Another PursuitPalooza is officially in the books. If you’ve never made it out for one, the whole idea is to pull back the curtain and give our listeners a completely immersive experience right here in our backyard, leveraging all the relationships we’ve built over years of running this podcast.

This year’s lineup was heavy. We spent the weekend hitting spots like Old Carter, Wild Turkey, Larrikin, and Whiskey Thief—giving everyone access to rare pours, a deep dive into the actual distillation process, and a chance to hang out with some of the best folks in the whiskey community. Plus, we finally christened our new home right on Whiskey Row with a live AMA podcast recording, capped off with an exclusive single barrel selection for the Pursuit Series crew.

On today’s episode, we’re recapping the whole chaotic, incredible weekend.

Show Notes:

• Pursuit Palooza Background & History
• Unique Distillery Visits and Experiences
• Community Building and Fan Engagement
• Honey Hog Bourbon Release Reflection
• Prepping for Kentucky Bourbon Festival

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We fresh-cracked the 2026 Michter’s 10 Year Rye to see if it still lives up to the hype. Sweet oak, cherry, and a surprise tropical twist made this one a fun pour to revisit.

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.

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It’s This Week in Bourbon for August 7th 2026. Old Overholt Extra Aged Cask Strength 11YR, Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Selection #17 High Angel’s Share Straight Tennessee Whiskey, and Uncle Nearest now has a proposed court date.

Show Notes:

• Uncle Nearest legal dispute moves forward as parties propose an October 2027 trial date.
• MGP Ingredients reports a 59% drop in bulk whiskey sales despite growth in premium brands.
• Chevalier Casks launches an online exchange for trading barrels, bulk spirits, and cooperage.
• Author D.T. Poole releases The Men Who Made American Bourbon to explore the real history of six pioneers.
• Overholt debuts its 11-year-old Extra Aged Cask Strength American Rye 2026 Edition.
• Middle West Spirits launches the Old Elk 10-Year Collection following its brand acquisition.
• Historic whiskey brand H. Obernauer & Co. revives in Pittsburgh after 110 years.
• Jack Daniel’s unveils its 10-year, 138.4-proof High Angel’s Share Tennessee Whiskey.
• Wyoming Whiskey releases State of the Union, a limited 6-year-old straight bourbon.
• Dancing Goat Distillery launches Stillman’s Sonder with new bourbon and single malt releases.
• Jefferson’s Bourbon debuts an ultra-rare 20-Year-Old Founder’s Reserve finished in Bordeaux casks.

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What does it take to pivot from selling the hottest consumer tech of the early 2000s into leading, not one but two, distilleries? Today’s guest is Luis Gonzalez. We’ve known Luis on our first trip out to Old Elk and he forever made an impression on us. If you’ve ever heard Ryan say “sanity over vanity” this the guy that shared that wisdom. Luis has an interesting journey of starting in mall kiosks selling BlackBerry before making his way to executive status at OtterBox and got the call to help build Old Elk from the ground up. His next big move is now stepping into the Chief Commercial Officer role at Middle West Spirits in Columbus, Ohio after the acquisition of Old Elk. For nearly two years, Middle West has been quietly operating in custom contract distilling, aging, and bottling behind the scenes. We talk about how Luis manages massive inventory networks, maintain transparency with customers, and how to avoid the race-to-the-bottom price wars. Plus, we get into how Middle West is already distilling Old Elk’s custom mash bills and what the future holds for all their brands.

Show Notes:

• How a career-ending baseball injury led Luis from Baton Rouge to consumer tech sales at BlackBerry and OtterBox
• Building Old Elk from the ground up and mastering the long-term lead times required in whiskey forecasting
• Transitioning to Middle West Spirits as Chief Commercial Officer and managing commercial operations across multiple facilities
• The hidden power of contract distilling and how Middle West has quietly served the industry for nearly two years
• How Middle West manages inventory, warehouse operations, and custom mash bills while avoiding price wars
• What the transition of Old Elk mash bills to Ohio means for transparency, blending, and future releases

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Bomberger’s 2026 brings a wild mix of historic Pennsylvania whiskey heritage, unique oak finishing, and some seriously unexpected flavor notes. Think cola, fruit, spice, and a pour that kept us guessing from nose to finish.

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.

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It’s This Week in Bourbon for July 31st 2026. 24th class of inductees into the prestigious Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame have been announced, More tariff wars resume, and Bardstown Bourbon Company is launching Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey.

Show Notes:

• Kentucky Distillers’ Association announces 24th Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame class
• Apogee 21 acquires Luca Mariano Distillery and Rod & Hammer’s
• President Trump levies 50% tariffs on select Canadian imports
• Uncle Nearest receiver files major counterclaim alleging lender oversight and fraud
• Starlight Distillery celebrates 25th anniversary with limited-edition releases
• Bourbon Women SIPosium returns to Louisville for 15th anniversary event
• Alabama Cooperage to close Trinity plant by September 2026
• US removes 10% tariff on Scotch whisky imports
• Moonshine University to cease operations at the end of 2026
• RNDC files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and winds down operations
• James B. Beam Distilling Company announces 2026 Old Grand-Dad 7-Year Bottled-In-Bond
• Goose Island unveils 2026 Bourbon County Brand Family stout lineup
• New Riff Distilling brings back annual Headliner release for 3rd year
• B.H. James Distillers launches Spirit 76 line of flavored Kentucky bourbon
• Heaven Hill Distillery debuts Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 9-year bourbon
• Maker’s Mark launches travel retail exclusive Artist Series – City Edition
• Brother’s Bond Bourbon launches 7-year bottled-in-bond straight bourbon
• Garrison Brothers Distillery announces 1st-ever pre-sale for Hye Rye Bourbon
• Bardstown Bourbon Company debuts Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey
• Old Forester debuts The 117 Series Triple Char Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• St. Louis Bourbon Festival returns to Lemp Mansion on October 16, 2026
• Bib and Tucker introduces 8-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Bourbon
• Still Austin Whiskey Company opening massive 15,000-sq-ft venue in Austin
• Jefferson’s Bourbon debuts ultra-limited Founder’s Reserve 20-Year-Old

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On this week’s Bourbon Community Roundtable, our panel is tackling two massive seismic shockwaves rattling the very foundation of the spirits world. We jump straight into the first major headline: the shocking closure of Moonshine University. We break down what losing a premier educational hub like the Stave & Thief Society means for the future of spirits education, and whether this shutdown is the ultimate canary in the coal mine for a slowing craft distillery boom.

Then, we turn our attention to the absolute biggest story in spirits retail: distributor giant RNDC filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and winding down operations. We unpack the domino effect of major supplier exits, razor-thin middle-tier margins, and unpaid invoices, analyzing the devastating fallout for small craft brands fighting for local liquor store shelf space. Finally, we throw down over what this massive distributor consolidation actually means for the three-tier system—debating whether this crisis will finally force lawmakers to rethink direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping laws, or if we’re simply watching a maturing bourbon market undergo a painful, necessary contraction.

Show Notes:

• The closure of Moonshine University: What losing a premier distilling school means for the spirits industry
• Assessing the value of bourbon certifications: Essential career springboard or mostly symbolic status?
• Unpacking RNDC’s Chapter 11 filing: Supplier exits, thin margins, and the winding down of a middle-tier giant
• The ripple effect on small brands: Shelf space access, unpaid invoices, and the future of three-tier distribution
• Will distributor consolidation accelerate the push for direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping legislation?
• State of the bourbon market: Reading the room on consumer demand amid industry contraction and adjustments

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Heaven Hill’s Deatsville Commemorative Release had us excited from the first nose with dark cherry, chocolate, leather, and classic sweet oak. But did the palate and finish live up to the legendary warehouse hype?

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.

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A few years ago I was given a bottle by Dr. Pat Heist and it made me say Nevada bourbon? And today, we get to hear the story of Frey Ranch with Colby and Ashley Frey. They turned a multi-generational agriculture operation into one of the most respected craft distilleries in the country. Long before the whiskeys, Colby was growing wheat, rye, barley, and corn in the high desert of Fallon, Nevada. Colby takes us through those early days of battline state legislation and assembling their custom Vendome hybrid still system. Meanwhile, Ashley walks us through crafting the brand’s packaging, and if you own a bottle you know how heavy the glass bottle and and topper are. But there’s a deeper meaning to it and I won’t spoil it for you. From meeting in college to balancing rural farm life, raising a family, and navigating the operational pressures of scaling a modern brand, Colby and Ashley give us an inside look at how they divide responsibilities, manage controlled expansion, and roll out their latest releases.

Show Notes:

• How generations of Nevada agriculture paved the way for a 100% estate-grown, grain-to-glass whiskey operation
• The early legal and legislative battles required to make craft distilling legal in the state of Nevada
• Designing and assembling a hybrid Vendome still system to achieve both high-volume output and maximum flavor control
• The story behind Ashley’s farm-inspired bottle design, including the iconic bolt topper and belt-buckle label
• How Colby and Ashley divide leadership responsibilities while raising a family on a working rural ranch
• Scaling the brand intentionally, expanding into new markets, and what to expect from their upcoming rye releases

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Green River’s first Distillery Select release brings an 8 year toasted double oak bourbon with bakery notes, orange marmalade, buttered toast, apricot, and a touch of mango. The nose starts subtle, but the palate takes this one in a totally different direction from classic Green River.

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.

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When your entire professional life revolves around premium spirits, late-night industry events, and endless barrel selections, the lines between work and life don’t just get blurry—they can completely disappear. The bourbon lifestyle promises a lot of camaraderie and incredible pours, but what does it actually cost your health, your calendar, and your family dinner table?

On this week’s episode Fred and I sit down for a deeply personal conversation about balancing bourbon with the reality of raising kids. We’re not going to be hitting on tasting notes or anything like that but it’s a look into our personal lives of school, sports, tracking timeboxes on a calendar, and trying to stay present for our kids as they grow up.

Show Notes:

• Navigating school forms and schedule shifts while managing a global spirits brand
• The hidden physical toll of the whiskey trail: Managing sleep, health, and late-night industry expectations
• Kenny’s calendar timeboxing strategy for forcing boundaries between work and family
• Tasting vs. Consuming: Deconstructing moderation and the critical importance of drinking with intent
• Radical transparency: How Fred and his wife talk to their sons about alcohol, driving, and fentanyl
• Using the grueling discipline of youth wrestling to foster positive peer groups and work ethic
• The hidden financial trap of trying to turn a personal bourbon collection into a media business
• The reality of tax write-offs, charity auctions, and the true cost of over-collecting
• A definitive look at long-term responsibility, family support systems, and the power of being present

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Found North Batch 12 continues the brand’s streak of impressive Canadian whiskey releases. This 16-year-old, 128.2 proof blend is rich with brown sugar, butter, cornbread, and sweet oak, while an extra maturation in new American oak barrels adds incredible depth without overpowering the whiskey. Is this one of the best Found North releases yet? Watch our full review to find out.

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.

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It’s This Week in Bourbon for July 10th 2026. Fawn Weaver and Keith Weaver have been terminated from Uncle Nearest, a new investigation into Canada’s ongoing boycott of American alcohol, and Barton now has their 1792 Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey.

Show Notes:

• Court-appointed receiver terminates Fawn and Keith Weaver from Uncle Nearest, Inc. amidst Humble Baron’s collapse
• Jack Daniel Distillery partners with USO for national “United We Toast” campaign honoring the Armed Forces
• WhistlePig Whiskey sells Moriah Business Park auxiliary facility for over $17,000,000 to Zags 26
• Wyoming Whiskey returns to local ownership as WW Partners, LLC acquires an 80% stake from Edrington
• Congresswoman Claudia Tenney introduces the “Canada Act” to investigate Canada’s ongoing boycott of American alcohol
• Country Boy Brewing expands into spirits production with Country Boy Distilling launching this autumn
• Shady Knoll Orchards & Distillery fights Washington’s direct-to-consumer shipping restrictions in federal appeals court
• Kentucky Bourbon Trail expands to 74 total stops by welcoming four new distilleries to the trail
• Buffalo Trace Distillery debuts “Camp Buffalo Trace” immersive overnight adult summer camp experience
• Knob Creek introduces limited-edition 9-Year-Old Independence Edition with a blue wax seal for America’s 250th
• Redwood Empire Whiskey officially releases Colonel Armstrong Wheated Bourbon, a premium four-grain blend
• Woodinville Whiskey Company launches national rollout of premium Single Barrel Bourbon and 100% Rye program
• Sagamore Whiskey announces nationwide launch of its 108-proof High Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Brush Creek Distillery expands 2026 Heroes Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey release to three barrels
• Buffalo Trace Distillery unveils the third limited-edition release of its historic medicinal Prohibition Collection
• B.H. James Distillers launches Spirit 76 line of flavored Kentucky Bourbons at 76 proof
• Jackson Purchase Distillery debuts its first house-branded Bottled in Bond and Select Bourbons
• Barton 1792 Distillery introduces permanent Straight Rye expression alongside ultra-aged 1792 XV Bourbon
• Garrison Brothers Distillery announces the return of Laguna Madre alongside a new Cask Strength companion bottle

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Long before the modern bourbon boom, one family bet everything on a credit card cash advance business—and turned a single D.C. storefront into a legendary whiskey empire. On this week’s episode, we sit down with Prav Saraff and talk about an unbelievable immigrant success story that transformed a single, cash-strapped Washington, D.C. storefront into a premier destination for ultra-rare spirits and legendary barrel picks. Prav takes us back to his family’s roots—moving from India to Nepal before grinding through grueling hours in America as dishwashers and gas station attendants to finally buy their first liquor store in 1995. We talk about what it was like balancing high school by day and retail shifts by night, and how a chance encounter with a mentor customer completely shifted their business model away from the low-margin hustle and straight into luxury wine, dusty Van Winkle decanters, and vintage Willett bottles the rest of the industry ignored. Long before the modern bourbon boom, the Saraff family treated hard-to-sell, expensive inventory as a long-term asset, ultimately using their early producer relationships to help put powerhouse brands like Smooth Ambler, Smoke Wagon, and New Riff on the map. Prav breaks down how those foundational single barrel programs revolutionized their operation and laid the groundwork for Dream Spirits—a brand launched to honor his father’s ultimate legacy.

Show Notes:

• From India to Northern Virginia: The Saraff family’s journey and the early days of American hustle
• Betting the future on a 28% interest rate credit card loan to buy a D.C. liquor store in 1995
• Balancing high school with retail shifts: How a customer mentor unlocked the world of high-end wine and spirits
• Buying what others ignored: Taking early risks on Van Winkle decanters, A.H. Hirsch, and vintage Willett
• Treating expensive, slow-moving inventory as long-term liquid gold
• How early store picks helped put Smooth Ambler, Starlight, and Smoke Wagon on the map
• Launching Dream Spirits: Honoring a father’s legacy through independent blending and curation
• Inside the new Virginia estate designed for immersive, memory-making barrel pick trips

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Angel’s Envy celebrates 15 years of Cask Strength with one of its most ambitious releases yet. This 117.8 proof port-finished bourbon delivers rich blackberry jam, honey, tobacco, leather, and sweet oak notes that had us rethinking everything we thought we knew about Angel’s Envy.

Is this the ultimate version of a bourbon fan favorite?

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.

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