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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On this week’s Bourbon Community Roundtable, our panel is tackling the single biggest shockwave to hit the industry this year: Gallo’s massive acquisition of Four Roses. We’re diving headfirst into what this tectonic ownership shift means for one of bourbon’s most fiercely protected heritage brands. We dissect the massive changes coming to the marketing playbook as corporate retail giant Gallo takes the driver’s seat, debating whether we’re about to see aggressive national distribution, mainstream sports sponsorships, or an entirely new strategy to scale the brand beyond the enthusiast bubble. Of course, it wouldn’t be a roundtable without confronting the ongoing allocation drama and the future of the beloved private barrel program. The team breaks down the internal inventory pressures that strained Four Roses’ retail relationships, and we debate whether Gallo’s massive logistical network can actually repair that broken industry trust. Finally, we throw down over the controversial new Experimental Collection and its debut Mizunara Oak finish, debating whether the core 10-recipe lineup should remain sacred or if it’s time for the brand to push new boundaries under its new corporate umbrella. Pour a glass and join the conversation as we look past the label to see what Gallo’s next move means for your wallet.

Show Notes:

• Evaluating the industry fallout of E. & J. Gallo’s acquisition of Four Roses
• Fred Minnick on the Seagram’s exile, the Kirin rescue, and Jim Rutledge’s legendary brand revival
• The marketing gap: Overcoming Four Roses’ historically quiet consumer footprint
• Streamlining the portfolio, fixing the Small Batch Select naming issue, and eyeing mainstream sports sponsorships
• How inventory strain damaged the beloved Four Roses private barrel program
• Can Gallo’s distribution footprint rebuild broken trust with retailers and whiskey clubs?
• The Experimental Collection debate: Pushing boundaries with Mizunara Oak vs. protecting the core 10 recipes
• Why the panel believes finishes and RTDs need separate branding to protect the Four Roses legacy
• Why Small Batch Select is still a mandatory buy on today’s liquor store shelf

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Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Mars collaboration blends Kentucky bourbon and Japanese single malt in a first-of-its-kind co-aging experiment. The result? Creamy chocolate, Rice Krispie treats, stone fruit, and a finish that completely surprised us. Is this Bardstown’s most unique release yet?

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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Ever wonder how your favorite bottle actually gets onto the liquor store shelf? I’m not talking from a production standpoint but from the actual shipment. This is a fun episode becuase we’re going to cover something almost completely invisible ito the consumer, trucking and logistics. Joining the show is Rebecca Estes, VP of Sales and Marketing at Mr. P Express. At Pursuit, we talk to logisitcs companies all the time because we’re shipping pallets out the door but there’s so much going on that most take for granted. Rebecca was eyeing to be a college professor but left to join the family-owned shipping network founded in 1987. Rebecca takes us through her journey from joining the family business in 2011 to managing a non-stop, 365-day operation where weather patterns, scheduling margins, and road safety dictate whether or not distilleries hit their numbers. This episode is a look into the high-stakes supply chain infrastructure that keeps the entire bourbon trail moving.

Show Notes:

• Rebecca Estes’ pivot from aspiring college professor to navigating a legacy family trucking business
• The invisible logistics web managing raw grains, glassware, and heavy barrel movements across the country
• Demystifying direct vs. brokered freight, BOLs, pro numbers, LTL, and FTL shipments
• Alcohol hauling regulations, DOT compliance checkpoints, and the immense pressure of control state delivery windows
• The dark side of whiskey supply chains: Deconstructing modern cargo theft, electronic paperwork fraud, and load diversion
• Fleet safety protocols, advanced tracking systems, driver training, and rigorous fleet maintenance structures
• The physics of hauling barrels, calculating axle weight limits, and managing rigid legal driver hours
• Trailer mechanics, truck cab configurations, and an honest executive outlook on autonomous self-driving fleets
• Inside the community-first mission of Mr. P Express, including their specialized driver training school programs

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Blood Oath Pact 12 blends 7, 9, and 12-year bourbons with an Italian wine-finished component, creating layers of strawberry compote, pound cake, dark fruit, and earthy complexity. One of the more interesting wine-finished bourbons we’ve tried lately… but is it a hit or a miss?

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 June 19th 2026. Green River Distillery Select Toasted Double Oak Bourbon, the debut of SHANG from the whiskey house, and Lost Lantern has announced the launch the United States of Bourbon collection.

Show Notes:

• Spec’s Family Corp. acquires Lee’s Discount Liquor in first move outside Texas
• Give 270 launches restored 1989 Ford Bronco raffle for Kentucky Jailers Association
• Liberty Pole Spirits and MB Roland team up for America’s 250th anniversary blend
• Green River Distilling Company debuts 8-Year Toasted Double Oak Bourbon
• Coors launches exclusive 110.5-proof Blended American Malt Whiskey in expansion into premium spirits
• Whiskey House of Kentucky and global partners debut innovative SHĀNG baijiu whiskey line
• Town Branch Distillery releases groundbreaking Bourbonola Tropical Style banana seltzer
• Industry veteran Jason Wooler makes comeback with launch of Wooler Brands whiskey
• Lost Lantern launches United States of Bourbon featuring first-ever 50-state blend
• Belmark and ADI Distilling partner for distillery packaging and revenue webinar

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What does it actually look like when your family dinner table conversations literally shape the history of American whiskey? Well today we’re sitting down with a true legend of Kentucky distilling royalty: 2025 Bourbon Hall of Fame Inductee, Craig Beam. Growing up with a last name that defines the entire category, Craig shares what it was really like sitting at the table listening to his father, Parker Beam, and grandfather, Earl Beam, talk shop about Heaven Hill’s fermentation and equipment hurdles while simultaneously working cattle and farming. Craig takes us through his early days of pulling grunt work in vacant rickhouses in 1983, learning the legendary family jug yeast process, and eventually stepping up as Master Distiller. We even get to hear Craig’s story about how casual conversations while working the farm led to the birth of Elijah Craig, Evan Williams single barrels, and the iconic Parker’s Heritage Collection. A master distiller’s job used to mean grain buying, pressure washing, and lab work and not just marketing campaigns but that’s why he’s here today to give us the details about his exciting next chapter at Jackson Purchase Distillery.

Show Notes:

• Craig growing up listening to Parker and Earl Beam balance Heaven Hill distilling mechanics with western Kentucky farming
• Craig’s journey from sweeping out empty rickhouses in 1983 to mastering the family’s secret jug yeast lineage
• An inside look at how farming conversations birthed legendary labels like Elijah Craig and Parker’s Heritage
• Why historic distilling roles required hands-on labor, from grain buying and lab work to pressure washing warehouses
• How Craig Beam and Terry Ballard teamed up in 2021 to scale a hidden contract distilling powerhouse
• Technical insights into how a warmer regional climate impacts early barrel color extraction and aging physics
• Mapping out Jackson Purchase’s experimental library, including wheated mash bills, air-dried staves, and American single malts

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We’ve had a great run relying on volunteers and that original bottling setup in the back of the warehouse—it got us where we are today—but to be honest, things had to change. When you’re looking at your annual sales goals and trying to maintain a consistent product across the board, you eventually hit a ceiling where “the way we’ve always done it” just doesn’t cut it anymore. We spent a lot of time weighing our options, looking at contract bottling and beefing up our hand-lines, but at the end of the day, investing in our own internal infrastructure made the most sense for the future of Pursuit.

Today on the podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on the process of installing our new bottling line. We’re talking about the headaches, the logistical hurdles, and the small wins that proved we were finally at the scale point to make this a reality. We also get into the weeds on our latest Meat Church collaboration: the Honey Hog Bourbon release. We discuss the inception of the project and, more importantly, the technical challenge of working with honey compared to the wood-finished profiles we’re typically known for. It’s a deep dive into the operational side of the spirits business that you don’t usually get to see.

Show Notes:

• Investing in a Bottling Line
• Challenges and Learning Curves with New Equipment
• Future Needs and Scaling Up
• Considering Bottling for Other Brands
• Navigating Tax Challenges in Distilling
• The Importance of Operational Control
• Future Considerations for Growth
• Quality Control in Bottling
• Introducing the Honey Hog Collaboration
• Reflections on Product Development

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Beyke Blue Corn Double Oaked Batch 1 takes the original blue corn bourbon to another level. Blueberry smoothie vibes, chocolate drizzle, creamy oak, and big dessert energy at 118 proof. This one disappeared FAST for a reason.

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 June 12th 2026. $500,000 of Noble Oak bourbon has been stolen in a truck heist, An organized crime ring targeting high-end whiskey collectors has been solved from the Madisonville Police Department, and Booker’s “The Milkshake Batch” Bourbon gets released.

Show Notes:

• Philadelphia Police and FBI Investigate $500,000 Noble Oak Bourbon Heist
• Lawrenceburg Historic Homes to Host Exclusive Screening and Guided Tours This July
• Madisonville Police Disrupt FB Group Whiskey Scam Defrauding Buyers of $86K
• Whiskey House of Kentucky Lays Off 30% of Staff Amid Industry Slowdown
• Give 270 Announces Next 20/20 Unicorn Raffle Featuring Rare Brown-Forman 150th Anniversary Bottle
• Orphan Barrel Unveils 25-Year Night Sage Blended Canadian Whisky
• Allies for Cherry Point Partners with Bespoken Spirits for Final Flight Reserve Harrier Tribute
• Thirty-One Lengths Launches $1,500 Ultra-Premium Bourbon Honoring Secretariat’s Legendary Victory
• Adventure Spirits Distilling Partners with Toledo Mud Hens for Stadium Craft Cocktails
• Hard Truth Distilling Co. Welcomes Back Double Oaked Sweet Mash Rye at 113 Entry Proof
• Penelope Flips Strategy to Debut New Classic Everyday Bourbon and Rye Series
• Old Fourth Distillery Teams Up with Dragon Con for 2nd Annual Landmark Anniversary Bourbon
• James B. Beam Distilling Company Rolls Out Booker’s “The Milkshake Batch” Bourbon

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