Bourbon Pursuit

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Latest Episodes:

572 - The Logistics of Bourbon with Rebecca Estes of Mister P Express Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

Ever wonder how your favorite bottle actually gets onto the liquor store shelf? I'm not talking from a production standpoint but from the actual shipment. This is a fun episode becuase we're going to cover something almost completely invisible ito the consumer, trucking and logistics. Joining the show is Rebecca Estes, VP of Sales and Marketing at Mr. P Express. At Pursuit, we talk to logisitcs companies all the time because we're shipping pallets out the door but there's so much going on that most take for granted. Rebecca was eyeing to be a college professor but left to join the family-owned shipping network founded in 1987. Rebecca takes us through her journey from joining the family business in 2011 to managing a non-stop, 365-day operation where weather patterns, scheduling margins, and road safety dictate whether or not distilleries hit their numbers. This episode is a look into the high-stakes supply chain infrastructure that keeps the entire bourbon trail moving.
Show Notes:

Rebecca Estes’ pivot from aspiring college professor to navigating a legacy family trucking business
The invisible logistics web managing raw grains, glassware, and heavy barrel movements across the country
Demystifying direct vs. brokered freight, BOLs, pro numbers, LTL, and FTL shipments
Alcohol hauling regulations, DOT compliance checkpoints, and the immense pressure of control state delivery windows
The dark side of whiskey supply chains: Deconstructing modern cargo theft, electronic paperwork fraud, and load diversion
Fleet safety protocols, advanced tracking systems, driver training, and rigorous fleet maintenance structures
The physics of hauling barrels, calculating axle weight limits, and managing rigid legal driver hours
Trailer mechanics, truck cab configurations, and an honest executive outlook on autonomous self-driving fleets
Inside the community-first mission of Mr. P Express, including their specialized driver training school programs

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Whiskey Quickie: Blood Oath Pact 12: Brilliant or Bizarre?! Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Blood Oath Pact 12 blends 7, 9, and 12-year bourbons with an Italian wine-finished component, creating layers of strawberry compote, pound cake, dark fruit, and earthy complexity. One of the more interesting wine-finished bourbons we've tried lately... but is it a hit or a miss?
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: Green River Releases Toasted Double Oak Bourbon, The debut of SHANG , Lost Lantern announces U.S. Bourbon collection Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

It's This Week in Bourbon for June 19th 2026. Green River Distillery Select Toasted Double Oak Bourbon, the debut of SHANG from the whiskey house, and Lost Lantern has announced the launch the United States of Bourbon collection.
Show Notes:

Spec’s Family Corp. acquires Lee’s Discount Liquor in first move outside Texas
Give 270 launches restored 1989 Ford Bronco raffle for Kentucky Jailers Association
Liberty Pole Spirits and MB Roland team up for America's 250th anniversary blend
Green River Distilling Company debuts 8-Year Toasted Double Oak Bourbon
Coors launches exclusive 110.5-proof Blended American Malt Whiskey in expansion into premium spirits
Whiskey House of Kentucky and global partners debut innovative SHĀNG baijiu whiskey line
Town Branch Distillery releases groundbreaking Bourbonola Tropical Style banana seltzer
Industry veteran Jason Wooler makes comeback with launch of Wooler Brands whiskey
Lost Lantern launches United States of Bourbon featuring first-ever 50-state blend
Belmark and ADI Distilling partner for distillery packaging and revenue webinar

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571 - How Dinner Table Conversations Change Bourbon Forever with Craig Beam of Jackson Purchase Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

What does it actually look like when your family dinner table conversations literally shape the history of American whiskey? Well today we're sitting down with a true legend of Kentucky distilling royalty: 2025 Bourbon Hall of Fame Inductee, Craig Beam. Growing up with a last name that defines the entire category, Craig shares what it was really like sitting at the table listening to his father, Parker Beam, and grandfather, Earl Beam, talk shop about Heaven Hill’s fermentation and equipment hurdles while simultaneously working cattle and farming. Craig takes us through his early days of pulling grunt work in vacant rickhouses in 1983, learning the legendary family jug yeast process, and eventually stepping up as Master Distiller. We even get to hear Craig's story about how casual conversations while working the farm led to the birth of Elijah Craig, Evan Williams single barrels, and the iconic Parker’s Heritage Collection. A master distiller's job used to mean grain buying, pressure washing, and lab work and not just marketing campaigns but that's why he's here today to give us the details about his exciting next chapter at Jackson Purchase Distillery.
Show Notes:

Craig growing up listening to Parker and Earl Beam balance Heaven Hill distilling mechanics with western Kentucky farming
Craig’s journey from sweeping out empty rickhouses in 1983 to mastering the family's secret jug yeast lineage
An inside look at how farming conversations birthed legendary labels like Elijah Craig and Parker’s Heritage
Why historic distilling roles required hands-on labor, from grain buying and lab work to pressure washing warehouses
How Craig Beam and Terry Ballard teamed up in 2021 to scale a hidden contract distilling powerhouse
Technical insights into how a warmer regional climate impacts early barrel color extraction and aging physics
Mapping out Jackson Purchase’s experimental library, including wheated mash bills, air-dried staves, and American single malts

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Behind The Pursuit: Don’t Ask Us About Bottling Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

We’ve had a great run relying on volunteers and that original bottling setup in the back of the warehouse—it got us where we are today—but to be honest, things had to change. When you’re looking at your annual sales goals and trying to maintain a consistent product across the board, you eventually hit a ceiling where "the way we’ve always done it" just doesn’t cut it anymore. We spent a lot of time weighing our options, looking at contract bottling and beefing up our hand-lines, but at the end of the day, investing in our own internal infrastructure made the most sense for the future of Pursuit. Today on the podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on the process of installing our new bottling line. We’re talking about the headaches, the logistical hurdles, and the small wins that proved we were finally at the scale point to make this a reality. We also get into the weeds on our latest Meat Church collaboration: the Honey Hog Bourbon release. We discuss the inception of the project and, more importantly, the technical challenge of working with honey compared to the wood-finished profiles we’re typically known for. It’s a deep dive into the operational side of the spirits business that you don’t usually get to see.
Show Notes:

Investing in a Bottling Line
Challenges and Learning Curves with New Equipment
Future Needs and Scaling Up
Considering Bottling for Other Brands
Navigating Tax Challenges in Distilling
The Importance of Operational Control
Future Considerations for Growth
Quality Control in Bottling
Introducing the Honey Hog Collaboration
Reflections on Product Development

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Whiskey Quickie: Blue Corn Double Oaked?! This Stuff Is WILD Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

Beyke Blue Corn Double Oaked Batch 1 takes the original blue corn bourbon to another level. Blueberry smoothie vibes, chocolate drizzle, creamy oak, and big dessert energy at 118 proof. This one disappeared FAST for a reason.
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: $500,000 of Noble Oak bourbon stolen in heist, High-end whiskey collector crime ring solved, Booker's "The Milkshake Batch" Bourbon Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

It's This Week in Bourbon for June 12th 2026. $500,000 of Noble Oak bourbon has been stolen in a truck heist, An organized crime ring targeting high-end whiskey collectors has been solved from the Madisonville Police Department, and Booker's "The Milkshake Batch" Bourbon gets released.
Show Notes:

Philadelphia Police and FBI Investigate $500,000 Noble Oak Bourbon Heist
Lawrenceburg Historic Homes to Host Exclusive Screening and Guided Tours This July
Madisonville Police Disrupt FB Group Whiskey Scam Defrauding Buyers of $86K
Whiskey House of Kentucky Lays Off 30% of Staff Amid Industry Slowdown
Give 270 Announces Next 20/20 Unicorn Raffle Featuring Rare Brown-Forman 150th Anniversary Bottle
Orphan Barrel Unveils 25-Year Night Sage Blended Canadian Whisky
Allies for Cherry Point Partners with Bespoken Spirits for Final Flight Reserve Harrier Tribute
Thirty-One Lengths Launches $1,500 Ultra-Premium Bourbon Honoring Secretariat’s Legendary Victory
Adventure Spirits Distilling Partners with Toledo Mud Hens for Stadium Craft Cocktails
Hard Truth Distilling Co. Welcomes Back Double Oaked Sweet Mash Rye at 113 Entry Proof
Penelope Flips Strategy to Debut New Classic Everyday Bourbon and Rye Series
Old Fourth Distillery Teams Up with Dragon Con for 2nd Annual Landmark Anniversary Bourbon
James B. Beam Distilling Company Rolls Out Booker's "The Milkshake Batch" Bourbon

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570 - Bourbon Myths with Kevin Carlson Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

On this week's episode, Kevin Carlson returns to the show and takes total control of the conversation with a rapid-fire set of “whiskey myth-busting” questions that every enthusiast needs to hear. We tackle the age-old debate head-on: was bourbon actually better before the boom, or are we living in a golden era of variety and innovation? We break down whether the concept of a true "daily drinker" is officially dead for the enthusiast, and touch on the eternal battle of proof versus flavor. We argue why higher proof doesn't automatically mean a better whiskey, because there are fan favorites like Michter’s 10 and Weller 107. Then there is the polarizing rise of American light whiskey and the truth behind age statements. We close things out by busting the romantic myths surrounding dusty bottles, the actual hands-on role of a modern Master Distiller, and whether the little guy stands a chance against heritage giants when releasing an ultra-premium bottle.
Show Notes:

Comparing the lower prices and dusty availability of the past to today's massive variety and diverse product landscape
Analyzing how the explosion of available expressions has changed purchasing habits for casual vs. serious consumers
Why every whiskey has an ideal balance point and how chasing high proofs can sabotage a spirit's true profile
The technical reality of the category and why it gets overhyped when marketed under the guise of traditional bourbon
Why age statements act as a guide rather than a guarantee of quality for aging barrels in Kentucky climates
How premium presentation impacts consumer perception and the fine line between creative finishing and masking weak distillate
The operational reality of today's heritage producers and why a corporate Master Distiller acts more like a ship captain than a hands-on operator

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Whiskey Quickie: This Bourbon Tastes Like a County Fair?! Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Burnt Tavern’s new Kentucky bourbon from Chip Tate brings wild notes of kettle corn, nectarines, golden raisins, and smoky county fair vibes. A double oaked release with a seriously unique profile… but does the finish hold up?
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: Uncle Nearest May Have A Buyer, Saga Spirits lawsuits become public, Four Roses Distillery introduces Anthology Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

It's This Week in Bourbon for June 5th 2026. Uncle Nearest May Have A Buyer, Saga Spirits behind True Story has two alleged lawsuits that just became public, and Four Roses Distillery is introducing Anthology, a new 21 year old bourbon.
Show Notes:

Uncle Nearest receiver signs letter of intent to sell distillery and assets to Black-owned investment firm
Wes Henderson’s saga spirits group faces $1.5M in debt lawsuits over Kentucky Castle project
New Riff Distilling drops exclusive 10-Year-Old Bourbon and Rye for High Note Series
Michter's rolls out 10-Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye for June 2026
James B. Beam Distilling Co. elevates classic brand with Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel 7-Year
MANORS Golf and Gentleman Jack launch A Gentleman’s Guide to Golf apparel and content partnership
Bluegrass Distillers brings back highly anticipated blue corn program with new rye-inclusive mash bill
Penelope Bourbon hits retail shelves with new Blackberry Old Fashioned ready-to-serve cocktail
15 STARS debuts First West Explorer, its first bourbon crafted from 100% in-house black corn distillate
Knob Creek teams up with Huckberry for custom tote bag and Father's Day pop-up at Grand Central Terminal
Stoll & Wolfe partners with Alan Bishop to launch colonial-style Wolfe & Wilson Straight Rye
Rolling Fork Spirits revives historic 1906 REWCO Rye brand with limited small-batch release
Koopers Whiskey gears up for Father's Day with rare 8-year-old Father’s Office Cigar Blend
Adventure Spirits collaborates with Task Force 20 to release TF20 Bottled-in-Bond bourbon for veterans
Four Roses Distillery introduces Anthology series with 21-year-old Chapter One: Origin
Starlight Distillery announces estate-grown Indiana Straight 10-Year Reserve Bourbon at cask strength
Wild Turkey honors Eddie Russell's 45th anniversary with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year and custom documentary