

Bourbon Pursuit
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 28, 2022 • 1h 13min
TWiB: Master Distiller Lisa Wicker Leaves Widow Jane, Another DTC Shipping Case Heads to Supreme Court, 2022 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Details
It's This Week in Bourbon for October 28th 2022. Master Distiller Lisa Wicker is leaving Widow Jane. The National Association of Wine Retailers is taking another shipping case to the Supreme Court. The details have finally been released for this year's Buffalo Trace Antique CollectionShow Notes:
Whiskey Thief Distilling Co joins The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour
B. H. James Distillers announces the opening date in Adairville, Kentucky
The FTC has ordered Drizly to destroy unnecessary data
Skrewball's social media posts have violated the DISCUS Code
The Bourbon Barrel Taxation Task Force is looking to remove barrel aging taxes
Frazier Museum announced Bourbon Limited, an online Bourbon subscription membership service
Widow Jane announces that Master Distiller Lisa Wicker will leave the company
The National Association of Wine Retailers is taking another shipping case to the Supreme Court
Jackson Purchase Distillery will increase its distilling operation investment nearly $26 million
Kings of Leon has partnered with Willett to launch Kiamichi Whiskey
Chattanooga Whiskey releases Experimental Batch 027: Moscatel + Sauternes Barrel Finished
Penelope Bourbon announces the limited-release of Valencia
The details have finally been released for this year's Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
@whiskeythiefdistilling @drizlyinc @skrewballwhiskey @frazierhistorymuseum @widowjane @lbwicker @kingsofleon @willettdistillery @chattwhiskey @penelopebourbon @buffalotracedistillery
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Oct 27, 2022 • 1h 10min
381 - The Rights and Wrongs of Barrel Finished Bourbons
It's quite apparent that cask finished bourbons are continuing to push the envelope. Every company and producer is utilizing different barrels to create new flavors and new SKUs. We sit down to analyze secondary cask finished bourbons from a legal and producer perspective. Why isn't there legal wording for recharging barrels? What are the various wine types that create better taste profiles? Is finishing a whiskey an excuse for covering up bad barrels? Can brands hide behind a whiskey speciality and do consumers even care?Show Notes:
Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about today's market growth and the bourbon boom
From a judging standpoint, should secondary cask finished bourbons not be in the bourbon category?
Do most consumers know Angel's Envy is not a bourbon or do they even care?
Is there a label sprawl problem with every brand coming out with different finishes?
What are the best types of barrels to finish a bourbon?
What are the differences between the types of barrels used for various wine types?
Is finishing a whiskey an excuse for covering up bad barrels?
What level of risk can you take with finishing whiskey that could turn our terrible?
Should there be a definition of recharging a barrel?
Does age of the whiskey matter when secondary finishing?
Should producers try to disclose the winery where the barrels are sourced?
Do you ever get bourbon fatigue and feel like changing things up with a finished whiskey?
Are barrel finishes added-value and should charge more per bottle?
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Oct 25, 2022 • 7min
Whiskey Quickie: Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Review
On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse. This 10 year old bourbon is 112.4 proof and $250 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

Oct 21, 2022 • 59min
TWiB: Old Forester Names New Master Taster, New Riff Debuts Two New Malted Whiskeys, Blue Run Releases “Micro Batch” Flight Series
It's This Week in Bourbon for October 21st 2022. Old Forester announced that Melissa Rift has been named Master Taster. New Riff debuts two new malted whiskeys. Blue Run announces a biannual series of “micro batch” whiskeys.Show Notes:
Fred Minnick To Host Blind Bourbon Live In Washington D.C. For The Uso On November 10
Wolverine and Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery unveils the Wolverine 1000 Mile x Old Rip Van Winkle Cap-Toe Batch III boot
Old Forester announces Melissa Rift has been named Brand Ambassador/Master Taster
Arcane Distilling introduces its second flagship whiskey, Arcane Imperial
New Riff debuts the Maltster T50 Crystal Malt Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Aroostook Malted Rye Whiskey
Michter's 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon
The Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2022 release
Alberta Premium announces the Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye
Blue Run Flight Series is a six-whiskey micro batch collection
Chicken Cock Whiskey has released Chicken Cock Chanticleer
Ross & Squibb releases Remus Gatsby Reserve
Old Dominick launches Straight Tennessee Whiskey
Wyoming Whiskey announces 1872 9-year-old straight bourbon whiskey
Dr Pepper Bourbon Flavored Fansville Reserve
Arby's and BrainBrew announce Arby’s Smoked Bourbon
@fredminnick @theuso @wolverine @oldforester @newriff @michterswhiskey @garrisonbros @albertadistillers @bluerunspirits @chickencockwhiskey @olddominick @wyomingwhiskey @drpepper @arbys @brainbrewwhiskey
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Oct 20, 2022 • 1h 8min
380 - Have Stickers Gone Too Far and What Makes A Good Acquisition Target? on Bourbon Community Roundtable #73
It's another month and another Bourbon Community Roundtable and we've got a great list of topics in #73. The first is stickers. I know, it seems like we talk about them all the time but now it's gotten serious. A Louisville bourbon club and liquor store chain was sued by Bob Baffert for almost $70k over a sticker, and yes, they paid up. So now, have we gone too far with stickers? Every year it seems like there are a few acquisitions that happen. Recently, we've seen Heaven Hill acquire Samson & Surrey, Pritzker buy Bardstown Bourbon, and last year MGP purchased LuxCo. These were all strategically different plays. So what do we think makes a good acquisition target in today's market? Following on that last question, those were all very high dollar buys. Is this a trend that we will see continue or is there a chance that smaller brands on the upswing could be gobbled up?Show Notes:
Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about storing bottles.
Bob Baffert sued a Louisville liquor retailer for almost $70k over a sticker. Have we gone too far with stickers?
What do we think makes a good acquisition target in today's market?
Is there a chance that smaller brands on the upswing could be gobbled up?
@breakingbourbon @fredminnick @drinkseelbachs @bourbonr @sippncorn
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Oct 18, 2022 • 5min
Whiskey Quickie: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 17 Year (Spring 2022) Review
On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This 17 year old bourbon is 100 proof and $185 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

Oct 14, 2022 • 43min
TWiB: Liquor Store Sued $50k Over Bob Baffert Sticker, The Only Bourbon Boat Tour Is Expanding, Britain’s First Bourbon Called Never Say Die
It's This Week in Bourbon for October 14th 2022. Evergreen Liquors gets sued $50k over a Bob Baffert sticker. The nation's only bourbon boat tour is expanding. Britain’s first bourbon caller Never Say Die makes its debut.Show Notes:
Liquor Store Gets Sued $50k Over Bob Baffert Sticker
Brown Forman purchases the Diplomático Rum brand
The nations only bourbon boat tour is expanding
Black Button Distilling has broken ground on a new US$5 million distillery
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Bourbon Raffle
Jack Daniel Distillery introduces the latest expressions in its Distillery Series
Brown-Forman has unveiled a Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt Whiskey
Company Distilling re-releases its Cask Strength Bourbon
Sierra Nevada releases Colonel E.H. Taylor Bourbon Barrel-Aged Bigfoot
Basil Hayden Red Wine Cask Finish
Britain’s first bourbon called Never Say Die makes its debut
@coxs_evergreen_liquors @brownforman @diplomaticorum @blackbuttondistilling @houseofbourbonky @jackdaniels @company_distilling @sierranevada @basilhayden
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Oct 13, 2022 • 1h 4min
379 - Bourbon and Social Media: Keeping Compliant with Nichole Shustack of McDermott Will & Emery
We all have our favorite people and brands we follow on social media. I hope it's Bourbon Pursuit, but there are a lot of people that get categorized as influencers on every platform like Instagram and TikTok but every brand also needs to be on social media. Since alcohol is a heavily regulated product, there are ton of rules in place to keep the industry compliant. And for the most part, many are breaking these rules on a daily basis and could potentially face legal action from government bodies like the FTC. To help get us all more educated on the subject, we're joined by Nichole Shustack who's the Counsel at McDermott Will & Emery law firm. I ask Nichole a bunch of questions about the things I see on social media everyday when it comes to influencers getting free bottles, disclosing brand connections, bourbon charity raffles, and the legal implications that follow.Show Notes:
Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about wine for the american whiskey drinker
How did you get into the legal space with alcohol?
Do you scroll through TikTok and say "that's not compliant!"?
Are there government regulations involved with social media and alcohol promotion?
How are brands breaking the rules of social media promotion without knowing?
If a bottle was sent to an influencer, can an influencer or brand get fined from the FTC without disclosing it?
Who is going to come after influencers if they don't disclose their relationships or free bottles?
What is the maturity level or different social media platforms?
Does a whiskey influencer need to be cautious about having children, pets, or Santa Claus in their posts?
Is it legal for influencers or companies to give away alcohol as a part of a promotion to gain followers?
What are the legal implications for people that hold bourbon charity raffles?
@mcdermott_law
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Oct 11, 2022 • 5min
Whiskey Quickie: Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey Review
On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Old Potrero Straight Rye Whiskey. This 6 year old whiskey is 97 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

Oct 7, 2022 • 41min
TWiB: All Six Van Winkle Expressions Get Larger Relase, Widow Jane Distillery Announces The Vaults 2022, Knob Creek Officially Announces 18 Year Old
It's This Week in Bourbon for October 7th 2022. Widow Jane Distillery announces The Vaults 2022. Knob Creek officially announces Knob Creek 18 Year Old. Buffalo Trace Distillery is announcing the upcoming annual release of all six Van Winkle whiskey expressionsShow Notes:
Casey Jones Distillery creates a square still to accompany a $1.9M expansion
Berlin Packaging acquires Discoglass
The Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) is partnering with Northside Distilling Co. to release Braille Bourbon Whiskey
Widow Jane Distillery announces The Vaults 2022
Knob Creek officially announces Knob Creek 18 Year Old
Buffalo Trace Distillery announces the upcoming annual release of all six Van Winkle whiskey expressions
@caseyjonesdistillery @berlinpackaging @northsidedistillingco @widow_jane @knobcreek @buffalotrace @buffalotracedistillery @jvanwinkle7
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