Tourism is booming in Louisivlle around bourbon. That’s why we have our own spot on Whiskey Row opening in April of 2025 but I’m like many of you and I get skeptical because I want to know some of the real numbers. It’s a good thing I’m still friends with my former college roommate because my buddy Michael Fetter works with Louisville Tourism who tracks the data of how tourism dollars are spent in this city. WIthout giving away too much, it doesn’t look like tourism is slowing down anytime soon.

Show Notes:

• The Bourbon Boom in Louisville
• Michael Fetter’s Journey in Tourism
• Marketing Louisville as a Bourbon Destination
• Challenges in Hotel Capacity and Air Travel
• Future of Bourbon Tourism and Direct Flights
• \The Birth of Bourbon Country
• Marketing Bourbon Tourism
• Funding and Economic Impact of Tourism
• Balancing Bourbon and Derby Tourism
• The Role of Influencers in Tourism
• Support this podcast on Patreon

The first Bourbon Community Roundtable of the year means it’s time for our 2025 predictions! The first half of the show we talk about everything we got wrong. In fact, we got way more wrong than we got right. I won’t give too much of it away but our 2025 predictions span potential new brands, the growing prominence of American single malts, the influence of social media, especially TikTok, the return of age-stated bourbons and how flavored whiskies might entice younger drinkers.

Show Notes:

• Reflection on predictions from 2024 and admissions of mistakes
• Anticipated impacts of government regulations on the bourbon landscape
• The trend of flavored whiskies appealing to a younger demographic
• Expectations for IJW’s potential new brand launch
• Increased scrutiny on alcohol marketing and compliance challenges
• The influential role of TikTok in bourbon narratives
• Predictions on a revival of age-stated products and craft distilling innovations
• Support this podcast on Patreon

(more…)

Got any Blanton’s in the back? Where are you hiding the Pappy? Those are some things you could say to a store owner and be laughed out the door. And believe me, you can take our word for it because we’ve been there and spent years of our lives hunting bourbon. Ryan, Fred and myself talk about the cardinal sins of bourbon hunting. What are those things you should never do when bourbon hunting to remain a good spot, stay in the graces of liquor store owners, and the proper etiquette when camping for special releases.

Show Notes:

• The Art of Bourbon Hunting Etiquette
• Concerns for the Future of Bourbon
• Cardinal Sins of Bourbon Hunting
• Building Relationships with Liquor Stores
• Distillery Release Strategies
• Building Relationships in Bourbon Hunting
• Hacking in Bourbon Releases
• The Changing Landscape of Bourbon Hunting
• Support this podcast on Patreon

You want to hear about sweet mash whiskey? Well, this is the episode for you. We first got introduced to Hard Truth a few years ago and when we tried their rye, we were floored. It only took a small amount of time for many others to find out and now Hard Truth has become a recognizable name in the world of crafy whiskey. Their Master Distiller, Bryan Smith, joins the show to talk about their beginnings and how a conversation with Shane and Pat from Wilderness Trail put them on a path to be known as the purveyors of sweet mash rye whiskey.

Show Notes:

• The Story of Hard Truth Distilling
• The Sweet Mash Technique
• Visitor Experience and Brand Growth
• Diversifying the Product Portfolio
• Navigating Market Confusion in Whiskey Branding
• The Origin of the Hard Truth Name
• Balancing Tradition and Innovation
• The Importance of Authenticity in Whiskey
• Challenges of Distribution and Market Penetration
• The Role of the Master Distiller
• Future Trends and Market Positioning in Whiskey
• Support this podcast on Patreon

Here’s our follow up from last week’s ask me anything episode from PursuitPalooza 2024. This is part 2 that was during a live recording where audience members could ask us anything they want.

Show Notes:

• 00:00-Introduction to Bourbon Pursuit and AMA
• 06:26-The Evolution of Bourbon Ingredients
• 12:30-The Impact of GMO and Organic Practices
• 17:40-The Role of NDAs in the Bourbon Industry
• 28:18-Developing Sensory Skills in Tasting Bourbon
• 33:36-Whiskey and Memory: The Art of Tasting
• 37:47-The Future of Distilling: Growth and Expansion
• 42:56-Jiu-Jitsu Journey: Health and Personal Growth
• 46:59-Market Trends: The Bourbon Boom and Its Sustainability
• 54:30-Navigating Regulations: The Challenges of Distribution
• Support this podcast on Patreon

You’ve heard us talk about PursuitPalooza on the show plenty of times because it’s the one time a year we invite our Patreon supporters from around the world to join us for a weekend of insider activiteis that are expertly curated by Ryan and myself. This year, we decided to do a live podcast recording at our distillery where audience members could ask us any questions they want. I’m not going to ruin it for you but here’s part 1 and part 2 will be next week.

Show Notes:

• 00:00-Introduction to Bourbon Pursuit and Live Podcast
• 01:23-Tainted Corks and Whiskey Quality
• 04:18-First Live Podcast Experience
• 06:21-Underappreciated Figures in the Bourbon Industry
• 12:16-The Role of Master Distillers
• 25:08-Conspiracy Theories in Bourbon
• 35:06-Innovation in Whiskey Production
• 35:35-Exploring the Future of Whiskey Malting
• 42:03-The Changing Landscape of Whiskey Consumption
• 49:50-Navigating Industry Challenges and Consumer Trends
• 52:54-Reevaluating Industry Practices and Standards
• 01:01:38-Reflections on Podcasting and Legacy
• Support this podcast on Patreon

Our single malt journey continues. In this episode we discuss the unique aspects of single malt whiskey, the journey of Westward Whiskey, and the blending process with their Master Blender, Miles Monroe. Monroe shares his background in music and how it influenced his path to whiskey, as well as the importance of fermentation and distillation techniques. In this conversation we discusses the intricate process of crafting whiskey, the importance of flavor profiles, and the evolution of consumer perceptions towards American Single Malt.

Show Notes:

• 00:00-Introduction to Bourbon Pursuit and Single Malt Whiskey
• 04:45-Miles Monroe’s Journey from Music to Whiskey
• 10:00-The Founding Story of Westward Whiskey
• 15:07-The Craft of Single Malt Distillation
• 19:55-Blending Methodology and Flavor Profiles
• 26:09-Crafting the Perfect Whiskey Blend
• 30:19-The Journey of a Master Blender
• 32:10-Understanding Aging and Flavor Profiles
• 34:22-Consumer Perception of American Single Malt
• 38:57-International Reception and Market Expansion
• 42:40-Future Plans and Visitor Experience
• Support this podcast on Patreon

It’s that time of the year again and you’re wondering what you should get that special bourbon lover in your life. There’s a lot of gimmicks and bad gifts out there. As somenone who is the receipent of those gifts, I want to make sure the giver isn’t wasting their money. Afterall, it’s really hard to return bottom shelf bottles back to the liquor store.

Show Notes:

• 00:00-Introduction to Bourbon Gifts
• 03:06-Understanding Bourbon Characteristics
• 06:02-Choosing the Right Bourbon Bottle
• 08:54-Avoiding Common Bourbon Gift Mistakes
• 12:13-Bourbon Trinkets and Memorabilia
• 15:07-Unique Bourbon Gift Ideas
• 17:50-Cocktail Kits and Accessories
• 20:53-Merchandise and Apparel for Bourbon Lovers
• 24:11-Subscription Services and Monthly Boxes
• 27:04-Books and Educational Resources on Bourbon
• 29:53-Final Thoughts on Bourbon Gifting
• Support this podcast on Patreon

A lot of distributors tell us that brands are built behind the bar. To a degree that is true. These folks are on the front lines making drinks and have to be knowledgeable about what they are creating. Yet, a bartenders job is high stress and they don’t get a chance to get immersed in a brand so that’s where Camp Runamok comes in. We’re joined by Lindsey Johnson who manages this fantasy camp for bartenders. Bartenders from around the country write essays like they are filing a college application to be accepted into a week of events with Camp Runamok. We talk about what benefits there are for both sides when it comes to the campers and the brands who support it.

Show Notes:

• 00:00-Introduction to Camp Runamuck
• 06:00-The Evolution of Bartending and Industry Relationships
• 12:02-The Concept and Growth of Camp Runamuck
• 18:08-Experiential Learning and Community Building
• 24:10-Mentorship and the Future of Bartending
• 28:09-Creating Safe Spaces for Sober Campers
• 32:07-The Evolution of Drinking Culture Among Gen Z
• 35:21-Navigating a Career in Bartending
• 40:40-Supporting Small Craft Brands in the Industry
• 43:47-The Impact of Camp Run Amok on Bartenders
• 49:34-Building Community and Connections in Bartending
• Support this podcast on Patreon

If you have followed the progress of this show since the beginning, you can see the evolution of what we talk about. In the beginning it was about brands and Master Distillers, then when we started Pursuit Spirits we were introduced into the world of brokers and the middle layer of people who own barrels without brands. That information has made its way to you and now you know more about the market. But that brokered market is heavily guarded. It’s a series of handshakes, phone calls, and emails with excel spreadsheets with prices to see what’s available. However, Rob Arnold with Barrel Hub is trying to make access easier for everyone. Rob isn’t new to this game. He spent his undergraduate in Texas and is the person responsible for the pecan yeast strain used by TX Whiskey to this day. We talk about his background and how that led to the idea of creating a portal where industry folks can buy and sell barrels on the wholesale market.

Show Notes:

• 00:00-Introduction to Bourbon Pursuit and Market Evolution
• 03:10-The Brokered Whiskey Market and Its Challenges
• 05:56-Rob Arnold’s Background and Innovative Ideas
• 09:07-The Role of Yeast in Whiskey Production
• 11:53-The Journey of TX Whiskey and Its Unique Identity
• 15:08-Navigating the Craft Whiskey Landscape
• 17:53-The Science Behind TX Whiskey’s Yeast
• 21:09-The Impact of Pernod Ricard’s Acquisition
• 30:07-Navigating Challenges During COVID-19
• 32:23-The Science of Whiskey: Writing and Education
• 36:00-Innovative Barrel Financing Solutions
• 40:40-Introducing Barrel Hub: A Marketplace for Whiskey
• 46:12-Transparency in the Whiskey Market
• 52:44-Empowering Entrepreneurs in the Whiskey Industry
• Support this podcast on Patreon