Bourbon Pursuit

Enjoying a glass of bourbon while smoking a cigar seems like an average Friday night to some people. However, pairing a bourbon and cigar can be more complicated than you think. We sit down with Jake Glancy and Jeremy Kendrick of Jake's Cigar Bar to get a complete cigar 101 lesson on everything from cuts, types, leaf varieties, and more to understand how the unique flavor of a cigar will compliment different types of bourbon. You will want to rush outside and smoke a cigar after listening to this one!Show Notes: Let's start from the beginning and talk about the types of cuts How do you pick the ring gauge or size of cigars? Talk about the wrappers and what flavors each type release What's the difference between tobacco in Nicaragua and Honduras versus in Kentucky? Talk about hand-rolled versus machine-rolled. Bourbon drinkers have a progression from mixing to neat, what about cigar smokers? What do you mean by tasting a cigar by "thirds"? It's moving from cigars and scotch to cigars and bourbon. What's the initiative? Describe the different shapes of cigars When you're smoking a cigar do your taste buds or receptors change rather than drinking bourbon alone? What's the sweet spot for the third in your opinion? I'm going to throw some bourbons at you and you tell me what cigars would pair well. Talk about higher in proof bourbons like Stagg Jr and barrel proof bourbons and the cigars that pair well It seems like Four Roses pairs well with any cigar Talk about barrel aged cigars What about something super light like 80 proof Basil Hayden Rye whiskey is growing in popularity. How does rye whiskey stand up in cigar pairing? How about something that's super oaky like Elijah Craig 23? How about finished bourbons like Angel's Envy port finished bourbon? The craft market is booming but what do you pair with something that has a grain forward flavor? Talk about the Van Winkle Cigars. Are they good or are they hype? I see a lot more Barrel aged cigars on the market and I am curious for recommendations and also some info on the technique and how it imparts the flavor from the barrel to the tobacco. Are Cubans really that much better? Get 15% off at Jake's by mentioning you heard about them on Bourbon Pursuit! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a controversial topic amongst bourbon purists. Can you replicate all the effects Mother Nature and Father Time add to the bourbon that rests inside a barrel? Jacob Call, Master Distiller at O.Z. Tyler, comes from a long family lineage of distillers and decided to do take on an industry with Terressentia using TerrePURE technology. Learn about the growth of this startup and small bit about the technology in this episode.Show Notes: How did you get involved with bourbon and got you here today? Do you have any good stories with being around Booker and Fred? Tell us a bit about the property here in Owensboro How bad of shape was this Old Medley Distillery when you got here? I was surprised at the size, it seems like you're pumping out a bunch of product What is creating all this expansion especially when you are so new? Explain the TerrePURE process because you're expediting the aging So it's not just marketing BS? Do you worry about bourbon purists not enjoying this when you talk about age statements and the like? If it works so well, why wouldn't the big boys want to license this? Talk a bit about the O.Z. Tyler Brand Will there be other brands to come out? So it has to be barreled for at least a year to be labeled Kentucky bourbon I was blown away by the taste. It actually tastes like a 4 year old bourbon. Where is Terressentia focused for the future? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This new episode is a flash back to an interview Ryan performed while at Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2017 while sitting with one of the shows all-time favorite guests, Bill Thomas. In addition we're joined by the likes of Mike Jasinski, Jared Hymen, and Mike Miller of Delilahs in Chicago. This is a regular who's who in bourbon and it's great take on the industry of high-end bourbon pours, and the savviness of bourbon markets.Show notes: Talk about Bourbon Bonanza and Jeeps for Joy What is hunting like now? How is value perceived on a certain bottle when the seller is looking at asinine market prices? Is dusty bourbon supply now able to meet demand and not as hard to find? How do you protect yourself from fakes in the secondary market? Do laser codes even matter? How do you find those value pours at your establishments? View all our other Bill Thomas episodes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final Bourbon Community Roundtable of 2017 (it's the 15th edition) we look at the unique rise of trading bourbon for bitcoin weighing out the pros and cons, a look back into how the bourbon community has changed for the worse in 2017 and we cap it off talking about our favorite Bourbon and Rye releases of the year.Show Notes: In recent news, we’ve talked about different ways of trading for bourbon. I’ve traded landscape work. I know Ryan has traded his services for boxes of Jefferson’s before. But the new trend is bitcoin. So before we get into the pros and cons of doing a bourbon trade with bitcoin, who has taken the leap and bought some? It’s really hard these days to find a good forum that doesn’t start lashing out or people that post their life’s collection of pappy that create a whirlwind of comments. At one point Bourbon Info Exchange and Bourbonr were good places you could go for just normal discussion. But lately, it’s become a game of who can make the poster feel like a douche. I’m honestly a bit appalled by it all. It has ruined the sense of community. there was once a time when you could try and become educated but everyone is quick to jump on ridiculing people now. It’s certainly not a friendly community any longer. Ok.. the time has finally come. Our Bourbon of the year choices. lets have a discussion about this because I know not everyone has tasted everything. Surprise Barrel for our fans!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you think the bourbon frenzy has gotten bad here in the US, well you don't know what it's like to live outside the borders. This episode features Ed Rosie and Andrew Watson, members of the British Bourbon Society, as we we discuss the transition of scotch drinkers to bourbon, the European search for dusties, and how it's nearly impossible to get your hands on store picks which we take for granted.Show Notes: How did you get into bourbon What is the British Bourbon Society all about? Talk about the current state of affairs with bourbon in the UK. How much have you seen the EU pick up on this? Are there dedicated bars? Are bartender cocktails changing? Is it cheaper to have your booze imported from a different country? Have you taken all the dusty bourbon out of Europe? I have friends from the UK and when they visit they tend to bring extra suitcases for shopping because things are just cheaper here. How do the prices compare to the US with taxes? How often are you making pilgrimages to go shopping? At this point, Trump is making more enemies across the globe and within our own country. Back in July, the European Union talked about a retaliatory tariff on steel imports. They said there would be heavy taxes on American whiskey. And the senate majority leader is Mitch McConnell who represents Kentucky, so it’s no wonder why they would go straight for the groin. As bourbon begins to boom and flourish in export markets this could really hit home as every distillery is in hyper-growth phases. Fred Minnick had an article on the NYTimes that really touched on the subject. I want to get your opinions on what this tax could potentially do What’s the difference in the legalities? still a 3 tier system? You also have some interesting export only bourbons you have access to. Wild Turkey 12 year. Blantons SFTB and Gold and Reserve. But what do we have in the US you wish you had every day access to? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever wondered what these bourbon barrel picking groups like The Bourbon Mafia, 1789b, T5C, and The Bourbon Cartel are all about? Eddie Noel, who has a history of founding multiple groups, will guide us into what it takes to form a barrel picking group with the types of individuals needed, the commitment of joining one, and the secret to getting private barrel selections when you don't have a store to get you in.Show Notes: Eddie, how did you get started with bourbon? Before we dive in, explain what a barrel picking group does. It should be self explanatory but you know. We've talked about barrel selections being a great avenue for terrific bourbon, do you agree? Talk about your history with barrel picking groups Lets talk about the mentality of barrel picking groups. What do you need to know going into creating one? How hard is it to create one? Is it difficult when stores want to keep the barrel themselves? What do store owners get out of it? Who are the types of individuals you seek out? Do they need to be in the same area? Does it help if the members are from Kentucky? (Local to the distilleries) Does having a connection to a store owner make it break it? If you do have that connection, how big should a store be or the volume that needs to be sold to determine how often they can be selected? Is there ever an over abundance of selections? Could it hurt your pockets if you aren't careful? Can you split barrels with a store so half go to the group? Are there ways to get barrels without knowing a store owner? What are some of the rules of the group? Amy Halter from Patreon: For Eddie Noel, are there ever differences of opinion on which barrel to select, and if so, how does a large group handle that? Are there certain distilleries that treat barrel picking groups in favor versus traditional store owners? Talk about some distilleries you are visiting outside of Kentucky What do you think about finished barrels? Are craft distilleries easier to get on their select list rather than the big dogs like Wild Turkey, Four Roses or Buffalo Trace etc? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode 109 we featured two retailers and discussed if there is such a thing as MSRP pricing and how square footage, location, loyalty, and clientele all boil down into how rare bourbon is priced and sold. Eric Darland, a buyer in the D.C. area sent us an email and told us we completely missed the mark. Eric gives insight into the legalized mafia that is distribution, allocation of store picks, and pricing fairly.Show Notes: Let's start with store picks and why are they so hard to get outside of Kentucky? Do you think it's unfair that if a store sells more lower tier bourbon they should have a shot at choosing barrels? Are you losing customers if your store doesn't have the top-tier stuff? Do liquor stores really make that much money on limited releases by selling at 2-5x MSRP? What's the difference is pricing in the D.C. area vs Kentucky vs NYC? So you are firm believer in supply and demand and pricing accordingly So your store reaps the benefit of getting 2-3x value. What happens when Buffalo Trace ups their cost to you by 2-3x? How are you going to feel? Would new MSRP pricing end the secondary market? Would we see BTAC bottles lined on the shelf at $600 a piece if that happened? Booker's Rye and WhistlePig Black Prince releases are good examples of proper pricing Do distiller's even care? The ultra-premium is less than 1% of their actual revenue. Do you think it's an unfair fight in regards to passion for someone that lives in KY vs DC? Distribution is problematic. Some people suggested having Amazon being the centralized liquor store. What is an idea of how distribution can be fixed that levels the playing field across state lines? What's the future of how supply will equal demand? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's been some sneaky releases lately from Diageo and Jefferson's so we tackle those. If you're short on Christmas gift ideas, we talk about some of those things you can give the bourbon lover in your life.Shoe Notes: In recent news, the folks at Diageo slid in a brand new Orphan Barrel release called Entrapment 25 year Canadian Whiskey. Anyone have thoughts on it yet? Jefferson's also released their 16year Presidential Selection. I heard about this release almost a year ago and completely forgot about it. But this is a unique one because it's not like any other Presidential release. this one has some of the Jefferson's flair where its been double barreled and they call it Twin Wood. Twin Wood got its name after Master Distiller Trey Zoeller chose an 11-year Bourbon to be re-barreled in freshly charred oak for another 5 years. Around 10,000 bottles are available today in markets across the country at an MSRP of $199. The bloggers on the roundtable did their sleuthing and found out that PVW15's red foil this year was a bottling line mistake. Blake had a special name for it. The holidays mean one thing, as "the bourbon connoisseur" of your family, your obligated to bring a few bottles over to share with family. What are those bottles? Christmas season is quickly approaching. Each person gets to discuss what they believe are the top gifts. This could be from a specific bottle, to ice molds, to clothing. Be on the lookout for a special Black Friday deal on the Bourbon Pursuit facebook page as well! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of us understand Bourbon 101 and 102 knowledge, but what about level 400? Dr. Pat Heist of Ferm Solutions joins the show to explain what is chemically happening when you're producing bourbon and gives an in-depth look at yeast and how it becomes one of the most critical components of the process. You will learn all about the breakdowns of enzymes during mash cooking and species of yeast for distilling. If you're a science buff, this episode is for you.Show Notes: What does Ferm Solutions do as well as how big Wilderness Trail Distillery? What was your first real job out of college and how did that get you into spirits? Are you tailoring yourself to craft whiskey or do you help with big names on the market as well? Talk about the science behind corn Is there really a difference between red corn or blue corn vs the traditional white/yellow corn? Difference in flavor? Economical? Talk about pesticides and GMO for the grains What about barley, rye, or wheat? Is the breakdown of the pathogens different or the enzymes? Go a bit more in depth about what the scientific differences between sour vs sweet mash How does yeast compete? What about the sanitary levels and how that contributes? What are the differences in the species of yeast and which ones are typically used in beer and spirits production? True or False. Does yeast contribute 15% to the flavor of a bourbon? What are the differences between low-gravity and high-gravity fermenters? What is the cause of a mutated yeast? Jim Rutledge discovered it at one time when it was a part of some limited edition offerings at Four Roses When you're monitoring the yeast during fermentation, what are you looking for? When I was at Castle and Key they talked about doing yeast forensics to find a closely resembled strain. Is this actually possible or just marketing hype? Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. What does this even mean? When does the yeast stop playing a roll? When it's in the barrel? out of the barrel? in the bottle? Is yeast like a fungi where it can reproduce when it get puts back into a normalized environment? What about beers that go bad? One last question about corn, how long do you age corn in a silo to dehydrate corn and remove moisture? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retailers need an edge to stay competitive in today’s market. Listen to Louis Dachis of Ace Spirits and David Driscoll of K&L Wine Merchants on how technology is making their business grow on national level and you get a lesson on distribution and why there are shipping restrictions to different states in the US.Show Notes: Talk about your stores and the markets you serve How have you seen the bourbon market effect your business? What's the good what's the bad? How does having a very prominent online presence given you an advantage? Do you see your barrel picks making its way out of state because of online orders? Do you feel that impacts locals? We know allocated items in bourbon are coveted right now. How are you dealing with this surge? Do you reward continual shoppers, even online shoppers that are out of state? Is there a better way to get products into the hands of consumers other than the three-tier system? Why are there so many law restrictions on shipping alcohol across state lines? Why can't we have a uniform federal ruling that allows shipment across state lines? This goes into global shipping. For example: A Malt like Springbank 21 (700 ml) at Masters of Malt retails for $220ish. Even if I bought only one bottle and paid $40 for ship on the 1 bottle, it is still cheaper than purchasing the 750 ml US version for $390ish. Where do you think a savvy consumer would buy? How will US retail stay competitive in the global marketplace at this rate? In an ideal world where you can sell more volume online, what do you want to see changed? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices