Bourbon Pursuit

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Latest Episodes:

212 - The Largest Bourbon Secondary Market with Owen Powell Aug 01, 2019

Show notes

Last week, CNN reported that Facebook and Instagram are shutting down all peer to peer sales of alcohol. This wasn’t a joke. In the span of 72 hours, all of the major bourbon groups were wiped out. The secondary market is synonymous with Facebook. The growth of bourbon’s popularity can be attributed to it as well by those that are in it to flip bottles. Owen Powell didn’t create the first group to buy, sell, and trade bourbon, but he certainly created the largest. The Bourbon Secondary Market group is no longer around on Facebook, but the story of how it was built, the ways discussions were moderated, and how it served as a data gold mine for valuations is told. We uncover the progression of the group from a few hundred members to reaching over 50,000, what leads to certain distilleries being banned on a black market, and if the secondary market will actually end if Facebook groups cease to exist.

Show Notes:

This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about Parker's Heritage Collection.
How did you get into bourbon?
Talk about the growth of the group. Were there any growing pains?
How many members are in the group?
How many admins do you have?
What do you look for in admins?
Why do people have animosity towards admins in these groups?
Let's talk about the rules in the group.
How did the secondary raffle site become its own thing?
How does a dispute come about?
What do all the acronyms mean?
What is the best way to handle a dispute?
Have you ever had accusations of counterfeits?
How do you handle that kind of situation?
Why did you do an open group?
Do you keep a log of all the transactions?
You’ve banned a few distilleries. How are rules like that determined?
Why do you run the group even though you don't get paid?
What do you do when someone prices something too high?
What about monthly dues?
Do you think groups could end on Facebook?

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Whiskey Quickie: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Spring 2019 Review Jul 30, 2019

Show notes

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Old Fitz Bottled-in-Bond Spring 2019 release. This 13 year old bourbon is 100 proof and priced at $129.99 MSRP.

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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211 - The Woodford Masters, with Chris Morris and Elizabeth McCall Jul 25, 2019

Show notes

Chris Morris and Elizabeth McCall are no strangers to the show so we're excited to have them back on again. This time, we explore the controversial topic of “what is a master distiller?”. How is a title like that earned through years of service? How is Brown-Forman laying the foundation for Elizabeth to take over when Chris is ready to retire? We also talk about barrels from their cooperage, the influence of char on their whiskey, and this week's Whiskey Quickie, the King of Kentucky.

Show Notes:

This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about rapid aging.
Lawsuit challenges out-of-state retailers' ability to sell, deliver and ship alcohol to Kentucky consumers - https://www.wdrb.com/news/lawsuit-challenges-out-of-state-retailers-ability-to-sell-deliver/article_4881080e-acc4-11e9-9dbc-8b443dc97b9e.html
Join us on barrel selections and see what other perks await. Support the podcast at https://www.patreon.com/bourbonpursuit
Come drink some beer with us at 3rd Turn Brewing on July 26th from 4-7pm https://www.facebook.com/events/327452114804983/
Elizabeth, tell us about your role.
Do different Master Distiller's have different styles?
Is there a Master Distiller training manual?
What do you think of everyday people becoming Master Distillers without significant training?
What is a Master Distiller today?
How do you know a bourbon will be good once it's aged?
What flavors or notes do you consider defects?
Are we going to see more single malts come out of Brown-Forman?
Why is there such a fascination with making malts work?
Tell us about the latest Distiller's Select?
Are there two different char levels on the double double oaked?
Talk about owning your own cooperage.
Tell us about King of Kentucky.
Why did you chose this label?
Is there any pressure on Elizabeth to live up to Chris?
How did you feel when you became a Master Distiller?
Recorded live at Down One Bourbon Bar in Louisville, KY.

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Whiskey Quickie: King of Kentucky Bourbon 2019 Review Jul 23, 2019

Show notes

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Brown-Forman's King of Kentucky 2019 release. This 15 year old single barrel bourbon is available only in Kentucky, comes in at 131 proof, and a $249.99 MSRP. Let us know what you think in the comments.

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210 - Oversaturated Private Barrel Selections with Michael Gallier Jul 18, 2019

Show notes

We talk about private barrel selections being the new unicorns on this show all the time. But it begs the question, are we seeing so many private picks that the market is oversaturated? It seems like every week there is a new barrel in our city for sale, FOMO about some sweet sticker, or the secondary market has a crazy valuation on a normal single barrel selection. We examine all the components that go into getting single barrels such as the amount of influence from distributor reps, the amount of available barrels at the distilleries, and if you would buy from a big chain vs a small independent store. Will there ever be enough bourbon to go around and not over bloat the market? We’ll find out.

Show Notes:

This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about Portugal.
What got you into to buying private barrel picks?
What's the landscape of private picks in DC?
With the increase in stores wanting private picks, are some stores going to get shut out of the program?
Do you think distilleries should be taking care of the bigger accounts over the smaller stores that started doing picks earlier?
Is there a bias towards certain states?
Would you want to buy a private barrel pick from a big box liquor store?
Does the local sales rep make a difference?
What about restaurant picks?
Do you think distilleries are running out of barrels for their private barrel programs?
Is the market flooded with private selections?
What could distilleries do to give one store an advantage over another?
Let's discuss stickers. Do they influence your purchase?
Should stores slow down barrel picks?
Why are some people spending so much for private picks on the secondary market?

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Whiskey Quickie: Peerless Rye 3 Year Review Jul 16, 2019

Show notes

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Peerless Distilling Company's 3 Year Old Rye Whiskey. This single barrel rye whiskey came from the gift shop at 107 proof and a $99 MSRP.

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209 - Warehouse Fires and Heaven Hill’s Bottled in Bond Relaunch on Bourbon Community Roundtable #34 Jul 11, 2019

Show notes

A warehouse disaster is a large concern for the bourbon industry, but some people in the community make jokes and laugh at the situation. Should this be considered normal? Heaven Hill phased out their 6 Year Bottled in Bond product that was a true bargain brand to many bourbon consumers and launched a very similar product with a 3X price increase. Was this a good move by Heaven Hill? Are they competing in a high price bracket? Did they just cannibalize their own products? Is this the first #KentuckySnub? We tackle all this and more on Bourbon Community Roundtable #34.

Show Notes:

This week Ryan talks about launching a bourbon brand.
Look for a new segment called Whiskey Quickie launching next week.
Brian Harra’s Sazerac Brands v. Peristyle: Bourbon History Matters as a Matter of Law - https://brianhaaracom.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/haara-bourbon-history-matters-as-a-matter-of-law-ky-jeanrl-2019.pdf
Jim Beam Warehouse Fire
Heaven Hill 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond
Was it the right move to discontinue 6-Year BIB and relaunch with 7-Year at a higher price point?
Do you think this product competes with the Woodford and Knob Creek price point?
Is Heaven Hill competing against themselves?
Why wouldn't Heaven Hill launch in Kentucky on day one?
How do you best support retailers that elevate prices for hard to find bottles?

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208 - Top Chef of Bourbon with Chef Newman Miller Jul 04, 2019

Show notes

If you're a fan of good bourbon, then you're likely a fan of good food too. Today's guest is the intersection of those two, combining a culinary background with his love for the south and, of course, bourbon. You may know Chef Newman Miller from his appearance on Top Chef season 16. He's also the Executive Chef and Owner of Star Hill Provisions at Maker's Mark and the Harrison Smith House in Bardstown. We talk about his culinary background, where he played a part in the creation of the McDonald's McGriddle and behind the scenes at Top Chef. His deep dive into bourbon was influenced by Drew Kulsveen of Willett. So if you're a wannabe chef or if you're an occasional TV dinner kind of person, this episode is going to have something for you.

Show Notes:

This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about 4th of July.
What was Padma from Top Chef like in real life?
What was it like when you heard about being on Top Chef?
Why do you think they chose Kentucky for Top Chef?
What did the chefs think of being in smaller towns?
Was it challenging to cook for everyone?
What's a banana croquet?
How cool was it to have the chefs create versions of your dishes?
How hard is it to judge fellow chefs?
Tell us about your relationship with Rob Samuels. Was there a pep talk before the show?
Were you relieved once it was over?
How did you get into food?
Did you approach Maker's about making food there?
Will some of the main food distributors come down to Maker's?
What are your biggest challenges?
How hard was it to convince the locals to try higher end food?
Talk about meeting Drew Kulsveen and how you got into the bourbon community.
Where did your passion for bourbon come from?
Besides Maker's, do you have a special bourbon that you love?
Tell us about your connection to the McGriddle.
Where does bourbon and food intersect for you?
Talk about Star Hill Provisions.
How do you see the future unfolding for the bourbon/tourism industry in Bardstown/Kentucky?
Why did you name the restaurant Harrison/Smith House?

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207 - A Rare Breed, Jimmy Russell of Wild Turkey Jun 27, 2019

Show notes

Today’s guest needs no introduction. He is one the most iconic living figures in bourbon today. He’s been on episodes 77, 105, and 175. He’s even got his own personalized scooter to get him around the distillery and that is Jimmy Russell. This podcast touches on his early years and how he was selected to become the next master distiller. He talks about the changes he saw at the distillery as it exchanged hands throughout the years. Also, we get to hear the story on the birth of Rare Breed and his opinion on chill filtering vs non-chill filtering debate.

Show Notes:

The history of JW Dant and Log Still Distillery - https://www.distillerytrail.com/blog/j-w-dant-investing-12-million-to-restart-historic-distillery-in-the-bourbon-capital-of-the-world/
Heaven Hill 7 Year Bottled in Bond Launch - https://www.facebook.com/bourbonpursuit/posts/2640636035998401?__tn__=K-R
Leave us a review! https://link.chtbl.com/LeaveAReview
This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about speaking at a Total Wine event in Atlanta.
Does limestone water make a difference in bourbon?
How long does it take to cook bourbon?
Can you burn the mash?
When did you start at the distillery?
What roles have you had at the distillery?
What Master Distiller trained you?
How did he decide he wanted to train you?
What were the early years like?
Was there anything from prohibition that affected the distillery operations when you started?
Will you all need to increase capacity soon?
What was it like when you first started traveling to talk about Wild Turkey?
What were your biggest challenges on the road?
Were you nervous when you first went out on the road?
Were you happy traveling and talking to the consumers?
What was the name of the distillery before Wild Turkey?
What was it like to distill then ship the bourbon away?
Tell us about the other former Lawrenceburg distilleries.
What was it like when you were out on the road? Do you think it helped grow the brand?
Do you prefer to travel or be at the distillery?
Tell us about Kentucky Spirit and Rare Breed.
How often are you going through and sampling barrels?
Do you have a favorite warehouse?
Do you have a favorite floor?
Why do you only have 7 floors?
What innovations have you seen throughout your time in the bourbon industry?
Talk about your rye mashbill.
What do you think of non-distilling producers?
Tell us about the inception of Rare Breed.
Do you like the barrel char flavor?
What do you think of chill vs. non-chill filtered?
What kind of steak do you like?
How much time do you spend at the visitor's center?
What do you drive most of the time?
Are you excited to have Bruce at the distillery?
Did you ever want to own the distillery?
Why do whiskey consumers get enthralled with age statements?
Any life advice for younger generations?

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206 - What Impact Will Marijuana Have on the Bourbon Industry? With David Ozgo, Chief Economist at Distilled Spirits Council, and Clay Busch, Vice President of Heavy Grass Jun 20, 2019

Show notes

You can't discount the impact marijuana is currently having on states that have legalized recreational use. There's now more research and funding looking at the impact of marijuana not only from a medicinal use, but also economic footprint that funds many city and state government initiatives. Of course, liquor industries are curious and want to make sure this doesn't hurt sales. Will it? I don't know, but today's guests do. David Ozgo, Chief Economist at Distilled Spirits Council and Clay Busch, Vice President of Heavy Grass join the show to talk from their respective sides. Those advocating widespread legalization helps everyone, and those taking precautions for its hurting sales of the spirits business.

Show Notes:

This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about Kentucky state pride.
What's your connection to bourbon?
Give us some background on your organizations.
Do you encourage smoking weed to harness creativity?
Is there a concern from the Distilled Spirits Council with the combination of marijuana and spirits?
Let's discuss consuming responsibly.
Should brands try to align themselves with marijuana?
Tell us about the research the government is doing on marijuana?
How would spirit companies use marijuana in their portfolio?
What is CBD compared to marijuana?
Do you think marijuana has an impact on the spirits industry?
Are people worried about marijuana impacting spirits?
How do national companies handle marijuana use with employees that live in legal states?
What do you think about experimentation of marijuana in spirits?
What is your goal in regards to marijuana?
What are your thoughts on hemp?
Are they worried about the spirit or their pocket books?
How can you pair marijuana with whiskey?

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