Bourbon Pursuit

Refills, counterfeits, and bogus bourbon. It's the unfortunate reality that we live in right now. Only until very recently have we seen distilleries start taking a more aggressive approach thwarting some of these efforts. But there is one individual who has stepped up to be known as THE person in the community when it comes to hunting down scammers and that's Adam Herz. Adam calls himself a whiskey watchdog and got into the habit of tracking down fakes a few years ago. He works with a team of people to find where bottles, foils, and sales originated to bring justice to the bourbon world. Adam has been featured on Inside Edition and was responsible for tracking down employees at Buffalo Trace who were involved a counterfeit ring at one point. He gives us some insight into his process and even some red flags to look for when you are wanting to buy a highly desirable bottle. Here's another fun fact about Adam, he is the creator of the American Pie film series. What bourbon would you pair with apple pie?Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about dusty bottle ages. When did you see the rise of counterfeit bottles start making their way to market? Can you talk about your old hunting days? What does FOAF'ing mean? Can you give some insight and history into creating the American Pie series? Now that you're an adult, what bourbon would you pair with apple pie? How did you find a need in the market for someone to validate bottles? What drives you to be "the person" who uncovers these stories? How do you start gathering evidence and then presenting the facts? Are you keeping a database of Pappy bottles sold on eBay? What are some red flags when people are looking for fakes? Is it easier to fake a new or older bottle? Have you ever thought about involving law enforcement? Talk about how you broke up a Pappy Van Winkle counterfeit ring that led back to an employee at Buffalo Trace Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Monk's Road Bourbon from Log Still Distillery. This 6 year old bourbon is 100 proof and $80 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 Febuary 11th 2022. The TTB has published part 2 of it's modernization plan for labels, The US Treasury releases it's report on "PROMOTING COMPETITION IN THE ECONOMY" and it's big news for booze, Green River launches its flagship Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.Show Notes: BIG GOVERNMENT RELATED EPISODE Bill to privatize Mississippi wine, spirits distribution passes Mississippi House Distilled Spirits Council annual economic briefing spirits sales volumes are up 12% and legislative wins The TTB has published part 2 of it's modernization plan for labels and it means changes for bourbon Frazier History Museum's Unfiltered Truth Collection Blue Run Spirits announceS the hiring of Shaylyn Gammon as its first Whiskey Director Puncher’s Chance® Bourbon is now the official spirits partner of The Professional Fighters League The US Treasury releases it's report on "PROMOTING COMPETITION IN THE ECONOMY" and it's big news for booze Custom Fireball-inspired tattoo designs to cover your inked regrets Ten to One and Uncle Nearest collaborate on a new rum release American punk rock band Beartooth recently released a rye whiskey Hercules Mulligan Rum & Rye Watershed Eaves Cask Strength Bourbon Angel's Envy is releasing another cellar collection Bardstown Bourbon Company’s new release in partnership with Founders Brewing Green River launches its flagship Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey @distilledspiritscouncil @frazierhistorymuseum @bluerunspirits @puncherschancebourbon @fireballwhisky @tentoonerum @uncleanearest @beartoothband @watersheddistillery @eavesblind @mariannebmd @angelsenvy @bardstownbourbonco @greenriverdistillingco Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Bourbon Community Roundtable #65 and here's what we have on the topic list for today! Heaven Hill acquires Samson & Surrey, but what is the motive and what does that mean for brands like FEW and Widow Jane? Wes Henderson announced his retirement from Angel's Envy. Fred Noe is retiring soon. Then Eddie will likely retire when Jimmy isn't around. So what happens when the face of a brand leaves? There has been a huge surge of updates to distilleries in the past year. So now what is your top place to recommend visitors when they visit Kentucky?Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about regaining your sense of taste and smell after being sick. Heaven Hill Acquisitions. What does this mean and who could be next? Wes Henderson announced his retirement from Angel's Envy. So what happens when the face of a brand leaves? There has been a huge surge of updates to distilleries in the past year. So now what is the top place you recommend visitors going to on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail? Thanks to @bourbonr and @breakingbourbon for joining. @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 Widow Jane Lucky Thirteen. This 13 year old bourbon is 93 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 Febuary 4th 2022. Heaven Hill Acquires Widow Jane and FEW Spirits, Bulleit Doesn't Have Enough Bottles, Rabbit Hole Unveils Starlino Rye WhiskeyShow Notes: Apologies from me for not knowing how to pronounce Islay Heaven Hill has acquires Widow Jane and FEW Spirits Wes Henderson is retiring from Angel's Envy Kentucky Bourbon Trail releases tourism numbers for 2021 Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative Business Incubation Program Diageo said demand is depleting stocks of Crown Royal, Lagavulin, and Don Julio Wine-searchers top searched bourbons of 2021 Do Spirits Need to Be Sustainable to Sell? A bracelet that tells you when you're drinking too much alcohol Woodford Reserve announces release of Double Double Oaked Uncle Nearest releases its own distilled whiskey Rabbit Hole unveiled the Distillery Series, Starlino rye whiskey Kentucky Owl announces the St. Patrick’s Limited Edition Pepsi and Boston Beer Company announce Hard Mountain Dew Baja Blast A lesson on yeast from Dr. Pat Heist. @heavenhillbrands @widow_jane @fewspirits @weshendersonky @angelsenvy @kentuckybourbontrail @unclenearest @jackdaniels_us @crownroyal @lagavulinwhisky @donjuliotequila @winesearcher @sevenfiftydaily @woodfordreserve @rabbithole @kentuckyowl @dr_pat_heist @pepsi @mountaindew @hardmountaindew Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The contributions of African Americans in the distilling industry has largely gone unnoticed and unrecognized for a long period of time. The story of Uncle Nearest put mainstream media attention and a spotlight on the issue. But there is one person who spends her time on capturing stories and diving into distillery archives to discover more African American influence on whiskey. Erin Wiggins Gilliam is an Associate Professor Of History at Kentucky State University and she sits down with me to talk about some of her findings. She gives an amazing amount of insight into record keeping that documented how slaves that knew how to distill were quite valuable. Erin also spends her time interviewing older generations of people who worked at distilleries in Kentucky and nearby states to document the culture and the roles African Americans held at distilleries through recent periods of time. She is always on the hunt for the next great story so if you have a relative or a family connection, reach out to Erin so she can continue her quest.Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about family members buying bottles. How do you keep on losing so many AirPods? What led you into academia? What got you into spirits? Was Buffalo Trace the first distillery to let you come see their archives? Can you talk about some of your findings about African American influence at Buffalo Trace? Can you share one of your stories interviewing from interviewing and documenting people? What was one awful story that really sticks out? How far back can you go with oral history? How did enslaved Africans bring the skill of farming and barreling? Describe the feeling you get when you discover a document? What's the end goal when you gather all the information you can? What is an example of something you read of African American history at a distillery? Is there a certain individual that had a very interesting story? Since you're a tequila person is there any African American involvement you've discovered with tequila? @dr_eringil @_kbbg_ 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 Holland Beer Barrel Bourbon. This non-age stated bourbon is 80 proof and $35 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 January 28th 2022. Malted Barley Shortage Hits Bourbon Distilleries, Law Makers Push Privatization of Liquor Sales, Chattanooga Whiskey Release Islay Scotch Cask FinishShow Notes: Kentucky bourbon report from the KDA shows the highs of economic impact and lows of tax burden Mississippi and Pennsylvania lawmakers are pushing towards privatization of liquor sales The US and UK are negotiating tariffs imposed on American Whiskey There is a new malted barley shortage hitting bourbon distilleries Maker’s Mark has earned B Corporation Certification Pat's Whiskey Auction netted over $4.5M in sales Buffalo Trace Distillery set a new visitation record Elijah Craig Bourbon is partnering with PGA TOUR professional golfer Max Homa Ian Stirsman has been named the first master distiller at Ross and Squibb Distillery Old Forester is offering the public one day of free admission to Louisville's Roots 101 African-American Museum in collaboration with KOBBE Conecuh Ridge Distillery breaks ground in Troy, AL to produce Clyde May’s Alabama Whiskey, Bourbon and Rye C.S. McCullough's in Johnson City TN will let you bring in bourbon while you get your hair cut Puncher’s Chance has its first-ever limited release offering, The D12TANCE Buzzard’s Roost Whiskey announces Toasted French Oak Bourbon Chattanooga Whiskey announces their release of Islay Scotch Cask Finish The GlenDronach today unveiled the limited release of its first-ever 50-Year-Old Single Malt @kentuckybourbontrail @makersmark @whiskyauctioneer @buffalotrace @buffalotraceditillery @elijahcraig @rossvilleunion @oldforester @kobbe @clydemayswhiskey @puncherschancebourbon @buzzardsroostwhiskey @chattwhiskey @glendronach @glendronach_us @rbwhiskymaker Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bourbon and whiskey runs deep in Central Kentucky, but so did one of the largest marijuana manufacturing and trade rings in history. Cornbread Mafia tells the story of how of how Johnny Boone, Bobby Joe Shoemaker, and many others created one of the most highly sophisticated marijuana trades that ran right through Bardstown, KY, the heart of bourbon country. Jim Higdon is the author of the book and he joins the show talk about how this cultural phenomenon really had a very big tie back to the whiskey industry during prohibition. Many got into the illegal distilling business because that's what they knew how to do and was the only means of providing for their families. We talk more about the bourbon connection and how that eventually turned into marijuana territory which opened the door to elaborate plans to evade law enforcement and even had the DEA swarming with helicopters around Bardstown. This story has also put Jim on the path for being an advocate of legalization and he's even started his own CBD gummy business called Cornbread Hemp. If you enjoy stories like these, I would highly recommend reading or listening on Audible to The Cornbread Mafia.Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about infinity bottles. Moonshining was really how this all got started George Remus was a real gangster and had a big role into bootlegging as well. Talk about the history of Basil Hayden. Why was Central KY known as the "Ft. Lauderdale of KY"? Talk about the outlaw side of your family. How important was L&N Railroad to bourbon at the time? Was Lebanon affected by The Temperance Movement? I read during prohibition people were using stills that can produce 1000 gallons a day. Give a background of Johnny Boone and Bobby Joe Shoemaker. Why were they smuggling marijuana from Belize? Talk about one of the biggest marijuana busts. In your research, did you find any fighting between government agencies? Was there any violence involved with The Cornbread Mafia? There was a common thread of "no one talks". How did you feel about how the media portrayed The Cornbread Mafia? What was it like being indicted to find Johnny Boone and almost go to jail? Today, would someone be sentenced to 20 years in prison for marijuana? Talk about your new venture of Cornbred Hemp. Why isn't Cornbread Mafia a movie? @jimhigdon Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices