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Whiskey Quickie: Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Rye Whiskey Review



On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Sauternes and Toasted Oak Barrels. This finished rye is 114.4 proof and $270 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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TWiB: Maker’s Mark Fills Certified Regenified Barrel, Blue Run 12 Days of Bourbon Series, Pursuit United Bourbon Batch 11CD



It’s This Week in Bourbon for December 8th 2023. Maker’s Mark has filled its first Certified Regenified barrel of whisky, Blue Run is back with it’s 12 Days of Bourbon series, and Pursuit United Bourbon Batch 11CD.

Show Notes:

  • American whiskey is staring down a 50 percent tax when sent to Europe
  • Maker’s Mark has filled its first Certified Regenified barrel of whisky
  • Woodford Reserve is creating a sensorial experience at Istanbul International Airport
  • Rabbit Hole Distillery announced the release of Amburana
  • Chattanooga Whiskey is INTRODUCING: THE VAULT SERIES
  • Pursuit United Bourbon Batch 11CD
  • Milam & Greene Whiskey releases The Castle Hill Batch Three
  • Wheel Horse Cigar Blend Bourbon
  • Two limited distillery-only offerings of Very Olde St. Nick whiskeys
  • Samuel Maverick Straight Triticale Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond
  • Puncher’s Chance THE UNIFIED BELT
  • Wilderness Trail Distillery’s 10th Anniversary limited-edition 10-Year-Old Wheated Bourbon
  • Blue Run is back with it’s 12 Days of Bourbon series
  • Rebel Small Batch Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Three Chord Bourbon Backstage Series
  • @makersmark @woodfordreserve @rabbithole @chattwhiskey @milamandgreenewhiskey @wheelhorsewhiskey @veryoldestnick @maverickdistilling @wildernesstrail @bluerunspirits @rebelbourbon @threechordbourbon
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439 – Celebrating 10 Years of Barrell Craft Spirits with Joe Beatrice and Tripp Stimson



Seagrass, Dovetail, Vantage, these are all names that we immediately associate to Barrell Bourbon. I’m excited to bring back two guests on the show, Joe Beatrice and Tripp Stimson, to talk about hitting their 10 year anniversary. Joe and Tripp reflect on their early vision for the company and how it’s evolved from figuring out budgets and spending, learning from early batches, and how their decision to not follow the bourbon playbook of building a brand has been a success for them. We talk about expanding their facilities with a new rickhouse, reading consumer habits and trends, where the company will be next, and even Amburana. It’s a fascinating look at the past decade and future vision of this fast-growing brand.

Show Notes:

  • Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the difference between sourcing and contract distilling?
  • 10 years ago, what was your vision for the company and how has that changed?
  • What was your budget and figuring out where to spend the money?
  • What the early feedback with those initial pitches and sourcing?
  • Has the consumer switched from chasing states to chasing flavor?
  • Did anyone tell you that going with cask strength was a bad idea?
  • What have you learned from Batch 001 and do you feel the product has gotten better over time?
  • How do you look at consumer habits and plan accordingly?
  • Why did you come up with the derived mash bill?
  • What is it about Amburana that you like or that can benefit in your blends?
  • What are your new facilities like?
  • Talk about the Yellowstone rickhouse you purchased?
  • What does the next 10 years look like for you all?
  • Do you feel like like your model is a hard target for an acquisition?
  • @barrellbourbon
  • Support this podcast on Patreon

Whiskey Quickie: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #11 Bourbon Review



On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #11. This blend of 6, 10 and 13 year old bourbon is 118.1 proof and $140 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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TWiB: Potential Bourbon Complex Hits The Market, Frazier History Museum Exhibits Spirited Design, Fall 2023 Edition of Old Fitzgerald



It’s This Week in Bourbon for December 1st 2023. Potential site for ‘bourbon complex’ hits the market in Shively, the Frazier History Museum is opening a special holiday exhibition Spirited Design featuring Old Forester’s Mid-Century Decanters, and Heaven Hill Distillery announced the release of the Fall 2023 edition of Old Fitzgerald.

Show Notes:

  • Owensboro 21 pallets of bourbon that were reported missing have been located
  • Potential site for ‘bourbon complex’ hits the market in Shively
  • The Frazier History Museum is opening a special holiday exhibition called Spirited Design: Old Forester’s Mid-Century Decanters
  • Buzzard’s Roost Repeal Day Event
  • Four Roses bourbon has launched its first-ever consumer advertising campaign
  • The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board warns about fakes
  • Commissioners of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission reviewed changes to the agency’s Chance to Purchase program
  • Heaven Hill Brands announces two company facilities received the EPA’s first-ever ENERGY STAR certification
  • The Kentucky Bourbon Trail received a Gold Traverse for its “Book Now, Bourbon Later” digital marketing campaign
  • Old Forester is releasing the rarest bottle it has ever produced – a decanter to honor the brand’s 150th anniversary
  • Castle & Key Distillery and Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild (KBBG release of The Untold Story of Kentucky Whiskey, Chapter 3
  • Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. has introduced Honey Smoke Reserva
  • Jack Harlow joined forces with Knob Creek
  • Jack Daniel Distillery introduces Distillery Series Selection #12, a Straight Tennessee Whiskey Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks
  • Fall 2023 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at 8 years old
  • @frazierhistorymuseum @oldforester @buzzardsroostwhiskey @heavenhillbrands @heavenhilldistillery @kentuckybourbontrail @castleandkey @_kbbg_ @brokenbarrelwhiskey @jackharlow @knobcreek @jackdaniels_us
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438 – What is Over, Under, and Properly Rated?



We rate bourbons all the time. But we’ve never really rated things that surround the product and the bourbon culture. In this episode, Ryan, Fred, and myself look at a bunch of subjects and ask whether it’s under rated, over rated, or properly rated. From single barrel picks to bourbon-themed weddings, there’s a lot to cover. We’ll break down whether booker’s boxes and wax dipping are gimmicks or genuinely enhance the experience. And what about all those whiskey influencers on YouTube, Instagram and Tiktok – are they spreading valuable knowledge or just hype? We’ll also discuss whether tasting notes and bottled-in-bond really mean anything and if the Fred Minnick effect is real.

Show Notes:

  • Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about taters and hype around allocated products.
  • Under rated? Over Rated? Or Properly Rated?
  • Single Barrel picks
  • A single barrel bottle from a brand
  • Spirit awards
  • Booker’s boxes
  • Wax
  • Whiskey YouTube’rs
  • Instagram and TikTok
  • Bourbon tattoos
  • Distillery weddings
  • Bourbon barrel furniture
  • Cooking with bourbon
  • bottled in bond
  • Tasting notes
  • The Fred Minnick Effect
  • Support this podcast on Patreon

Whiskey Quickie: King of Kentucky 2023 Bourbon Review



On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review King of Kentucky. This 16 year old bourbon is 125.8 proof and $300 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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437 – How To Build A Non-Legacy Brand with Johnathan Crocker of Frank August

Let’s say you want to start a new bourbon brand but you don’t have generations of family heritage or an existing legacy to promote. So how do you get consumers to try something new instead of reverting to something like putting horses or barns on the labels? Branding today seems to require more storytelling than focusing just on the whiskey. One modern brand trying to break that mold is Frank August. I invited their CEO and Co-Founder, Johnathan Crocker on the show to talk about navigating this challenge and how they are reinventing branding in a crowded bourbon market without relying on a legacy. They’re focused on creating an authentic modern brand that resonates with consumers. It’s an interesting case study on building a bourbon brand from scratch in today’s industry.

Show Notes:

  • Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about will the bourbon boom ever end?
  • How did you get tied into whiskey and with Drew at Willett?
  • Why create a new bourbon brand during COVID?
  • How do you see yourself and brand fitting into this industry?
  • What does the name Frank August mean?
  • At what point does it feel like overthinking vs simple strategy?
  • Would a consumer just like to buy a bottle with a horse on it instead of new labels?
  • Does a brand have to speak directly to a specific demographic or can brands adapt?
  • Historical brands like Old Forester and Heaven Hill sourced their whiskey at first so how did they adapt?
  • Can you change the mindset of a whiskey drinker away from the staples like a horse or a barn?
  • Do you have to talk about the story instead of the whiskey?
  • Are any legacy brands that have successfully pivoted to tell a new story?
  • @thefrankaugust
  • Support this podcast on Patreon

Whiskey Quickie: 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) Review



On this special edition of Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review the 2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. The collection includes: Sazerac Rye 18 Year, Thomas H. Handy, Eagle Rare 17 Year, William Larue Weller, and George T. Stagg. Each bottle has a suggested retail price of $125. What’s our favorite this year? Watch to find out. 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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TWiB: Bourbon Stolen From Glenmore Distillery, Gem of Kentucky, Michter’s Drops a 25 Year Old Bourbon



It’s This Week in Bourbon for November 17th 2023. There was an attempt to reroute 21 pallets of bourbon from the Glenmore Distillery, Dixon Dedman releases Gem of Kentucky, and Michter’s is dropping a 25 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

Show Notes:

  • Allied Market Research new report on bourbon growth
  • Owensboro Police Department says there was an attempt to reroute 21 pallets of bourbon from the Glenmore Distillery
  • 10th Anniversary of the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience
  • J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery opened its distillery in Frankfort
  • Lost Lantern opens a tasting room
  • 15 recipients of the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund grants
  • Conecuh Ridge Distillery is planning for a May 2024 opening
  • KY state lawmakers being pushed for self-distribution
  • Dread River Distilling Co. is releasing Master Series Batch 2
  • Dixon Dedman proudly presents Gem of Kentucky
  • 291 Colorado Whiskey’s three new limited releases
  • Westward Whiskey Milestone
  • Great Lakes Distillery will be releasing its Still & Oak Black Friday Bourbon
  • Frey Ranch American Single Malt Smoked Whiskey
  • HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys debuts the third edition of The Single Barrel and the second edition of The Single Barrel Double Oak
  • Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years
  • Michter’s 25 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
  • @alliedmarketresearch @evanwilliamsbourbon @jmattingly1845 @lostlantern @westwardwhiskey @greatlakesdistillery @freyranch @michterswhiskey @lostlanternwhiskey @clydemayswhiskey @2xowhiskey @dixon_dedman
  • Support this podcast on Patreon

436 – Is Big Bourbon Just Better? on Bourbon Community Roundtable #87



It’s Bourbon Community Roundtable #87 and this one dives into a single topic that has perplexed me over the past few months. It seems that there are only a handful of brands people talk about yet there are over 2000 distilleries across the US. I would like to think the stigma of craft is changing but my newsfeed is always talking about the same select few.  What makes us always gravitate to the big 6 or perhaps we should refer to as the big 7 now? Is it accessibility because it’s on the shelf or could be on your shelf pending allocation? Is it marketing and the big brands can throw their weight around at the distributor level? Or is Big Bourbon just better than craft?

Show Notes:

  • Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about mocktails
  • Is big bourbon just better than everything else?
  • Support this podcast on Patreon

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Whiskey Quickie: Still Austin Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey Review



On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Still Austin Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey. This 4 year old bourbon is 100 proof and $80 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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435 – Sourcing Exotic Barrels with Jessica Ann of H&A Barrel Management



The trend of cask finished whiskey is here to stay. It’s run rampant over the past few years to the point that every single company has one. But how are barrels sourced? How many times can a barrel be used before it longer gives off those different flavors? To answer these questions and a lot more, I’ve invited Jessica Ann from H&A Barrel Management on the show. We’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jessica for many years. She recently got herself into the market of brokering barrels for different cask finishes. Jessica gives us the low-down on wine and exotic oak finishes and how difficult they can be to attain. There’s a lot to break down such as types of oak, toast level, and if cooperage reputation has any prestige. With the wide variety available, we’re going to see even more trends hit the market soon.

Show Notes:

  • Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks if Pappy is a NDP.
  • How did you and Fred connect?
  • How many times can a barrel be used for wine aging?
  • Why is French Oak the preferred type for wine?
  • If I need barrels, what do you have readily available?
  • What does STR mean?
  • How are different barrels valued?
  • How many times can those barrels be re-used?
  • In the used barrel market are there cooperages that have more prestige?
  • What are some of the newest barrels people want that aren’t common?
  • Do customer’s ever request different toast and char levels?
  • How do you properly read a wine barrel?
  • Talk about your barrel leasing program.
  • How do you find out about the various oak species available?
  • @bourboninsider
  • Support this podcast on Patreon

Whiskey Quickie: Dragon’s Milk



On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Dragon’s Milk Origin Bourbon. This 5 year old bourbon is 95 proof and $45 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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TWiB: New Distillery Will Age Barrels in Coal Mines, Rabbit Hole Releases Seasong, Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases Eagle Rare 25



It’s This Week in Bourbon for November 11th 2023. A new distillery is coming that is aging barrels in coal mines, Rabbit Hole Distillery announced the release of Seasong, and Buffalo Trace Distillery today announces the release of Eagle Rare 25.

Show Notes:

  • A new distillery is coming that is aging barrels in coal mines
  • Rabbit Hole Distillery announced the release of Seasong
  • Hard Truth Distilling Co.  announced the release of Barrel Finished Reserve
  • Wild Turkey has released a new whiskey that combines three generations of Bourbon making. The launch of Generations
  • Proof & Wood Ventures has launched The Cabinet
  • Buffalo Trace Distillery today announces the release of Eagle Rare 25
  • @rabbithole @hardtruthspirits @wildturkey @proofandwood @buffalotrace @buffalotracedistillery @brotherswrightdistillingco
  • Support this podcast on Patreon