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  March 1, 2020 9:10 PM PST

  Wild Turkey Timeline Complete with Launch Dates

  Major bottle releases and historic timings of the Wild Turkey aka Austin Nichols Distillery

   

   

   

   

  WT = Wild Turkey

  WTRB = Wild Turkey Rare Breed

  RR = Russels Reserve

   

   

  Year	Description
  1971	Austin Nichols purchases the Boulevard Distillery (f/k/a Old Ripey Distillery)
  1976	WT Liqueur with Honey launched
  1980	Pernod Ricard purchases Austin Nichols
  ~1980	WT12y/101° "Beyond Duplication" launches
  1981	Eddie Russell joins WT as a relief operator
  ~1985	WT12y/101° label changes to "CGF" in U.S.; "Beyond Duplication" label continues in Japan
  ~1990	WT Cuvee Lafayette 12y/101° launches in France
  1991	WTRB launches (Batch W-T-01-91)
  ~1991	Wild Turkey Kentucky Legend NAS/101° released in Duty Free
  1992	WT 8y/101° loses age statement in U.S., becomes "Old No. 8 Brand": WT8/101° continues to be exported and an embossed "8" is added near the shoulder
  ~1992	WT 12y/101° label changes to "split-label"
  1992	1855 Reserve launches (Batch W-T-01-92)
  1994	WTKS launches (with pewter top)
  1994	WT Tradition NAS/101° replaces WT Kentucky Legend NAS/101° in Duty Free
  1996	1855 Reserve discontinued (Batch W-T-01-96)
  ~1998	WT Kentucky Legend Single Barrel 110° ("Donut") released in Japan
  ~1998	WT Stampede NAS/105° replaces WT Tradition NAS/101° in Duty Free
  1999	Label of WT changes to depict a left-facing full-color turkey in profile
  ~1999	WT 12y/101° discontinued in U.S.; WT 12y/101° continues to be exported and label changes to "psuedo-split-label"
  1999	WTRB label changes to include a turkey
  2000	Bottling moves to Lawrenceburg, IN
  2001	WT RR 10y/101° launches
  2001	WT 17y/101° released in Japan
  2002	WTKS cap changes to dark wood without Wild Turkey logo
  2002	WT Freedom NAS/106° replaces WT Stampede NAS/105° in Duty Free
  2004	Barrel entry proof increases from 107° to 110° for both bourbon and rye
  2004	WT Sherry Signature 10y/86° released in Duty Free
  2004	WT Tribute 15y/101° released in U.S.
  2004	WT Tribute 15y/110° released in Japan
  ~2004	Wild Turkey website added to back label of WT101
  2005	WT Heritage Single Barrel 101° replaces WT Freedom NAS/106°
  2005	WT RR 10y/101° replaced by RR 10y/90°
  2005	WTKS cap changes to dark wood with Wild Turkey logo
  2006	Barrel entry proof increases from 110° to 115° for both bourbon and rye
  2006	Bottling moves to Fort Smith, AR
  2006	WT Master Distiller's Selection 14y/107° released in Japan
  2006	WT American Honey launched
  2005-2006	WT 12y/101° label changes from psuedo-split-label to uni-label
  2007	RR Rye 6y/90° launches
  2007	WT American Spirit 15y/100° released
  2008	WTKS cap changes to light wood
  2009	Gruppo Campari purchases Austin Nichols
  2009	RR label changes to tall and narrow brown labels
  2009	WT Tradition 14y/101° released
  2011	Label of WT changes to depict a left-facing brown & white sketch of a turkey in profile. The name "Austin Nichols" is moved to the small print at the bottom of the label
  2011	WT 81° replaces WT 80°
  2012	WT Rye 81° launched
  2013	RR SiB launches
  ~2013	Export WT 12y/101° discontinued
  2013	WT 13y/90° launched in Japan
  2013	Bottling returns to Lawrenceburg, KY
  2013	WT Forgiven Batch #302 released
  2014	WT Diamond Anniversary released
  2014	WT Forgiven Batch #303 released
  2015	Label of WT changes to depict a left-facing black & white sketch of a turkey in profile.
  2015	RR label changes to "rustic" label
  2015	WT Master's Keep 17y/86.8° released
  2015	RR SiB Rye launches
  2015	RR 1998 15y/104° released
  2015	Eddie Russell named "Master Distiller"
  2015	Bruce Russell joins WT as a brand ambassador for RR
  2017	WT Decades released

   

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  BARREL ENTRY PROOF TIMELINE

  Year	Description
  pre-2004	Barrel entry proof is 107°
  2004	Barrel entry proof increases from 107° to 110°
  2006	Barrel entry proof increases from 110° to 115°

   

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  WILD TURKEY GENERAL LABEL TIMELINE

  Year	Description
  1999	Label of WT changes to depict a left-facing full-color turkey in profile
  2011	Label of WT changes to depict a left-facing brown & white sketch of a turkey in profile. The name "Austin Nichols" is moved to the small print at the bottom of the label
  2015	Label of WT changes to depict a left-facing black & white sketch of a turkey in profile.

   

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  WILD TURKEY 12y/101° TIMELINE

  Year	Description
  c.1980	WT12y/101° "Beyond Duplication" launches
  c.1985	WT12y/101° label changes to "CGF" in U.S.; "Beyond Duplication" label continues in Japan
  c.1992	WT 12y/101° label changes to "split-label"
  c.1999	WT 12y/101° discontinued in U.S.; WT 12y/101° continues to be exported and the label changes to "psuedo-split-label"
  c.2005-2006	WT 12y/101° label changes from psuedo-split-label to uni-label
  c.2013	Export WT 12y/101° discontinued

   

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  WILD TURKEY KENTUCKY SPIRIT TIMELINE

  Year	Description
  1994	WTKS launches (with pewter top)
  2002	WTKS cap changes to dark wood without Wild Turkey logo
  2008	WTKS cap changes to light wood

  
  This post was edited by admin at March 1, 2020 9:11 PM PST