Bourbon Pursuit

• The whiskey fungus at Jack Daniel's makes national headlines
• A German brewery is set to release the world's first 'complete' beer in powdered form
• A leaked document from Amazon show's they are trying to change liquor laws
• Bourbon:30 from Kentucky Bourbon Fest is available on YouTube
• Laws Whiskey House announced the 2023 release of their Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon
• Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey has unveiled its second annual release of Diamond Peak
• Former Rutgers football player recently launched LeGrand Whiskey
• @jackdaniels_us @brownforman @lawswhiskey @stranahans @ericlegrand52
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This episode is another Bourbon Pursuit milestone. It's episode 400! Well, it's technically number 668 if we include Whiskey Quickie and This Week in Bourbon, but let's not get into the details. On this Bourbon Community Roundtable we cover two topics in depth. First is the news blitz of the whiskey fungus articles focused on Jack Daniel's. If you've driven past any distillery in the past 100 or so year, you would have seen this everywhere. It also pops up in the news every year, but why is it just now making national headlines? I also ask the group if there is anything the distilleries can do to get in front of this to avoid any negative PR. The second half of the show dives into House Bill 5 that attacks the Kentucky Ad Valorem tax, in which Kentucky is the only state that taxes barrels aging and resting. We look at what this means for citizens that benefit from the tax and if we feel distilleries are already taxed enough.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about teeth staining.
• Why is the whiskey fungus just now making national news even though it's been around for years?
• What can distilleries do to make sure this argument of bad PR doesn't happen next year?
• What could the distilleries provide to residents to make them more comfortable?
• What do you think of the Ad Valorem tax on aging barrels?
• What would the removal of the tax mean for citizens?
• @breakingbourbon @fredminnick @drinkseelbachs @bourbonr @sippncorn
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• March 3rd 1897 is when the The Bottled-in-Bond Act changed the bourbon world forever
• Washtucky is suing Wilderness trail for failing to make contract barrels
• Statement from Kentucky’s Bourbon Industry on House Bill 5
• The St. Louis Bourbon Society will host the 2nd Annual Bourbon and Brews Festival on June 10th
• Yellowstone will donate $250,000 to National Parks Conservation Association
• Acker Wines has agreed to pay a maximum fine for selling counterfeit bottles
• Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon with a commemorative 51st Edition Gold Pegasus Pin sealed in teal wax
• Woodford Reserve will release its 2023 commemorative Derby bottle
• @wildernesstraildistillery @stlbourbonsociety @yellowstonebourbon @ackerwines @evanwilliamsbourbon @woodordreserve
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Love it or hate it, spirit competitions are here to stay. They have such an important impact on marketing and can put a small shimmer of light on a new and upcoming brand, or it changes the course and turns a brand such as Henry McKenna into an unobtainable. In this episode, Fred Minnick and Kenny Coleman talk about multiple facets of spirits competitions because we have now lived it. We're both enthusiasts like you so we care what bourbons come out on top, Fred has been a judge forever and now has his own competition called the ASCOTs, and we have our own brand with Pursuit United that has been entered and done favorably in many competitions. Fred and I analyze all these angle about talk about the "pay to play" scenario and how people are selected to be judges along with the best way to enter a competition as a brand owner.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the meaning of allocation.
• Fred, how long have you been a part of spirit competitions?
• Why weren't media members typically invited to be judges?
• Why is this considered "pay to play"?
• Why is there so much confusion based on what category to submit when it's straight bourbon vs small batch?
• Why would a bourbon society enter a spirits competition?
• What makes someone worthy enough to be a judge at a competition?
• Should you put batch numbers on your competition entry or just the brand?
• Why does MGP always perform well in competitions?
• 
  
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• HB 2200 will modernize Texas laws to provide fair treatment for spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails
• Tourism at distilleries is bigger than ever
• Old Forester launches its inaugural Sleepeasy
• Lost Lantern announces the release of their ninth single cask collection
• Michter’s Distillery will begin releasing its 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• @oldforester @lostlanternwhiskey @michterswhiskey
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Wild Turkey is one of the premier bourbon brands. We've had the pleasure of having all the Russell's on the show in previous years and it's always heartwarming to have any member of this family on to share stories. It's fun to hear the generational changes and how bourbon has developed. We had Bruce Russell on the show for the first time in 2019 on episode 199 with his cousin, JoAnn Street, but this time Bruce joins the show to talk about his journey in these last few years. Bruce has shown tremendous growth in a short period of time and we get to know more about him and how his time as a global brand ambassador really immersed him into the company and the culture. We ask Bruce about the current whiskey market and how he is carrying on a legacy and how he thinks he will leave his everlasting stamp on Wild Turkey.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about oxidation in the bottle.
• Did you know as a child you were going to get into whiskey?
• How is it different for you all being the face of the brand but not the owners of it?
• When you started as a global brand ambassador was that a way to get an immersive learning experience?
• Did Jimmy or Eddie ever tell you about being on the road before bourbon was cool?
• What have you seen change since you started in 2011?
• Why do you keep changing your packaging?
• What international markets is Wild Turkey getting entrenched into?
• Have you thought about how you are going to put your own stamp on the Wild Turkey brand?
• If you have ideas to implement, how do you go through your creative process?
• Do you think the market is ready for blending to start making more traction?
• Why do you keep making me hammer out bungs during single barrel picks?
• @russellsryeguy
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• Sazerac responds to the raid on Justin’s House of Bourbon
• Oregon officials get fired over allocating Pappy to themselves
• Bluegrass Distillers will build a new US$8 million distillery
• Buffalo Trace Distillery's new still house has officially been commissioned
• Sunday sales of distilled spirits has been passed in the Mississippi House
• Yellowstone launches its own American Single Malt Whiskey
• Barrell Craft Spirits has launched Barrell Bourbon Batch 34
• Bluebird Distilling and country music star Jordan Davis collaborate on Bluebird Days Straight American Whiskey
• Woodford Reserve announces the winter 2022 Master’s Collection release - Historic Barrel Entry
• @houseofbourbonlex @houseofbourbonlou @houseofbourbonky @woodfordreserve @bluegrassdistillers @buffalotracedistillery @yellowstonebourbon @barrellbourbon @bluebirddistilling @jordandavisofficial
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Most people get into bourbon because we enjoy it. There is a story behind every bottle and that captivates us. But then there are times we get our hands on a bottle and start thinking twice before opening it. The secondary market for scotch has been around a while but bourbon is relatively new in comparison. There has been an increase of rare bourbons hitting high dollars at auctions and even more auction houses are starting to become legal. In this episode, Ryan, Fred, and Kenny analyze the bourbon market and give our opinions on why whiskey isn't just for drinking anymore. We also gaze into our crystal ball and try to guess on some brands that have potential future value and then we talk about moving on from flipping bottles to flipping barrels.

Show Notes:

• Is whiskey really made for drinking and not collecting?
• Why is the value of the current whiskey market starting to decline?
• Is there a lack of marketing to get people into more higher end bottles?
• What are we drinking now that could be valuable in the future?
• People have moved on from bottles to starting to own barrels, is that a safe investment?
• Do you need to worry about the source of the barrels if you're buying on the open market?
• For real, this is not financial advice.
• 
  
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• Kentucky Bourbon Trail eclipsed two million visits
• California has introduced a bill that allows spirits-based RTDs to be sold in more retailers
• Shortbarrel announced the acquisition of the famous Old Fourth Distillery
• Woodford Reserve named Elizabeth McCall as Master Distiller
• Blue Run puts a new spin on the launch of their private barrel program
• Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 20-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Corn Whiskey
• The first national Barrel Proof expression of Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
• A release known as Blanton’s Char No. 4 2022 Limited Edition is popping up
• @kentuckybourbontrail @shortbarrelwhiskey @oldfourthdistillery @woodfordreserve @heavenhillbrands @heavenhilldistillery @bluerunspirits
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This is BCR #77 and its always a fan favorite so here's what we have tonight. Like bad hair and skinny jeans, trends come and go. But the same thing happens in the bourbon world. I pose a question to the group, if we see any trends fading. We start talking about stickers and barrel picks, but there are more we see happening. In the next section of the show, I ask everyone if the in-store buying experience is changing. There have been a lot of partnerships and acquisitions by Drizly, GoPuff, ReserveBar, and even Seelbachs. Are online and on-demand outlets such as these making consumers less likely to try new things? In the last part of the show, it's a question from Brian and he wants to know are there just too many bourbon festivals?

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) cigars.
• What bourbon trends are fading?
• Will Drizly/GoPuff/Seelbachs/ReserveBar kill the in-store experience?
• How can brands get people to try new things when many people will choose what's comfortable?
• Are there too many bourbon festivals? It seems like every festival is now BLANK + Bourbon.
• @breakingbourbon @fredminnick @drinkseelbachs @bourbonr @sippncorn
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• Fireball drinkers are suing Sazerac for misleading labels
• CeeLo Green joins forces with the Black-owned Victor George Spirits
• Grain & Barrel Spirits has announced a multi-year partnership with PGA TOUR Pro Golfer Kevin Kisner
• Elijah Craig announced a new multi-year partnership with sports broadcaster Amanda Balionis Renner
• Drizly and GoPuff announce a new partnership to provide immediate, on-demand delivery of drinks
• Midway University’s online MBA in Tourism and Event Management program
• A new Israeli bourbon called Dew of B’Dolah by Thinkers Distillery
• Chattanooga Whiskey announced Silver Oak Cabernet Cask Finished and Batch XXIX: Centenary Cask
• Boondocks 18 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Sagamore Spirit releases of its limited-edition Reserve Series 8-Year-Old Rye Whiskey
• @fireballwhiskey @ceelogreen @vgvodka @chickencockwhiskey @kevin_kisner @elijahcraig @balionisrenner @drizlyinc @gopuff @midwayuniv @thinkers.@distillery @chattwhiskey @sagamorespirit
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There seems to be a growing trend in the whiskey world and that is when you start seeing the accustom faces you know and trust in a brand leave to go and start their own venture. Can you blame them? There is more opportunity to own a piece of the pie. But could we see a growing problem where we see those brands struggle to take off? To help dive into this conversation we invite Jason Callori of the Mash and Drum on the show. We kick off the show to learn more about Jason and how he built one of the largest whiskey YouTube channels. Then we talk about Master Distillers and other faces leaving their respected brands and what motivates such a move.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks the frustration of secondary prices and not finding bottles
• How did you get into bourbon?
• What channels influenced you to start your own channel?
• What wins, content or production value?
• Did you ever have a sensation of burnout?
• Who are some of the favorite guests that you have had on the show?
• Are you master distillers and faces of the brand leaving for more money?
• Has the Master Distiller title been diluted?
• How fair is it for blenders to be criticized when they only have access to what's on the open market vs what they had at their disposal at a previous company?
• If you have a small brand and one batch bombs, how long can you rely on your reputation?
• Will a whiskey geek give someone a second chance?
• If someone is leaving from being a face of a brand, how long should they wait until they announce they are starting a new brand?
• @the_mash_and_drum
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• Elijah Craig Bourbon and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am announced a multi-year partnership
• A new bill introduced to the Ohio Senate would allow Ohioans to make moonshine
• Bourbon with HeART is launching Barrels of HeART
• Buffalo Trace Distillery is offering one lucky bourbon lover the trip of a lifetime
• ReserveBar launched its new website Get Stocked
• Traverse City Whiskey Co. has officially broke ground on a $20M distillery
• Old Elk Distillery launches its first Rye Whiskey finished in Barbados Rum Casks
• Hercules Mulligan Eyr & Rye, a limited-edition Irish-American Manhattan
• Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company. ’L.B.Co.’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon “One Cask Series”
• Heaven’s Door Spirits releases Bootleg Series Vol. IV, an 11-Year-Old Wheated Bourbon finished in Islay Scotch Casks
• Michter’s Distillery will begin shipping the 2022 Edition of its Celebration Sour Mash
• @elijahcraig @bourbonwithheart @buffalotracedistillery @reservebar @tcwhiskey @oldelkbourbon @herculesmulligancompany @lawrenceburgbourbon @heavensdoorwhiskey @michterswhiskey
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You listen to this show because you want to be a better educated bourbon consumer. Or maybe you just went off the deep-end and started buying too many bottles and now you're on the hunt for the next great bottle. Either way, I'm glad you're here. But there are all sorts of new opportunities that foster deeper knowledge with some of the premier distilleries in Kentucky, most notably, in Bardstown. Sam Lacy joins the show to talk about everything from the Bourbon Capital Community Alliance. It's an initiative from the city of Bardstown to bring in-depth and tailored educational experiences to distilleries around Bardstown along with their brand new Brindiamo Penthouse that can provide a 101-level primer for people before they hit the distilleries.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks bottles as an investment
• How did you get into bourbon?
• Why was there an initiative to form an alliance?
• How many partner distilleries are a part of the alliance?
• Is the Bourbon Capital Guild a private bourbon society?
• What are the distilleries asking of the city to help promote bourbon tourism?
• Is the Bourbon Capital Academy a proprietary education course that anyone can take?
• What is the Brindiamo Penthouse?
• How often are the courses being offered at the partner distilleries?
• How much does a custom distillery course cost?
• @bourboncapitalguild @bourboncapitalacademy @brindiamogroup
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• 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
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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
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• 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
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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
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• 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
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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
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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.

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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
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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. 

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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?
• 
  
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• 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
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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
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• 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
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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
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• 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
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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
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• 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
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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
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• 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
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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

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