Matthew McConaughey and Wild Turkey teamed up with disaster relief organization Operation BBQ Relief to give thanks to first responders nationwide as part of the Bourbon brand’s “With Thanks” annual charitable giving campaign.
The program kicked off Friday (11/1) in Los Angeles where Wild Turkey Creative Director McConaughey, Master Distiller Eddie Russell and a group of volunteers prepared and delivered turkey dinners to first responders who are critical in the rescue and relief efforts around the current wildfires in the area. The turkeys were generously donated by Butterball®, official turkey sponsor of Operation BBQ Relief.
McConaughey and the Wild Turkey team had originally planned to be in Los Angeles in conjunction with National First Responder’s Day to host an event honoring those involved in last year’s Woolsey Fires, but that changed in response to the current emergency situation.
“Wild Turkey is founded on community – from our tight-knit group of distillery employees to the townspeople who have supported us through the years,” said Wild Turkey Master Distiller Eddie Russell. “To honor that spirit, every year we recognize people who perform extraordinary acts to support their communities – and do it with conviction. We are grateful to have our Creative Director Matthew McConaughey to help us take action and give thanks again this holiday season.”
McConaughey has been the Creative Director for Wild Turkey since 2016. The relationship began upon the actor’s inaugural visit to the iconic Kentucky distillery, where he was introduced to the Russells – the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame® father and son Master Distiller team who have 101 years of Bourbon industry experience collectively. McConaughey had an immediate connection with the Russells when he discovered Wild Turkey’s devotion to distilling Bourbon the right, unapologetic way. In 2018, McConaughey unveiled his own Bourbon: Wild Turkey Longbranch®, a rare small-batch Kentucky straight bourbon refined with Texas Mesquite.