The history of Wild Turkey begins in 1869 with the founding of the Ripy Distillery on a hill, now known as Wild Turkey Hill, above a gorge of the Kentucky River. The distillery was closed in 1919 due to Prohibition, but reopened in 1933. Since 1941, Wild Turkey whiskeys have been produced in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, by Austin Nichols.

The brand name Wild Turkey was established in 1940 when Thomas McCarthy, a manager of the Ripy Distillery, regularly brought the whiskey to turkey hunts and it became increasingly well-known as a result.

The Wild Turkey Longbranch Small Batch is the result of a collaboration between the actor Matthew McConaughey and the renowned Master Distiller Eddie Russell. This special bourbon is matured for eight years before undergoing a special finishing process. During this process, the whiskey is filtered through Texas mesquite and oak charcoal, which gives it its distinctive flavour.