Chasing the Unicorn: Bourbon & American Whiskey

Thursday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with two simultaneous pre-allocation deadlines closing at midnight — Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Fall 2026 at $79.99, 100 proof, wheated BiB from Bernheim with Father's Day delivery confirmed; and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926 at $79.99, 130.4 proof, the highest-proof C-batch in series history. First Sip covers the three access paths — pre-order, lottery, and walk-in — and when each one applies. Hunt Spotlight: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926, WORTH THE CHASE. Secondary Spotlight: Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2024 at 40.4% floor erosion. Full report at chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/the-brief.

Wednesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with Four Roses' 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch — TTB-confirmed at 108.2 proof before Master Distiller Brent Elliott publishes the recipe in July, with pre-allocation windows open at specialty accounts now. First Sip covers the Four Roses recipe system — two mash bills, five proprietary yeast strains, ten possible combinations, and why the proof confirmation is already telling you the barrel cohort is strong. Hunt Spotlight: Parker's Heritage Collection 2026 Bottled-in-Bond, WORTH THE CHASE, ships Saturday at $99.99. Full report at chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/the-brief.

Tuesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with Heaven Hill's Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926 — TTB-confirmed at 130.4 proof and 14.2 years average age, the highest-proof C-designated batch in the expression's history — shipping June 8 with pre-allocation closing Thursday at $79.99. First Sip covers what barrel proof actually means and the water technique that makes 130.4 readable in the glass. Hunt Spotlight: Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2026 at $149.99, WORTH THE CHASE, reserve window open through mid-June. Full report at chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/the-brief.

Monday's Cut: Beam Suntory's Clermont distillery — the world's largest bourbon production campus — restarted full operations this morning after a 14-week production pause. Every barrel going in today becomes Knob Creek in 2035. First Sip: bourbon shortage cycles and how to read production pauses before they reach your shelf. Hunt Spotlight: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Fall 2026, WORTH THE CHASE, pre-allocation closes June 4 at $79.99. Secondary Spotlight: George T. Stagg 2025 at 56.4% floor erosion. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief at chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/the-brief.

Friday's Cut: Heaven Hill ran two wheated Bottled-in-Bond pre-allocation windows in the same week — Parker's Heritage 2026 BiB closed last night at $99.99 for a 10-year expression, and Old Fitzgerald BiB Fall 2026 is still open through June 4 at $79.99 for an 11-year expression from the same Bardstown distillery. First Sip covers wheated vs. high-rye vs. traditional mash bills and how to taste the difference. Cut Spotlight: Old Fitzgerald BiB Fall 2026, $79.99, worth the chase. Secondary Spotlight: Blanton's Gold Label at 71.2% floor erosion. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief at chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/the-brief.

Thursday's Cut: Ohio's BTAC 2026 lottery closes tonight and Pennsylvania's closes tomorrow — free entry, no purchase required, for a bottle realizing 8 to 10 times retail at auction. First Sip: the full BTAC breakdown — all five expressions, what they're worth, and which ones to chase. Cut Spotlight: Parker's Heritage 2026 Bottled-in-Bond, 10-year BiB, $99.99, pre-allocation also closes tonight. Bar Talk: Parker's Heritage BiB versus Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926 — same distillery, opposite bottles, one closes tonight. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief at chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/the-brief.

Wednesday's Cut: Wild Turkey confirmed Master's Keep 2026 "Triumph" at 17 years, 116.4 proof, $199.99 MSRP, and 11,400 bottles nationally — reserve lists at Campari accounts are open before the press release exists. First Sip: the angel's share, and why 17 Kentucky summers explain the price and the allocation ceiling. Chase Spotlight: Parker's Heritage 2026 Bottled-in-Bond, 10-year BiB, $99.99, pre-allocation closes tomorrow. Bar Talk: does the BTAC 2026 MSRP increase change whether you should enter a free lottery? Full American Whiskey Industry Brief at chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/the-brief.

Tuesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with the federal label approval confirming Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 2026 at 123.2 proof — the highest in the expression's five-year history — and explains why specialty retailers open pre-allocation lists six weeks before any announcement reaches the market. First Sip covers what barrel proof actually means and why water is a tool, not a concession. Chase Spotlight: Four Roses Single Barrel Select "Reunion" 2026, OBSV recipe, 11-year, 115.8 proof, $99.99, shipping this week. Full report at chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/the-brief.

Monday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with Heaven Hill's Q3 2026 Bardstown production expansion — Master Distiller Conor O'Driscoll named Kentucky's barrel inventory tax phase-out as the direct trigger, making it the first Big 4 public confirmation that the 20-year phase-out is redirecting fiscal relief into new-make capacity rather than margin. First Sip covers what actually moves bourbon prices — the short list behind why the same bottle costs $45 in Kentucky and $85 in Utah. Chase Spotlight: Parker's Heritage 2026 Barrel Proof Bottled-in-Bond at $129.99, pre-allocation opening today. Full report at chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/the-brief.

Friday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 15-Year Spring 2026 at walk-up in Louisville — $79.99 at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience door, no lottery, no reservation, Spring 2025 comparable tracked $110 to $135 secondary within 30 days of close. First Sip covers wheated versus high-rye versus traditional mash bills — the single biggest flavor driver on the shelf. Cut Spotlight: Old Fitzgerald BiB 15-Year Spring 2026, worth the chase at MSRP. Bar Talk: the BiB credential debate. Full report at chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/the-brief.