Bourbon Pursuit

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

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