Bourbon Pursuit

I remember the first time I saw a bottle of WM Tarr. I didn't know much about it except that is was from a company in Lexington and there was well-known football coach supporting the brand. Fast forward a few months and that bottle disappeared from the shelves and was replaced with a new brand called RD1 and it specialized in finished bourbon whiskeys. To help share more of this story, we've invited Barry Brinegar on the show. Barry is a Co-Founder and National Brand Ambassador and gives us the scoop on how their business plan that was only going to focus on gift shop sales got completely disrupted by covid and they had to look at new ways of doing business. We talk about their mission as a company and how they are taking a modern approach to whiskey to find new customers and how a that football coach I talked about landed them a premier placement on ESPN's college football gameday coverage.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about Maker's Mark and the proof change.
• How did you get started in the whiskey industry?
• How did you get connected with Mark Stoops?
• Why release WM Tarr?
• How did you adapt when covid shut down your business plan?
• What is the goal of how you are trying to be different?
• Did your cutover happen overnight and was the plan to switch over already in place?
• Why go with a modern brand vs traditional?
• How did you land on your core four products?
• How involved is Mark Stoops with the brand?
• Why have so much transparency when it comes to the wood finishing process?
• Why did you use amburana?
• 
  
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• Nancy Fraley talks cigar blend fact checks
• Whiskey & Wealth Club absolved of accusations
• James B. Beam Distilling Co. announces several new visitor experiences
• Widow Jane releases Baby Jane
• Blue Run Flight Series II
• Old Forester President's Choice
• Woodford Reserve Father's Day
• Angel's Envy releases a Cask Strength Bottled in Bond non finished bourbon
• @nancyfraley @beamdistilling @widowjane @bluerunspirits @oldforester @woodfordreserve @angelsenvy
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The barrel is where the magic happens and it takes years for your whiskey to achieve it's optimal flavor. Most of us are familiar with the standard american white oak barrel with a char 4. Yet, there are hundreds, if not, thousands of combinations that go into creating a barrel from the wood species, stave seasoning, char, toasting and how it ages based on location in a geography or a floor in a warehouse. There's one guy that does all this research and that's Andrew Wiehebrink from Independent Stave. This is his third time on the show and this time he brings different aging experiments for us to taste through. We taste the same whiskey from different levels of a warehouse and even the same american single malt aged in texas and scotland. We also dive into the state of the barrel shortage, our shared distain of amburana, the shift to char 1, and what new innovations are coming from the barrel and oak alternative market.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about will today's bottles be a new dusty.
• Talk about what stave seasoning does for the whiskey
• Why does Kentucky have more extraction than Texas?
• What does elevation from levels on a warehouse do to the aging process?
• How often do you revisit experiments?
• Does the mashbill make a difference to your experiments?
• Would American Single Malt make more sense to use new vs used barrels?
• What did the location differences for American Single Malt experiments make?
• Has the barrel shortage been resolved?
• Do you research the human element and what consumers are looking for in taste?
• What do you think of Amburana and exotic wood species?
• How are you smoking barrels?
• Why is Char 1 creating a darker whiskey and are there diminishing returns?
• Does pot vs column still play a role?
• Where are oak alternatives heading?
• How do you design a barrel correctly for double oaking?
• 
  
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• Breaking Bourbon turns 10
• Camp Runamok for 2024
• H.K. Young Bourbon Co launch
• Peg Leg Porker Spirits blending and bottling facility
• Ross and Squibb Distillery announced enhancements to their barrel program
• Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) fines 5 retailers for illegal shipping
• Diageo vs W.J. Deutsch & Sons is over
• Chicken Cock Whiskey has announced Circa 1856
• RECORD BREAKING SALE
• Curry’s Gentleman’s Cut is releasing a 15-year-old straight bourbon whiskey branded Player Exclusive
• Heaven Hill B524 of Elijah Craig and Larceny
• Knob Creek 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
• Bear Fight Kentucky Reserve
• Frank August partners with Jane Bowie and Denny Potter
• Rebel 10-Year Single Barrel Bourbon
• Buckner’s 17
• Lost Lantern is release nine whiskies
• Barrell Bourbon Batch 036
• FEW Smashing Pumpkins Bourbon
• Green River Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• @breakingbourbon @camp_runamok @h.@k.@youngbourbonco @peglegporker @rossandsquibb @chickencockwhiskey @unicorn_auction @stephencurry30 @heavenhillbrands @elijahcraig @larcenybourbon @knobcreek @bearfightwhiskey @thefrankaugust @rebelbourbon @augustakydistillery @lostlanternwhiskey @barrellbourbon @fewspirits @smashingpumpkins @greenriverdistillingco
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Most of us scoff at celebrity whiskey because let's be honest, most celebrities don't care as much about the product as they do sales. But on a past whiskey quickie we reviewed Whiskey JYPSI and that one changed our mind. It wasn't until we started diving into it that we discovered Ari Sussman. He's a whiskey maker for many brands like Whiskey JYPSI, Three Chord, and Mammoth Distilling, but his history with spirits will fascinate you. He's truly a student of the art where he spent years overseas bartending, discovered vintage cocktail books, and was an integral part of the first ever university distilling program at Michigan State. We talk to Ari about his past and then dive into the Whiskey JYPSI brand and how Eric Church and himself are trying to change the face of celebrity booze.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about finding better bourbon in the Netherlands.
• How did you get to this point in your career?
• What old school cocktails and liqueurs fascinated you?
• Were you trying to use the University of Michigan distilling program to innovate new things?
• Can you talk about blending 50ml bottles?
• What brands did you help build?
• Why would a company want to ghost blend?
• How did you get hooked up with Whiskey JYPSI?
• Why is this celebrity brand different than others?
• How have you added in Canadian whiskey and light whiskey into a blend?
• What do you feel is more innovative in world whiskey that's not happening in American whiskey?
• Why are you trying to be different in this celebrity world?
• Why JYPSI?
• 
  
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Will consumers become tired of Kentucky bourbon? With the rise of non-Kentucky brands gaining recognition for their quality whiskey, Kentucky bourbon still holds a strong position in the market due to its long-established reputation and consumer perception of safety and acceptance. 

While Kentucky will likely continue to hold the cache of consumer preferences, today we debate whether consumers will move past the big six Kentucky brands, or Kentucky in general, and latch on or explore other options. We'd love to hear from you on this!

We hit on:

• Non-Kentucky brands like Ben Holladay, JT Meleck, Still Austin and Frey Ranch gaining recognition for their quality whiskey.
• Kentucky bourbon still holds a strong position in the market due to its long-established reputation and consumer perception of safety and acceptance
• Consumers may be hesitant to move past the big six Kentucky brands due to familiarity and brand recognition
• The cache of Kentucky will likely continue due to marketing and consumer preferences
• Are there Kentucky Bourbons being made that are still riding the 'Kentucky Badge of Honor' that aren't very good?
• As a blender, why does Kentucky matter as a point of inclusion if that isn’t a focus of the product (or even on the label)?

and much more.

Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com.

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We're back with Bourbon Community Roundtable #94 and this one takes a single subject but it spins off into another. 2024 has seen the decline in whiskey sales and 2025 forecasts don't look much better. So have we finally eclipsed the peak of bourbon? A few years ago, there was a flourishing secondary market, droves of new people getting into the hobby, more options on the shelf, and massive expansions from all the big player. We've talked about this being a side-effect of the COVID boom but we also saw american whiskey get into more gimmicks and inflated prices. But we all still need the category to grow, so what's it going to take to reinvigorate more people to get into bourbon?

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about documentaries on other spirits.
• Have we eclipsed the bourbon peak?
• What can be done to make it just as popular again?
• 
  
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• Howler Head continues as the Official Flavored Whiskey of UFC
• The maker of Ozempic is investigating its effect on desire to drink alcohol
• US government dietary guidelines may say that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption
• Uncle Nearest acquires Square One Organic Spirits
• Burton James Uniquely American Whiskey Single Barrel Selection – Wheated Bourbon
• Woodford Reserve releases Toasted Bourbon
• The oldest Beam bourbon ever bottled will be an astounding 20 years old
• @howlerheadwhiskey @ufc @unclenearest @squareoneorganicspirits @burtonjameswhiskey @woodfordreserve @beamdistilling @jimbeamofficial
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Many of us make pivots in our career. I had my own where I had really was focused on networking in tech early on but then after I did my first presentation to a room of 500 people, I discovered I really liked it and found a new role in technical marketing. Our guest has a similar story where he wanted to get into distilling, made a successful gin brand then tried to build a whiskey brand, but realized how hard it was and thought, how can I get more people to try our products? And that's how Whiskey Riot was born. Bobby Finan is the Founder and Organizer of Whiskey Riot Festivals across the country and we get into his past of getting into the distilling business and how he took on personal debt to hold his position at his first company and launch Whiskey Riot simultaneously. Now Whiskey Riot is expanding to more cities so if you're looking for a new event to attend, put this one on your list.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about distilleries creating music halls.
• Before there was a festival, you had your own brand and forged your way into spirits early on.
• When you wanted to start a distillery did you have a business plan?
• What was it about your Tommy Rotter gin that really took off?
• Why didn't your whiskey business ever take off?
• Did you think you could make people come to you instead of going out to stores?
• How were you funding Whiskey Riot?
• What was your return on investment for a typical event?
• How do you evaluate a city for a new festival?
• Why would a legacy brand vs a new brand want to go to whiskey fest?
• 
  
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• Chet Zoeller passes away at 83 years old
• Alex Castle joins Augusta Distillery as Master Distiller
• Four Roses introduces two new bourbon mash bills
• Oregon Department of Justice wrapped up
• Nelson Brothers Honey Cask Finish
• Spring 2024 edition of Old Fitzgerald
• 15 STARS Vino de Naranja
• Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 002 The Alchemist
• Kentucky Senator Bourbon 5th Release
• Michter's 10 Year Kentucky Straight Rye
• Weller Millennium
• Ol’ New Riff
• Milam & Greene Bottled in Bond
• Frey Ranch Wheat Whiskey Single Barrel
• RD1 Spirits wood-finished bourbon flight
• Little Book Chapter 8 Path Not Taken
• Oak & Eden Bourbon and Amburana
• Bardstown Bourbon Company The Amrut Collaborative Series
• @fourrosesbourbon @augusta_distiller @augustakydistillery @nelsonsgreenbrier @heavenhillbrands @whiskeyhypsi @michterswhiskey @kentuckysenatorbourbon @newriff @milamandgreene @freyranchdistillery @rd1spirits @beamgeneration8 @oakandeden @bardstownbourbonco @amrutmalt
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If you can recall your childhood, you probably remember your Dad being there but you may never have appreciated the life lessons you were taught until you got much older. And when you have kids, maybe that's the reason you start drinking bourbon. Both of these are reasons our guest today decided to call his brand Fathertime Bourbon. Jim Gaffigan needs no introduction because we've all laughed at his jokes throughout the years. Family life is a facet of his standup, and food obviously, but Jim loves to say the things we're all thinking and it's what has made him so successful in his comedic career. Jim Gaffigan joins the show to talk about how he made the switch from beer to bourbon and what drew him in to becoming a bourbon connoisseur or as he likes to call it, a professional alcoholic. From there we dive into his new brand of Fathertime Bourbon and what it meant to incorporate generations of his family and his comedic focus into the story and design.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about proofing whiskey and adding water at home.
• Can you recall a good college story with Stu Pollard?
• What made you want to go down the path of being a professional alcoholic?
• Did you find any correlation between picking barrels and your comedic routines?
• Did you have the natural progression from mixing to neat?
• Did you try and buy the rarest stuff right away or look for everyday items?
• How is bourbon perceived in your circles?
• Were there anything obvious or strange about bourbon that you discovered?
• Are you finding yourself traveling to whiskey bars now?
• How involved were you with the bottle design?
• What tips do you have for signing bottles and not letting your hands get tired?
• How did you script the social media launch for the brand?
• What easter eggs did you hide in the label?
• Is there a statement or impact you want to make with this brand?
• 
  
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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Whiskey JYPSI Explorer. This 6 year old bourbon is 103 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.

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• WhiskeyLand S01 May 14th
• AARP pours
• Jammin' at Jeptha Creed Distillery
• Wild Turkey is back open for visitors
• Man fired a gun outside Buffalo Trace Distillery
• Derby Day Party at Hartman's Distilling Co
• Guilty plea from one of the original indicted nine suspects from Pappygate
• Maker's Mark and TravisMathew collab on new golf gear
• Stephen B. Beam Tasting Lodge
• George Dickel bottled-in-bond 12 year
• Liberty Pole Spirits Old Monongahela Full Proof Rye Whiskey
• Stonestreet Kentucky Straight Bourbon Founder's Edition
• Templeton Midnight Rye
• Prairie Artisan Ales, American Solera, and Pursuit Spirits drop a 3 Way Beer Collab called Not Subtle
• @whiskeylandtv @jepthacreed @wildturkey @buffalotracedistillery @hartmans_distilling @makersmark @travismathew @stephen.@beam.@7 @georgedickel @yellowstonebourbon @libertypolespirits @stonestreetwhiskey @templetondistillery @prairieales @pursuitspirits @americansolera
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We've had the very cool opportunity to have lots of famous names on this show, and today we get to hear the story of another brand that has been in bourbon for a very long time. In fact, in this episode you get a chance to hear from someone who's family once owned the Old Grandad label. Turner Wathen has a deep family lineage rooted in bourbon, and that originally piqued my interest because I used to own a bottle of Wathen's bourbon. Turner dives deep into his family history and how when he wanted to get into the whiskey business, he couldn't even use his family name. Turner shares his wild decision in 2014 by analyzing the whiskey market and feeling there is too much saturation so he dove into rum. But not just any rum, but he set himself on a mission to become the upmost recognizable independent bottler of amazing, high age stated rum, that is now Rolling Fork Spirits

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about NDPs and bottled in bond.
• Can you give a background into how you found out your name was famous in bourbon?
• At what point did you decide to revive the family legacy?
• Are you still balancing your day job with all this?
• When did you decide that bourbon was crowded and looked at other spirits?
• Why is sorghum a bad grain to use?
• How important is it to find rum with no additives and why is that important?
• Was Fortuitous Union a mistake or the on purpose?
• Why was there a legal battle for Fortuitous Union?
• How much of an educational hurdle did you have to overcome?
• When did you switch from the Fortuitous Union brand back to a rum focus?
• Any reason why you haven't worked with any American rum producers?
• What is going on with all the rum taxes?
• Are we looking at the rare days of rum that would be equivalent to Van Winkle or early Jeffersons?
• 
  
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• Beam Suntory is now Suntory Global Spirits
• Blue Note Bourbon has announced a multi-year partnership as the official bourbon of Major League Pickleball
• Bulleit launches Don't Trash Glass
• Elijah Craig's Official Bourbon Cocktail of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla, The Elijah Craig Mulligan
• Whiskeyland Season 1 premiers on May 14th
• @suntoryglobalspirits @bluenotebourbon @majorleaguepb @bulleit @elijahcraig @pgatour @whiskeylandtv
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It's Bourbon Community Roundtable #93 and this time we're talking about vintage labels. We've seen a resurgence of them over the past few years and there are more coming out from big distillers and smaller lesser known brands. I wanted to ask if there is any value in doing this before focusing on something more modern. There is a feeling of nostalgia but it also made me think about movie reboots and if all the good ideas are taken.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about used barrels with rye whiskey.
• What value is there in reviving old labels?
• NDPs or small craft producers taking something from a family lineage
• NDP or craft just to have a story
• azerac doing the Pre-Pro bottle labels
• Big names like Beam now doing 16yr OGD
• 
  
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• Master Distiller Alex Castle will be leaving Old Dominick
• Give 270 has a new giveaway
• Three Chord Bourbon x Allman Brothers Band
• Shelter Distilling expands to Montrose, Colorado
• ourbon Spirits Market Size to Rise up to US$12 Billion by 2030
• A ransomware attack on a Swedish logistics company
• London Marathon runner tasted a different glass of wine each mile of the race.
• Garrison Brothers Lady Bird
• J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) Bourbon
• Bulleit 12-Year-Old Rye Whiskey
• Derby City Gaming and Hotel “Thoroughbred Collection”
• New Riff Silver Grove Bourbon and Silver Grove Rye
• Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke
• LuxRow Blood Oath Pact 10
• Chattanooga Whiskey Founder’s 12th Anniversary Blend
• Two Souls Spirits Spring 2024 release
• The WoodWork Collective and David Jennings Raconteur Rye
• @olddominick @give270 @threechordbourbon @shelterdistilling @garrisonbros @jmattingly1845 @bulleit @newriff @basilhayden @luxrowdistillers @chattwhiskey @rarebird101
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This is a question that has plagued me for quite some time and it was inspired by my wife. Ryan and I continuously evaluate brands as we compare what works and what doesn't when it comes to consumers. We get caught in this trap of continually pivoting as we see other brands catch fire because of a bottle design or some element. So my wife asked me, Kenny, are you are whiskey company or a marketing company? It caught me off guard and I really had to think about the broader landscape so I wanted to make an episode where we talk about what it takes to be a whiskey company versus a marketing company. There's probably a lot of brands out there that think of themselves as a whiskey company but in reality they are a marketing company. Here's the thing, there's no wrong answer. Marketing plays a crucial role in whiskey and it could be the marketing that's in your face through point of sale, it could be bottle shapes, or even the lack of marketing to keep the mystique alive. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and it probably requires us to hit this topic again in the future if you send us your feedback.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about Maker's Mark and their role in bourbon resurgence.
• Where do you spend your first initial investment?
• Does the liquid even matter?
• Does having special distillation, heirloom grains, or anything else really matter?
• Can a big distiller be considered a marketing company?
• When a big distiller creates the same label with different colors and proofs, is that about the whiskey?
• How do you transition from being a marketing company to a whiskey company?
• Does it matter if you're getting it from one source like everyone else?
• Do you need to cater to the neophytes or the mass consumer market?
• If Fred Minnick starts a brand would you put your money in marketing or the whiskey?
• Can you be a whiskey company if you are using MGP?
• Is a lack of marketing considered marketing?
• 
  
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• Woodford Reserve Distillery has unfairly influenced a 2022 unionization vote
• Maker's Mark, Ed Lee, and Messermeister come out with a knife collaboration
• Bargo 459 joins The Kentucky Distillers’ Association
• Bourbon Women is pleased to announce the 2024 SIP Scholarship Program
• Hard Truth Distilling Co. to break ground on its third rackhouse
• Old Line Spirits 51 Rye Whiskey
• Keeneland Race Course and Maker’s Mark launch Greats of the Gate
• @woodfordreserve @makersmark @chefedwardlee @messer_meister @bourbonwomen @hardtruthspirits @oldlinespirits @keeneland
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Whenever you get into a hobby that involved enthusiasts and collecting, there are trends that begin to appear. Allocations, raffles, lotteries, fakes, these are things that become common. One of those hobbies that has quite a few parallels is sneakers. Matt Kusek is a certified whiskey enthusiasts as a write for Malt Review but he's also the host of the Swoosh Life podcast that focuses on sneaker heads. He joins the show to give us an insight into how the shoe game and bourbon have so many similarities that, in Matt's words, sneakers are 20 years ahead of bourbon. We dive into the types of collectors, brands, sales, allocation, and so much more. If sneakers are really 20 years ahead of bourbon, who knows what the next few years has in store for us.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about Buffalo Trace expansion.
• What's the similarity between Jordan's and bourbon releases?
• Are there raffles, lotteries, or hunts for sneakers?
• Who is the distributor and how do they own the retail store?
• If Nike is number one, who would they be compared to and who's the next biggest?
• Mom and pop stores vs chains and how are they getting pushed out of the market?
• What about saving and storing vs wearing or drinking?
• Is it Jordan and then everyone else?
• What is the Heaven Hill or Weller of sneakers?
• Are there people that only collect one type of shoe?
• Bourbon hits all walks of life or does the sneaker enthusiasts hit all walks of life?
• Are there sneakers that don't need marketing?
• Do you look differently at people who are rookies and buy stuff just because they want every color?
• Are there any value brands that hold up over time?
• Are there some LTOs that flop?
• Are replicas or fakes a big problem?
• Has the market gone down because everything became a limited edition?
• Was Blue Run able to sneakerize the industry in your opinion?
• @mattkusek
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• A21 Wine & Spirits has agreed to purchase the Noble Oak American Whiskey brand from Edrington
• Slow Pass Bourbon Co. LLC is considering opening a $70 million distillery in Springfield, Ky
• Three limited-time Derby experiences for booking on Buzzard's Roost
• The Woodford Reserve $1,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep cups charity program
• Staghorn has appointed Brindiamo Group founder Jeff Hopmayer to serve on the advisory board
• Chef Edward Lee recently released a cookbook called Bourbon Land
• Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• 2XO The Kiawah Blend
• High n’ Wicked cask strength rye and bourbon
• High West Bourye
• Jim Gaffigan launches Fathertime Bourbon
• Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish
• Ole Smoky Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Booker’s Springfield Batch
• BHAKTA 2014 Bourbon
• A. Overholt
• Chicken Cock Double Oak Single Barrel
• BLACKENED Whiskey 2024 edition of Rye the Lighting
• Savage & Cooke Distillery Howling Mob Bourbon Whiskey and Bloody Butcher Bourbon Whiskey
• Still Austin Ruby Red Port Barrel Finished Straight Rye Whiskey
• Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition
• Orphan Barrel Indigo’s Hour Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Milam & Greene Whiskey 2024 Wildlife Collection: Mockingbird Single Barrel Bourbon
• @nobleoak @buzzardsroostwhiskey @woodfordreserve @brindiamogroup @chefedwardlee @michterswhiskey @2xowhiskey @dixon_dedman @highnwicked @drinkhighwest @jimgaffigan @fathertimebourbon @ezrabrooksbourbon @olesmokey @bhaktaspirits @chickencockwhiskey @blackenedamericanwhiskey @savageandcooke @stillatx @heavenhilldistillery @milamandgreenewhiskey
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You hear us talk about dusty bourbon on the show too often. We keep beating that dead horse because it's a chance to drink history and have a completely different whiskey than what's in the bottle today. Vintage spirits are on the rise and have gone from an underground enthusiast crowd into the mainstream. Aaron Goldfarb is a distinguished author and he joins the show to talk about his new book titled Dusty Booze. This books has a storyline with finding a dusty goldmine but goes into the story of decanters, minis, and the hunt for rare bottles. It's now available on Amazon and lots of different outlets.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about bourbon with malted barely with the highest secondary grain.
• What made you want to write a book on vintage whiskey?
• What were some of those iconic decanters that were made?
• What was the story you saw form out of the glut era?
• Did you ever talk to store owners and ask why they would sit on inventory for this long?
• Why did decanters become so popular or unpopular?
• What makes a dusty spirit different from today's current releases?
• Did anyone come up with a better term other than dusty funk?
• Why was there a bigger market for minis back in the day?
• Talk about the storyline and how Kevin came across this goldmine and any legal implications.
• How many bar owners did you talk to about running a business on vintage spirits?
• What do you think has to be considered vintage?
• Was there any information in the book that teaches you how to date code vintage whiskey?
• Is there a chance that any store is left with any dusty bottles?
• Do you need dusty cocktail ingredients?
• @aarongoldfarb
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Stemming from the episode of the Bourbon Pursuit podcast with John Foster of Ragged Branch, today's episode comes from a few listeners of the show, Todd and David, as Kenny discusses the process of choosing distributors specifically for Pursuit Spirits. We touch on topics such as the three-tier distribution system, the role of distributors in the industry, and the challenges of market launches and incentives. We also share experiences with different distributors and the importance of building relationships in the industry. Kenny discusses the challenges of managing skew sprawl and UPCs in the bourbon industry. He explains how Pursuit Spirits aims to strike a balance between batch uniqueness and consumer familiarity. He also shares advice for those starting in the industry, emphasizing the importance of education and consulting. He explores different distribution models and the goals brands may have, whether it's long-term brand building or rapid expansion... but where is Pursuit in all of this?

We hit on:

• Choosing the right distributor being crucial for a brand's success in the spirits industry.
• The three-tier distribution system presenting both challenges and opportunities for brands.
• Market launches, market support, and building relationships with distributors and retailers.
• Different distributors strengths and capabilities, and the importance of finding the right one for each market.
• Brand consideration of their goals and a distribution model that aligns with their long-term plans, whether it's slow brand building or rapid expansion.
• Pursuit Spirits' own business model.

and much more.

Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com.

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The past few weeks there have been lots of speculation about non distilling producers, or known as NDPs, being able to survive. The market has shifted and there are images of sourced brands that have prices slashed on shelves along with others having their facilities up for sale. This makes us wonder what is in store for the remainder of the year. We talk about what makes NDPs special and how every big distillery was also a NDP at one point as well. There's also a message coming directly from Barrell Bourbon about their current listings.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about hot sauce and bourbon.
• What will happen to NDPs in 2024?
• 
  
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• A new service is launching dubbed the Kentucky Bourbon Retreat
• Indiana has new liquor laws
• West Virginia's legislature has approved a bill that would allow individuals to distill
• Better Business Bureau warns of scam bourbon retail sites and social media accounts
• 50 Cent has filed a $6 million embezzlement case against Beam Suntory
• A vintage Perone beer can has sold for an astounding $62,830
• Hard Truth Distilling Co. Farmer’s Reserve
• 15 STARS First West Bourbon
• Woodford Reserve 150th Kentucky Derby
• @50cent @barrelglobal @hardtruthspirits @woodfordreserve
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Understanding how the bourbon geek thinks has been something that has dumbfounded us for years. We talk about it all the time on roundtables and other episodes where we try to guess why consumers purchase in certain ways. And for the longest time, you all have asked why don't we get someone on the show that can talk about the psychology of a bourbon drinker. Well, ask and you shall receive. In this very special episode, Jim White, the Founder and President of Reality Check consulting who has a background in bourbon advertising and psychology joins the show to talk about how people think and how brands can develop a story. This episode will dive into the psychology of scarcity, pricing, limited editions, repeat purchases, and so much more. During different segments you're going to come away realizing a reason why you chase and hunt bottles as well.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about enforcement of bottled in bond.
• Can you give a background about Reality Check Consulting?
• What research methods do you use to get consumer feedback?
• What things in our psychology trigger us to look at certain brands?
• How does a brand like Weller go from zero to hero in such a short time?
• Why should brands create limited edition offerings from a psychology perspective?
• Is there another type of consumer that just isn't worried about status?
• How does a brand focused on volume market differently?
• Why would someone purchase the same bottle over and over again?
• Do other categories have fans that want their own hobby to fail?
• Is brand loyalty dead?
• How do you attract a customer to look beyond what's safe?
• Does FOMO play a big role?
• 
  
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• MGP is getting ready to battle two cities in court
• Thieves got away with bourbon that was inside a parked truck
• Bespoken Spirits new headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky
• Flying Ace announced an educational scholarship program with Folds of Honor
• Barmen 1873 Bourbon is rolling out its first-ever celebrity partnership with Lainey Wilson
• Blade and Bow Kentucky partners with golf champion Wyndham Clark
• Elijah Craig welcomes the 2024 PGA Championship
• Jack & Ginger Ale
• Knob Creek collaborates on a limited release with LL Cool J
• Penelope Rio is set to arrive on shelves in March
• Maker’s Mark has now launched the London edition of its Wood Finishing City Series
• Rabbit Hole Distillery released the newest member of its Distillery Series “Heretofore“
• @bespokenspirits @flyingacespirits @foldsofhonor @barmen1873 @bladeandbowwhiskey @elijahcraig @jackdaniels_us @knobcreek @peneoplebourbon @makersmark @rabbithole @raekwon @llcoolj
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Before there were Instagram and TikTok influencers, YouTubers, and even podcasters, there were writers. I'm not talking about bloggers. But esteemed authors and journalists who dug into a story and took it to magazines and other trade publications. The times have changed, our attention spans have gotten much shorter, and now running a story is much different. To help gives more insight into whiskey journalism we've invited Maggie Kimberl back on the show. She's the Content Editor of American Whiskey Magazine and writes some of the most intriguing stories in bourbon today. We all evaluate how access to distilleries have gotten harder through PR firms and how there may be a dilution of valuable content and talent because the barrier to entry is much lower through social media. It's not all doom and gloom though. We are now in a time when there is more to talk about than ever in bourbon. There is going to be no shortage of new stories with the boom of so many new distilleries and entrants into the market.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the lobbying groups for whiskey and bourbon.
• How small was the community in whiskey journalism?
• Has the access to the distillers and the people changed over the years?
• How many more events are there now?
• At what point in time did you start seeing a shift happen from deep articles vs click bait?
• If writing isn't a means to have a successful career did judging whiskey awards feel like a next step?
• What are the types of stories in magazines that people really latch on to and engage?
• Do stories on bourbon tourism do well?
• Do you see a problem with short-form content and those content creators?
• Do big brands even need bourbon media any longer?
• 
  
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• Should the government be able to stop you from making whiskey?
• Buzzard’s Roost Ambuzzador
• Rebel 100 6-Year Bourbon
• Chattanooga is releasing Discover Experimental Batch 037: Ancient Wheat
• Yellowstone Rum Cask Finish
• @buzzardsroostwhiskey @chattwhiskey @rebelbourbon @yellowstonebourbon
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The platform of this podcast was to help connect listeners to the brands they see on the store shelves. As time has gone on, sometimes we discover there really isn't much substance to a brand. But today's guest is the very opposite. I found myself enthralled with our guests history in the culinary world and what he's doing to make his whiskey be one that many can appreciate from the liquid to the blending. Sean Josephs is the Co-Founder & Master Blender behind Pinhook. You know all those bottles with race horses on the label and different colored wax. Sean talks about getting his start in restaurants, grinding it out, and eventually working at some of the world's premier establishments and becoming such a decorated wine sommelier that he would be considered famous by those standards. Consider me a bit star struck by the time this episode is over. Then he finds a new passion in bourbon and opens up one of the first ever whiskey bars in Brooklyn and eventually left to start Pinkhook bourbon. Sean's passion comes through and we learn the secret decoder ring to knowing more about all his Pinhook bottles and what's in store for the future.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about adding water to high proof whiskey.
• What's your background and how did you get into bourbon?
• As a somm, do you remember the most epic wine?
• Was starting a whiskey bar in 2008 in Brooklyn a bold move?
• Were barrel selections becoming popular for restaurants in 2016?
• What made you want to stop doing bars and restaurants and start the whiskey brand?
• Can you explain the packaging and colors and how they work?
• What makes your whiskey special and what are you doing there?
• How long do you think you'll have enough whiskey to keep your projects going?
• 
  
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• March 15 is National Buzzards Day
• Ohio Liquor Goes Irish
• Old Forester High Angels’ Share
• Milam & Greene 2024 Wildlife Collection, the Golden Eagle Single Barrel Bourbon
• New Riff Distilling 8-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Woodford Reserve 2024 commemorative Derby bottle
• 15 STARS First West Rye Whiskey and 8&15 YO Private Stock Fine Aged Bourbon
• The Perfect Fifth 14-year-old American Whiskey
• Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye
• Peerless Toasted Bourbon - Batch 1
• @buzzardsroostwhiskey @ohioliquor @oldforester @milamandgreenewhiskey @newriff @woodfordreserve @15starsbourbon @michterswhiskey @kentuckypeerless @theperfectfifth @bourbon_colonel86
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Is the bourbon boom really over? Some people think it may. Fred Minnick recently touched on this subject and people began talking about their ideas and buying habits. We wanted to tackle that by touching on publicly traded companies, heresay from our own experience, and if we truly think craft and NDPs are in trouble.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about international market not working.
• Publicly traded companies like Diego and Brown Forman.
• Consumers buying mainstays.
• Retailers are cautious about new brands.
• International markets.
• Economic impacts
• 
  
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• Brown‑Forman Corporation has sold its Jack Daniel Cooperage
• The Ripken Experience
• Maker's Mark labels for inspirational woman
• Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey has opened a whiskey lodge in Aspen
• Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America say that premiumization is dead
• Justins’ has sued Kentucky ABC
• Kentucky lawmakers are moving to close loopholes in the Vintage Distilled Spirits law
• FC Dallas partnership with Campari America
• Kentucky Bourbon Festival ticket sale dates
• Jaywalk Straight Rye
• Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing City Series Singapore Edition
• Lost Lantern Spring 2024 collection
• Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon with a commemorative 52nd Edition Gold Pegasus Pin
• Still Austin Whiskey Co Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey
• Total Eclipse Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams and Garrison Bros Whiskey Pecan & Pralines
• @jackdaniels_us @brownforman @makersmark @stranahans @fcdallas @campariusa @wildturkey @longbranchbourbon @kybourbonfest @lostlanternwhiskey @evanwilliamsbourbon @ewbourbonexperience @stillatx @caseyjonesdistillery @garrisonbros @mcconnellsicecreams
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The barrel is a magical component to the creation of bourbon and nearly 95% of all bourbon goes into white oak. But what's the problem with this? Bourbon can only be used in a charred barrel once. After that, it needs to find a new home. Now that may sound wasteful but the bourbon market is only a very small contributor to the current white oak problem. To help us better understand about forestry and the white oak supply I've invited Daana Baxley from the Nature Conservancy in Kentucky to join the show. She gives some great insight into the current state of white oak trees and what is currently being done to protect our forests. I've never known what it takes to manage forests and this episode will give you an insight into grading and how invasive species of trees continue to decline the white oak population. But more so, Daana gives us some insight if we will ever experience a white oak shortage in the future and what we can do to help protect it.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about running out of old bourbon.
• What took you on a path to nature preservation?
• How are you able to achieve your mission without using scare tactics?
• Why is Appalachia so important?
• What does "protection" mean in the sense of a nature conservancy?
• What is the current status of the white oak species?
• What is the proper way to manage these forests?
• What does high grading mean?
• How has ash or maple impacted the population?
• How many years into the future are we looking at when we will see a big white oak problem?
• Is the bourbon industry a problem or is there another industry to blame?
• Do bourbon drinkers even care if there is sustainability practices happening?
• Do other industries join in conversation practices like the white oak initiative?
• 
  
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