is a 32-year-old Kentucky native who, according to WKYT-TV, served six years in the Army reserve (some outlets had previously reported he was in the National Guard). The Laurel County sheriff’s office described him to be about 5-foot-10-inches tall and weighing around 154 pounds. Couch’s most recent address was reported to be in Woodbine, Kentucky, 20 miles south of the scene. 

In February of this year, Couch was charged with terroristic threatening in Knox County after threatening his neighbor with an “AR.” The charges were later dropped. 

According to authorities, Couch didn’t seem to have a particular target in mind, although they believe he strategically picked the location. The area’s rocky terrain, which is reportedly difficult to navigate, seemingly aided in his getaway, making the search difficult due to what authorities described as “walking in a jungle” because of the need for machetes to cut through the woods. 

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Couch is charged with five counts of attempted murder and five counts of first-degree assault. According to the Lexington Herald Leader, police can possibly charge him with wanton endangerment and criminal mischief for shooting into the cars of the people who were not hurt. 

What’s next in the search for the alleged Kentucky shooter?

With authorities on their third day of searching, Kentucky State Police master trooper Scottie Pennington told local stations it was their recommendation for residents to stay in the house, keep their porch lights on, and monitor any security devices they may have.  

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School districts in the area canceled school on Monday to ensure the safety and protection of students and staff. Rolling Stone requested information from the Laurel County Board of Education on whether school will resume tomorrow. An employee from the district, who declined to share their name and title, said that the decision was pending and will be announced on Facebook. 

Mayor Weddle has encouraged anyone with information to call the authorities with tips and told local news station WKYT-TV that a private donor is offering to pay $10,000 in reward for any information that leads to Couch’s arrest. Kentucky State Police are offering an additional $5,000, bringing the reward total to $15,000.

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Kentucky juveniles accused of shooting pellet gun at cars

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Kentucky juveniles accused of shooting pellet gun at cars


LINCOLN COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) – Two juveniles are facing charges after being accused of shooting a pellet gun at cars on a roadway.

In a Facebook post, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said they were dispatched to Mt. Salem Road following reports of vehicles being shot at.

When they arrived, they found the two juveniles shooting a high-powered pellet gun at the roadway, striking two vehicles.

No injuries were reported.

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The juveniles are facing wanton endangerment and criminal mischief charges.



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Central Kentucky children told to stay home from school as I-75 shooting suspect evades capture for third day | CNN

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Central Kentucky children told to stay home from school as I-75 shooting suspect evades capture for third day | CNN




CNN
 — 

Schools across a swath of central Kentucky have cancelled classes Monday and residents have been urged to remain on high alert as the deep-woods search for a man suspected of opening fire along I-75 enters it third day.

Joseph Couch, 32, has evaded capture since Saturday afternoon, when authorities say he fired an AR-15 from a cliff ledge on the side of the interstate about nine miles north of London, Kentucky, striking 12 cars and wounding five people.

Though his motive is still unknown, the attack appeared to be a “random act” of violence, Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Gilbert Acciardo said, according to The Associated Press.

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Search efforts led by the Kentucky State Police were paused overnight and are set to resume after 8 a.m. Monday morning, Root said.

Couch could still be armed and hiding anywhere in the the vast, densely wooded area near where his AR-15, ammunition, car and possibly his phone were found, Laurel County Sheriff John Root said Sunday night. Just hours before the shooting, Couch legally purchased a firearm and about 1,000 rounds of ammunition, sheriff’s office officials said.

It is also possible Couch has killed himself somewhere in the wilderness, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office Captain Richard Dalrymple said Sunday.

Alongside helicopters, drones and K-9 teams, ground crews are scouring a mountainous search area that spans thousands of acres and is crisscrossed with ATV trails, according to the sheriff and Kentucky State Police spokesperson Scottie Pennington. In some places, they are using machetes to slice through thick brush, Pennington said.

Until Couch is found, law enforcement are warning the community to stay vigilant for any signs of him and take steps to keep their homes safe.

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“You need to lock your doors. If you have security cameras, make sure you’re constantly watching them, maybe keep your porch lights on,” Pennington advised residents. “Have your cell phone and make sure your phones are charged up because you never know when you might have to contact somebody or law enforcement.”

Safety concerns also led more than a dozen area school districts and several other private schools to cancel classes Monday, including those in Laurel, Jackson and Clay counties.

London Mayor Randall Weddle said Sunday his office is communicating with local school superintendents. He added, “Of course, their priority is to keep our children safe.”

Though none of the victims of Saturday’s shooting were killed, some were left with “very severe” injuries, including a person who was shot in the face and another “across the chest,” according to Acciardo. Others were “critically hurt” but were in stable condition Sunday, he said.

Couch, a veteran of the National Guard, has a “very minimal” criminal record in the state, according to Jackie Steele, the commonwealth attorney for Laurel and Knox Counties. He was charged with terroristic threatening, but the charge was dismissed earlier this year, Steele said. No other details on the charge were given.

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Authorities searched the suspect’s house Sunday evening and are hoping to gain insight from electronic devices found inside, Dalrymple said.

Speaking at the news conference Sunday night, Root urged the suspect to turn himself in.

“We’re not going to quit until we do lay hands on him,” Root said, adding, “This effort is not going to stop.”

Traffic halted during the shooting north of London, Kentucky, on Saturday.

Search teams face a daunting undertaking as they trudge through the vast, secluded forest – a task the state police spokesperson compared to trudging through a jungle.

“You can’t do it very fast because you don’t want to leave (any) rock unturned. You don’t know if he’s in that area. So you’ve gotta be very slow-paced at what you do,” Pennington said.

More than 150 federal, state and local personnel are involved in the investigation and search for Couch, Root estimated, though only about 40 to 50 of those are on the ground.

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While Couch did not appear to be targeting specific people, the attack did appear to be “a planned event,” Acciardo said Sunday.

“At this point, we do not believe he has outside assistance,” Acciardo said, though he later noted it’s “extremely possible” the suspect is using some form of telecommunications.

The length of time Couch is able to survive in the wilderness depends on how prepared he was, which is still unclear to authorities.

Following the shooting Saturday, investigators found a vehicle registered to Couch along a forest service road off Exit 49, with an empty gun case inside. The vehicle was “very near the interstate, but not close enough that the person of interest could have fired from that location,” Acciardo said.

The suspect is believed to have walked to a cliff along the side of the interstate and fired from a ledge about 30 feet down the cliff, according to Dalrymple. Authorities later recovered the AR-15 near the site, along with a phone with the battery removed.

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‘I looked down and was just pouring blood,’ victim says

What started as a family day out ended with a trip to the emergency room for one of the shooting’s victims, 28-year-old Rebecca Puryear.

Puryear, her husband and 4-year-old son had spent the day together in Lexington and were on the way back to their home in Harlan, Kentucky, when they heard gunshots as they approached Exit 49 on I-75.

“It sounded like a tire had blown, so I asked my husband, and he said it was gunshots,” Puryear told CNN on Sunday.

“The next thing I know, my ears are ringing. I look over and my (passenger-side) window is busted and there’s a bullet hole.”

Puryear continued driving for another mile and a half before pulling over in a safer area. She made sure her husband and son were safe before realizing she had been shot.

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“I looked down and was just pouring blood,” Puryear said. “I had to try to keep it together because if I freaked out, they would’ve freaked out.”

They called 911, Puryear said, and Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Bobby Roberts responded as another ambulance was headed to assist other victims behind her at the scene.

“I started fainting and going in and out, and he told me to get in his cruiser so he could take me to the hospital.”

Puryear said a bullet entered through the passenger-side window and struck her right arm, penetrating her chest before exiting through her left arm. She was released from a hospital later Saturday night but will need surgery.

“We’re blessed that I’m still alive. I’m a walking miracle,” Puryear told CNN. “It still does not feel real to me, even though I’m sitting here with gaping wounds.”

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CNN’s Paradise Afshar, Raja Razek, Lauren Mascarenhas, Chris Boyette, Jillian Sykes and Zoe Sottile contributed to this report.



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