Bourbon Pursuit

Ben Holiday is making some serious waves and it's really great to see a non-kentucky distiller starting to turn some heads. So it felt like it was time to hear more from the brand that has become a new favorite among many. We invited their master distiller, Kyle Merklein to come on the show. We talk about the history of the distillery and their intention on reviving the brand. There's a lot of intentional things they did when it came to marketing that made it appeal to so many and we find out how they were able to wait 6 years until they released their first bourbon. Show Notes: 00:00-Introduction to Bourbon Pursuit and Ben Holiday Distillery 05:49-The Rise of Non-Kentucky Bourbon 11:56-Kyle Merkline's Journey to Distilling 17:56-The History of Ben Holiday Distillery 24:06-Prohibition and Its Impact on Distilling 29:47-The Distillation Process and Techniques 36:09-The Importance of Aging and Waiting 42:13-Marketing Strategies and Brand Growth Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Rebel 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon. This 10 year old bourbon is 100 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for September 27th 2024. Wyoming Whiskey has a new Master Blender, 2XO Releases the Sneakerhead Blend and Penelope Bourbon introduces its new Estate CollectionShow Notes: Chicken Cock Whiskey joins the KDA Buffalo Trace Distiller for a Day Contest Brendan Cook is Wyoming Whiskey's new Master Blender True Story Bourbon and Rye Town Branch Overproof 2XO The Sneakerhead Blend Penelope Bourbon Estate Collection @wyomingwhiskey @buffalotracedistillery @chickencockwhiskey @2xowhiskey @truestorywhiskey @penelopebourbon Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeremy Kasler, an expert in bourbon barrel investments, and Sara Havens, a seasoned bourbon industry contributor, dive into the fascinating world of whiskey barrel investing. They discuss how enthusiasts can turn barrels into alternative investments, similar to the stock market. The duo explores market dynamics, the evolution of barrel brokering, and the legal landscape surrounding these assets. As prices fluctuate, they analyze whether the market has peaked or if it still holds promise for future investors.

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review 15 STARS Three Kings Whiskey. This 11 year old whiskey is 107 proof and $180 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 September 20th 2024. Flaviar has acquired competitor Speakeasy Company, Maker's Mark Releases its 2024 Cellar Aged and Wild Turkey master distiller Jimmy Russell celebrated his 70th anniversary with the company.Show Notes: Heaven Hill opens the Five Brothers Bar & Kitchen Flaviar has acquired competitor Speakeasy Company Premiership Rugby has signed a new partnership with Buffalo Trace Tom Beckbe announces a collaboration with Pappy & Company Brewzle Whiskey Festival in Opelika, taking place on October 12, 2024 Southern Star NFL 30th season with a Special Barrel Release Dierks Bentley ROW 94 Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish Ole Smoky Distillery is teaming up with Jason Kelce Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 4 and Old Faithful Straight Bourbon Whiskies Milam & Greene Whiskey Unabridged Volume 3 Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Special Release Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8 Hidden Barn Organic Wheated Bourbon Whiskey Wolves American Single Malt Cedar Brook Wheated Bourbon Silverbelly Whiskey limited single barrel Hard Truth Distilling Co. announced the release of four limited reserve whiskeys Filmland Spirits QUADRAFORCE Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2024 Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary 8 Year Old Bourbon @heavenhilldistillery @buffalotracebourbon @tombeckbe @pappyandco @brewzle @dierksbentley @olesmokey @luxrow @milamandgreenewhiskey @makersmark @wildturkey @hidden_barn Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the vibrant world of whiskey festivals and their potential to rejuvenate the bourbon industry. Delve into personal regrets and the importance of integrity in making career choices within the bourbon landscape. Engage with discussions on consumer demographics, emphasizing the trend of newcomers eager to explore bourbon culture. Enjoy nostalgic tales of fashion and community, alongside reflections on how festivals foster camaraderie and growth in the bourbon market. Discover the exciting role these events play in shaping the future of bourbon.

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Woodinville 8 Year Bourbon Bourbon. This 8 year old bourbon is 100 proof and $140 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 BrandToday's question comes from listener Richard C. Richard had a series of questions looming from the recent Bourbon Roundtable Live Q&A during Pursuit Palooza, and we thought they'd made for a great episode for Ryan while Kenny was out. Kenny & Ryan used to joke that they should have gone the "easy route" to a brand and just bottled MGP instead of doing their own thing. Now, MGP brands are truly everywhere, the bourbon market is undergoing a correction, and bottles are sitting on the shelf for longer. We hit on: How do you feel looking back on your original decision to forge a different path? Did you feel you missed out on something by doing that? Do you feel you are better positioned now for the current market, and for the future, than if you had bottled MGP?  Where do you think you'd be currently if you had gone with MGP instead of creating the Pursuit United brand as we know it? What would you do differently if you could do it all over again? What would you tell the 2018 versions of Kenny & Ryan? 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One thing I love about what we do in this show is that we continue to explore new and interesting angles of the bourbon world. And one that always gets overlooked is the role of public relations. All major corporations have contracts with PR firms where it's their responsibility to get eyeballs on every new release, get butts in seats at events, and make some kind of commotion about their whiskey. To explore this topic, I've invited Dave Karrakur on the show. He's an industry veteran who has done PR his entire career at places like Sega and Campari but has now ventured off on his own with Raptor Communications. We talk about the stress that PR feels when it comes time to put out a new release, how to get it in front of the right audience and get words in articles like Forbes, and how do you response to a client when something just completely flops. Show Notes: 00:00-Introduction and the Role of PR in the Bourbon Industry 06:28-Exploring a New Angle: Public Relations in the Bourbon World 10:26-Guest's Background in PR and the Drinks Business 18:55-The Need for PR and Creating a Compelling Narrative 25:25-Navigating the Changing Media Landscape 31:39-Rising Above the Clutter: Detail and Engagement 32:35-Building Whiskey Brands through PR 34:02-Measuring the Impact of PR 35:00-The Value of Third-Party Endorsements 37:16-Building Relationships with Journalists and Influencers 39:32-Navigating Social Media Platforms for Whiskey Marketing 44:11-Distribution Challenges and On-Shelf Presence 46:04-Strategies for Sending Samples to Reviewers 48:55-Maintaining a Cadence of PR Activities 50:17-Dealing with Negative Reviews 55:03-The Complex and Stressful Nature of Whiskey PR Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices