Wild Turkey Brings Back Behind the Barrel Experience for Bartenders

Wild Turkey® Partners With USBG For Repeat Performance of Highly-Successful “Behind the Barrel” Bartender Experience.

Educational Program Led by Legendary Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell to Focus on Time-Honored Bourbon-Making Methods.

Wild Turkey announced it is bringing back the successful bartender engagement program “Behind the Barrel,” to a new pool of Bourbon enthusiasts from around the country. In partnership with the United States Bartenders Guild, Behind the Barrel offers a peek behind the curtains into Wild Turkey’s time-honored, bourbon-making methods.

To help hone their craft, bartenders learn the art of whiskey-making from Bourbon Hall of Famers® and the only father and son Master Distilling duo in the industry – Jimmy and Eddie Russell. From the grain selection to barrel placement in the aging warehouses, Behind the Barrel lifts the veil on the A to Z of Wild Turkey’s production and distilling process.

One would be hard-pressed to find a pair of distillers working today that are more suited to this task. Together, Jimmy Russell and son Eddie Russell represent an astounding 95 years of distilling experience. For decades, they have acted as guardians of America’s native spirit, never wavering in their commitment to using traditional methods and never compromising their integrity by taking shortcuts or doing things the easy way. This reverence for tradition makes them uniquely qualified to teach bartenders every step of the Bourbon-making process – from grain to bottle.

Behind the Barrel is also a celebration of that stubborn spirit. To be chosen for this up-close-and-personal experience, bartenders must demonstrate that, like Jimmy and Eddie Russell, they too have an uncompromising spirit – behind the bar and in life. Where others take shortcuts, they are committed to doing things their own way, the right way.

The participants will spend a weekend dividing their time between educational activities in Lawrenceburg and enjoying the best food, drink and activities Kentucky has to offer. While a strong Bourbon foundation is a critical component of the program, Behind the Barrel definitely leaves room for fun – from skeet shooting and a special sugar barrel tasting with Eddie Russell to camping out under the stars on the distillery grounds.

Behind the Barrel is open to USBG and non-USBG members. Applications for the 30 available spots will be taken from 6/1/2015 – 8/15/2015. To apply, visit WildTurkeyBourbon.com.