Bourbon Pursuit

The roundtable is our monthly show where we look at new and interesting angles for the bourbon ecosystem. Marketing plays a big role in whiskey. There always needs to be a story that sells the brand. Last week, an article in VinePair sparked the question as to whether or not you need heritage for American whiskey. How important is it to have a deep lineage to bourbon and is that necessary for customer appeal? In the second half of the show, we break down finished bourbons and why in the past few years have we seen a big surge and what makes that attractive to more consumers.Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the history of barrel proof bourbon. Does heritage matter in American whiskey? Why are we attracted to finished bourbons? @vinepair @bourbonr @breakingbourbon @sippn_corn Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof. This 7 year rye is 117.2 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 July 22nd 2022. Bourbon Women SIPosium details are in and tickets are available. Herz tracks down a counterfeiter who sold bottles through Unicorn Auctions. Limestone Branch Distillery announces the 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition.Show Notes: Update on Heaven Hill from an enthusiast who saw line cheating Buffalo Trace plans to add a new tourism and dining destination The Catholic Education Foundation's inaugural online bourbon raffle raised $105,000 The Bourbon Women's annual SIPosium Conference August 25 to 28, 2022 Adam Herz busts a Wisconsin man who sold over $18k in counterfeit bourbons via Unicorn Auctions Timberwolf Whiskey is launched and caters to outdoors enthusiasts Brother’s Bond launches its first limited-release, Brother’s Bond Original Cask Strength Bourbon Arcane Distilling introduces its flagship whiskey, Arcane Alpha A team of four friends and founders announce the release of Hidden Barn Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Limestone Branch Distillery announces the 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition @bourbonwomen @unicornchicago @heavenhilldistillery @buffalotracedistillery @brothersbondbourbon @arcane_nyc @hidden_barn @yellowstonebourbon @limestonebranch Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's not many people in the bourbon industry that have a story like our guest. Bo Garrett wanted a better life than working in the coal mines of eastern Kentucky. He picked up a guitar and left for Lexington, Kentucky to be discovered. He met some key people that would change his life forever and spent over 20 years together on the road as the lead guitarist for Montgomery Gentry while being sponsored by Jim Beam. After the tragic passing of Troy Montgomery, it sent Bo to a dark place and he needed something. After a fateful run-in with Jimmy Russell while having dinner with Fred Noe, he started giving tours at Wild Turkey and discovered a new passion and became one of their esteemed Brand Builders. After you hear this story, you will see that Bo is the literal rockstar of the bourbon world.Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about proofing based on taste or most money Did you have a family history in moonshining? When did you start getting into playing guitar? What genre did you first start with? What did the music career really take off? What was your best and worst tour experience? Do you miss life on the road and touring? What is your guitar of choice? Do you still keep in touch with everyone in the band? How did Booker Beam and Montgomery Gentry come together? Do you look back on your days on the road and wish you hunted more? What made you want to be a tour guide at Wild Turkey when you weren't touring? How are you finding historical information and pictures to share on social media? Are you digging up more history on Jimmy Russell as you spend time with him? What else are you doing as a Brand Builder at Wild Turkey? @wildturkey @montgomerygentry Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Basil Hayden Subtle Smoke. This non-age stated bourbon is 80 proof and $50 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 July 15th 2022. Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience is currently in the process of changing their special releases. Bardstown Bourbon Company releases Discovery #8 and Discovery #9. Heaven’s Door Spirits announces the inaugural release of its Decade Series.Show Notes: A global shortage of bourbon has led to a lack of cheap RTDs in New Zealand Securities Commissioner in Texas dismissed a cease and desist order against Whiskey & Wealth Club Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience is currently in the process of changing their special releases An ABC investigation led to four felony indictments against two men sharing Virginia ABC liquor store information Copper & Kings has launched a new tour and bourbon Bardstown Bourbon Company releases Discovery #8 and Discovery #9 Barrell Bourbon Batch 033 is announced Heaven’s Door Spirits announces the inaugural release of its Decade Series Woodford Reserve releases its annual limited-edition Batch Proof. Second Booker’s Bourbon batch of its 2022 collection is here, “The Lumberyard Batch.” Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We all come from different backgrounds, yet we all find a passion in bourbon. One of the most intriguing stories I have ever been introduced to is from our guest today, Caroline Paulus. Her first love and her area of study is archeology. She had no idea that coming to Kentucky from Wisconsin on a dig would lead her into a new career in bourbon. She is fascinated with the history of whiskey and that has made her become one of the leading authorities when it comes to analyzing dusties. As the whiskey historian at Justin's House of Bourbon and senior editor for The Bourbon Review, she tells her story about falling into this line of work and some stories about running one of the best stores dedicated to bourbon in Kentucky.Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about distilling presence during World War II Was whiskey ever a thing in your household or did you discover it later in life? Why do people from Wisconsin ruin an old fashioned? What was your original archeology digs in Kentucky focused on? How do you make the jump from being an archeologists to getting into bourbon? How are you now after losing your senses to COVID? Who taught you to get comfortable tasting whiskey? At what point do you become a whiskey historian? Have you been able to spot fake dusties? What's the most popular item sold at Justin's House of Bourbon? Can you try to hand sell me a dusty bourbon? @houseofbourbonlex @houseofbourbonky @houseofbourbonlou @bourbonreview @misswhiskeyhistorian Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Blood Oath Pact 8. This non-age stated bourbon is 98.6 proof and $120 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 July 8th 2022. Bardstown Bourbon Company has entered into an agreement to acquire Green River Spirits Company. Jackie Zykan announces her next venture called Hidden Barn. Russell's Reserve 13 is now an annual release with the next one coming soon.Show Notes: Bardstown Bourbon Company has entered into an agreement to acquire Green River Spirits Company Jackie Zykan announces her next venture called Hidden Barn Malcolm Jenkins joins as a Board Member and Investor of New Liberty Distillery Pernod Ricard is creating a dedicated business unit called The American Whiskey Collective New Riff Distilling broke ground on a 40,000 barrel warehouse Disney unveils $5000 drink on new cruise CULPER BRO’S 355 is a new bourbon for the UK market Old Forester Distilling Co. announcesThe 117 Series – Whiskey Row Fire Silver Screen Bottling and Alan Jackson release Silverbelly Russell's Reserve 13 is now an annual release with the next one coming soon Diageo and The Vita Coco Company announce a new series of Captain Morgan RTDs @bardstownbourbonco @jackiezykan @malcolmjenkins @pernodricard @newriff @disneycruisline @oldforester @officialalanjackson @russellsreservebourbon @vitacoco Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Smooth Ambler made a name for themselves with Old Scout. It was before the big craze of higher-aged sourced MGP when it was relatively easy to find. But, all good things come to an end and now they had to figure out how to keep that business sustainable. John Little, Founder of Smooth Ambler, joins the show once again to talk about why transparently sourcing whiskey was a critical component of the business. John feels they made plenty of mistakes early on and are trying to recapture the glory Old Scout once had. We dive into the economics of the sourced market of increased costs and what the future holds for their own distilled whiskey.Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the best introduction to bourbon flights How hard was it to take a step back from being involved with every facet of the business? Why did sourcing whiskey never leave your business? Did the market dictate Old Scout's trajectory? Why not shut down the still and go all-in on sourced product? Did you ever think about putting Old Scout to the side once your distilled product was ready? What future modeling did you use to figure out when to put down new make or just purchase aged inventory? What was the reaction when Old Scout went off the market and back on? Why was transparency so important when it came to telling the Old Scout story? Besides capital, what initial challenges do you have sourcing whiskey? How much better have you gotten at projecting pipeline and future growth? Aged stock has increased significantly, so how are you handling this? As barrel prices increase are you absorbing costs or planning on passing on those costs? @smoothambler Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices