Bourbon Pursuit

It's This Week in Bourbon for August 22th 2025. Four Roses Distillery is releasing its 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, Old Forester is releasing its most anticipated annual whisky: Birthday Bourbon, and The James B. Beam Distilling Co. is releasing a limited-edition Beam Pin Bottle.Show Notes: Evan Williams Bourbon expands its college partnerships with three new schools and ESPN reporter Molly McGrath as its new brand ambassador. The Kentucky Distillers’ Association will host its second annual World Bourbon Toast live from the Bourbon & Beyond Festival. Knob Creek is teaming up with Eli Manning for the return of its Bold Picks campaign, along with a limited-edition single barrel cask strength bourbon. Buzzard’s Roost Distillery is releasing a new 6-year-old, 105-proof Cigar Blend Bourbon just in time for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Four Roses Distillery is releasing its 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, a blend of four recipes aged up to 19 years. Single Cask Nation is releasing three new American whiskey expressions from New York Distilling, Balcones, and Cedar Ridge. Woodford Reserve is introducing a new 12-Year-Old American Single Malt Whiskey as part of its limited Distillery Series. Old Forester is releasing its 2025 Birthday Bourbon, a 12-year-old expression created with a sweet mash process for the first time. Chicken Cock Whiskey is launching Miller’s Reserve American Whiskey, a limited-edition blend of four 8-10-year-old whiskeys. Larrikin Bourbon Co. will debut its new “Cigar Lounge” 9-year-old bourbon finished in five different barrels at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. Old Dominick Distillery is launching its 8-Year Reserve Bourbon, an expression as old as the distillery itself. James B. Beam Distilling Co. is celebrating its 230th Anniversary with a new limited-edition Beam Pin Bottle. Remus Bourbon is releasing Repeal Reserve Series IX, a rare blend of bourbons aged between 10 and 18 years, at the series' highest-ever proof. Blue Run Spirits is releasing Glimmer, a limited-edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in gin barrels. Michter’s will release its US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Sour Mash Whiskey, continuing its series of toasted barrel whiskeys. Maker's Mark announces the 2025 release of Cellar Aged, blending 11-, 13-, and 14-year-old bourbon aged to taste. Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Bourbon Pursuit Podcast, we take on the very serious and complex situation surrounding Uncle Nearest. We’re diving headfirst into the new lawsuit from Farm Credit, which alleges Uncle Nearest defaulted on over $100 million in loans, citing financial mismanagement and inflated barrel inventory. The discussion gets real, as our panel unpacks the legal jargon and business strategies, putting a spotlight on how a prior CFO's actions have complicated the entire case. We'll analyze what a federal judge's ruling for receivership could mean for the distillery and its co-founders, Fawn and Keith Weaver. We also reflect on how the rapid growth of the bourbon market post-pandemic might have contributed to this crisis and how a breakdown in communication between the distillery and its lender fueled the fire. Finally, we’ll tackle listener questions and talk about the emotional weight of this case on the people who support the brand, showing why the implications of this go far beyond just one company. This one is a must-listen. Show Notes: Overview of Uncle Nearest's lawsuit from Farm Credit Mid-America Discussion on allegations of financial mismanagement and inflated inventory reporting Implications of the receivership ruling on the distillery’s operations Analysis of financial trends and recklessness in the bourbon industry Insights on the founders’ stories in the context of American whiskey history Speculation about the brand's future and community impact Audience engagement and reflections on the significance of the case Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review New Riff Balboa Rye Whiskey. This 4 year old rye 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for August 15th 2025. Pursuit Spirits on Whiskey Row is officially open, Fred Minnick has a new book set to release, and Uncle Nearest is given a gag order.Show Notes: Pursuit Spirits has opened a new two-floor experience on Louisville's Whiskey Row, featuring immersive tastings, a cocktail lounge, and the new Bourbon Pursuit podcast studio. Mellwood Past and Present tasting experience takes you through the history of Louisville's Mellwood Distillery and its resurgence with Pursuit Spirits. Choose Your Own Cocktail Adventure: an expert-led session where you learn to craft custom cocktails, giving you a hands-on education beyond a standard Old Fashioned. Founder Hour: An exclusive tasting with Kenny or Ryan, where you sample unreleased R&D projects and get a behind-the-scenes look at product development. Trial+Error Lounge: The new basement lounge, Trial+Error, is an unpretentious, bourbon-forward cocktail lounge celebrating bold experimentation with signature drinks and a vast whiskey library. The Beverage Program: The Trial+Error lounge offers a curated beverage program with bold, reimagined classic cocktails like the T&E Old Fashioned and the Rye-an Rita, along with small bites. Fred Minnick’s new book, "Bottom Shelf," is now available for pre-order, blending a memoir of his journey from combat veteran to whiskey expert with an investigation into the history of Old Crow. A federal judge is currently deciding on a receivership for Nearest Green Distillery following a lawsuit, as the distillery's attorney has admitted to a cash flow issue and a missed payment. Give 270 is raffling off an ultra-rare bottle of Eagle Rare 25 as the grand prize in their upcoming 20/20 Unicorn raffle, with all proceeds benefiting Central Kentucky non-profits. Barmen 1873 Bourbon is releasing a limited-edition commemorative bottle in partnership with Lainey Wilson for her 2025 Whirlwind World Tour, with a design inspired by her style. Old Fitzgerald has announced its fourth VVS Bottled-in-Bond release, an 11-year-old bourbon with a maroon label, available in limited quantities for a suggested retail price of $169.99. Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When does a family business take a venture into bourbon? Well, here's one such story. We sit down with Rick and Ricky Johnson, the father-son team behind 15 Stars Bourbon. Their journey begins in an unexpected place—popcorn—where they turned their specialty brand, Black Jewel Popcorn, into a launching pad for their bourbon venture. The conversation delves into how a college project sparked Ricky's interest in creating bourbon from their unique black corn, leading to a partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company. The Johnsons share their meticulous approach to blending and flavor proofing using older whiskeys, including 14- and 15-year-old blends. They highlight the role of heirloom corn varieties in shaping their bourbon profiles. And yes, we get school again on what 15 Stars means which reflects Kentucky’s bourbon heritage and Americana. Show Notes: Introduction to 15 Stars Bourbon and the Johnsons' background. How a popcorn business spurred their bourbon dream. The role of heirloom corn in bourbon production. Partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company explained. Insights into blending techniques and flavor proofing. Emphasizing Kentucky’s bourbon heritage in branding. Strategies for sourcing older whiskeys for their blends. Marketing approaches and consumer engagement. Preview of upcoming innovative bourbon releases. Reflections on community ties within the bourbon world. Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Larrikin Rosewater. This non-age stated bourbon is 86 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for August 8th 2025. Uncle Nearest is being sued for $100M and is publicly fighting back, IW Harper releases a 34 year old bourbon, and Parker’s Heritage #19 details are announced.Show Notes: A multi-million dollar lawsuit against Uncle Nearest alleges the company defaulted on loans and misused funds, claims which the owners are calling "demonstrably false". A trademark dispute between Maker’s Mark and a dog treat company named Wigglewow over the name 'Maker’s Bark' has been settled, with Wigglewow agreeing to retire the product. National Bourbon Week will return to Bardstown, Kentucky, from June 14-21, 2026, featuring tastings, dinners, and a street concert. Proof and Wood released Tumblin’ Dice Single Barrel Rye finished in Laird’s Apple Brandy Barrels, a 7-year rye finished for an additional year. New Riff Distilling's 2025 Headliner is an 11-year anniversary blend of five whiskeys, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Brighton Center. Buffalo Trace is releasing two ultra-aged wheat whiskey innovations: Weller 18 Year Old and a new blend of Weller Millennium. Goose Island's 2025 Bourbon County Stout lineup, releasing on Black Friday, features six variants with a strong focus on collaborations with Heaven Hill. World Whiskey Society is highlighting its core offering, a 9-Year-Old Straight Kentucky Bourbon Modern Bottle, aged 9 years and bottled at 54% ABV. I.W. Harper has unveiled its rarest offering, a 34-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Stitzel-Weller, with proceeds from a Sotheby's auction benefiting Native Son. Larrikin Bourbon Co. is expanding into Tennessee with the release of Tennessee Barrel One, a 121.5 proof cask strength bourbon. Brother Justus Whiskey Company has released its third annual Founder’s Reserve Whiskey, a single malt crafted from Minnesota malted barley and aged in Minnesota oak. Heaven Hill announced the 19th edition of the Parker’s Heritage Collection, a blend of three different mashbills to support ALS research. Jack Daniel's has launched Tennessee Blackberry, the newest addition to its flavors lineup, blending whiskey with blackberry flavor at 70 proof. A. Smith Bowman Distillery is releasing Abraham Bowman Oak Series: Hungarian Oak, a 12-year-old whiskey and the final experimental whiskey in the series. Blue Note Bourbon is bringing back its limited-edition Honey Bourbon Cask, an unfiltered whiskey finished in honey-infused barrels. Yellowstone Bourbon has launched a new line of ready-to-serve cocktails in three flavors: Gold Rush, Old Fashioned, and Espresso. New Riff Distilling is re-releasing its limited Red Turkey Wheat Kentucky Straight Bourbon, a bottled-in-bond whiskey that was last available four years ago. Penelope Bourbon has released Black Walnut Old Fashioned, a ready-to-pour cocktail made with a blend of bourbon and rye, black walnut bitters, and vanilla demerara. Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are diving back into the fascinating and often frustrating world of direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales. We're thrilled to reconnect with Ari Sussman and welcome Bruce Fougere, co-founder of MASH Networks, a data-driven software company that's truly shaking things up. Ari wastes no time stressing why DTC isn't just an option for distilleries anymore—it's essential. MASH Networks is arming brands with the crucial tools they need to cut through the noise and break those geographic barriers. Bruce then pulls back the curtain on how their tech leverages data and powerful storytelling to turn casual buyers into lifelong fans. We also talk about how all of this has to build on customer loyalty and why consumers are looking meaningful engagement in the brands they support. Show Notes: MASH Networks' impact on craft distilling. The importance of DTC in the evolving market. Effective use of customer data and analytics. Insights from Mammoth Distillery case study. Utilizing QR codes for consumer engagement. Building emotional connections and community. Strategies for tasting experiences and promotions. Exploring subscription models in craft spirits. Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Michter's 10 Year Bourbon. This 10 year old bourbon is 94.4 proof and $195 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 Herb Heneman, now an instructor at the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits at the University of Kentucky, teaches students about marketing and building a spirits brand from the ground up. Both Ryan and Kenny share a connection with Herb, and not long ago he invited Kenny to guest lecture for his class. The session covered a series of insightful questions about the industry, but unfortunately, it wasn’t recorded. In this two-part episode, we revisit those questions and the conversations they sparked from the inception of Bourbon Pursuit, through it’s now 10-year career, and how they’ve built a Spirits brand out of it.  We hit on: The numbers, and how BP has become “The Official Podcast of Bourbon” How and when did you start the podcast? Who have been some of your favorite guests? Any that were total disasters? Where and how do you record and how has this evolved over the years How do you decide topics for discussion? What makes a piece of content newsworthy for BP to talk about? How did you grow BP’s reach and get paced across different platforms like Apple, Pandora, iHeart and Spotify? and much more. 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