An opportunity for bourbon enthusiasts to support wild turkey conservation.

Mr. and Mrs. Bourbon was founded in 2018 by Russ Smith and Cecy Linzey. Russ, who has a background in professional basketball, spent years mentoring and shadowing in the bourbon industry. He worked with some of the biggest master distillers in Kentucky.

After time spent learning, by 2018, his own company laid down about 100,000 barrels. Of course, you must give them time to age. After four years, Mr. and Mrs. Bourbon officially came to market.

The company quickly went statewide in Kentucky. Since then, the brand has expanded to eight states on shelves and 49 states online.

“We have a really cool shipping program that allows us to distribute directly through a website to consumers,” said Russ Smith, Founder of Mr. And Mrs. Bourbon.

Smith says the company loves to prioritize unique collaborations, projects, and other things that might not be in typical brands’ wheelhouses. When they learned of TFT, a partnership made plenty of sense to provide a “Bourbon for the Birds”.

TFT’s branding will appear on a seven-year bottle that TFT CEO Jason Lupardus tasted and chose himself. The goal? A campaign that helps raise awareness, support, and funds for the wild turkey conservation. “We hope that everyone will take a pour for the poults, as this bourbon is for the birds”, said Jason.

“We have the ability to customize these labels,” said Co-Founder Cecy Linzey. “That's something we do that nobody else does — these custom label collaborations that allow nonprofits to raise money. It also puts something very unique in supporters’ hands.”

Mr. And Mrs. Bourbon share common conservation interests with TFT as well. From a business standpoint, bourbon companies prioritize white oak conservation.

“We've been very aware of that issue, specifically with my background mentoring in the industry” Smith said. “I'm well aware of the issues that face the white oak stand, but also how that impacts wildlife on the other side. It just made a lot of sense for us to tap into this — knowing that we could give back and present TFT with an opportunity that no one else really had to give them. This will be the first conservation organization that has their own bourbon, and for a good cause at that.”

It’s important to know that the initial launch will not be widespread. Rather, it will be quite exclusive. In fact, only two barrels will be offered.

“We did that strategically, because we want there to be scarcity around these,” Smith said. “We want this to be special, and these will be hand numbered to about 500 bottles total.

“Some of these will be auctioned off to the highest bidders,” Smith continued. “They’ll be able to say they have numbers 1 through 10, or specific numbers out of that 500.”

Aside from the auction, the majority of bottles will be offered direct-to-consumer online at TFTBourbon.com. A limited number will be auctioned off at a private event in March in Downtown Louisville.

“We’ll host a proper, higher-end event,” Smith said. “Elected officials, among many others who support the cause, will be there. But the goal is to bring everybody together, but also, to raise awareness around white oak and wild turkey conservation.” Independent Stave Company will have some barrel coopers coming for demonstration as well.

Smith, and TFT’s Lupardus, point to how organic this relationship is. It wasn’t manufactured, and it arrived where it is through the natural building of relationships.

“When I met Jason, it was through a third-party out of Tennessee,” Smith said. “Again, there are the hunting, outdoors, and conservation components. These are things we all love. These are important to the folks who will support this initiative.”

The launch online is December 17th and the in-person event will be on March 13, 2026. It will be at O'Shea's on Whiskey Row in downtown Louisville, Kentucky — an old whiskey warehouse converted to a four-story Irish pub.

“This $500 ticketed event serves as a fundraiser for the organization,” said Smith. “TFT will raffle off other things, too, including a Benelli shotgun, burned barrel lids, and glassware. Overall, this is a way for us to come together around the bourbon and officially debut it to members and VIPs.”

The bourbon will be viewable on Mr. and Mrs. Bourbon’s website by late December. However, the March event will serve as the official release party of it, where approximately 125 bottles will be available.

Support TFT

Wild turkey populations are on the decline throughout the nation. Established in 2021, TFT is new to the landscape, but it’s driven by highly trained professionals with decades of conservation experience. To support TFT, and the complete body of wild turkey research and conservation it’s leading, become a member today. An Adult Annual Membership is $50, multi-year Team Turkey Membership is $250, and Life Membership is $2,500. Every dollar counts in the fight for wild turkey preservation.