Episodes
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It's This Week in Bourbon for June 21st 2024. Hard Truth adds Moonshiner’s Experience, Heaven's Door wants to know what's better Kentucky or Tennessee Bourbon?, Maker's Mark announced the latest in its Wood Finishing Series.Show Notes:
Hard Truth adds Moonshiner’s Experience
Heaven's Door wants to know what's better Kentucky or Tennessee Bourbon?
Penelope re-releases their Rose cask
Silverbelly Whiskey Batch #4 entitled I'd Love You All Over Again
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Old
Wyoming Whiskey Outryder Straight American Whiskey
Maker's Mark announced the latest in its Wood Finishing Series
@hardtruthspirits @heavensdoorwhiskey @penelopebourbon @silverbellywhiskey @russellsreservebourbon @wyomningwhiskey @makersmark
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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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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Puncher's Chance The Unified Belt. This non-age stated whiskey 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.
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It's This Week in Bourbon for June 13th 2024. James B. Beam Distilling Co. announces several new visitor experiences, Widow Jane releases Baby Jane, and Angel's Envy releases a Cask Strength Bottled in Bond non finished bourbon.Show Notes:
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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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Hayner Path of Totality Bourbon. This 10 year old bourbon is 100 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.
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It's This Week in Bourbon for June 7th 2024. A new record for the highest price bourbon bottle ever sold at auction, Chicken Cock Whiskey has announced the grand opening of its brand home, Circa 1856, and Green River Launches Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.Show Notes:
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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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Town Branch Straight Rye Whiskey. This non-age stated rye whiskey 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.
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Subscribe to Behind The Pursuit: From Bourbon to Brand
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 [email protected].
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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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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review High Bank Distillery Whiskey War Double Double. This 5 year old whiskey is 116 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.
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It's This Week in Bourbon for May 24th 2024. The maker of Ozempic is investigating its effect on desire to drink alcohol. Woodford Reserve releases Toasted Bourbon, and the oldest Beam bourbon ever bottled will be an astounding 20 years old.Show Notes:
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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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Bernheim Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey Batch A224. This 7-9 year old whiskey is 125 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.
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It's This Week in Bourbon for May 17th 2024. Four Roses introduces two new bourbon mash bills, New Riff Distilling has announced the dual release of Ol’ New Riff, and Bardstown Bourbon Company’s award-winning Collaborative Series will debut The Amrut Collaborative Series.Show Notes:
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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It's This Week in Bourbon for May 10th 2024. Wild Turkey is back open for visitors, Maker's Mark and TravisMathew collab on new golf gear. Prairie, American Solera, and Pursuit drop Not Subtle.Show Notes:
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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