Bourbon Pursuit

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

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Very Olde St. Nick The OG. This 17 year old bourbon from Preservation Distillery is 108.3 proof and $600 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 121st 2022. Mellow Moments Cuts Back on Birthday Gifts. Japan now recognizes "Bourbon" and "Tennessee Whiskey" as distinctive products of the United States. Buffalo Trace launches their first NFT with 6L bottlesShow Notes: University of Louisville basketball fan drained a 96' putt for a Pappy 23 Mellow Moments Cuts Back on Birthday Gifts California passes SB620 to allow craft distilleries to ship direct to consumer Launch of a new Columbus Distillery Trail Virginia Del. Nick Freitas calls for abolishing Virginia ABC stores The Party Source is opening a new in-house bourbon bar this year Japan now recognizes "Bourbon" and "Tennessee Whiskey" as distinctive products of the United States George Remus has developed the Limited-Release Remus Repeal Reserve Collector’s Box Set Barrell announces BCS Gray Label Seagrass which features 100% Canadian rye whisky aged for 16 years Buffalo Trace launches their first NFT with 6L bottles @universityoflouisville @fourrosesbourbon @experiencecolumbus @thepartysourcenky @distilledspiritscouncil @georgeremusbourbon @barrellbourbon @buffalotracedistillery @buffalotrace Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rye whiskey production had a historic past in the northeastern states, especially Pennsylvania and Maryland. And now Sagamore Spirit based in Baltimore is bringing rye whiskey back. Ryan and I traveled to record this interview with their CEO, Brian Tracey, and their Director of Operations, Ryan Norwood. We uncover Brian's unique past of how a phone call with Kevin Plank, the CEO of Under Armour, would take him from running a backpacking and kayaking company in Flagstaff Arizona to building a new distillery from the ground up. One of Brian's tasks was to find a distiller and that led to a few conversations with Ryan Norwood, a young guy who was really into yeast and beers. Sagamore had a longstanding relationship with MGP but now they have their own Maryland rye distillate and we talk about how they shaped and revitalized the Maryland rye category.Show Notes: Brian talk about how you go from ski bum to whiskey CEO? How did you cross paths with Under Armour CEO, Kevin Plank, and him ask you to become CEO? What did you know about the distilling business before starting? What did Kevin like about the distilling business? What was the initial vision? After you were convinced to start, who was the first call you made? When did Ryan Norwood come into the picture for distilling? Walk us through the differences be between brewing and distilling. What was is like working with Larry Ebersold to develop your Maryland style rye? Why do distilleries go with 95/5 rye? What was the process of figuring out how to scale and go beyond a 500 gallon pot still? Why only distill rye whiskey when bourbon is so popular? What does it mean to you when articles begin coming out without any affiliation to Under Armour? As a CEO, what are you trying to empower your people with? What was it about going down the path of finished whiskeys? Do you have any horror stories from working with barrel brokers on used barrels? Here's how we all came together to collaborate on Pursuit United Rye. @sagamorespirit @sagamorewhiskeybrian @smilesdavisjr Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Maker’s Mark FAE-02 2021. This non-age stated bourbon is 109.1 proof and $60 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 14th 2022. Bulleit retained its position as the bestselling American whiskey in the World's Best Bars. Are Basil Hayden And Old Grand-Dad The Same? UFC's Dustin Poirier is launching Rare Stash Bourbon.Show Notes: Bulleit retained its position as the bestselling American whiskey in the World's Best Bars The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit presents a $3.4 million check to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Hennessy will join a big trend by launching its first NFTs No science supports a belief that taking a month off drinking is good for your liver PBR posted a since-deleted tweet that read "Not drinking this January? Try eating a**." Ireland’s government imposes a minimum unit price on alcoholic beverage Are Basil Hayden And Old Grand-Dad The Same? From Chuck Cowdery Limestone Branch Distiller debuts the Yellowstone Select Landmark Edition Bottle series UFC lightweight champion Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier is launching Rare Stash Bourbon Coca-Cola and Constellation Brands are releasing a lemon-flavored canned cocktail known as Fresca Mixed @bulliet @bullietwhiskey @bourboncrusade @fredminnick @kentuckybourbontrail @hennessy @blockbar.@eth @pabstblueribbon @basilhayden @limestonebranch @yellowstonebourbon @dustinpoirier @cocacola @frescausa @constellationbrands Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back with Bourbon Community Roundtable #64 and here's the topics! Sazerac implemented NFC tags in this year's Thomas H. Handy. Is this the boost the bourbon market needed? Is this setting up bourbon for more of a collectible market? But who should be watching and take the next step. I got into a scuffle on TikTok because someone said "what non-allocated bourbons are you hunting for this year?". Which I replied, that's not really a hunt. How do you define hunting? Lastly, let's hear some 2022 predictions!Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about how to attend Whiskey events without getting intoxicated. Sazerac implemented NFC tags in this year's Thomas H. Handy. Is this the boost the bourbon market needed? Is this setting up bourbon for more of a collectible market? How soon will others start following? I got into a scuffle on TikTok because someone said "what non-allocated bourbons are you hunting for this year?". Which I replied, that's not really a hunt. How do you define hunting? Let's hear some 2022 predictions! Thanks to @bourbonr, @breakingbourbon, and @sippn_corn 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 Watershed Bourbon Finished in Apple Brandy Barrels (Batch 002). This 6 year old finished bourbon is 120.8 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

It's This Week in Bourbon for January 7th 2022. Beverage Dynamics Gives 11 American Whiskey Trends To Watch in 2022. Tennessee ABC arrests someone for trying selling Pappy Van Winkle through a Facebook trade. WhistlePig launches a non-alcoholic whiskey called PiggyBack Devil’s SlideShow Notes: Beverage Dynamics' 11 American Whiskey Trends in 2022 Tennessee ABC arrests someone for trying selling Pappy Van Winkle through a Facebook trade Drizly’s non-alcoholic ‘spirits’ sales soar 290% in 2021 Dry January’ Is Coming, But Are Shoppers Really Shying Away? Bourbon Pursuit Discord members raised $6,200 to help wildfire support to those in Superior, CO Rev. Jim Sichko auctioned off an OFC 1995 and a basketball blessed by Pope Francis WhistlePig Whiskey has launched a limited-edition, non-alcoholic whiskey called PiggyBack Devil’s Slide OH Ingram announced the release of its fourth expression, Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey @tennesseeABC @whistlepigwhiskey @ingramwhiskey Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When I got a text message that said "Hey, do you want to have Brad Paisley on your show?" I couldn't resist jumping at the chance. Everyone knows Brad as the country music legend, but we got to sit down and discover bourbon enthusiast Brad. He once was known as a sober star, but bourbon has has permanently cemented a place in his life. We talk about how he first began appreciating bourbon and how that led him to start his own brand called American Highway. We discuss the brand, it's origin, and future, but stick around till the end and you will hear some epic bourbon hunting stories.Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the glass shortage. You used to not drink alcohol, is that still true? How did the whiskey brand come about? Was the bourbon at least a year old before it went on the road? Was it tempting to want to test out a barrel on the road? How did you find out about Bardstown Bourbon Company? What were your early challenges with the truck on tour? Did people connect the dots when they saw your rolling rickhouse? What did you learn about blending? What would you say to someone who was hesitant about buying a celebrity brand? Are you going to put tour numbers on the label to differentiate batches? Any good bourbon hunting stories? Is there a charitable aspect to the brand? @bradpaisley @americanhighwayreserve Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices