The first distillery was created in Tyrone, Kentucky by the Ripy brothers in 1869. In 1905, the Ripy Brothers Distillery was opened by the sons of T.B. Ripy. They started distilling again after Prohibition ended. In 1940, the 'Wild Turkey' brand name was created when Thomas MCarthey, a distillery executive, took a some of the bourbon on his Wild Turkey hunting trip.