
Bourbon Pursuit
The Official Podcast of Bourbon! The best in news, reviews and interviews with people making the bourbon whiskey industry happen. Join hosts Kenny Coleman, Ryan Cecil, and Fred Minnick as they talk with prominent guests and provide insight on American whiskey 3 times a week. Catch all new episodes every Thursday with special Whiskey Quickie reviews on Tuesday and get caught up on bourbon news with This Week in Bourbon on Friday.
Latest episodes

Jun 11, 2024 • 4min
Whiskey Quickie: Hayner Path of Totality Bourbon Review
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 7, 2024 • 55min
TWiB: New Bourbon Auction Record Has Been Set, Chicken Cock's New Home Called Circa 1856, Green River Launches Full Proof
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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Jun 6, 2024 • 1h 16min
465 - Crafting An Authentic Celebrity Whiskey with Ari Sussman of Whiskey JYPSI
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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Jun 4, 2024 • 4min
Whiskey Quickie: Town Branch Straight Rye Whiskey Review
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 31, 2024 • 39min
Behind The Pursuit: Will People Get Tired of Kentucky Bourbon?
Subscribe to Behind The Pursuit: From Bourbon to BrandWill 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 30, 2024 • 59min
464 - Have We Eclipsed the Bourbon Peak? on Bourbon Community Roundtable #94
Exploring the decline in whiskey sales and future forecasts, the podcast delves into whether the bourbon peak has been surpassed. Discussing the need for category growth and strategies to reignite interest in bourbon among consumers.

May 28, 2024 • 5min
Whiskey Quickie: High Bank Distillery Whiskey War Double Double Review
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 24, 2024 • 29min
TWiB: Ozempic Investigates Its Effect on Drinking, Woodford Reserve Toasted Bourbon, Beam 20 Year Bardstown Collection
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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May 23, 2024 • 1h 8min
463 - Expanding Whiskey Riot Festivals to a City Near You with Bobby Finan
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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May 21, 2024 • 5min
Whiskey Quickie: Bernheim Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey Batch A224 Review
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices