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Bourbon Pursuit
The Official Podcast of Bourbon! The best in news, reviews and interviews with people making the bourbon whiskey industry happen. Join hosts Kenny Coleman, Ryan Cecil, and Fred Minnick as they talk with prominent guests and provide insight on American whiskey 3 times a week. Catch all new episodes every Thursday with special Whiskey Quickie reviews on Tuesday and get caught up on bourbon news with This Week in Bourbon on Friday.
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06/12/2024

TWiB: KY Owl Files for Bankruptcy, A Bill In Ohio Could Stop Flipping, Elijah Craig Releasing Craig Nog

It's This Week in Bourbon for December 6th, 2024. Stoli Group and Kentucky Owl file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, signaling shifts in the whiskey landscape. Ohio proposes a bourbon flipping bill, stirring debate among consumers. Hosts Kenny and Ryan share holiday reflections and discuss Jack Daniels’ Barrel Tree Sale for service members. New Riff's bottled in bond is named Whiskey of the Year, while Elijah Craig unveils the festive Craignog cocktail kit. Highlights also include Booker's Bourbon "Jimmy's Batch" honoring industry legends and Bakta Spirits’ Bakta 2005, which raises skepticism with its marketing. Tune in for more bourbon news and discussions next week!Show Notes: Ohio Bill Targets Bourbon “Flippers” with Open-Bottle Rule Jack Daniel’s Barrel Tree Sale Supports Military Families New Riff Bourbon Wins Whisky Exchange’s 2025 Award Ken Lewis Elected Kentucky Distillers’ Association Chair Stoli Group (USA) Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Woodford Reserve Debuts Limited-Edition Chocolate Bourbon Bar McDonald’s Offers Beer in Select International Locations Watch Hill Whiskey Releases 20-Year Bourbon Batch 02 Blue Run Spirits Releases Ember Preservation Distillery Launches Wheated Pot Distilled Bourbon Elijah Craig Introduces “Craig Nog” Eggnog Cocktail Kit Booker’s Bourbon Honors Jimmy Russell with 2024-04 Batch BHAKTA Launches Rare 2005 Bourbon at $1000 Support this podcast on Patreon
48m
22/11/2024

TWiB: Maker’s Mark's New Master Distiller and Blender, Still Austin KentuckyFU Campaign, Four Roses Single Barrel Collection

It's This Week in Bourbon for November 22nd 2024. Maker’s Mark appointed a new master distiller and lead blender, Still Austin has a new KentuckyFU campaign, and Four Roses introduces the Single Barrel Collection.Show Notes: Black Diamond and Hocking Valley create the first railroad box car barrel storage Evan Williams announced 15 recipients of the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund grants Maker’s Mark appointed a new master distiller and lead blender Buffalo Trace Bourbon collaboration with Bettinardi Golf Tariffs on American whiskey exports to Europe could resume in March 2025 Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery has named Brandon O’Daniel as the new head distiller High Basin Brands has reached an agreement for an asset purchase of Treaty Oak Brewing and Distilling An Indiana man was sentenced to 48 months in prison and over $100k in fines for killing 3 people with an unregistered still Still Austin has a new KentuckyFU campaign Remus Gatsby Reserve 2024 Edition Elkwood 15-Year Single Barrel Bourbon Milam & Greene Whiskey Cooper’s Hawk Single Barrel Bourbon Hidden Barn Bourbon 2024 Madeira finished bourbon Laws Whiskey House Honey Cask Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey finished in a Cognac Foeder Abraham Bowman Oak Series: American Oak Michter’s 20 Year Four Roses introduces the Single Barrel Collection Support this podcast on Patreon
54m
31/10/2024

486 - Turning the Wholesale Bourbon Marketplace Online with Rob Arnold of Barrel Hub

If you have followed the progress of this show since the beginning, you can see the evolution of what we talk about. In the beginning it was about brands and Master Distillers, then when we started Pursuit Spirits we were introduced into the world of brokers and the middle layer of people who own barrels without brands. That information has made its way to you and now you know more about the market. But that brokered market is heavily guarded. It's a series of handshakes, phone calls, and emails with excel spreadsheets with prices to see what's available. However, Rob Arnold with Barrel Hub is trying to make access easier for everyone. Rob isn't new to this game. He spent his undergraduate in Texas and is the person responsible for the pecan yeast strain used by TX Whiskey to this day. We talk about his background and how that led to the idea of creating a portal where industry folks can buy and sell barrels on the wholesale market. Show Notes: 00:00-Introduction to Bourbon Pursuit and Market Evolution 03:10-The Brokered Whiskey Market and Its Challenges 05:56-Rob Arnold's Background and Innovative Ideas 09:07-The Role of Yeast in Whiskey Production 11:53-The Journey of TX Whiskey and Its Unique Identity 15:08-Navigating the Craft Whiskey Landscape 17:53-The Science Behind TX Whiskey's Yeast 21:09-The Impact of Pernod Ricard's Acquisition 30:07-Navigating Challenges During COVID-19 32:23-The Science of Whiskey: Writing and Education 36:00-Innovative Barrel Financing Solutions 40:40-Introducing Barrel Hub: A Marketplace for Whiskey 46:12-Transparency in the Whiskey Market 52:44-Empowering Entrepreneurs in the Whiskey Industry Support this podcast on Patreon
1h 10m
11/10/2024

TWiB: Bardstown Bourbon Finishes Their Expansion, Barrell Craft Spirits 20-Year Toasted Bourbon, The Return of King of Kentucky for 2024

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 11th 2024. Bardstown Bourbon Co finished their latest expansion, Barrell Craft Spirits releases a 20-Year Toasted Single Barrel Bourbon, and the return of King of Knetucky for 2024.Show Notes: Alcohol in Space at Whiskey Thief Bardstown Boutbon Co finished their latest expansion Pappy Palooza Pass or Play by Give270 Elijah Craig Bourbon Old Fashioned Week Penelope Bourbon Founders Reserve List Mint Julep Experiences launched Ireland Whiskey Tours Vendome Copper & Brass Works has opened a new manufacturing facility Castle & Key Distillery Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon Old Potrero’s new California Cellar Series Town Branch Imperium MMXXIV High West Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 12 Barrell Craft Spirits 20-Year Toasted Single Barrel Bourbon Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled in Bond Vintage Series: Fall 2020 Booker’s Batch 2024 03 Master Distillers Batch Brother’s Bond 7-Year Old Bottled In Bond Bardstown Bourbon with Blackberry Farm Brewery Westward Whiskey Milestone Edition No. 2 King of Kentucky 2024 Old Overholt Extra Aged Cask Strength 11YR Hard Truth Distilling Co French Oak Harvest Rye Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse 2024 Camp Nelson B @whiskeythiefdistilling @bardstownbourbonco @give270 @elijahcraig @penelopebourbon @castleandkey @barrellbourbon @brothersbond @hardtruthdistilling @russellsreserve Support this podcast on Patreon
58m
04/10/2024

Behind The Pursuit: The Easy Button Pt. 2

Subscribe to Behind The Pursuit: From Bourbon to Brand Ryan tackled these questions back on Episode 068, and with the feedback we got from listeners, we wanted to give Kenny an opportunity to chime in as well. Today's question comes from listener Richard C. Richard had a series of questions looming from the recent Bourbon Roundtable Live Q&A during Pursuit Palooza. Kenny & Ryan used to joke that they should have gone the "easy route" to a brand and just bottled MGP instead of doing their own thing. Now, MGP brands are truly everywhere, the bourbon market is undergoing a correction, and bottles are sitting on the shelf for longer.  We hit on: How do you feel looking back on your original decision to forge a different path? Did you feel you missed out on something by doing that? Do you feel you are better positioned now for the current market, and for the future, than if you had bottled MGP?  Where do you think you'd be currently if you had gone with MGP instead of creating the Pursuit United brand as we know it? What would you do differently if you could do it all over again? What would you tell the 2018 versions of Kenny & Ryan? How do you continue to set the brand up for success with so many other brands continuing to develop around you? and much more. Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at [email protected].
45m
26/09/2024

481 - Investing In Bourbon Barrels with Jeremy Kasler and Sara Havens of CaskX

As a listener of Bourbon Pursuit, you already know more than the average bourbon consumer that walks the aisles. We get into tons of different discussions that surround the whiskey industry and you've heard us talk about barrels that aren't owned by distilleries but sit on the books of brokers or middle-men. With the explosion of bourbon over the past few years, the cost to acquire those barrels from brokers has sky rocketed, and whenever there is an opportunity to make money, more people get into the game. Today, there are millions of barrels aging in warehouses that don't belong to brands but are done as investments for anybody willing to take the risk. It's really no different than the stock market and for that reason we have Jeremy Kasler and Sara Havens from Cask X join the show. We talk about the business model and how anyone with the some spare money can put their dollars into barrels of whiskey as an alternative investment. We go through the legal ramifications and the unrealized benefits of being a CaskX customer. We also talk about the current market where we are seeing a decline in prices and if that means all good things come to an end or if the market is still strong and is a good place to think about future investments. Show Notes: 00:00-Introduction to Bourbon Pursuit and Barrel Investment 07:12-The Role of Whiskey Enthusiasts in Brand Success 12:53-The Evolution of Barrel Brokering and Investment 21:24-Understanding the Risks and Returns of Barrel Investments 30:32-Market Trends and the Future of Bourbon 40:15-Investor Profiles and Distillery Partnerships Support this podcast on Patreon
1h 3m
20/09/2024

TWiB: Flaviar Acquires Speakeasy Company, Maker's Mark 2024 Cellar Aged, Jimmy Russell Celebrates his 70th Anniversary

It's This Week in Bourbon for September 20th 2024. Flaviar has acquired competitor Speakeasy Company, Maker's Mark Releases its 2024 Cellar Aged and Wild Turkey master distiller Jimmy Russell celebrated his 70th anniversary with the company.Show Notes: Heaven Hill opens the Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen Flaviar has acquired competitor Speakeasy Company Premiership Rugby has signed a new partnership with Buffalo Trace Tom Beckbe announces a collaboration with Pappy & Company Brewzle Whiskey Festival in Opelika, taking place on October 12, 2024 Southern Star NFL 30th season with a Special Barrel Release Dierks Bentley ROW 94 Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish Ole Smoky Distillery is teaming up with Jason Kelce Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 4 and Old Faithful Straight Bourbon Whiskies Milam & Greene Whiskey Unabridged Volume 3 Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Special Release Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8 Hidden Barn Organic Wheated Bourbon Whiskey Wolves American Single Malt Cedar Brook Wheated Bourbon Silverbelly Whiskey limited single barrel Hard Truth Distilling Co. announced the release of four limited reserve whiskeys Filmland Spirits QUADRAFORCE Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024 Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8 Year Old Bourbon @heavenhilldistillery @buffalotracebourbon @tombeckbe @pappyandco @brewzle @dierksbentley @olesmokey @luxrow @milamandgreenewhiskey @makersmark @wildturkey @hidden_barn Support this podcast on Patreon
1h
12/09/2024

479 - Public Relations: The Not So Hidden Side of Bourbon with Dave Karraker of Raptor PR

One thing I love about what we do in this show is that we continue to explore new and interesting angles of the bourbon world. And one that always gets overlooked is the role of public relations. All major corporations have contracts with PR firms where it's their responsibility to get eyeballs on every new release, get butts in seats at events, and make some kind of commotion about their whiskey. To explore this topic, I've invited Dave Karrakur on the show. He's an industry veteran who has done PR his entire career at places like Sega and Campari but has now ventured off on his own with Raptor Communications. We talk about the stress that PR feels when it comes time to put out a new release, how to get it in front of the right audience and get words in articles like Forbes, and how do you response to a client when something just completely flops. Show Notes: 00:00-Introduction and the Role of PR in the Bourbon Industry 06:28-Exploring a New Angle: Public Relations in the Bourbon World 10:26-Guest's Background in PR and the Drinks Business 18:55-The Need for PR and Creating a Compelling Narrative 25:25-Navigating the Changing Media Landscape 31:39-Rising Above the Clutter: Detail and Engagement 32:35-Building Whiskey Brands through PR 34:02-Measuring the Impact of PR 35:00-The Value of Third-Party Endorsements 37:16-Building Relationships with Journalists and Influencers 39:32-Navigating Social Media Platforms for Whiskey Marketing 44:11-Distribution Challenges and On-Shelf Presence 46:04-Strategies for Sending Samples to Reviewers 48:55-Maintaining a Cadence of PR Activities 50:17-Dealing with Negative Reviews 55:03-The Complex and Stressful Nature of Whiskey PR Support this podcast on Patreon
1h 15m
05/09/2024

478 - What Are New Bourbon Drinkers Thinking? with Justin Kingery and Brian Sekelsky

I've been around bourbon as a more than a light bystander for more than a decade. We talk on the show all the time about how we got to know bourbon at a good time but today we get our reality check. I put a message out on a local facebook group in Louisville asking for anyone who has gotten into bourbon in less than a year to send me a message about coming on the show to give us their perspective because I want to know what goes through the mind of today's new bourbon drinker. Brian Sekelsky and Justin Kingery are two new bourbon enthusiasts and we dive into the factors that have influenced their buying habits. We touch on the variety of bourbons available today, including finishes, and the their openness to trying new things instead of chasing what's popular. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about Woodford Double Oak and Blanton's are mentioned as gateway bourbons Cocktails played a role in their bourbon journey, with the Old Fashioned being a favorite. Finding rare bottles and sharing their bourbon experiences with others brings excitement and enjoyment. Personal taste and experimentation are key in the bourbon journey. Intrigue, emotion, and consistency are key factors in the speaker's bourbon collection. We value the experience and emotional connection with bourbon. Social media, YouTube channels, and Facebook groups play a role in shaping the intrigue. We're skeptical about opening expensive bottles and considers price when making purchasing decisions. Label recognition and bottle design influence the speaker's purchasing decisions. The variety of bourbons available today, including finishes, offers new and interesting experiences. We touch on the importance of truth in advertising in the bourbon industry. Support this podcast on Patreon
1h 20m