On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Brothers of the Leaf Bourbon Finished in Toasted French Oak. This non-age stated bourbon is 115.4 proof and $90 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for January 20th 2023. Sazerac is suing Republic National Distributing Company in excess of $86M. Kentucky ABC seized undisclosed amounts of bourbon from Justins’ House of Bourbon. Woodford Reserve releases its Double Double Oaked Bourbon for 2023.Show Notes: Sazerac is suing Republic National Distributing Company in excess of $86M Kentucky ABC seized undisclosed amounts of bourbon from Justins’ House of Bourbon Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) implements a price increase of 4% on more than 3,500 brands Playboy Spirits has raised more than US$13 million in funding Greg Hughes, Beam Suntory chief growth and brands officer, talks RTD growth Woodford Reserve releases its Double Double Oaked Bourbon for 2023 Mystic Farm & Distillery announces the launch of Mystic Galactic, a bourbon whiskey aged for one year in space @houseofbourbonlex @houseofbourbonlou @houseofbourbonky @playboy @woodfordreserve @mysticfarmdistillery Support this podcast on Patreon

If you think there is a lot of bourbon on the shelf now, wait just a few more years. The news over the past year has been flooded with a couple million upwards to a billion dollars in capital investments from everyone in the bourbon industry. When the news dropped that Heaven Hill was going to open a new $135M distillery that will produce 150,000 barrels a year, in addition to their existing Bernheim distillery that already produces 1,500 a day, many of us scratched our heads and thought, "who is going to drink all this whiskey?". That's when I reached out to Heaven Hill and invited Susan Wahl to come on the show. She has a long, 20 plus year history working in the whiskey portfolio at Heaven Hill. She's literally seen it all. We talk about what drove the decision to build a second distillery, the threats, and how they are planning for everything in the supply chain, including barrels and labor. We also talk about data trends and where they see the international market heading. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks when barrel proof became common. What were your whiskey initiatives and marketing plan for bourbon in the early days? How did you take Evan Williams into one of the largest whiskey brands? What trends or data have you learned from the visitor center? What factors did you take into account when thinking that you need another $135M distillery that can produce 150k barrels a year? How much of your sales is domestic vs international? What threats did you see about potentially not building another distillery? Did the removal of European tariffs have an impact on your forecast? Did barrels or other supply chain factors play an important role in your forecast? What data helps you push pass the fears of a 20-year lifecycle on trends? How have you worked with the city to build new warehouses? Does Bardstown have the workforce to take care of the labor requirements? What makes you bullish about tourism for bourbon? @heavenhilldistillery Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Rye Whiskey. This non-age stated uncut rye whiskey is 119.7 proof and $150 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for January 13th 2023. Barrell Craft Spirits purchases a historic rickhouse in Shively, Kentucky. The Bourbon Capital Alliance has announced the establishment of the Brindiamo Penthouse. A New Bourbon release called '78 Legends featuring a 50 year old bourbon.Show Notes: The bourbon capital alliance has announced the establishment of the Brindiamo Penthouse Neuroscientists have created a new category of non-alcoholic ‘spirit’ designed to mimic the feel-good effects of alcohol President Joe Biden pardoned a man who was convicted 60 years ago for a single instance of selling whiskey without a tax stamp Barrell Craft Spirits purchases a historic rickhouse in Shively, Kentucky Stanford University has released a study about distilleries and appearing authentic Four Roses and OSMO Salt release Toasted Vanilla Bourbon Salt Kentucky Owl has announced the release of its Batch #12 Bourbon Larceny and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123 are released A New Bourbon release called '78 Legends featuring a 50 year old bourbon @barrellbourbon @joebiden @bourboncapitalguild @bourboncapitalacademy @stanford @fourrosesbourbon @osmosalt @kentuckyowl Support this podcast on Patreon

It's Bourbon Community Roundtable #76 and this is one I'm excited to talk about because as you're well aware, building a brand requires choosing the right distribution partners. The big shake up of the past few weeks is that Sazerac is pulling out of Republic National Distributing Company in favor of smaller, more mid-tier, and beer focused distributors in around 30 different states. So, we want to ask the roundtable a few questions. First, what would motivate Sazerac to break up this long-standing relationship? If you are a distributor that got selected, what problems are you going to experience. And lastly, as a consumer are we going to see any change like finding Pappy on the shelf at MSRP. Spoiler alert... the answer is no. Since it's the first roundtable of 2023, we all put in our predictions and see what the future holds for bourbon this year. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about dry January. Sazerac is leaving RNDC. What does this mean for Sazerac? Sazerac goes with mid-tier distributors. How do distirbutors adapt and what happens to other brands? Does Sazerac leaving RNDC mean anything for the end consumer? What are your 2023 predictions? @breakingbourbon @fredminnick @drinkseelbachs @bourbonr @sippncorn Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Frey Ranch Single Barrel Rye. This non-age stated rye is 131.8 proof and $100 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for January 6th 2023. Lisa Wicker takes on the new role as CEO & Master Distiller of Lyons Brewing & Distilling Co. A new record was set at auction for Pappy Van Winkle. Hard Truth Distillery Co. announced the 2022 Hard Truth Master Distiller’s Reserve Collection.Show Notes: Lisa Wicker takes on the new role as CEO & Master Distiller of Lyons Brewing & Distilling Co The partnership between Matthew McConaughey and Wild Turkey has ended Sazerac is moving away from Republic National Distributing Company A new record was set at auction for Pappy Van Winkle Wilderness Trail set to double its bottling production Hard Truth Distillery Co. announced the 2022 Hard Truth Master Distiller’s Reserve Collection @lbwicker @alltechinc @wildturkey @officiallymcconaughey @sothebys @wildernesstraildistillery @hardtruthspirits Support this podcast on Patreon

If you listen to our Friday show called This Week in Bourbon, you would hear us talking about tequila being the next rising spirit. I mean, who doesn't like a good margarita? Much like bourbon, there is a lot to know about what goes into making the spirit. To help explain all that, we've invited Alfonso Esquivias, the Founder and Owner of Drinks with Fonz. Alfonso sent Ryan and I 12 different tequilas to sample them as we go through to know more about them. It was a lot of tequila but I promise you that I have a much deeper appreciation for tequila after this. Alfonso talks about the laws to be called a tequila and we dive into the process of harvesting agave and distilling it. We then tackle the touchy subject of how many tequilas on the market are full of additives like sugar and how you shouldn't trust many celebrity brands as well. Listen closely to the brands we talk about during the show so you know which ones are additive-free and legit. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the popularity of Buffalo Trace How did you get into spirits in general? What restrictions are in place to be called a tequila? Can you describe an agave plant? Can you explain the differences between blanco, reposado, and anejo? In bourbon you will never see anyone claim they like un-aged bourbon but why is that with tequila? How do you know which brands have additives? What are all tequilas in the 80-90 proof range? What is the typical proof off the still? Who is the MGP of tequila? So what makes something like Jose Cuervo mass-market or bottom shelf? Is saying "using tequila as a mixer" considered blasphemy? Does a particular agave field have different effect on the flavor like grapes with wine? How do you know when an agave plant is ready for harvesting? Does price point increase when proof increases? Do all celebrity tequilas have additives or are considered crap? @drinks.@with.@fonz Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Hirsch "The Bivouac" Kentucky Bourbon. Yes, we still didn't pronounce it right. This non-age stated bourbon is 100 proof and $55 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

Hey everyone, we're back again with a double header episode where you get to know more about Ryan and I. This is a long episode because we both have our own dedicated episodes on Behind The Pursuit. In the first half you will hear Episode 19 with Ryan. You will get to hear about his morning rituals and the businesses he runs and manages outside of bourbon. The second half of the show in Episode 20 with me and talks about my career progression and how I take a very data-centric and analytical approach to everything we are doing with Pursuit Spirits. Remember, if you like these episodes, then search for Behind The Pursuit on your podcast player and hit subscribe. It's a fantastic way to hear more about the inside of the industry and we talk about building a brand, glass shortages, distribution hurdles, and so much more. Subscribe to Behind the Pursuit on: Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeartRadio Amazon Music Google Podcasts

If you've been around bourbon long enough, then you know the name JW Dant. That's because the Dant name is equivalent to bourbon royalty as it is steeped in history. But there is another Dant that is wanting to bring his family name back into the distilling business and that's JW Dant, or better known as Wally Dant from Log Still Distillery. Wally joins the show to talk about his upbringing and how some early career choices he made early on put him in the fortunate position to revive life into Gesthamane Kentucky where he is building his own legacy in the bourbon business. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the American single malt category Was there ever a moment where you realized bourbon was a part of your DNA? What have you discovered about understanding about your heritage? Who was the last person, in your family tree, to work at a distillery? What was your focus of study at Purdue? How did you progress in your career and businesses that you sold? How do you transition from selling your business to figuring out what to do next? When did you decide to make the investment from sourcing Tennessee whiskey to breaking ground on a distillery? What was the inspiration for putting a focus on rebuilding the community in Gethsemane? Did the lawsuit with Heaven Hill over your name come into play early on? What does 5th district mean on your Monk's Road label? What's your plan on having your whiskey be different than anyone else's? @logstilldistillery @jwwallydant Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review King of Kentucky 18 Year. This 18 year old bourbon is 130.3 proof and $350 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

Hey everyone, at the end of the year we typically like to post some episodes that aren't our normal types and end up being fun. However, this past year we launched a second podcast called Behind The Pursuit. This new podcast releases every 2 weeks that covers topics of sourcing, forecasting, brand loyalty, raw materials, work/life balance, and more. This is a creative outlet for us to talk to you all about what it takes to build a bourbon brand. This is episode 22 of Behind The Pursuit where we talk about our journeys visiting multiple states and brand loyalty. Do bourbon geeks have brand loyalty? And how do you build brand loyalty to a general consumer? Make sure you subscribe to Behind The Pursuit on your podcast player and hit subscribe to listen to more of these episodes.  Subscribe to Behind the Pursuit on: Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeartRadio Amazon Music Google Podcasts

For the longest time, celebrities have been getting into the spirits industry. It first started off as being a spokesperson and putting a recognizable face to a brand. Now, many celebrities are coming out with their own bottles, and bourbon is no exception. In this episode, we look at many of the celebrity bourbon brands that have emerged over the past few years and analyze them. Does a celebrity care about the quality of the whiskey? Are they just in it for an added revenue stream? Are there any good ones? But we ultimately want to know if celebrities will help bourbon or hurt bourbon. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about his favorite 4th grain used in American Whiskey Do distilleries need a celebrity spokesperson anymore? If a celebrity comes out with a young bourbon does that hurt the category? Are celebrities just getting into it for another revenue stream? Should be skeptical of having a celebrity attached to a bourbon distillery? If a celebrity bourbon brand blows up, will unassuming people think that's what bourbon is supposed to taste like? Is there an example of any celebrity bourbon that is actually really good or high quality? What are the good things that come from having a celebrity whiskey? Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review the inaugural release of the Heaven’s Door Decade Series. This 10 year old bourbon is 100 proof and $100 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for December 16th 2022. Pernod Ricard will invest $250 million for a state-of-the-art distillery for Jefferson’s. Willett will invest nearly $93 million for the construction of a new distillery. Booker's Bourbon has released its fourth and final batch of the 2022 collection.Show Notes: An update on BOTLD Buffalo Trace rolled out its 8M barrel on December 15th Pernod Ricard will invest $250 million for a state-of-the-art distillery for Jefferson’s Willett will invest nearly $93 million for the construction of a new distillery A holiday raffle where tickets can be purchased by visiting give270.org All Nations Distillery is the newest member of the KDA DISCUS is granted $1.12M to promote whiskey exports Chattanooga Whiskey introduces BATCH 028: CACAO INFUSED 117 Series: Old Forester Extra Extra Old Booker's Bourbon has released its fourth and final batch of the 2022 collection @botldpa @buffalotracedistillery @jeffersonsbourbon @willettdistillery @give270 @distilledspiritscouncil @chattwhiskey @oldforester @jimbeamofficial Support this podcast on Patreon

Its Bourbon Community Roundtable #75 and in this episode we focus on one major topic and then end the show looking back at this year in bourbon. Last week, the team at Breaking bourbon came out with an article called Does Bourbon Have A Small Brand Problem. It was a fascinating article because it talks about many of the interesting things we see about craft brands. Are people only interested interested in heritage brands? Is there a big knowledge gap? Is this a problem because of the unfair playing field with the three tier system? Are there too many choices or do brands just lack hype? In the last part of the show, I revisit all of our 2022 predictions to see who got it right and who got it wrong. Show Notes: Does bourbon have a small brand problem? Are small brands at an inherit disadvantage? Do brands need a level of hype to survive? Is there a lack of trust or knowledge? What was your 2022 prediction and did you get it right? @breakingbourbon @fredminnick @drinkseelbachs @bourbonr @sippncorn Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Tennessee Rye Finished in High Toast Maple Barrels. This non-age stated rye is 101 proof and $42 MSRP for 375ml. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for December 9th 2022. Single Barrel Select moves to a new points-based system. Bardstown Bourbon Company announces it's Origin Series. Pursuit Spirits debuts the Oak Collection.Show Notes: BOTLD is a new way for Pennsylvanians to discover spirits Single Barrel Select moves to a new points based system Brindiamo Group has a new rick house located on the grounds of Log Still Distillery UK Assistant Professor Tyler Barzee has created bourbon shrooms to help with stillage Hayner Distilling announced a new whiskey experience called Whiskey Webcam American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and Park Street presented highlights from the 2022 Craft Spirits Data Project Wyoming Whiskey releases a 10 Year Anniversary Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. has collaborated with Los Angeles Distillery (LAD) on Broken Barrel’s first distillery Collaboration Collection Barrell Craft Spirits has announced Barrell Bourbon New Year 2023 A. Smith Bowman Distillery unveils A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon Batch #2 The Macallan has extended its Red Collection with the release of a 77-year-old bottling Vermont distillery WhistlePig Whiskey unveiled its latest limited-edition whiskey: 10-year-old PiggyBank Rye Bardstown Bourbon Company Announces it's Origin Series Pursuit Spirits debuts the Oak Collection @botldpa @buffalotracedistillery @brindiamogroup @logstilldistillery @haynerdistilling @craftspiritsus @wyomingwhiskey @brokenbarrelwhiskey @losangelesdistillery @barrellbourbon @a.@smithbowman @the_macallan @whistlepigwhiskey @bardstownbourbonco @pursuitspirits Support this podcast on Patreon

The idea of owning a liquor store sounds great, doesn't it? It sounds like you get to play around with booze all day and you never have to worry about allocation ever again because you get to keep all the Pappy and Blanton's for yourself. That couldn't be further from the truth. It's a business that relies on margin to keep the doors open. And when those doors are open, you don't really know what can happen next. Tony Konja is the owner of Keg N Bottle. We've talked about Keg N Bottle a few times because that's our partner store for our barrel selections. But the real reason we have Tony on the show is talk about a deeper subject of the retail liquor business and that is theft. No matter what you get into, you have to assume there are terrible humans out there that will take advantage of any situation. Tony gives us an introspective look into how he combats theft from brick and mortar locations as well as online retail and how this business has even had him being held a gun point saying his last prayer. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the end of the bourbon boom Can you share your background and how you got into owning a liquor store? Do you remember about theft at the grocery store? Can you describe the setup in your store with walls of liquor? Is there a magic formula for knowing the amount of theft to account for? What measures do you take to minimize theft? What products typically have a higher theft rate? Have you ever been held at gun point? Is there a bourbon stolen pretty regularly? How do you thwart illegitimate activity with online orders? Is there a reason to keep stores open later than 10pm? Can you talk about how private barrel picks can get stolen in California? How do you deal with customers that say they never received a package from a carrier? @kegnbottleusa Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review The Last Drop Release No. 28. This non-age stated whiskey is 121.4 proof and $4,000 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for December 2nd 2022. Kentucky Distillers’ Association is seeking proposals to refresh branding assets for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Blue Run Spirits announces its final whiskey release of the year with the Blue Run Winter Solstice Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery announced the 16th edition of the Parker’s Heritage CollectionShow Notes: Bourbon & Benevolence Charity Auction & Bourbon by Kentucky’s Original Black Bourbon Enthusiasts (KOBBE) Kentucky Distillers’ Association is seeking proposals to refresh branding assets for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Still Austin Whiskey Co introduces “The Artist,” a 100% Straight Rye Whiskey from Texas grains Blue Run Spirits announces its final whiskey release of the year with the Blue Run Winter Solstice Collection Heaven Hill Distillery announced the 16th edition of the Parker’s Heritage Collection @502kobbe @kentuckybourbontrail @stillatx @bluerunspirits @heavenhilldistillery Support this podcast on Patreon

Our guest today carved a path that may seem unlikely, but in the end, seems almost fitting. Jason Brauner joined us back on Episode 057 where he talked about building the first bourbon focused restaurant in Louisville, which you all know as Bourbon's Bistro. That concept has stood the test of time and now people from all over flock to his restaurant for dinner and drinks. One particular patron of his is Andrew Wiehebrink of Independant Stave Company, who was on episode 346 talking about stave science. They began talking and came up with some proprietary barrels that will enhance a whiskey based on its original profile whether it was nutty, sweet, or floral. And that's how Buzzard's Roost bourbon was born. You will get to hear more about this journey and their process and how Jason is also moving into a brick and mortar location on West Main Street in the heart of downtown Louisville. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about combining barrels together because of angel's share Give us a refresher about how you got into bourbon When did you start collecting dusties? Do you remember your biggest dusty score? Were you one of the original restaurants that did barrel picks? What was the motivation behind Buzzard's Roost? Do you remember the first phone call when you wanted to start the brand? How did you decide what type of whiskey to use? How many proprietary barrels do you have? How do you categorize the whiskey to go into different finishing barrels? How does your blending process change when you go from 3 to 40 barrels? Are you continuing with MGP or going to work with other distilleries? When is your location in downtown Louisville going to open? Did moving from a restaurant to brand owner feel like a natural progression? What was the origin of the name Buzzard's Roost? @buzzardsroostwhiskey @bourbonsbistro Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review the Michter's Toasted Sour Mash Whiskey 2022 Release. This non-age stated whiskey is 86 proof and $100 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for November 25th 2022. Pursuit Spirits raises $8M for future whiskey purchases. Jack Daniel’s takes a dog toy manufacturer to the Supreme Court. Old Elk Distillery is proud to announce the second annual release of Master Distiller Greg Metze’s Infinity Blend Series.Show Notes: Pursuit Spirits has financed $8 million in future bourbon and rye whiskey barrel purchases American Rye: A Guide to the Nation’s First Spirit by Clay Risen Jack Daniel’s takes a dog toy manufacturer to the Supreme Court Frank August announces two expressions: the first single barrel releases and ‘Case Study’ series Rabbit Hole re-releasing Raceking Founder’s Collection Jack Daniel Distillery introduces Distillery Series selection #10 WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series: Brothers Osborne Barrel Hidden Barn Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Series Two Two new Stellum Black specialty blends Old Elk Distillery is proud to announce the second annual release of Master Distiller Greg Metze’s Infinity Blend Series @pursuitspirits @risenc @jackdaniels_us @thefrankaugust @rabbithole @whistlepigwhiskey @brothersosborne @hidden_barn @stellumspirits @oldelkbourbon Support this podcast on Patreon

Sherry, port, honey, sauternes, french, tokaji, toasted, and so much more. The world of cask finishing has exploded. It's what many consider to be the current wave of innovation for today's bourbon market. I mean, is there a bourbon brand that hasn't done a secondary cask finishing yet? However, this world is still a bit like the wild west. Companies are dumping bourbon into casks, there's stave additions, and there are other oak alternatives. So how do you know if your port finished bourbon is actually finished instead of blended? Unless there is a level of transparency, it's really hard to know. That's why Lee Tatum and Cody Ewars of Innerstave are joining the show. They give a history of how Innerstave had traditionally been used in wine for ages and now there is a desire for their products to be used with bourbon. We discuss what makes their oak finishing products different and how they can replicate a process time and time again versus pressing your luck on a barrel that came over from another country on a container ship. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about aging rye vs wheated bourbons Lee, what did you invent as part of the innovation team at Brown Forman? Cody did you see journalism on the decline? What did you mean when you thought that the wine space needed to change? Can you give a background of Innerstave? Can you explain what these oak alternatives are? How would someone go about using your product? How have we not seen bourbon aged on a pirate ship yet? Is this repeatable and consistent vs cask finishing? What does the menu look like for types of oak alternatives? @innerstave Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review the 2022 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. This 11 year old bourbon is 96 proof and $150 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for November 18th 2022. Redemption loses its lawsuit with Diageo and must change bottles. Sagamore spirit releases their own 5 year bottled in bond. Kentucky Owl and Barrell Bourbon are both releasing $500 bottles Show Notes: Bardstown Bourbon Co will have a new experience in downtown Louisville Pernod Ricard has invested US$22 million to install its first RTD canning line Redemption has been forced to stop bottles after it failed to get Diageo’s injunction order thrown out Nearest Green Distillery has announced that it will add three permanent expressions Sagamore Spirit has released its second annual Sagamore Spirit Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey Hemingway Rye Whiskey First Edition with the release of the inaugural 972 bottles Blue Run Spirits announces Blue Run Emerald Rye Whiskey Puncher’s Chance announces its oldest whiskey to date with the release of Puncher’s Chance Bourbon: THE LEFT CROSS Stoli Group announces Kentucky Owl Batch #12 and Kentucky Owl Mardi Gras XO Cask Limited Edition Barrell Craft Spirits Announces BCS Gold Label Dovetail @bardstownbourbonco @pernodricard @redemptionwhiskey @diageo @builleit @unclenearest @sagamorespirit @bluerunspirits @puncherschancebourbon @kentuckyowl @barrellbourbon Support this podcast on Patreon

It's Bourbon Community Roundtable #74 and here are the topics we chose for today's show. American Single Malts. The media is a buzz talking about them and traditional heritage distilleries are starting to release some in small numbers. Is this a trend that we need to pay attention to? It's safe to say that over half the bottles on the shelf are sourced product. Has sourcing been embraced finally? Or do people not care and don't know? Every year we will see Wild Turkey pictures flood social media on Thanksgiving. What should you bring to your Thanksgiving get togethers? Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about Beam decanters. American Single Malts have their own designation and legal wording. Is this a trend worth watching for us bourbon geeks? It's safe to say that over half the bottles on the shelf are sourced product. Has sourcing been embraced finally? Or do people not care and don't know? Every year we will see Wild Turkey pictures flood social media on Thanksgiving. What should you bring to your Thanksgiving get togethers? @breakingbourbon @fredminnick @drinkseelbachs @bourbonr @sippncorn Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Knob Creek 18 Year. This 18 year old bourbon is 100 proof and $170 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for November 11th 2022. Western Kentucky Distilling Co. announced a $30 million Distillery in Beaver Dam, Kentucky. Kroger’s third annual Ultimate Bourbon Auction to End Hunger has started. Heaven Hill Distillery announced the Fall 2022 edition of Old Fitzgerald 19 YR.Show Notes: Wilderness Trail update from Shane Baker Diageo announced it has acquired Balcones Distilling Western Kentucky Distilling Co. announced a $30 million Distillery in Beaver Dam, Kentucky Longbranch teamed up with Walden Retreats to bring a bourbon-centric, luxury ranch-style stay Jack Daniel’s has again been named the most valuable spirits brand in the world New TTB Director Stepping Up on Enforcement Kroger’s third annual Ultimate Bourbon Auction to End Hunger has started Teamsters Local 651 is leading the effort to organize Woodford Reserve IRS and the TTB raided the offices of Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits in California Castle & Key announces The Untold Story of Kentucky Whiskey, Chapter 2 in partnership with The Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild Broken Barrel Whiskey Co introduces Americana Jack Daniel’s Twice Barreled Special Release American Single Malt Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks Dixon Dedman releases 2XO The Phoenix Blend Maker's Mark introduces Wood Finishing Series – the City Series Heaven Hill Distillery announced the Fall 2022 edition of Old Fitzgerald 19 YR @wildernesstraildistillery @balconesdistilling @longbranchbourbon @officiallymcconaughey @jackdaniels_us @krogerco @krogerchrispicks @sgwinespirits @castleandkey @_kbbg_ @brokenbarrelwhiskey @dixon_dedman @2xowhiskey @makersmark @heavenhilldistillery Support this podcast on Patreon

Our typical guests range from Master Distillers to other industry experts and pundits, but on the rare occasion I find a guest that breaks our norm and gives another view into the world of bourbon. Andy Baxter and Kyle Jahnke make up the folk music duo Penny & Sparrow. Their original appearance on the show was on Episode 228 where we got to know the guys and their love of bourbon. This time I caught them on their post-pandemic tour through Louisville and had them do their first ever Pursuit Series barrel selection. We talk about lyrical inspiration and video games and I lead them through five whiskey samples as they narrow down their choice. Without giving too much of it away, if you are interested in a bottle from this selection it's available on Seelbachs.com for a limited time until it's sold out. It is a single barrel after all! Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about why bourbon is called bourbon How did your project go with Oak and Eden? Do you get a good mix of bourbon and rye in the green room before a show? Talk about Need You on your latest album Do you record a riff or write down a lyric and then find a match between the two? Why did you choose to use claymation for your Cheyenne music video? Did you take the pandemic as a time to reconnect with music or decompress? How does video game soundtracks inspire you? What's the best video game console ever created? How do you narrow down a barrel selection? @pennyandsparrow Support this podcast on Patreon

On this special edition of Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review the 2022 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. The collection includes: Sazerac Rye 18 Year, Eagle Rare 17 Year, Thomas H. Handy, William Larue Weller, and George T. Stagg. Each bottle has a suggested retail price of $99. What's our favorite this year? Watch to find out. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for November 4th 2022. Campari Group has agreed to acquire a 70% stake in Kentucky-based Wilderness Trail Distillery for $420 million. Old Forester and King Ranch are releasing a limited-edition whisky called Old Forester King Ranch Edition. Lux Row Distillers announced the newest variant in the Ezra Brooks brand family: Old Ezra 7-Year Straight Rye Whiskey.Show Notes: Campari Group has agreed to acquire a 70% stake in Kentucky-based Wilderness Trail Distillery for US$420 million Jane Bowie and Denny Potter are announcing a new distillery in Washington County, Kentucky Pol Roger Portfolio is acquiring Leiper’s Fork Distillery Old Forester and King Ranch are releasing a limited-edition whisky called Old Forester King Ranch Edition The return of the George Dickel x Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Log Still Distillery is introducing Monk’s Road Wheated Bourbon Wyoming Whiskey announces this year’s annual and limited release offerings of Barrel Strength Bourbon, Outryder Straight American Whiskey and Single Barrel Angel's Envy is releasing their annual cask strength edition Booker’s Bourbon Releases Third Batch of 2022 Collection "Kentucky Tea" HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys announces The Cask Strength Finished in Cognac Barrels Lux Row Distillers announces Old Ezra 7-Year Straight Rye Whiskey @campariofficial @wildernesstraildistillery @lfdistillery @oldforester @kingranchinc @georgedickel @leopoldbros @logstilldistillery @monksroad @wyomingwhiskey @angelsenvy @hirschwhiskey @luxrowdistillers Support this podcast on Patreon

Starting a brand is no easy task. There will be a lot of fails before you ever see your first success and there's a lot to the industry that have to be taken into account from a regulatory aspect, supply chain, sales, and distribution. Mike Paladini and Danny Polise from Penelope Bourbon join the show to talk about how a wild idea to start a whiskey company grew into one of the hottest new brands on the market. They traveled to MGP after reading an article about how that craft whiskey you like is actually from a factory in Indiana. From there it's been a roller coaster of emotions and now they are working on new projects to reach more bourbon enthusiasts. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the aging climate of Texas Can you talk about your wildest high school party that you threw? What started you down the path of drinking bourbon? Are more people in New Jersey finding bourbon and becoming drinkers? What were you doing before Penelope? What made you want to quit your day jobs and pursue a whiskey career? What research did you do for starting a brand and sourcing? Talk about that first day at MGP? Did MGP help you with creating your proprietary blend? Were you trying to maintain consistency or try different blends? How are you figuring out how to scale the business with bottles in 29 states and 4 countries? Are you finding it harder to buy directly from MGP with the explosion? Why go into the light whiskey category? Do you have any finished whiskey horror stories? @penelopebourbon Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922. This 12 year old bourbon is 124.8 proof and $70 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 28th 2022. Master Distiller Lisa Wicker is leaving Widow Jane. The National Association of Wine Retailers is taking another shipping case to the Supreme Court. The details have finally been released for this year's Buffalo Trace Antique CollectionShow Notes: Whiskey Thief Distilling Co joins The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour B. H. James Distillers announces the opening date in Adairville, Kentucky The FTC has ordered Drizly to destroy unnecessary data Skrewball's social media posts have violated the DISCUS Code The Bourbon Barrel Taxation Task Force is looking to remove barrel aging taxes Frazier Museum announced Bourbon Limited, an online Bourbon subscription membership service Widow Jane announces that Master Distiller Lisa Wicker will leave the company The National Association of Wine Retailers is taking another shipping case to the Supreme Court Jackson Purchase Distillery will increase its distilling operation investment nearly $26 million Kings of Leon has partnered with Willett to launch Kiamichi Whiskey Chattanooga Whiskey releases Experimental Batch 027: Moscatel + Sauternes Barrel Finished Penelope Bourbon announces the limited-release of Valencia The details have finally been released for this year's Buffalo Trace Antique Collection @whiskeythiefdistilling @drizlyinc @skrewballwhiskey @frazierhistorymuseum @widowjane @lbwicker @kingsofleon @willettdistillery @chattwhiskey @penelopebourbon @buffalotracedistillery Support this podcast on Patreon

It's quite apparent that cask finished bourbons are continuing to push the envelope. Every company and producer is utilizing different barrels to create new flavors and new SKUs. We sit down to analyze secondary cask finished bourbons from a legal and producer perspective. Why isn't there legal wording for recharging barrels? What are the various wine types that create better taste profiles? Is finishing a whiskey an excuse for covering up bad barrels? Can brands hide behind a whiskey speciality and do consumers even care? Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about today's market growth and the bourbon boom From a judging standpoint, should secondary cask finished bourbons not be in the bourbon category? Do most consumers know Angel's Envy is not a bourbon or do they even care? Is there a label sprawl problem with every brand coming out with different finishes? What are the best types of barrels to finish a bourbon? What are the differences between the types of barrels used for various wine types? Is finishing a whiskey an excuse for covering up bad barrels? What level of risk can you take with finishing whiskey that could turn our terrible? Should there be a definition of recharging a barrel? Does age of the whiskey matter when secondary finishing? Should producers try to disclose the winery where the barrels are sourced? Do you ever get bourbon fatigue and feel like changing things up with a finished whiskey? Are barrel finishes added-value and should charge more per bottle? Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse. This 10 year old bourbon is 112.4 proof and $250 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 21st 2022. Old Forester announced that Melissa Rift has been named Master Taster. New Riff debuts two new malted whiskeys. Blue Run announces  a biannual series of “micro batch” whiskeys.Show Notes: Fred Minnick To Host Blind Bourbon Live In Washington D.C. For The Uso On November 10 Wolverine and Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery unveils the Wolverine 1000 Mile x Old Rip Van Winkle Cap-Toe Batch III boot Old Forester announces Melissa Rift has been named Brand Ambassador/Master Taster Arcane Distilling introduces its second flagship whiskey, Arcane Imperial New Riff debuts the Maltster T50 Crystal Malt Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Aroostook Malted Rye Whiskey Michter's 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon The Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2022 release Alberta Premium announces the Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye Blue Run Flight Series is a six-whiskey micro batch collection Chicken Cock Whiskey has released Chicken Cock Chanticleer Ross & Squibb releases Remus Gatsby Reserve Old Dominick launches Straight Tennessee Whiskey Wyoming Whiskey announces 1872 9-year-old straight bourbon whiskey Dr Pepper Bourbon Flavored Fansville Reserve Arby's and BrainBrew announce Arby’s Smoked Bourbon @fredminnick @theuso @wolverine @oldforester @newriff @michterswhiskey @garrisonbros @albertadistillers @bluerunspirits @chickencockwhiskey @olddominick @wyomingwhiskey @drpepper @arbys @brainbrewwhiskey Support this podcast on Patreon

It's another month and another Bourbon Community Roundtable and we've got a great list of topics in #73. The first is stickers. I know, it seems like we talk about them all the time but now it's gotten serious. A Louisville bourbon club and liquor store chain was sued by Bob Baffert for almost $70k over a sticker, and yes, they paid up. So now, have we gone too far with stickers? Every year it seems like there are a few acquisitions that happen. Recently, we've seen Heaven Hill acquire Samson & Surrey, Pritzker buy Bardstown Bourbon, and last year MGP purchased LuxCo. These were all strategically different plays. So what do we think makes a good acquisition target in today's market? Following on that last question, those were all very high dollar buys. Is this a trend that we will see continue or is there a chance that smaller brands on the upswing could be gobbled up? Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about storing bottles. Bob Baffert sued a Louisville liquor retailer for almost $70k over a sticker. Have we gone too far with stickers? What do we think makes a good acquisition target in today's market? Is there a chance that smaller brands on the upswing could be gobbled up? @breakingbourbon @fredminnick @drinkseelbachs @bourbonr @sippncorn Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This 17 year old bourbon is 100 proof and $185 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers! DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 14th 2022. Evergreen Liquors gets sued $50k over a Bob Baffert sticker. The nation's only bourbon boat tour is expanding. Britain’s first bourbon caller Never Say Die makes its debut.Show Notes: Liquor Store Gets Sued $50k Over Bob Baffert Sticker Brown Forman purchases the Diplomático Rum brand The nations only bourbon boat tour is expanding Black Button Distilling has broken ground on a new US$5 million distillery Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Bourbon Raffle Jack Daniel Distillery introduces the latest expressions in its Distillery Series Brown-Forman has unveiled a Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt Whiskey Company Distilling re-releases its Cask Strength Bourbon Sierra Nevada releases Colonel E.H. Taylor Bourbon Barrel-Aged Bigfoot Basil Hayden Red Wine Cask Finish Britain’s first bourbon called Never Say Die makes its debut @coxs_evergreen_liquors @brownforman @diplomaticorum @blackbuttondistilling @houseofbourbonky @jackdaniels @company_distilling @sierranevada @basilhayden Support this podcast on Patreon

We all have our favorite people and brands we follow on social media. I hope it's Bourbon Pursuit, but there are a lot of people that get categorized as influencers on every platform like Instagram and TikTok but every brand also needs to be on social media. Since alcohol is a heavily regulated product, there are ton of rules in place to keep the industry compliant. And for the most part, many are breaking these rules on a daily basis and could potentially face legal action from government bodies like the FTC. To help get us all more educated on the subject, we're joined by Nichole Shustack who's the Counsel at McDermott Will & Emery law firm. I ask Nichole a bunch of questions about the things I see on social media everyday when it comes to influencers getting free bottles, disclosing brand connections, bourbon charity raffles, and the legal implications that follow. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about wine for the american whiskey drinker How did you get into the legal space with alcohol? Do you scroll through TikTok and say "that's not compliant!"? Are there government regulations involved with social media and alcohol promotion? How are brands breaking the rules of social media promotion without knowing? If a bottle was sent to an influencer, can an influencer or brand get fined from the FTC without disclosing it? Who is going to come after influencers if they don't disclose their relationships or free bottles? What is the maturity level or different social media platforms? Does a whiskey influencer need to be cautious about having children, pets, or Santa Claus in their posts? Is it legal for influencers or companies to give away alcohol as a part of a promotion to gain followers? What are the legal implications for people that hold bourbon charity raffles? @mcdermott_law Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey. This 6 year old whiskey is 97 proof and $65 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 7th 2022. Widow Jane Distillery announces The Vaults 2022. Knob Creek officially announces Knob Creek 18 Year Old. Buffalo Trace Distillery is announcing the upcoming annual release of all six Van Winkle whiskey expressionsShow Notes: Casey Jones Distillery creates a square still to accompany a $1.9M expansion Berlin Packaging acquires Discoglass The Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) is partnering with Northside Distilling Co. to release Braille Bourbon Whiskey Widow Jane Distillery announces The Vaults 2022 Knob Creek officially announces Knob Creek 18 Year Old Buffalo Trace Distillery announces the upcoming annual release of all six Van Winkle whiskey expressions @caseyjonesdistillery @berlinpackaging @northsidedistillingco @widow_jane @knobcreek @buffalotrace @buffalotracedistillery @jvanwinkle7 Support this podcast on Patreon

We're not in the business of consulting to brands or distilleries, but a few months ago we asked you to submit your questions about brand building to give our honest feedback and advice. In this episode we take questions from entrepreneurs that are looking to start their own brand and what types of spirits to offer based on their location and our thoughts on unconventional grains like oats, buckwheat, and rice. We also analyze labels. How important is it see stuff like "rare", "super premium", "hand crafted", or "non chill filtered" on the label? Lastly, as a brand begins to scale or potentially halts growth when is it the right time to add a new state for distribution? If you want to ask us a question about brand consultation, nothing related to the distillation process because we're not chemical engineers, shoot us a message to [email protected] and we may read your question next time we record a show like this. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) asks about falisfying information about bourbon history From Alen: As a craft distillery, would you recommend to start with a product that is popular on local level or to focus on already established type of spirit? From Alen: I'm also very dedicated to the bottle and label design. I'm planning to have my custom bottle and label that I designed by myself. Is that right way? What is your thought on additional text on a label such as "non-chill filtered", "rare", "hand crafted" and is it distracting? From Nick: What’s your opinion on the potential of whiskies made from unconventional grains such as oat, sorghum, buckwheat, etc? How does a new brand analyze when it's time to add a new state in which to sell? Support this podcast on Patreon

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Rare Hare 1953 Bourbon finished in an XXO Cognac cask. This 17 year old bourbon is 111 proof and $589 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.