Parker’s Heritage 2026 brings a 14 year barrel proof bourbon with a rye backset twist. Cherry limeade, brownie batter, fudge, and rich Heaven Hill oak make this one feel like a return to form.

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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How many times have you reached for a bottle on the shelf simply because the glass looked incredible or the label caught your eye? At Pursuit Spirits, we talk endlessly about what goes inside the barrel, but the multi-million dollar engineering and design process that gets that liquid onto the shelf is an entire science of its own. Today, we’re sitting down with Andrés Hernandez of Fusion Glass Mexico and Chad Michael of Chad Michael Studio to talk about custom bottles from engineering, designed, and evenutally going to market.

Andrés has the factor that specializes in 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) glass that gives their glass a certain rustic appeal. But that process has to managing extreme temperatures, color formulation, and structural tolerances from the designer. That’s where Chad comes in. He’s the creative guy that can turn an idea on the back of a napkin into a bottle that looks like artwork. He spends his time understanding the brand DNA and translating that into one of a kind package design. This is an angle of the show we’ve never taken before and I’m sure a lot of bourbon geeks will appreciate everything that goes into the bottle you pick up off the shelf but if you’re a whiskey producer looking into the custom space for something your brand can call your own, this episode is the complete package… see what I did there?

Show Notes:

• How Fusion Glass Mexico approaches sustainable glass manufacturing and 100% PCR recycled glass
• The step-by-step process of collecting, crushing, washing, and remaking recycled glass
• How high-temperature glass forming impacts bottle symmetry, wall thickness, and weight
• Chad Michael’s journey from agency design work to founding Chad Michael Studio
• Using brand story questionnaires to define brand personality before designing packaging
• Stock glass vs. bespoke custom molds: balancing cost, MOQs, and shelf presence
• When and why growing brands should transition away from stock bottles
• Technical limits of glass production: machine compatibility, GPI standards, and impact testing
• The future of whiskey packaging design: balancing creative storytelling with logical, cost-effective engineering

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Bardstown Discovery 2026 brings a new name, new bottle, and a Garryana oak double-barrel finish. Rich oak, brown butter pastry, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking spice give this release a warm fall-inspired profile.

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 October 2nd, 2026. Scotland is experiencing a whiskey glut, Brown Forman announced the 2026 King of Kentucky, and Lost Lantern is preparing to launch its highly anticipated Fall 2026 George Dickel Collection.

Show Notes:

• Bourbon Mixer reaches $1 million raised for Coalition for the Homeless
• Scottish distilleries pause production amid massive Scotch supply surplus
• US enforces import ban on Canadian alcohol as trade tensions escalate
• Copper & Kings relaunches interactive Bottle Your Own distillery experience
• Brown-Forman announces 2026 release of 14-year King of Kentucky Single Barrel
• Lost Lantern prepares Fall 2026 launch of rare George Dickel Collection

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The first time we had our guest on the show, we barely scratched the surface of what she has going on with the industry. It was more of a moment to remember her dad, Richard Wolf, and his impact on the industry. But now Monica is back and with a new last name of Wolf-Brown. We talk about some personal milestones before diving into how she built The Blending House in Shelby County. Monica about the state-of-the-art facility featuring a massive blending floor, seven custom rickhouses, and complete turnkey logistics for growing brands. Monica shares her take on how American whiskey’s view of blending compares to scotch, wine, and coffee which leads into her latest Shang project. A cross-cultural collaboration with Whiskey House and True Essence that combines Chinese baijiu with American sorghum whiskey aged in oak.

Show Notes:

• Monica Wolf-Brown returns to share updates on family life, motherhood, and how her father’s legacy continues to shape her career in the bourbon industry.
• Monica details the origin of The Blending House in Shelby County, built to solve storage, blending, and bottling challenges for independent brands.
• The episode explores the facility’s single-species yellow pine rickhouse engineering and its versatile bottling line designed for various bottle formats.
• Monica breaks down her blending partnerships with clients like E.J. Curley and Jack Rose while comparing American blending traditions to scotch, wine, and coffee.
• The conversation covers the Shang project, an innovative collaboration with Whiskey House and True Essence Foods blending Chinese baijiu and American sorghum whiskey.

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New Riff’s 2026 Kentucky Single Malt takes a sharp turn from bourbon with smoky, peaty, Scotch-like notes, charcoal, chocolate sweetness, and a finish that may speak more to malt fans than bourbon drinkers.

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 September 25th, 2026. The Brown Hotel is holiday cocktail competition titled “Top of the List”, Eastern Light Distilling is moving forward with building a $60M distillery, and the release of Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength.

Show Notes:

• The Brown Hotel hosts “Top of the List” holiday cocktail competition benefiting Toys for Tots
• Eastern Light Distilling secures $23.1M investment to build $60M contract facility in Morehead
• Willett Distillery unveils Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength wheated bourbon
• B.R. Distilling Co. expands allocation for Blue Note Honey Bourbon and Rye Cask releases

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What happens when the biggest distilling powerhouse behind the scenes decides to step into the spotlight and release whiskey under its own name? On this edition of the Bourbon Community Roundtable, the crew kicks things off by celebrating a massive milestone—our very own Fred Minnick being inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. After raising a glass to the iconic ceremony, national coverage, and the community that made it happen, the panel dives headfirst into one of the most controversial moves in the spirits industry today: MGP dropping its flagship Chapter One 10-year, 111-proof straight bourbon. We debate whether the distilling titan is directly competing against the very NDP customers who built its reputation, if everyday consumers will even recognize the brand, and what happens when the ultimate supplier becomes a frontline producer.

The conversation quickly expands into a high-stakes clash between massive legacy distillers and nimble, enthusiast-led brands. The panel breaks down why independent bottlers and craft innovators are constantly outmaneuvering corporate giants by moving faster, cutting through red tape, and listening directly to what whiskey drinkers want. We trace the complete lifecycle of a modern bourbon enthusiast—from hunting allocated unicorns to returning to reliable everyday pours—while debating direct-to-consumer clubs, barrel pick culture, and whether the market has reached a tipping point for craft saturation. Wrapping up with a look at why fan-first entrepreneurs continue to dominate the modern whiskey space, this is an unfiltered, deep-dive discussion on the shifting power dynamics of American whiskey.

Show Notes:

• The panel debates MGP releasing its own 10-year 111-proof bourbon and whether the distilling giant is directly competing with its own NDP clients.
• The crew compares how nimble enthusiast-led brands outpace slow corporate heritage distillers by reacting faster to consumer demand.
• The discussion examines the evolving lifecycle of bourbon drinkers, from hunting allocated bottles back to appreciating value and everyday pours.
• The group wraps up by analyzing direct-to-consumer clubs, barrel picks, and whether the enthusiast market can sustain the surge of new brands.

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Garrison Brothers Lady Bird Cask Strength Single Barrel layers Texas bourbon with wildflower honey and cognac cask finishing. Orange blossom honey, grape, warm spice, and cinnamon candy give this pour a big, sweet, and unexpected ride.

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 September 18th 2026. Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits will pay a 12.5M penalty, More tariffs and bans of canadian liquor into the US, and Booker’s Bourbon The Reserves 2026 and Little Book The Infinite, Edition III.

Show Notes:

• Kentucky Bourbon Festival announces dates for 2027 event in Bardstown
• Evan Williams expands college football presence with tailgates and collegiate bottles
• Bluegrass Distillers launches quarterly Bottle Club membership program
• Southern Glazer’s pays $12.5M penalty to resolve federal trade practice investigation
• President Trump announces plans to remove 10% tariff on Irish whiskey
• Crown Royal avoids Canadian spirit import ban via bulk shipping strategy
• Shady Rays and Pappy & Co collaborate on limited-edition sunglasses and giveaway
• Charlotte Bourbon Society announces 9th Annual Bourbon Hearts Dinner Benefit
• Mark Pringle releases The Whiskey Taster’s Flavor Guide reference book
• MGP debuts Chapter One 10-Year Straight Bourbon as flagship brand
• Neeley Family Distillery debuts PaPaw’s Legacy Reserve 10-Year Triple Pot-Stilled Bourbon
• Koopers Whiskey releases repackaged Prodigal Son Bourbon for Bourbon Heritage Month
• Breckenridge Distillery debuts Broncos-themed commemorative whiskey lineup and seltzer
• Joseph Magnus returns to rye whiskey with 10 Year Cask Strength release
• Penelope Bourbon releases Cigar Sessions Chapter 2 in collaboration with Alec Bradley
• Buffalo Trace and Van Winkle announce 2026 Van Winkle Whiskey Collection lineup
• Wilderness Trail debuts exclusive whiskeys for Hall of Fame induction of co-founders
• Angel’s Envy announces Cellar Collection Volume 6 Straight Rye Whiskey release
• Ingram Distillery debuts Batch 6 of river-aged Flagship Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Buffalo Trace debuts Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition uncut bourbon
• Brother Justus Whiskey Company releases Brother Justus Founder’s Reserve IV
• The Maven Distillery launches flagship 104-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Garrison Brothers announces Hye tailgate event featuring 2 new cask-strength single barrels
• Beam Distilling announces Booker’s Bourbon The Reserves 2026 and Little Book Infinite III
• Knob Creek introduces 12 Year Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Jack Daniel’s launches Tennessee Blackberry mixed with Lemonade canned cocktail

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We’re back with Part 2 of our PursuitPalooza 2026 AMA session. We kick off by tackling the business realities of the RTD boom because we keep punting the idea if we should do one ourselves, and exploring why entering the canned cocktail market is a completely different beast than aging bourbon in a barrel.

We talk about some the weirdest tasting notes we’ve ever pulled like peanut butter and jelly, peach rings, and Grandma’s candy jar. Finally, we get personal about what it really takes to run an independent spirits company. We talk about managing operational pressure, our core philosophy of “no problems, only solutions,” and some of the wild, unfiltered Palooza memories from over the years.

Show Notes:

• RTDs vs. Aged Whiskey: The hidden challenges of canned cocktails, including shelf-life stability, high R&D costs, and retail distribution hurdles.
• Sourcing Strategy: Why Pursuit Spirits prioritizes proven legacy distillates over volatile craft profiles to establish consumer trust.
• Wild Tasting Notes: Recalling the most unusual flavor profiles we’ve encountered, from PB&J and peach rings to farmyard funky pours.
• Labeling & TTB Regulations: How slight legal nuances define “straight bourbon” versus finished expressions, and what consumers actually notice.
• Leadership & Problem Solving: Behind the scenes of scaling Pursuit Spirits, empowering employees, and keeping cool under operational stress.
• Celebrity Brands & Industry Hype: Our unfiltered thoughts on celebrity-backed spirits, hazmat-proof trends, and the ongoing craze for allocated bottles.
• Palooza War Stories: Reliving hilarious, late-night Palooza memories, EDM club outings, and keeping the annual event fresh for repeat attendees.
• Historical Dream Pours: Ryan and Kenny name the iconic figures—including George Garvin Brown and President William Howard Taft—they’d love to share a dram with.

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Frank August Case Study 07 takes a Kentucky bourbon and rye blend and finishes it in Calvados, Martinique rum, and Caribbean rum casks. Apple pie, brown sugar, pear, coconut, pineapple, and rye spice make this one a seriously fun tropical twist.

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 September 11th 2026. The KY ABC is going to be auctioning off rare bottles of confiscated bourbon, The New Era Whiskey Distillery and Social Club has opened in Lexington KY, and Heaven Hill announces 20th Edition Parker’s Heritage Collection.

Show Notes:

• A Thanksgiving raffle win turns into an intense family debate when a collector snags a $100 Pappy Van Winkle instead of her brother-in-law.
• Team Kentucky opens virtual bidding on 70 seized collectible bottles to support campus alcohol responsibility programs.
• Downtown Lexington welcomes its first combination distillery, tasting room, and private social club founded by Zane Brammell.
• Elijah Craig and Evan Williams secure official bourbon partnerships and naming rights across UK Athletics venues.
• Silverbelly Whiskey announces a new flagship craft distillery, museum, and venue coming to Nashville.
• Brown-Forman resurrects the “Kentucky Boy” label to celebrate Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris’s 50-year legacy.
• New limited fall releases debut from Woodford Reserve, Remus, Penelope, Four Roses, Proof and Wood, Chicken Cock, and Heaven Hill.
• Bourbon with Heart partners with Give 270 to raffle custom hand-painted barrel heads paired with Elijah Craig 21-Year Single Barrel.

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Today, we are bringing you part 1 of 2 for our Pursuit Palooza 2026 AMA session recorded live with myself and Ryan Cecil. We take a look back at how Palooza originally grew out of having way more whiskey and industry guests than we could ever fit on the podcast and why we decided to start having Palooza.

From there, take questions from our fans in the audience about transparency in labeling, dissecting “bottled by” statements, straight bourbon requirements, and whether the average consumer actually cares about production details versus price, story, and flavor. Plus, we address the big question on everyone’s mind: has the bourbon boom peaked, or is there still room for category growth?

Show Notes:

• Palooza Origins: How having too many podcast guests and leftover whiskey barrels spawned Pursuit Palooza.
• Labeling & Transparency: Breakdown of “bottled by” statements, legal requirements, and what consumers actually value on the shelf.
• Pursuit Archive & Revivals: The story behind Sherry River Rye, keeping an archive of past releases, and future P-Club plans.
• State of the Bourbon Industry: Addressing market shifts, changing distribution habits, international growth, and the end of truck-chasing.
• Hard Lessons in Craft Distilling: What we underestimated about packaging, marketing, and navigating the three-tier system when starting Pursuit Spirits.
• Underrated Distillates: Ryan and Kenny highlight hidden-gem producers like Tennessee Distilling Group, Woodinville, Still Austin, and Southern Distilling.
• The Reality of Organic Bourbon: Why large-scale organic grain production faces massive hurdles with pests, weeds, and high costs.
• Palooza War Stories & Blending Dreams: Recalling wild Palooza mishaps, dream blending-room collaborators, and the ultimate death row food and pour pairings.

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Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farm 2026 brings big ice cream shop vibes with cherry cordial, vanilla custard, waffle cone, and a gooey cherry syrup finish. This wheat whiskey had us seriously impressed.

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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