Bourbon Pursuit

It’s This Week in Bourbon for July 4th 2025. Dark Arts Whiskey House has opened doors to their new brand home, Jackie Zykan is stepping away from Hidden Barn Bourbon, and Chattanooga Whiskey has two new experimental liqueurs.Show Notes: John Little is stepping away from Smooth Ambler to launch a spirits consulting and barrel brokering venture. Dark Arts Whiskey House is set to open its immersive brand home in Lexington on June 28, 2025. Jeff Hopmayer of Brindiamo Group has invested in Four Branches Bourbon. Constellation Brands, Brown-Forman, and Diageo are currently facing lawsuits regarding alleged misleading financial statements and product claims. J. Mattingly 1845's ownership is transferring to Gold Corn & Co., with Cameron Mattingly remaining in his production role. Jefferson's Bourbon partnered with Brooklyn Peltz Beckham's Cloud23 hot sauce to create the "Brooklyn23" rye cocktail, offering home kits. Michael Nanula is the new CEO of Three Chord Bourbon. Give 270 is launching the "Whiskey Wednesdays Round 16 - Colonel & Cash" raffle series from July 2 to Sept. 17. Jackie Zykan has departed Hidden Barn Bourbon, with Neeley Family Distillery continuing its production. The New York State Legislature passed a bill allowing restaurants and bars to purchase limited liquor inventory directly from stores.Matthew Lillard's Find Familiar Spirits is partnering with Manifest Distilling to launch Expansion Pack, a new service for craft spirits brands. Barrell Craft Spirits released Barrell Bourbon Batch 037, a new blended bourbon at 111.38 proof. Chattanooga Whiskey unveiled "Batch alpha": Intergalactic Comet Crusher, a bourbon liqueur, and Experimental Single Batch 044: Bourbon Barreled Limecello. Kentucky Owl is releasing Batch #13 Bourbon, the final blend by John Rhea, at 56.8% ABV. Heaven Hill is launching the Second Edition of its Grain to Glass Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, a barrel-proof, non-chill filtered release. Michter’s Distillery will release its 2025 Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash and Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon this July. Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It takes us a while on the Bourbon Pursuit side to find a craft brand that has great whiskey and a great story. And when we get to bring someone on from the Centennial State, it's even better. We sit down with Al Laws, the guy behind Laws Whiskey House in Colorado. Laws is known for their four-grain bourbon, but Al's journey wasn't always in whiskey and he took some pivots from the world of finance and oil to get there. We dive deep into Al's whiskey-making philosophy and he shares some great stories about sourcing grains right there in Colorado and how they approach their flavor profiles. Of course, we're also going to talk about the business side of things, including the financial hurdles distilleries face, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Colorado was also on the forefront on the rise of cannibis and we talk about how Laws Whiskey House navigated through that boom in his area. Show Notes: Al Laws' transition from finance to whiskey The significance of Colorado's whiskey culture Crafting a unique four-grain bourbon at Laws Whiskey House Insights on flavor profiles and local grain sourcing Navigating the challenges of distillery business in evolving times The impact of new market competitors on whiskey sales Building community support and brand identity over 14 years Aging whiskey in Colorado's distinctive climate Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Fanged Pursuit from Orphan Barrel. This 17 year old bourbon is 92 proof and $200 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe to ⁠Behind The Pursuit: From Bourbon to Brand⁠ Another PursuitPalooza is in the books! Each year, the guys host a unique and immersive experience here in town for their listeners and fans. The event includes distillery tours, barrel picks, tastings, and social gatherings from relationships they’ve built over the years of running the podcast. This year, the event featured visits to Angel's Envy, Lux Row, and the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery. Participants had the opportunity to taste rare and limited-edition whiskies, learn about the distillation process, and connect with fellow bourbon enthusiasts. The event also included a whole lot of Shebanging at the Pursuit HQ, as well as guests having their own Whiskey Quickie for Bourbon Pursuit from blind samples in the building. On today’s episode, we recap it all.  P.club by Pursuit Spirits puts you in the inner circle. As a member, you’ll unlock exclusive distillery-only releases, VIP access to live virtual tastings with Q&As, 10% off all merch and special perks. Whether you choose free doorstep delivery or distillery pickup, you’ll always be first in line for our newest drops. With a flexible cart and priority access to limited barrels, P.Club isn’t just a membership—it’s your all-access pass to Pursuit. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up today⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Come and see us on Mellwood! 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this dynamic episode of Bourbon Pursuit, we're pulling up a few extra chairs to the table for a killer panel discussion! Your host Kenny Coleman is wrangling some serious bourbon brains: Fred Minnick, Blake Seelbach, Eric from Breaking Bourbon, and Brian Sipp from Sip and Corn. We kick things off with a little banter about those inevitable tech glitches and distillation woes before diving deep into the real meat and potatoes: what does it really take to launch a bourbon brand today versus five years ago? Blake points out that while getting started might seem easier with more resources available, the true test of survival for any new brand hinges on smart distribution strategies in an ever-consolidating market. The crew digs into critical topics like consumer education, the art of storytelling, and how to even compete against the established giants out there. Fred brings his signature insight, emphasizing that today's consumers have evolving expectations – new brands have to deliver on both quality and effective marketing. The panel also explores how whiskey marketing itself is changing, agreeing that a compelling narrative is absolutely essential to stand out in this saturated market. We chew on the pros and cons of the direct-to-consumer model and even debate whether contract distillation is the smartest play for newcomers. As we wind down, Kenny leaves us with an encouraging thought: building a brand is tough, no doubt, but with the right approach, it can be incredibly rewarding. This episode is packed with insightful discussion, plenty of laughs, and is a must-listen for anyone who loves bourbon or dreams of launching their own brand. Show Notes: Who are the panelists that joined Kenny? Tips for improving tech setups for podcasts. Current challenges and opportunities in starting a bourbon brand. The importance of consumer education in the bourbon space. How to navigate distributor and retailer dynamics. The significance of storytelling for new whiskey brands. The benefits and pitfalls of a strong online presence. Insights on contract distillation as a pathway for newcomers. Future trends and predictions for the bourbon industry. Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Wild Turkey 101 8 Year Bourbon. This 8 year old bourbon is 101 proof and $45 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s This Week in Bourbon for June 20th 2025. Whiskey House and The Koetter Group will build 12 state-of-the-art rickhouses, Maker's Mark has announced a new exhibition by contemporary artist Dale Chihuly, and Dierks Bentley is introducing ROW 94 Broken Branches.Show Notes: Bourbon & Beyond announces culinary and spirits lineup for 2025 festival. Whiskey House of Kentucky partners with Koetter Group to build 12 new K-RAX rickhouses. Former Oregon liquor head fined $1,500 for diverting rare bourbon. Give 270 to host Bourbon Strong 50-4-50 raffle featuring Booker's Single Barrel. High West Distillery partners with Luke Grimes for 'Protect the West' initiative. Green River Distilling Co. debuts U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Bourbon with airborne delivery. Maker's Mark announces Dale Chihuly art exhibition and expanded culinary program at Star Hill Farm. Old Forester launches new Bourbon-infused Cocktail Cherries. Blue Note Bourbon introduces its first Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey. Dierks Bentley's ROW 94 launches "Broken Branches" bourbon with unique "Branch Aging" process. Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You know, there are some people in the bourbon world who aren't just part of the industry, they are the industry. And our guest today absolutely fits that bill. We are incredibly excited to welcome the one and only Bernie Lubbers to the show, the newly appointed Ambassador Emeritus at Heaven Hill! Bernie started his journey with Heaven Hill back in 2005, and since then, he's basically rewritten the book on making bourbon fun and accessible through his incredible storytelling and humor. In this episode, Bernie takes us through his fascinating career, including his pivotal role in bringing bottled-in-bond back into the spotlight, how tasting events have evolved, and the impact of age statements on bourbon production. Get ready for some fantastic anecdotes as Bernie shares his passion for whiskey, why quality always comes first, and his take on current market trends, like the growing demand for older, stronger bourbons. Of course, we couldn't have Bernie without a tasting, so we're pouring Bernheim Barrel Proof and William Heaven Hill – a true celebration of unique whiskeys among friends. As he reflects on his new Ambassador Emeritus role and what "retirement" actually means for Bernie Lubbers, he gives us some amazing insights into the relationships and creativity that truly fuel the bourbon community. Plus, stick around for some exciting teasers of upcoming releases and Bernie's signature blend of whiskey education with a dash of bluegrass! Show Notes: His transition to Ambassador Emeritus at Heaven Hill and the journey that led him there. The revitalization of bottled-in-bond whiskey in modern bourbon culture. Navigating the complexities of age statements and consumer demand in the bourbon industry. The significance of storytelling and tasting events in enhancing whiskey appreciation. The evolution of consumer tastes towards barrel-proof whiskeys. Upcoming releases from Heaven Hill and the harmonious blend of bluegrass with whiskey storytelling. Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Frank August Case Study: 05 Wheated Bourbon. This 6-7 year old bourbon is 104.5 proof and $125 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame announces new inductees and a remarkable charity auction selling a rare Pappy Van Winkle for $800,000. Bardstown Bourbon unveils an exclusive whiskey club, while Stitzel-Weller launches the coveted Stitzel Reserve series, featuring a remarkable 24-year-old bourbon. Exciting updates from other distilleries include Remus Bourbon's ultra-limited release and Buffalo Trace's new Eagle Rare. Plus, prepare for a lively Pursuit Palooza, celebrating bourbon culture and community like never before!