Bourbon Pursuit

It's This Week in Bourbon for September 25th, 2026. The Brown Hotel is holiday cocktail competition titled "Top of the List", Eastern Light Distilling is moving forward with building a $60M distillery, and the release of Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength.

Show Notes:

• The Brown Hotel hosts "Top of the List" holiday cocktail competition benefiting Toys for Tots
• Eastern Light Distilling secures $23.1M investment to build $60M contract facility in Morehead
• Willett Distillery unveils Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength wheated bourbon
• B.R. Distilling Co. expands allocation for Blue Note Honey Bourbon and Rye Cask releases

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What happens when the biggest distilling powerhouse behind the scenes decides to step into the spotlight and release whiskey under its own name? On this edition of the Bourbon Community Roundtable, the crew kicks things off by celebrating a massive milestone—our very own Fred Minnick being inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. After raising a glass to the iconic ceremony, national coverage, and the community that made it happen, the panel dives headfirst into one of the most controversial moves in the spirits industry today: MGP dropping its flagship Chapter One 10-year, 111-proof straight bourbon. We debate whether the distilling titan is directly competing against the very NDP customers who built its reputation, if everyday consumers will even recognize the brand, and what happens when the ultimate supplier becomes a frontline producer.

The conversation quickly expands into a high-stakes clash between massive legacy distillers and nimble, enthusiast-led brands. The panel breaks down why independent bottlers and craft innovators are constantly outmaneuvering corporate giants by moving faster, cutting through red tape, and listening directly to what whiskey drinkers want. We trace the complete lifecycle of a modern bourbon enthusiast—from hunting allocated unicorns to returning to reliable everyday pours—while debating direct-to-consumer clubs, barrel pick culture, and whether the market has reached a tipping point for craft saturation. Wrapping up with a look at why fan-first entrepreneurs continue to dominate the modern whiskey space, this is an unfiltered, deep-dive discussion on the shifting power dynamics of American whiskey.

Show Notes:

• The panel debates MGP releasing its own 10-year 111-proof bourbon and whether the distilling giant is directly competing with its own NDP clients.
• The crew compares how nimble enthusiast-led brands outpace slow corporate heritage distillers by reacting faster to consumer demand.
• The discussion examines the evolving lifecycle of bourbon drinkers, from hunting allocated bottles back to appreciating value and everyday pours.
• The group wraps up by analyzing direct-to-consumer clubs, barrel picks, and whether the enthusiast market can sustain the surge of new brands.

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Garrison Brothers Lady Bird Cask Strength Single Barrel layers Texas bourbon with wildflower honey and cognac cask finishing. Orange blossom honey, grape, warm spice, and cinnamon candy give this pour a big, sweet, and unexpected ride.

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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It's This Week in Bourbon for September 18th 2026. Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits will pay a 12.5M penalty, More tariffs and bans of canadian liquor into the US, and Booker’s Bourbon The Reserves 2026 and Little Book The Infinite, Edition III.

Show Notes:

• Kentucky Bourbon Festival announces dates for 2027 event in Bardstown
• Evan Williams expands college football presence with tailgates and collegiate bottles
• Bluegrass Distillers launches quarterly Bottle Club membership program
• Southern Glazer's pays $12.5M penalty to resolve federal trade practice investigation
• President Trump announces plans to remove 10% tariff on Irish whiskey
• Crown Royal avoids Canadian spirit import ban via bulk shipping strategy
• Shady Rays and Pappy & Co collaborate on limited-edition sunglasses and giveaway
• Charlotte Bourbon Society announces 9th Annual Bourbon Hearts Dinner Benefit
• Mark Pringle releases The Whiskey Taster's Flavor Guide reference book
• MGP debuts Chapter One 10-Year Straight Bourbon as flagship brand
• Neeley Family Distillery debuts PaPaw’s Legacy Reserve 10-Year Triple Pot-Stilled Bourbon
• Koopers Whiskey releases repackaged Prodigal Son Bourbon for Bourbon Heritage Month
• Breckenridge Distillery debuts Broncos-themed commemorative whiskey lineup and seltzer
• Joseph Magnus returns to rye whiskey with 10 Year Cask Strength release
• Penelope Bourbon releases Cigar Sessions Chapter 2 in collaboration with Alec Bradley
• Buffalo Trace and Van Winkle announce 2026 Van Winkle Whiskey Collection lineup
• Wilderness Trail debuts exclusive whiskeys for Hall of Fame induction of co-founders
• Angel's Envy announces Cellar Collection Volume 6 Straight Rye Whiskey release
• Ingram Distillery debuts Batch 6 of river-aged Flagship Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Buffalo Trace debuts Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition uncut bourbon
• Brother Justus Whiskey Company releases Brother Justus Founder’s Reserve IV
• The Maven Distillery launches flagship 104-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Garrison Brothers announces Hye tailgate event featuring 2 new cask-strength single barrels
• Beam Distilling announces Booker’s Bourbon The Reserves 2026 and Little Book Infinite III
• Knob Creek introduces 12 Year Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• Jack Daniel’s launches Tennessee Blackberry mixed with Lemonade canned cocktail

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We're back with Part 2 of our PursuitPalooza 2026 AMA session. We kick off by tackling the business realities of the RTD boom because we keep punting the idea if we should do one ourselves, and exploring why entering the canned cocktail market is a completely different beast than aging bourbon in a barrel.

We talk about some the weirdest tasting notes we've ever pulled like peanut butter and jelly, peach rings, and Grandma's candy jar. Finally, we get personal about what it really takes to run an independent spirits company. We talk about managing operational pressure, our core philosophy of "no problems, only solutions," and some of the wild, unfiltered Palooza memories from over the years.

Show Notes:

• RTDs vs. Aged Whiskey: The hidden challenges of canned cocktails, including shelf-life stability, high R&D costs, and retail distribution hurdles.
• Sourcing Strategy: Why Pursuit Spirits prioritizes proven legacy distillates over volatile craft profiles to establish consumer trust.
• Wild Tasting Notes: Recalling the most unusual flavor profiles we've encountered, from PB&J and peach rings to farmyard funky pours.
• Labeling & TTB Regulations: How slight legal nuances define "straight bourbon" versus finished expressions, and what consumers actually notice.
• Leadership & Problem Solving: Behind the scenes of scaling Pursuit Spirits, empowering employees, and keeping cool under operational stress.
• Celebrity Brands & Industry Hype: Our unfiltered thoughts on celebrity-backed spirits, hazmat-proof trends, and the ongoing craze for allocated bottles.
• Palooza War Stories: Reliving hilarious, late-night Palooza memories, EDM club outings, and keeping the annual event fresh for repeat attendees.
• Historical Dream Pours: Ryan and Kenny name the iconic figures—including George Garvin Brown and President William Howard Taft—they'd love to share a dram with.

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Frank August Case Study 07 takes a Kentucky bourbon and rye blend and finishes it in Calvados, Martinique rum, and Caribbean rum casks. Apple pie, brown sugar, pear, coconut, pineapple, and rye spice make this one a seriously fun tropical twist.

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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It's This Week in Bourbon for September 11th 2026. The KY ABC is going to be auctioning off rare bottles of confiscated bourbon, The New Era Whiskey Distillery and Social Club has opened in Lexington KY, and Heaven Hill announces 20th Edition Parker’s Heritage Collection.

Show Notes:

• A Thanksgiving raffle win turns into an intense family debate when a collector snags a $100 Pappy Van Winkle instead of her brother-in-law.
• Team Kentucky opens virtual bidding on 70 seized collectible bottles to support campus alcohol responsibility programs.
• Downtown Lexington welcomes its first combination distillery, tasting room, and private social club founded by Zane Brammell.
• Elijah Craig and Evan Williams secure official bourbon partnerships and naming rights across UK Athletics venues.
• Silverbelly Whiskey announces a new flagship craft distillery, museum, and venue coming to Nashville.
• Brown-Forman resurrects the "Kentucky Boy" label to celebrate Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris's 50-year legacy.
• New limited fall releases debut from Woodford Reserve, Remus, Penelope, Four Roses, Proof and Wood, Chicken Cock, and Heaven Hill.
• Bourbon with Heart partners with Give 270 to raffle custom hand-painted barrel heads paired with Elijah Craig 21-Year Single Barrel.

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Today, we are bringing you part 1 of 2 for our Pursuit Palooza 2026 AMA session recorded live with myself and Ryan Cecil. We take a look back at how Palooza originally grew out of having way more whiskey and industry guests than we could ever fit on the podcast and why we decided to start having Palooza.

From there, take questions from our fans in the audience about transparency in labeling, dissecting "bottled by" statements, straight bourbon requirements, and whether the average consumer actually cares about production details versus price, story, and flavor. Plus, we address the big question on everyone's mind: has the bourbon boom peaked, or is there still room for category growth?

Show Notes:

• Palooza Origins: How having too many podcast guests and leftover whiskey barrels spawned Pursuit Palooza.
• Labeling & Transparency: Breakdown of "bottled by" statements, legal requirements, and what consumers actually value on the shelf.
• Pursuit Archive & Revivals: The story behind Sherry River Rye, keeping an archive of past releases, and future P-Club plans.
• State of the Bourbon Industry: Addressing market shifts, changing distribution habits, international growth, and the end of truck-chasing.
• Hard Lessons in Craft Distilling: What we underestimated about packaging, marketing, and navigating the three-tier system when starting Pursuit Spirits.
• Underrated Distillates: Ryan and Kenny highlight hidden-gem producers like Tennessee Distilling Group, Woodinville, Still Austin, and Southern Distilling.
• The Reality of Organic Bourbon: Why large-scale organic grain production faces massive hurdles with pests, weeds, and high costs.
• Palooza War Stories & Blending Dreams: Recalling wild Palooza mishaps, dream blending-room collaborators, and the ultimate death row food and pour pairings.

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Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farm 2026 brings big ice cream shop vibes with cherry cordial, vanilla custard, waffle cone, and a gooey cherry syrup finish. This wheat whiskey had us seriously impressed.

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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It's This Week in Bourbon for September 4th 2026. Kentucky Bourbon Boys has officially launched KBB Reserve, the American Whiskey Scholars program, and Starlight has 2 brand new releases.

Show Notes:

• Kentucky Bourbon Boys launches KBB Reserve three-tier travel concierge service
• American Whiskey Scholars debuts three-level self-paced online certification program
• Buffalo Trace Distillery On Tour returns with four-city complimentary roadshow
• BBQ, Bourbon & Burlesque event set for October 24 in Evansville, Indiana
• Old Forester unveils 2026 Birthday Bourbon and Alpha Industries jacket collab
• Oak & Grist Distilling debuts nine-year American Single Malt Whiskey Barrel #09
• Shortbarrel launches fifth-year limited-edition Cigar Batch #4 with Sherry finish
• Sagamore Spirit debuts nationwide eight-year Bottled in Bond Straight Rye
• Baker’s Bourbon returns 13-year Single Barrel release for Baker Beam’s 90th birthday
• Chattanooga Whiskey introduces Bottled in Bond Vintage: Fall 2018 four-grain bourbon
• Town Branch Distillery debuts IMPERIUM MMXXVI cask-strength wheated bourbon blend
• Starlight Distillery announces 5th Annual Pink Bottle Release for breast cancer support
• Starlight Distillery launches rare 10-Year Mizunara Reserve via lottery and distillery sale

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