As we’ve seen with the impacts of COVID-19, it’s now become necessary for the spirits industry to adopt technology and delivery services to stay alive. Cory Rellas, the CEO of Drizly, was on the forefront of this years ago. This podcast dives into their business model and how they are helping stores build a digital infrastructure to sell their goods online and get it into the hands of consumers faster. We hit on all kinds of topics such as their competitors in the market, what shipping laws could mean for Drizly, and if there is an opportunity to extend this business model into cannabis.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about the power of packaging.
• What is Drizly?
• How did you come up with this idea?
• What’s the timeline?
• What was the state of the industry when you got started?
• What were the challenges?
• Why did you go through New York early on?
• What is your big selling point to retail locations?
• Any pricing restrictions to prevent gouging?
• Talk about pricing transparency.
• How are you using the data you are acquiring?
• Are you sharing the data?
• Do you have a CRM?
• How are the products delivered to the consumer?
• How are you dealing with competition?
• Are you all interested in getting bought out?
• What’s the end game?
• What happens if shipping laws change?
• What is your best selling bourbon?
• What are the top 5 selling spirit categories?
• What’s your favorite bourbon?
• How do you work with brands?
• What needs to change to get more people buy alcohol online?
• Are you lobbying at all?
• Is there an opportunity with cannabis?
• What would the perfect alcohol market look like?
• What’s the latest trend?

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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Hillrock Estate Exceptional Cask #1. This non-age stated bourbon is 116.8 proof and $120 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!

DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of a Patreon supporter. 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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We started off the year talking about Scotch… and now…we’re talking Irish Whiskey? It’s not another April Fool’s joke. We had the opportunity to sit down and capture one of the most interesting stories in Irish Whiskey with Alex Conyngham, co-founder of Slane Irish Whiskey. We talk castles and rock concerts because that’s one big aspect of his history. Then we get into the dynamics of Irish whiskey and if there are commonalities between bourbon like sourcing, regulation, and financing a distillery. Then we discuss the role Brown-Forman plays and how they are trying to appeal to both bourbon and Irish Whiskey consumers.

Show Notes:

• DISCUS hand sanitizer portal: https://www.distilledspirits.org/distillers-responding-to-covid-19/distilleries-producing-hand-sanitizer/
• Less than 100 bottles left from 3 different barrels of Pursuit Series left on Seelbachs: https://seelbachs.com/search?q=pursuit
• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about drinking bourbon during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Where did you grow up and how did you get into whiskey?
• Tell us about your rock concerts.
• How did you decide to do the concerts?
• What is a good Irish cocktail?
• Where is Slane?
• What makes Irish whiskey unique?
• Do people source Irish whiskey?
• What is the process?
• How did you decide to start the distillery?
• Did you use a consultant to get started?
• What’s glamping?
• Tell us about your dad.
• How did you finance the distillery?
• What was it like to work with Brown-Forman?
• How big is the distillery?
• What age can you sell Irish whiskey?
• Tell us about the whiskey?
• Do you have your own yeast?
• What’s the typical Irish whiskey proof?
• How long are you aging?
• Tell us about your packaging.
• Would bourbon drinkers like Slane Irish whiskey?
• Tell us about the ultra premium Irish whiskey category.
• What is the price point?

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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Three Chord Twelve Bar Reserve. This 12 year old bourbon is 107 proof and $75 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!

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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Today’s episode features one of the largest spirits companies you might not know much about. You’ve heard of brands like Ezra Brooks, Rebel Yell, and Blood Oath, but there is a lot to discover about Luxco. We sit down with Philip Lux, Global Brand Ambassador at Lux Row Distillers and son of CEO Don Lux, as he guides us through the family history of the Lux’s along with their acquisitions of bourbon brands. Then we also get the inside scoop on what’s happening at Lux Row Distillers. After sourcing whiskey for many years, it became apparent they needed to build a distillery and they did it right in Bardstown, KY. We discuss the future of the brands and how they plan to grow and evolve. Don’t sleep on this location during your bourbon trail visit because the facility is incredible.

Show Notes:

• Black Market Liquor Sales: https://www.forbes.com/sites/fredminnick/2020/03/19/wholesalers-warn-of-black-market-liquor-if-liquor-stores-close-amidst-coronavirus/#3b5445042e88
• Supporting Spirits United: https://p2a.co/JRoHtT8
• Bourbon Pursuit USBG Fundraiser: bourbonpursuit.com/usbg
• Bourbon Crypto: https://www.coindesk.com/wave-financial-to-tokenize-20m-worth-of-bourbon-for-new-whiskey-fund
• Pat Heist on TedX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSLWEnz-1mc
• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about supporting craft distilleries.
• What was your introduction to bourbon?
• How did you get into the business?
• What stands out about bourbon when you are traveling?
• Talk about the difference between Luxco and Lux Row.
• Did your dad ever tell you about how he had the foresight to acquire all these brands?
• Tell us the story of David Nicholson.
• Talk about Blood Oath.
• Was Rebel Yell acquired the same time as David Nicholson?
• Tell us about your bourbon portfolio.
• When did you break ground on the facility?
• Why did you decide to build in Bardstown and not St. Louis?
• What is the difference between regular David Nicholson and the reserve?
• Tell us about your still and capacity.
• Any worries about your bourbon being ready in 4 years?
• Are you trying to replicate the existing flavor profiles?
• What is your storage capacity?
• What is something that people might not know about your brands?
• When is the Lux Bourbon coming?
• Any plans to use this facility to support Luxco?
• What issues have you had starting a distillery?

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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Angel’s Envy Tawny. This 10 year old bourbon is 111.6 proof and $250 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!

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 episode, we discuss two topics that are top of mind. First, is the Coronavirus and how it’s impacting the bourbon industry. Then we take a look at the hype and hysteria that surrounds Blanton’s. We dive into the recent news of Blanton’s Gold making its way to the US and if we think $120 SRP is a deal you should jump on. You will hear a new voice for a few minutes and that is Aaron Goldfarb. You may have seen his work on various publications around the web. He wasn’t able to stay on due to some technical difficulties, but we hope to have him on again soon.

Show Notes:

• Barrel Shortage: https://www.thedailybeast.com/is-there-a-bourbon-barrel-shortage-on-the-horizon
• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about taxes.
• What are distilleries doing for coronavirus?
• History of Blanton’s.
• How did Blanton’s become so popular?
• Will limiting the purchases of allocated items work?
• Why don’t distilleries use technology to manage this problem?
• Blanton’s Gold coming to the US. Is it because of tariffs?
• Are they taking away from the European allocation?
• How can you make more product with only one warehouse?
• Will quality suffer with increased production?
• What other companies have a similar strategy to Blanton’s?
• What do you think of the price point?
• Will Straight from the Barrel ever come to the U.S.?
• Thanks to Blake from bourbonr.com, Jordan from BreakingBourbon.com , Brian from sippncorn.com, and Aaron Goldfarb for joining.

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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Traverse City Whiskey Co. Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey. This non-age stated rye is 115.8 proof and $90 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!

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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Many of us have heard of A. Smith Bowman, which is owned by Sazerac, but we really don’t know much about them. We sit down with their Master Distiller, Brian Prewitt, to learn about the inner-workings of their operation and how the relationship with Sazerac works, as it pertains to the bourbon. With more than 20 years of brewing and distilling expertise, he tells us how he dialed in their stills to create a unique product and what the future entails for growth. We may or may not talk about gin for a few minutes as well. If you’re a fan of A. Smith Bowman, let us know your favorite bottling in the comments.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about Texas.
• How did you get into bourbon?
• What has been your favorite spirit to work with?
• Did your parents influence you to get into the alcohol industry?
• Tell us the history of A. Smith Bowman.
• Does it ever make you mad that Kentucky gets all the glory for bourbon?
• What year did the operation start?
• Tell us the history of Master Distillers there.
• Is it hard to dial in flavor profiles?
• Are you able to make your own imprint on the product?
• What did you tweak during the process?
• When did it become part of the Sazerac portfolio?
• What resources did you gain from Sazerac?
• Do you distill or does Buffalo Trace contract distill?
• Is it aged in VA?
• Are higher age releases sourced or made in house?
• What is your capacity?
• How many states are you available in?
• Is there a flavor profile difference from Kentucky bourbon?
• Tell us about your products.
• What makes your gin unique?
• Tell us about your single barrel program.
• Where do you see the market in the future?
• How has Virginia embraced you?
• Do you have a lot of competition visit?
• Has bourbon tourism grown in VA?
• What are your plans for growth?

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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Elijah Craig Rye. This non-age stated rye is 94 proof and $29.99 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!

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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Do you find yourself talking to the same people about bourbon every day and realize you talk to them more than your best friends? In fact, maybe they are your new best friends. We’re all in that situation now and that’s what today’s episode is all about. Bourbon has a magical element that seems to bring people together across every demographic to share a common bond. Perhaps you’re getting started and want to figure out, how do you find your bourbon people? We sit down with Jeremy Mandel, he’s an admin and founder of a few online communities and one of our Patreon supporters. We go through what it takes to find connections with other like minded individuals that can be done online with people around the world or perhaps in your own backyard with meet-up groups, bourbon societies, and much more. You’ll come away at the end of this realizing you probably followed some of these same steps without realizing it.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about money.
• How did you get into bourbon?
• What was your introduction to the online bourbon communities?
• Do you ever have events with your bourbon friends?
• Do certain groups create more bonds than others?
• What about your local society?
• Do you think raffle groups encourage camaraderie?
• What did you think of the Bob Dylan whiskey?
• Would you rather go to someone’s house to drink bourbon or a bar?
• Can these bourbon networks get bigger?
• How can people find a bourbon community?
• What relationships have gotten you a really good bottle of bourbon?

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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Kentucky Owl Rye Batch 3. This 10 year old rye is 114 proof and $200 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!

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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Michael Myers sits down to tell us his story of starting Distillery 291. He had a booming photography career, but while living in NY during the events of 9/11, it made him want something else. He found out early on that he liked whiskey, so like most of us who start off with something new, he researched and used his skills from a past farm life to make it a reality. Michael actually built his very first still on a tight budget and ended up using some of his photography equipment to create the still. From these humble beginnings, his whiskey has gone off to win many different awards and they are now expanding even further, creating a whiskey that is Aspen stave finished and authentic to Colorado.

Show Notes:

• Maker’s Mark Solar Panels: https://www.wlky.com/article/makers-mark-now-powering-rickhouses-with-help-of-500-solar-panels/31017612
• Beverage Daily Article: https://www.beveragedaily.com/Article/2020/02/17/Alcohol-s-three-tier-system-slows-ecommerce-and-dates-the-industry
• Why Does Whiskey Taste Like Whiskey: https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-does-whiskey-taste-like-whiskey-an-excerpt-from-lew-brysons-new-book-whiskey-master-class
• Rate Our Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/bourbon
• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about blended whiskey.
• When were you first introduced to bourbon?
• Where are you from?
• How long where you in Savannah?
• Let’s talk about your background in photography.
• Which more enjoyable, photography or whiskey making?
• Tell us about your experience with 9/11.
• How were your first attempts at making whiskey?
• Did you lean on any outside consultants?
• Tell us about building and designing your still.
• How much did it cost to build your still?
• What was your end goal when you first started?
• Tell us about your barrels.
• What was going through your mind when you first started?
• Did your photography career fund the whiskey business?
• Tell us about your awards.
• What is the operation like today?
• Was it daunting coming to Kentucky with your bourbon?
• Did you experience growing pains?
• What do you want our listeners to leave with about 291?

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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Yellowstone Select. This non-age stated bourbon is 93 proof and $40 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!

DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of Cask Cartel. 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 episode, we touch on three topics. First, we look at how bourbon producers can reach new consumers. Then we take on the new celebrity craze. Over the past year, there have been about half a dozen music artists and TV personalities that have come out with bourbons. While we don’t see this trend stopping, we ask ourselves if this is good for bourbon as a whole. Lastly, we examine the current state of the secondary market. It’s a group consensus that we all miss it, but how has it affected value, store pricing, and distributor allocation?

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about celebrity whiskey.
• How do bourbon producers reach new customers?
• What about new label designs?
• What do you think about celebrities getting into bourbon?
• Are celebrities helping or hurting bourbon?
• Let’s discuss the current state of the secondary market.

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