If there’s one distillery that truly feels like a cornerstone of the bourbon world, it has to be Heaven Hill. From Evan Williams to Elijah Craig to Larceny, their portfolio is an absolute institution. And with their 90th anniversary upcoming, there’s no better time to get a look at the past, present, and future of this bourbon powerhouse. We’re sitting down with Conor O’ Driscoll, the Master Distiller at Heaven Hill. He’s taking us on a journey through the company’s remarkable history, from its founding in 1935 to its massive expansion with the new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery, capable of pumping out 1,500 barrels a day. Conor talks to us about how every facet of the new distillery was planned from fermentation techniques to how they will continue to innovative with their Grain to Glass series. We also get into the latest market trends, including if Conor thinks barrel proof expressions are on the decline.

Show Notes:

• Conor’s insights on Heaven Hill’s 90-year legacy and the future of the family business
• Overview of the new Heaven Hill Springs distillery and production advancements
• Highlights of the Grain to Glass program and its unique mash bills
• Discussion on modern bourbon trends and the rise of barrel-proof spirits
• Humorous takes on celebrity culture and children’s views of the whiskey industry
• Conor’s vision for Heaven Hill’s future, focusing on quality and sustainability
• Support this podcast on Patreon

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You know, there are some people in the bourbon world who aren’t just part of the industry, they are the industry. And our guest today absolutely fits that bill. We are incredibly excited to welcome the one and only Bernie Lubbers to the show, the newly appointed Ambassador Emeritus at Heaven Hill! Bernie started his journey with Heaven Hill back in 2005, and since then, he’s basically rewritten the book on making bourbon fun and accessible through his incredible storytelling and humor.

In this episode, Bernie takes us through his fascinating career, including his pivotal role in bringing bottled-in-bond back into the spotlight, how tasting events have evolved, and the impact of age statements on bourbon production. Get ready for some fantastic anecdotes as Bernie shares his passion for whiskey, why quality always comes first, and his take on current market trends, like the growing demand for older, stronger bourbons. Of course, we couldn’t have Bernie without a tasting, so we’re pouring Bernheim Barrel Proof and William Heaven Hill – a true celebration of unique whiskeys among friends. As he reflects on his new Ambassador Emeritus role and what “retirement” actually means for Bernie Lubbers, he gives us some amazing insights into the relationships and creativity that truly fuel the bourbon community. Plus, stick around for some exciting teasers of upcoming releases and Bernie’s signature blend of whiskey education with a dash of bluegrass!

Show Notes:

• His transition to Ambassador Emeritus at Heaven Hill and the journey that led him there.
• The revitalization of bottled-in-bond whiskey in modern bourbon culture.
• Navigating the complexities of age statements and consumer demand in the bourbon industry.
• The significance of storytelling and tasting events in enhancing whiskey appreciation.
• The evolution of consumer tastes towards barrel-proof whiskeys.
• Upcoming releases from Heaven Hill and the harmonious blend of bluegrass with whiskey storytelling.
• Support this podcast on Patreon

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If you think there is a lot of bourbon on the shelf now, wait just a few more years. The news over the past year has been flooded with a couple million upwards to a billion dollars in capital investments from everyone in the bourbon industry. When the news dropped that Heaven Hill was going to open a new $135M distillery that will produce 150,000 barrels a year, in addition to their existing Bernheim distillery that already produces 1,500 a day, many of us scratched our heads and thought, “who is going to drink all this whiskey?”. That’s when I reached out to Heaven Hill and invited Susan Wahl to come on the show. She has a long, 20 plus year history working in the whiskey portfolio at Heaven Hill. She’s literally seen it all. We talk about what drove the decision to build a second distillery, the threats, and how they are planning for everything in the supply chain, including barrels and labor. We also talk about data trends and where they see the international market heading.

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks when barrel proof became common.
• What were your whiskey initiatives and marketing plan for bourbon in the early days?
• How did you take Evan Williams into one of the largest whiskey brands?
• What trends or data have you learned from the visitor center?
• What factors did you take into account when thinking that you need another $135M distillery that can produce 150k barrels a year?
• How much of your sales is domestic vs international?
• What threats did you see about potentially not building another distillery?
• Did the removal of European tariffs have an impact on your forecast?
• Did barrels or other supply chain factors play an important role in your forecast?
• What data helps you push pass the fears of a 20-year lifecycle on trends?
• How have you worked with the city to build new warehouses?
• Does Bardstown have the workforce to take care of the labor requirements?
• What makes you bullish about tourism for bourbon?
• @heavenhilldistillery
• Support this podcast on Patreon

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We’re always looking for veterans of the bourbon industry to bring on the show to talk about their story and career growth. Tawnie Gootee has been at Heaven Hill for nearly 30 years and has done it all. I mean, they used to have to rotate workers to give tours when a small group of people would show up. But Tawnie has excelled in her career and worked with Mike Sonne and other Heaven Hill elites to become one of the most respected palates in the industry and she gives us the low down on the quality control process at Heaven Hill. This episode is also very significant because this year marks the 25th anniversary of the 1996 fire at Heaven Hill. Tawnie remembers the first phone calls and what it was like in the days following the aftermath. It’s a true testament to how the bourbon industry really works together.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the taste of bourbon.
• Tell us a little bit about your background and how you ended up at Heaven Hill.
• What was the tour experience like 30 years ago?
• How did you hone your tasting skills?
• What happens when you find a barrel that’s not acceptable?
• Explain what reading the tank means.
• How often do you get complaints?
• How long do you keep samples?
• Talk about cork taint.
• What’s your high end inspection?
• Talk about the process of creating limited edition products.
• Can you tell us about the fire of 1996?
• @heavenhilldistillery
• Support this podcast on Patreon

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It’s Bourbon Community Roundtable #65 and here’s what we have on the topic list for today! Heaven Hill acquires Samson & Surrey, but what is the motive and what does that mean for brands like FEW and Widow Jane? Wes Henderson announced his retirement from Angel’s Envy. Fred Noe is retiring soon. Then Eddie will likely retire when Jimmy isn’t around. So what happens when the face of a brand leaves? There has been a huge surge of updates to distilleries in the past year. So now what is your top place to recommend visitors when they visit Kentucky?

Show Notes:

• Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about regaining your sense of taste and smell after being sick.
• Heaven Hill Acquisitions. What does this mean and who could be next?
• Wes Henderson announced his retirement from Angel’s Envy. So what happens when the face of a brand leaves?
• There has been a huge surge of updates to distilleries in the past year. So now what is the top place you recommend visitors going to on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail?
• Thanks to @bourbonr and @breakingbourbon for joining.
• @bourbonr @breakingbourbon @sippn_corn
• Support this podcast on Patreon

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What happens when you bring 5 of the top distilleries together and have them each provide two of their best barrels? You get the Bardstown Collection. Jim Beam, Heaven Hill, Log Still, Preservation, and Bardstown Bourbon Company have come together along with the tourism side of Visit Bardstown to release 5 special edition bottles that will benefit the community of Bardstown. All proceeds will go to the Main Street Association, Hospitality, and First Responders. These exclusive expressions have a unified packaging featuring Bardstown imagery and the only difference is a small label with each brand logo at the bottom of the bottle. In this episode, we’re joined by Freddie Noe, Conor O’Driscoll, Lynne Dant, and Steve Nally to talk about the process of making this collection. These  bottles will be released at each distillery starting on January 13th and the cost will range $159 – $249 per bottle. Get ready to collect the whole set! Visit BardstownCollection.com for more details and specific release times.

Show Partners:

• Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com.
• Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more.
• Wilderness Trail is Sweet Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey distilled, aged, and bottled in Danville, Kentucky. Learn more at WildernessTrailDistillery.com.
• You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now.
• Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com.
• Total Wine and More is wonderland for wine, spirits, and beer lovers! Explore more in store or online at TotalWine.com.
• Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about your palate being off.
• Tell us about your role in this project.
• What was the process like for choosing the barrels for this project?
• What does this project mean for Bardstown?
• Talk about the charity aspect of this project.
• When are these bottles being released?
• Why aren’t more distilleries getting together to do these kinds of projects?
• What does this project mean to you?
• @jimbeamofficial @heavenhilldistillery @bardstownbourbonco @logstilldistillery @preservationdistillery
• Support this podcast on Patreon

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Bernie Lubbers is one of the great treasures of the modern whiskey era. A few years ago, he gave us a deep dive on Bottled in Bond in episode 89, but now he’s back and we’re talking Mellow Corn, Parker’s Heritage selections, and where the market is headed with pricing bourbon on the shelf. Stay tuned until the end for a performance of Whiskey, Honey, and Loving.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about flasks.
• Has Bottled in Bond changed since the last time you were on the show?
• How many bourbons are Bottled in Bond?
• Do you still love Bottled in Bond?
• Talk about corn whiskey.
• Tell us about the process for selecting Parker’s.
• Where do you think we are going with pricing in bourbon?
• Do you get any pushback from retailers about having allocated items in your gift shop?
• What are your thoughts on private barrel picks?
• Talk about the Black Velvet acquisition.
• @BernieLubbers

Support this Podcast on Patreon

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Conor O’Driscoll is beginning to make a name for himself. After spending part of his career at Brown Forman and Angel’s Envy, he was recruited to fulfill the role left behind by Denny Potter. Conor is now the seventh Master Distiller in Heaven Hill’s 84-year history. We spend some time getting to know Conor’s past, what the recruitment process is like to find a master distiller, what his role is going to be with the operation side of things, and how at the end of the day he just doesn’t want to screw anything up.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about dry January.
• Where are you from?
• How did you end up in Terre Haute, Indiana?
• How did you get into bourbon?
• Tell us about your time at Woodford.
• What was difficult to learn about the distilling process?
• Talk about working at Angel’s Envy.
• Is distilling rum the same process as bourbon?
• Are distillers in charge of blending?
• How did you end up at Heaven Hill?
• Did you have to give up anything to move into this role?
• Are you looking for ways to improve the legacy brands?
• Was there a learning curve coming to Heaven Hill?
• Who determines the increase in production?
• Were you involved in forecasting at your other roles?
• How did you learn the Heaven Hill portfolio?
• Do you have a favorite brand?
• What was it like to sign your first bottle?

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• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about Bourbon Geek Pricing
• Fred, tell us a little about Larry
• Let’s start at the beginning. Before coming into Heaven Hill did you have a fascination of spirits?
• We’re you doing the job of 45 people back then?
• Did you ever find a knack for brown and aged goods?
• Who really stood out for you?
• What was marketing like for whiskey back in 1998?
• Talk about the Rittenhouse Rye 21, 23, and 25 years
• What do you think of the secondary market?
• Do you all use it as market data?
• Is that why we saw the end to Heaven Hill 6yr Bottled In Bond?
• Give us a story about a writer that pissed you off over the years
• Do you think Heaven Hill has done a poor job at PR over the past few years to whiskey geeks?
• Who are the leakers?
• Fred has feelings of remorse about Elijah Craig 12
• Take us through the days of high aged stuff like Martin Mills 24 year that were part of the export market.
• As a brand manager, how much influence do you have into the final product?
• You’re part of the original KDA partnership
• Can you leave bourbon? What’s the retirement plan?
• What’s the proudest thing you accomplished in your career?

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• This week’s Above the Char has Fred Minnick discussing friendships and choosing that right bottle to celebrate
• The show starts off interviewing Fred Noe, Freddie Noe, and Matt Shattock of Jim Beam on the red carpet
• Transitions to the ceremony where Eric Gregory, President of the KDA, introduces everyone
• Louisville Mayor, Greg Fisher, gives an introduction of Matt Shattock
• Matt’s speech is delivered unedited
• We transition back out to the red carpet to interview Freddie Johnson
• The ceremony then kicks off with Eric Gregory talking about Freddie’s history
• A.J. Hochhalter, Film Producer of NEAT, introduces Freddie
• Freddie delivers his speech and talks about his dad and family – completely unedited
• The red carpet is alive once again talking to Mark Coffman, Master Distiller at Town Branch
• The ceremony resumes with Eric Gregory giving a history of Dr. Pearse Lyons of Alltech
• A short story from Jerry Summers, HOF 2017 inductee, about Pearse Lyons
• The final red carpet appearance features Andy Shapira talking about his father Max, as well as Larry Kass with a brief history of Rittenhouse 21-25 year single barrels
• The ceremony begins the wrap up with Eric Gregory giving Max Shapira’s resume
• Donn Lux, Chairman and President of Luxco, shares some funny stories of Max’s attention to the bottom line
• Max Shapira talks about his family, the history of Heaven Hill, and that growth will continue
• Listen to all of our Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, Town Branch, and Beam podcasts

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