Bourbon Pursuit

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Latest Episodes:

426 - Insider Tips on Throwing a Bourbon Festival with Bourbon on the Banks and St. Louis Bourbon Festival Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

At some point you will find yourself going to a bourbon festival. And rightly you should. It's where people like us gather to try new things and meet a like-minded community. On today's show, I've invited Diane Strong of Bourbon on the Banks and Drew Chostner of the St. Louis Bourbon Festival to come on the show to talk about throwing a bourbon festival that isn't always the same. The goal is to make this a truly engaging event for bourbon lovers by bringing together an exciting mix of upstart distilleries and big brands for tastings. We talk about including educational seminars and the overall format. But then we dive into the nitty gritty of things like city permitting, access to water, and how to calculate ticket prices for attendees.

Show Notes:

Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about operations after a master distiller leaves.
What was your bourbon journey like?
Was the reason for the festival to cash flow other projects?
What are you trying to do to make your festival different than anything else?
What types or permits do you need?
Has the ABC ever showed up to one of your events?
What approach do you take to get brands to sponsor the festival?
Do you see attendees start venturing toward the startups vs the traditional distilleries?
How do you make sure the distilleries are engaged with attendees?
How do you promote responsibility?
Why would you want to include educational seminars?
How do you determine ticket prices for attendees?
@stlbourbonsociety @bourbononthebanks
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Whiskey Quickie: Traverse City Port Barrel Finish Bourbon Review Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Traverse City Port Barrel Finish Bourbon. This 5 year old finished bourbon is 100 proof and $70 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: Two Groups Create The Blending House, Four Roses, Old Forester, Parker's and More, Food and Booze Collabs Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

It's This Week in Bourbon for September 1st 2023. The Koetter Group and The Spirits Group announce The Blending House, we have all the announcements for Four Roses, Old Forester, Parker's Heritage and more, and even a few food collabs that will have you shaking your head.
Show Notes:

The Koetter Group and The Spirits Group collaborate on The Blending House
Algoma Capital launches $100M credit fund for the bourbon business
B.H. James Distillers joins the Kentucky Distillers’ Association
Survey released about harassment with women in whisky
Shaun White and High West collaborate
Budget airlines serving top shelf whiskey
Old Forester’s Birthday Bourbon
Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey
Michter’s Distillery will be releasing its US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye
Westward x Ken's Artisan Sourdough Whiskey - 2023 Vintage Blend
Blue Run Spirits announced Trifecta
Little Book Chapter 7: "In Retrospect."
Wilderness Trail is releasing an 8YR wheated bourbon
Four Roses Bourbon announces it will launch its 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch
Good Girls star Matthew Lillard and more launch Find Familiar Spirits
Old Dominick will be releasing a series of Small Batch Bourbons
Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Parker’s Heritage Collection
Eggo Waffles and Sugarlands Distilling Co
Dunkin’ Donuts is planning to launch a range of alcoholic ‘spiked’ iced teas and coffees
KFC and Dead Man’s Fingers release a spiced rum
@thekoettergroup @thespiritsgroup @burtonjameswhiskey @beckypaskin @shaunwhite @drinkhighwest @allegiant @oldforester @rossvilleunion @michterswhiskey @westwardwhiskey @kensartisan @bluerunspirits @beamgeneration8 @wildernesstraildistillery @fourrosesbourbon @matthewlillard @olddominick @remusbourbon @eggo_us @sugarlandshine @dunkin @kfc
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425 - Marianne Eaves Gets Real About Her New Bourbon Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

After an impactful career at Brown-Forman, Marianne Eaves was ready for a new challenge which led her to join an exciting startup at Castle & Key. She departed ways with Castle & Key and focused on brand consulting but now her current focus is their new Forbidden release. I invited Marianne to come on the show to talk about her new projects. If you may recall from a previous This Week in Bourbon, we were confused about Forbidden because the press release left many questions unanswered. She takes the hot seat and provides some context and clarity around the name and even the price. We also talk about some malting and other distillation stuff as well because Fred is enamored with it.

Show Notes:

Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about refreshing bourbon cocktails.
What have you been up to the past few years?
Why would you leave Brown Forman to go to a startup?
How has social media influenced who you are?
What are the challenges that women face in the industry?
How do you maintain confidence through criticism?
Why not get away from marketing being female-focused to just being a peer?
What blending projects do you currently have going on?
Why was the Forbidden press release so confusing?
What year did you start distilling at Bardstown Bourbon Company?
How did you all come up with the price point since it's so high?
What did you do to distill at Bardstown Bourbon Co when there is a whole team there?
@mariannebmd @eavesblind @forbiddenbourbon
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Whiskey Quickie: Michter's 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon Review (2023) Review Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Michter's 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon #23A0276 (2023). This 10 year old bourbon is 94.4 proof and $185 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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Behind The Pursuit: Can New Whiskey Brands Become a Lifestyle Brand? Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

Subscribe to Behind The Pursuit: From Bourbon to Brand

Ryan is back from Redneck Riviera and his mind is burning wondering how or if whiskey brands can break into a lifestyle brand like we’ve seen brands like Yeti, High Noon, Stanley, etc. Is there still a place today for newer brands to break into that, or has Jack Daniels taken the only spot there is?

We hit on:

How do brands today make people feel?
Is Pappy simply a status symbol, or a lifestyle?
Does accessibility of a product come in to play to whether or not a brand could become a lifestyle brand?
What pushes the current brands into a lifestyle?
Does the effect of premiumization stunt the ability to be a lifestyle brand, or catapult it?

and much more.

For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com.

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424 - Why Promote Bottom Shelf and Average Whiskey? on Bourbon Community Roundtable #84 Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

Today's Roundtable will take a deeper look into a trend I've been noticing and trying to figure out why, as influencers and a community, people keep talking about bottom shelf bourbon like it's something special. If you are in this hobby, most of us would give it a C rating and consider anything in the sub $20 or $25 category as average. Why do we keep doing this? Who are we trying to convince to drink these bourbons? The people that listen to this show, pay attention to blogs or YouTube'rs, or take whiskey seriously probably aren't buying $20 bottles and don't drink just average whiskey. I feel it's time to elevate the discussion and kill the bottom shelf promotion. If they aren't average bourbons, then let's figure out why and talk about criteria to be considered average. If it is a game of dollars, then is it a race to the bottom for the big 6 and why should this audience care if it's just average whiskey?

Show Notes:

Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about his parents.
Why do we keep promoting bottom shelf bourbons?
Who are we trying to convince to drink these bourbons?
What makes an average whiskey?
Should this audience care if it's just average whiskey?
@breakingbourbon @fredminnick @drinkseelbachs @bourbonr @sippncorn
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Whiskey Quickie: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye Review Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye. This non-age stated rye is 137.3 proof and $65 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: Elijah Craig European Oak For the 2023 Ryder Cup, Pernod Launches the Mary Dowling Whiskey Company, Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

It's This Week in Bourbon for August 18th 2023. Elijah Craig release of its Toasted Barrel finished in European Toasted Oak Barrels. Pernod launches the Mary Dowling Whiskey Company, and Maker’s Mark brings out the double digit age statement with Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon.
Show Notes:

Ukraine’s included Bacardi in the list of “Official sponsors of War”
Woodson Bourbon Whiskey announced a partnership with the Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium
Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery completes its renovation at the Marathon Village whiskey distillery
Buffalo Wild Wings is introducing Bulleit Bourbon BBQ sauce
Elijah Craig is releases Limited-Edition Toasted Barrel finished in European Toasted Oak Barrels for the 2023 Ryder Cup
Graham McTavish has launched a new company called McTavish Spirits
Pernod launches the Mary Dowling Whiskey Company
WhistlePig FarmStock Beyond Bonded announced a wheat whiskey
Jack Daniel’s Twice Barreled Special Release Heritage Barrel Rye
The return of Baker’s 13 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon
Wolves announces a limited allocation of Lot Two
Garrison Brothers Distillery releases the Laguna Madre 2023
Heaven Hill releases the Spring 2023 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Maker’s Mark debuts Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon
Jefferson's releases Jefferson’s Tropics Aged in Humidity
@bacardi @woodsonwhiskey @nelsongreenbrier @bwwings @bulleit @elijahcraig @grahammctavish @pernodricard @marydowlingwhiskey @whistlepigwhiskey @jackdaniels_us, @wolveswhiskeyca @garrisonbros @heavenhilldistillery @makersmark @jeffersonsbourbon
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423 - Would Bourbon Be Popular Without Buffalo Trace? Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

The bourbon boom of the last decade has seen many distilleries trying to create a consumer frenzy around their brands. But few have succeeded like Buffalo Trace. This cult-like following seemed to come out of nowhere, taking Buffalo Trace from a solid but unremarkable distillery to a whiskey giant. So I ask the question that was so graciously given to us by a former Above The Char submitter, would bourbon be popular without Buffalo Trace? Other Sazerac-owned brands like Eagle Rare and E.H. Taylor have also benefitted from the company's popularity. But is it all manufactured hype? Buffalo Trace insists they simply can't keep up with demand, yet they continually make headlines for holding back new releases. And all this frenzy has been created with minimal advertising. Whether it's real scarcity or strategic rationing, Buffalo Trace has created a thirst that no other bourbon company can match.

Show Notes:

Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the end of bourbon hunting
What other bourbon companies were trying to get a consumer ground swell?
Why has the entire Buffalo Trace portfolio turned into something people chase?
Was Buffalo Trace ever on your radar?
Is this attributed to tying Weller to Pappy?
Did Buffalo Trace create a FOMO line to draw people in?
Are other brands benefiting from the Sazerac popularity?
Is there a scarcity play or do they really not have the stocks?
How are they making national headlines for not releasing bottles?
Where has Buffalo Trace advertised because it hasn't been much?
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