Wild Turkey American Honey
Wild Turkey American Honey is a 750mL bourbon and honey liqueur bottled at 35.5% ABV (71 proof), made in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky by blending real Wild Turkey Kentucky straight bourbon with pure honey. It descends directly from the recipe Jimmy Russell created in 1976 — launched as Wild Turkey Honey Liqueur, recognised by the distillery's own heritage as the world's first bourbon liqueur, and renamed American Honey in 2006. Smooth, bright and unmistakably honeyed, it is the bottle that started the honey-whiskey category. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 35.5% (71 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Style: Bourbon-based honey liqueur (flavored whiskey)
- Blend: Kentucky straight bourbon blended with pure honey
- Origin: Wild Turkey Distillery, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
- Heritage: Created 1976 by Jimmy Russell; renamed American Honey 2006
1976: Jimmy Russell Invents the Honey Bourbon
Flavored whiskey is a crowded shelf now, but it starts here. In 1976, Wild Turkey master distiller Jimmy Russell blended the distillery's Kentucky straight bourbon with pure honey and released it as a honey liqueur — the first bourbon liqueur, by the house's own heritage account — at a moment when no such category existed. Thirty years on, in 2006, the recipe was repackaged and renamed American Honey, and the imitators followed. The producer still groups it under its Flavored Whiskeys, and the build has never changed direction: real bourbon first, pure honey second, liqueur sweetness at 71 proof rather than straight-whiskey strength. Pour the unflavoured originals alongside it from the Wild Turkey vendor page and our bourbon whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
The producer describes real honey sweetness on the aroma; a clean, bright, smooth taste led by bold sweet honey with caramel and orange; and a rich honey finish. An independent review adds lemon zest, butterscotch and a cookie-spice warmth over the honey.
How to Enjoy
The producer's serves: straight from the bottle, chilled in the freezer, or on the rocks. It also sweetens a Whiskey Sour without syrup and makes a two-ingredient highball with soda and lemon. More Kentucky pours are in our bourbon whiskey collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is American Honey a whiskey or a liqueur?
Both, precisely: it is a liqueur made by blending real Kentucky straight bourbon with pure honey, bottled at 35.5% ABV — below straight-whiskey strength and sweetened — which is why it is classified as a flavored whiskey.
How strong is Wild Turkey American Honey?
71 proof — 35.5% ABV — in the US 750mL bottling.
Who created American Honey?
Wild Turkey master distiller Jimmy Russell, in 1976, as Wild Turkey Honey Liqueur — the world's first bourbon liqueur per the distillery's heritage. It was renamed American Honey in 2006.
The original honey bourbon, from the man who invented it — order Wild Turkey American Honey online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
