Mr. and Mrs. Bourbon, founded in 2018 by Russ Smith—a former professional basketball player—and Cecy Linzey, has entered into a partnership with Turkeys For Tomorrow (TFT) and is offering bourbon branded with the organization’s label. The Dec. 17 online introduction launched a campaign to help raise awareness and gain support and funds for wild turkey conservation. “We hope that everyone will take a pour for the poults, as this bourbon is for the birds,” TFT CEO Jason Lupardus said.
The Mr. And Mrs. Bourbon distillery shares common conservation interests with TFT. From a business standpoint, bourbon companies prioritize white oak conservation.
“I’m well aware of the issues that face the white oak stand, but also how that impacts wildlife on the other side,” Smith said. “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.”
The initial launch was online, but quite exclusive. 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. They’ll be able to say they have numbers 1 through 10, or specific numbers out of that 500.”
Most bottles, however, will be offered direct-to-consumer online at TFTBourbon.com. A limited number will be auctioned off at a private event in downtown Louisville, Ken., on March 13, 2026.
“This $500 ticketed event serves as a fundraiser for the organization,” Smith said. “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.”
Smith worked with some of the biggest master distillers in Kentucky for years to launch the company. By 2018 his firm laid down about 100,000 barrels. After four years of aging, Mr. and Mrs. Bourbon officially came to market.
It quickly went statewide in Kentucky. Since then, the brand has expanded to eight states on shelves and 49 states online.
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