For anyone that doesn’t know Peggy from listening to our past episodes, you will get to hear from the first ever woman Master Taster. She has been a remarkable inspiration for anyone in the bourbon industry and her crowning achievement was being inducted into the 2019 Bourbon Hall of Fame. This podcast was recorded at the Kentucky Derby Museum’s Legends Series so make sure you are following their social media handles @derbymuseum to catch the next season. Learn more about Peggy by listening to episodes 204 and 198, which is her session from the 2018 Kentucky Bourbon Affair called “The Stave is the Rave”.

Show Notes:

• DISCUS Petition: https://p2a.co/yrfbbV7
• Podcast Awards Voting:  https://www.podcastawards.com/
• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about Wild Turkey and small barrels.
• Tell us about being a Noe.
• What were you like when you were young?
• What was your dad like?
• Tell us about your time at the University of Kentucky.
• What were you drinking back then?
• Why did you chose these whiskies to taste?
• What was your first job out of college?
• How long were you in the hotel business?
• When did you work at Brown-Forman?
• What was the coolest event you coordinated?
• What was the next step?
• Tell us a good Lincoln story.
• What challenges have you faced?
• Do you feel like you always have to prove yourself?
• Talk about what you’ve done for women in bourbon.
• Tell us about Peerless.
• How many distilleries have you worked on?
• Tell us about Bakers.
• Bourbon Women: https://bourbonwomen.org/

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Freddie Johnson is bourbon. You are going to hear that, among many other praises for one of the most well respected people in the industry. He’s a never short on stories and makes any experience together memorable. Of course, Freddie talks about tours and his impact at Buffalo Trace, but then answers questions about bottle flipping and the secondary market. It’s great insight into Sazerac’s approach on this issue. Make sure you attend the Kentucky Derby Museum’s Legends Series next season.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about the latest deal between Brown-Forman and Sazerac.
• Discussion about white dog.
• Tell us about giving tours 12 years ago.
• Talk about the promise to your father.
• How do you customize the tours?
• What do the people of Buffalo Trace mean to you?
• Do you have to buy your own bottles?
• What is your favorite part of a tour?
• How do you feel about seeing the high aftermarket prices for Buffalo Trace products?
• Do you ever get challenged about your products on the tours?
• What do you think about flipping bottles?
• What was the most special drink you’ve shared?

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This Legend Series brings podcast guests, Wes and Kyle Henderson, back on the show with the newest face of the clan joining the family ranks, Andrew. The focus on family touches on the impact Lincoln Henderson made on Angel’s Envy before his passing and what the generations after him remember the most. Fred also tries to squeeze out some juicy details behind sourcing, acquisitions, and favorite bourbons outside of their own.

Show Notes:

• Are you paying more for barrel proof whiskey? Wade Woodard breaks down the math https://tater-talk.com/2018/10/29/value-proposition-of-higher-proof-us-whiskies/
• KY Derby Museum Legend Series are on sale. First one begins in Jan buy your tickets at derbymuseum.org/legendsseries
• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick discusses bourbon at large retail chains and it’s impact on local business
• What’s the story about a pickle?
• Talk about your dad, Lincoln Henderson, for a moment
• Was bourbon a part of your childhood?
• What was some nasty stuff you used to drink?
• Andrew, talk about your science experiments
• Is Kyle a good teacher?
• What are the moments you miss Lincoln the most?
• During the initial launch, talk about the process of choosing port barrels.
• It’s a never ending discussion, is this bourbon?
• Would you like to see a special designation for barrel finishes?
• Take us through the process of putting it through the port barrel finish
• Is the barrel dry or wet?
• Where can we purchase the bourbon you use before port finishing?
• Wes, what’s your official title now?
• Let’s try the rye whiskey finished in rum barrels
• Is rye more flexible to blend?
• When Bacardi acquired you, when did they come in as a minority investor?
• What was that time like when you needed capital and needed to raise funds?
• What’s your favorite bourbons outside of Angel’s Envy?
• Lets talk about the Cask Strength Limited Release
• What is your future on an individual basis?
• Where is your warehouse growth needs?
• Talk about the design of the bottle.
• Past Angel’s Envy Podcasts

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It’s a tradition that has remained in the hands of the family for generations. Willett Distillery is one of the most recognized brands for bourbon enthusiasts and has accumulated a cult status. Even Kulsveen has seen the struggles and highs of his industry but had foresight to buy aged whiskey stocks when they were plentiful which put the spotlight on this brands. With Britt Kulsveen at the helm as their new President, this family is making bigger waves than before. Listen to their story as Fred Minnick moderates this Kentucky Derby Museum Legend Series.

Show Notes:

• This event is being moderated by Fred Minnick.
• This years theme is all about family
• Even, where did you grow up?
• Did you do a lot of ice fishing growing up? Did you ever fall through the ice?
• Talk about your time in the Merchant Marines
• What were your events in college sports?
• So we found out before we started that you’re not an American citizen
• Britt, can you give us a story about your father’s kindness?
• Even, was there a moment where you saw Britt in action and said she’s got skills?
• Britt, is there a story behind you always wearing boots?
• Even, did you train Drew?
• What are you looking for in the barrels when you are creating your small batch composition? What is something that doesn’t taste right?
• What was something you learned from Thompson Willett?
• Did he ever show you his secret spots in the warehouses?
• Talk about the Frosted Yeast Rolls. This is the High Corn Mashbill. Barrel entry at
• Even, How did you meet your wife?
• All the big brands were bailing out on bourbon, what was that time like?
• When did you come out with your small batch series?
• Did you ever travel to Russia in the 90s? Did you ever have trust issues with distributors there?
• Britt, what was it like as a kid watching your dad living around whiskey?
• Let’s drink the wheated bourbon now. Entry Proof at 115
• When Drew brings you something, do you ever turn it away and tell him its bad?
• You were also bottling stuff for a lot of other people back in the day. Can you talk about that?
• You had to acquire bourbon from other distilleries, what sort of other whiskey were you looking for?
• Was there is an age limit of something you wouldn’t buy?
• Would your early batches include barrels from lots of different distilleries?
• What’s your sweet spot for an aged bourbon?
• Lets taste the 6 year old Rye now, 51% Rye, 34% Corn, 15% barley, Barrel entry proof is 125, but now goes in at 110.
• Dipping back into the great barrels coming out during the early 2000s, how does this new stuff rank?
• We talked about the 80s and 90s, but Willett becomes really popular in the late 2000s. There are a lot of fans. Have you ever been a part of the fandom?
• How many times have you been asked to get bought out?
• Bill Thomas from Jack Rose has been a big supporter of Willett.
• Talk about the Willett 80th anniversary. It’s the original Willett mashbill, 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Barley and this one is bottled in bond
• There aren’t many bad things to be said about your whiskey. Do you think it’s harder to stay on top?
• Are there any other mashbills or barrel finishes you are working on?

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Are you looking for an in-depth story on the Beam family history and how Fred and Freddie Noe are cementing their place in it? Look no further than the 2018 Kentucky Derby Museum’s Legend Series. This episode will cover some of the fun times that were had by Booker, Fred, and Freddie and how the new release of Little Book is coming to be a yearly distribution. Fred Minnick is the host of the show as he covers many of the aspects of the family business, how they came up in the ranks, and tries to get them to divulge information time and time again.

Show Notes:

• I didn’t take any notes while I was listening. So you’ll have to listen to this one for yourself and find out how awesome it is.

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Campbell Brown, President of Old Forester Bourbon, is interviewed by Fred Minnick at the Kentucky Derby Museum’s Legend Series.

Show Notes:

• Fred gets more information about the corporate side rather than the distilling side.

Fred Minnick interviews Tom Bulleit of the Bulleit Distilling Company for the Kentucky Derby Museum’s Bourbon Legends Series.

Show Notes:

• Listen as Fred tries to pry information out of Tom about family history, stitzel-weller, age statements, and more

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