Bourbon Pursuit

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Still Austin The Musician. This 2 year old bourbon is 98.4 proof and $45 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Belle Meade is a very recognizable brand to bourbon enthusiasts. But how did that brand get revived and what's the story behind Nelson's Green Brier? We're joined by Charlie Nelson, Co-Founder of Nelson's Green Brier, who shares his story of stumbling into the bourbon business when his dad purchased a quarter of a cow. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about helping others understand your bourbon hobby. What's your best halloween costume? How did this journey begin? Talk about building your business plan. Do you consider Belle Meade your flagship? When using old labels from the archive, did you have to get them re-approved? What is your DSP? Where did you get your recipes? Talk about building the Belle Meade and Nelson's Green Brier Distillery brands. Tell us about the success of the Belle Meade brand. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Saint Cloud 7 Year Single Barrel. This 7 year old bourbon is 122.4 proof and $150 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back with another BCR and this time we have 3 topics to discuss. The rise and fall of facebook groups since it seems like no group is safe now. Does knowing the source of a bourbon impact your willingness to buy or not buy? At what point does craft bourbon stop being craft? Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about losing your sense of taste after being sick. Are bourbon Facebook groups dead? Does knowing the source change your mind about a product? When does craft bourbon stop being craft? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review The Prideful Goat. This 15 year old bourbon is 115 proof and $100 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a few OGs in the world of whiskey, and one of the most notable names is Ryan Maloney. You may not know that name, but you've likely heard of his store in Massachusetts called Julio's Liquors and the famous picks done by the Loch & Key Society. Ryan takes us on a trip down memory lane when private barrel selections were abundant and limited releases weren't so limited. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about storing vintage spirits. What carnival food can you not resist? Tell us about Julio's the and Loch & Key Society. When did you realize how important barrel picks would be? Have you ever picked a Van Winkle? Tell us about some of your barrel picks. What's on the forefront of barrel picks? Have you created your own private label or do you plan to? Talk about blending. What is your thought process on collaborations with other stores? Are you getting less allocations because of the rise in popularity of bourbon? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye. This non-age stated whiskey is 132 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MGP has been in the news recently with their acquisition of Luxco and on the last roundtable we discussed how this will enable MGP's brands such as Remus to gain a nationwide presence with a bigger salesforce. We're joined by Andy Mansinne, Vice President of Brands for MGP, to learn more about their brands and the impact of other brands winning awards based on product sourced from them. We also ask about acquiring brands and their thoughts on the current contract distillation marketplace. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about how to clean glencairns. Where would you travel if you knew there was a chance you would have to stay there for up to a year? Tell us about your background. What do you think about other brands getting awards with your distillate? Do you feel like your brands are more accepted in the whiskey world now than when you first started? When you were looking at creating a brand, what were your thoughts on building from the ground up vs. acquiring an established brand? What do you think about MGP rye having such a big impact on the market? What are your thoughts on your contract distilling competition? How do you forecast? Tell us about your brands. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Widow Jane The Vaults 2020. This 15 year old bourbon is 99 proof and $200 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Single barrel picks are the new unicorns. And if you add a fancy sticker, after market wax or some glitter, bourbon nerds can't control themselves. For this podcast, the team thought it would be a fun idea if our audience sent us samples from their New Riff barrel selections and we put them in a bracket challenge. We decide who selected the best barrel and gets Bourbon Pursuit bragging rights. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about tipping for high end pours. Why did we pick New Riff for this bracket? New Riff Tasting Cleveland Bourbon Club - “New Riff Passed Elijah” - Ryan Lintz Charred Barrel - “Happy Little Riff” - Chris Perugini Knoxville Beer & Brown Water Society - ”Kings of Grain Jackpot" - Jimmy Tucker Sacred Sippers - “Holy Water 19:1" - Mike Utech Brown Bunker Coalition - “The Colin Bottle"- Dirk Glahn Wright-Patt Whiskey Club - Andy Hostetter Kentucky Bourbon Brotherhood - “Ken Riffey Jr” - Todd Hall Great Lakes Whiskey Club - “Riff Ross" - Mike Schuette Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Thomas S. Moore Port Cask Finish. This non-age stated bourbon is 98.9 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MGP, the major powerhouse distillery in Indiana, has purchased Luxco who owns Lux Row distillers in Bardstown that produces legacy and heritage brands such as Rebel Yell, Ezra Brooks, Davies County, and many more. But what does this mean? The roundtable gets together and speculates on what we can expect for these brands as well as MGP's existing brands such as Remus. But what does this ultimately mean for brands that have been sourcing MGP bourbon and rye for decades? Have we just witnessed the end of one avenue for sourced markets? Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about pairing bourbon with Girl Scout Cookies. MGP buys LuxCo. What does this mean for the largest supplier of contract whiskey? Was this a good move? What will happen to the MGP sourced brands? What do you think will happen with Yellowstone? Will Luxco use MGP distillate? Do you think Luxco will do contract distillation? Thanks to Blake from Bourbonr.com, Nick from BreakingBourbon.com, and Brian from SippnCorn.com for joining. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Blue Run Bourbon 13 Year Winter Release. This 13 year old bourbon is 113 proof and $169 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Pat Heist blew our minds back on episode 121 going deep on yeast. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, go listen to that one first before starting this, I promise it will be worth your time. Pat has one of the most unique backgrounds in bourbon and has even had the opportunity to do a TED Talk which is amazing for our industry. We discuss the crazy growth at Wilderness Trail. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about blind tastings. What's your title? Would you rather travel back in time to meet your ancestors or the future to meet your descendants? Any new products in the pipeline? How do you forecast? How much are you producing per day? Who's idea was it to invest so much in the business? Tell us about your TedX talk. What's your next milestone? Where can people buy Wilderness Trail? How have you and your bourbon been received across the country? How do you chose a yeast variety for your product? How does your process compare to other distilleries? What happens when people dip their finger in the fermentation tanks? Can you recreate whiskey from the 70s? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Remus Repeal Reserve IV. This 12 year old bourbon is 100 proof and $80 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gregg Walker joins the show to share some inside stories about the history at Maker's Mark. Gregg was the second salesperson hired by Maker’s Mark and took part in 3X growth. Hear some of his stories about the struggle of growth, but also how him and Bill Samuels Jr. had a lot of fun as well. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about raffles. What song would you pick for karaoke? When did you get into the liquor business? Did you have to take the personality test before working at Maker's Mark? Were you part of any of the Maker's taste offs? Tell us about traveling for Makers. How do you plan for aggressive growth? What was the tipping point? How many cases were they selling? Talk about Maker's marketing. Were you there when the did the special edition UK bottle in 1996? Any memories with Bill Samuels that you'll never forget? What was your sales force like in the later years? What do you do today? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition. This non-age stated bourbon is 90.4 proof and $2,000 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building a brand on sourced whiskey is difficult. When you’re not the one distilling the product, it’s hard to be price competitive. At the same time, you're at the mercy of the market on barrel availability so it's hard to determine the continuation of a product. In this episode, we're joined by McCauley Williams, CEO of Big River Distilling, who is behind brands like Blue Note Bourbon and Riverset Rye. We talk about how to run a large scale business that relies on sourcing and how you protect the brands flavor integrity for the future. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about empty bottles. What game show would you want to be a contestant on? How did you get into this business? What was the first step to start a spirits business? How did you raise capital to make this happen? Tell us about your brands. Did you have a proof of concept? How do you select a distillation partner? Talk about the competitiveness of the sourced market. Tell us about the pricing of sourced whiskey. How do you differentiate your products? Why 93 proof? How do you get a brand to market? Any states you've seen success in that you didn't expect? Which is a better ROI, liquor stores or bars/restaurants? Do you experience any frustrations with acquiring packaging materials? Any other frustrations with the business? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Heaven Hill 85th Anniversary. This 13 year old bourbon is 107 proof and $300 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's podcast is looking forward in 2021. No one could have predicted the events of 2020, but let's look into our magic 8 ball and see what we think will happen to bourbon in 2021. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about bottle closures. We discuss our 2021 predictions for the bourbon and whiskey market. Thanks to Blake from Bourbonr.com, Nick from BreakingBourbon.com, and Brian from SippnCorn.com for joining. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Blackened Cask Strength. This non-age stated whiskey is 110.7 proof and $55 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bourbon societies are becoming prolific across the globe. But here's the thing, they all do something different that makes them unique. In this episode, we are joined by representatives from the Dallas Bourbon Club, The Bourbon Society of Greater Cincinnati, and KOBBE (Kentucky's Original Black Bourbon Enthusiasts). We get a deeper understanding of how each society operates from a social, educational, and philanthropic perspective. If you're looking to start a society or grow your own, here's a chance to listen how these fellas do it. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about StraightBourbon.com. We are joined by Jamar Mack (KOBBE), Pete Schmidt (Dallas Bourbon Club), and Todd Carnes (Bourbon Society of Greater Cincinnati). What's the weirdest food you've ever eaten? How are you trying to reach new members? How is your group different from other bourbon groups? Do you have a motto? How are you putting on events? How are you involved with charities? Do you do any bourbon education? How do you get people to present to your group? How many women do you have in your group? Talk about your barrel picks. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Jefferson's Reserve Single Barrel. This non-age stated bourbon is 100 proof and $60 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You all see and hear from Kenny, Ryan, and Fred, but there's a critical fourth member of this team. Lauren Coleman has been in the media space for her whole career and took the quality of Bourbon Pursuit episodes to another level. In this quick interview, get to know a little bit about Lauren. Show Notes: Tell us about your podcast editing process. How did you get into video editing? How many days a week do you miss working for Heaven Hill? Are you ever worried about Kenny spending too much on bourbon and not being able to pay the mortgage? What's one thing most people don't know about Kenny and Ryan that you think they should know? If you were to host a podcast, what would it be about? How do you keep a work/life balance? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review The Last Drop XIX Buffalo Trace 1980. This 40 year old bourbon is 90 proof and $4,600 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode features the Master Distiller from Barton 1792, Danny Kahn. Danny comes from a background of brewing beer that led him to working with some high profile names, that ultimately took him to whiskey. Danny brought some samples to try where the lowest proof was 125 and then they creep up to 160 proof! We talk about what happens when he finds barrels like these and our wishes for what we could do with them. Who wouldn't want a single barrel of it? Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about whiskey stories. Where are you from? Do you have any interesting scars? Tell us about the whiskey you brought today. Talk about your history in brewing beer. What were your early recipes like? Are you doing any distillery expansion or improvements? Tell us about Ridgemont Reserve. How long have you been at 1792? How does a bourbon get to 160 proof? Is it hard to take a high proof aged bourbon and proof it down? Tell us about your distilling process. How do you forecast the future bourbon needs? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Huling Station Straight Bourbon. This non-age stated high rye bourbon is 100 proof and $38 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Barrell Bourbon comes out with a product, it's never going to be duplicated. We explored that with Joe back on episode 164, but this time Joe puts us to the test. Ryan and I sample through 15 different Barrell products while Joe and Fred become commentators. These are products that have already been released, are to be released, or experiments in the making. We try them blind to see which ones we like and if we can guess the blends and finishes too. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about history on whiskey labels. What's the process you go through to pick a favorite during a tasting? Blind Barrell Tasting How do you blend? Anything you would eliminate yet? When you blend using finishes, are you trying to make sure you are still tasting the bourbon? Joe, why did you select some of these products? What are the flavor profile differences in the various styles of rum? Are you all coffee drinkers and does that have any affect on tasting? Discuss Top 3. Blind reveal. What's your favorite? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review the Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon. This 10 year old bourbon is 94.4 proof and $130 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the last roundtable of 2020 and we discuss the hits and misses with 2020 bourbon releases. Most of the time we're in agreement, but every once in a while there is one that tears the group apart. And Fred goes deep on some interesting history with entry barrel proof and wheated bourbons. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about light whiskey. Bourbon Charity Raffle: https://charity.bourbonpursuit.com/christmascharity2020 What did you buy on Black Friday? Repeal Day Expo: https://repealdayexpo.com/ 2020 Release Hits and Misses Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Rare Perfection 15 Year. This 15 year old Canadian whiskey is 119.7 proof and $160 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may have never heard of Limestone Branch, and you may just now be hearing about Yellowstone bourbon, but you will soon learn the roots of this distillery. Stephen Beam, yep there’s a lot of Beams in the bourbon industry around Kentucky, is a descendant of the Dant family. Yes, that JW Dant you are thinking of right now. This one is full of rich history on the family as well as the labels. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about bourbon gifts. Do you believe in aliens? What was it like growing up as a Beam? Talk about the history of the Dants. What happened with the Dants during Prohibition? Tell us about Yellowstone. Do you watch the show Yellowstone? When was JW Dant sold? How did you decide to get into the business? What were the early days like? What was it like starting with moonshine? How many barrels of bourbon were you holding back? Was it difficult to bring in a partner and give up some control? Talk about the partnership with Luxco. How have the operations changed? Tell us about Minor Case. Why don't you call yourself a Master Distiller? Tell us about your products. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review the Three Chord Whiskey Drummer. This 15 year old Kentucky bourbon is 117.9 proof and $190 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re currently experiencing the biggest boom there has ever been with bourbon. But is it going to be overshadowed by the seltzer movement? And we all know that COVID has impacted every single business sector, but what has it done to alcohol and, most importantly, bourbon? From the outside it seems that business is good, but Brandy Rand, COO for IWSR who specializes in drinks analysis and trends, provides a scientific view as well as reality check on where the market is moving. Show Notes: Receive IWSR’s weekly industry insights email: https://bourbonpursuit.com/iwsr This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about labels. Who was your childhood actor or actress crush? What is IWSR? How do you gather data? How were you all tracking bourbon growth years ago? Do you classify canned cocktails as hard seltzers? Do you think cocktails to go will be an on going trend? What impact are tariffs having globally? Have you seen distilleries pivot their strategy due to tariffs and COVID? What has happened to travel retail because of COVID? Do you track e-commerce and shipping? Do you follow Drizzly's data? Where do you see bourbon growth in the next couple of years? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review the 14th Edition of the Parker’s Heritage Collection. This 10 year old heavy char bourbon is 120 proof and $120 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the rest of society is busting down the doors on Black Friday for TVs, the beer lovers are hitting up every liquor store to grab the most iconic barrel aged stouts on the market coming from Goose Island. Every year, Bourbon County Stout has beer lovers drooling to see what variants will be released. We’re joined by Bill Savage, a lead brewer for the barrel aging program at Goose Island, to get an inside look into one of my favorite beers of all time. We talk about the time that goes into this yearly release and what happens when yeast goes wild. Show Notes: Kroger’s Ultimate Bourbon Auction: https://one.bidpal.net/zero/welcome This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about bourbons to pair with Thanksgiving. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet? How long have you been with Goose Island? How did you end up working in the Goose Island Barrel Program? Tell us about the process. How many barrels are going into the release? How long do you age it in the barrel? Do you test each barrel? Can you over age a barrel? Do you reuse barrels? What's the rationale for the high ABV? How do you pick your variants? What's the thought process behind the collaborations with distilleries? Are you exploring aging other styles? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Rye Whiskey. This 10 year old rye is 92.8 proof and $160 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every business wants to make their marketing dollars stretch further. The focus has shifted to targeting demographics through Facebook campaigns, social media, and even podcasts. We’re joined by Mike Provance of 3x3 to see how brands and liquor stores are using their platform to reach new customers. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about wax. What sport would you compete in if you were in the Olympics? Tell us about your platform. How do you convince retailers to adopt this digital trend? How can you make your dollar stretch further with your platform? How do stores learn what their customers like? What do you use to build audiences? Does more marketing spending by a supplier benefit the retailer? How is shipping changing your business? Influencer marketing vs. targeting marketing? What about in-store experiences? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Old Forester 150th Anniversary Batch #1. This non-age stated bourbon is 125.6 proof and $150 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the 50th Bourbon Community Roundtable! 4.5 years later and we are at a milestone podcast. I won’t get sappy because there is plenty of that towards the end, but we kick off the show talking about the recent news of many secondary groups banning Van Winkle Sales. Then we take a look back at our time together and play a few games of “who said that?”. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about Halloween candy. Secondary groups have banned Pappy Van Winkle sales. What are your thoughts? Do we still feel the same about our top 5 bourbons for beginners? Are we still tired of $100 MGP… now $150 MGP bourbons? Let’s play a game of Who Said That? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Founder’s Collection. This 6 year old rye is 114.6 proof and $195 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joshua Steeley, Marketing Director for Bourbon at Buffalo Trace, joins the show to cover the Old Charter Oak series. It’s a line extension that focuses on the effect different types of oak have on the bourbon. We’re talking oak harvested from all over the world and some of the oak being hundreds of years old. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about decanters. What's the most ridiculous thing someone has tricked you into doing or believing? Tell us about your role at Buffalo Trace. Any brands you are putting more effort behind? Are you going to have a part in Early Times? How did you get into bourbon and end up at Buffalo Trace? Let's talk about Old Charter Oak. How do you decide what bourbon goes into each brand? Tell us about your experimental process. Old Charter Oak Tasting. Where do you source your barrels from? Talk about what went into the packaging design. How hard is it to find this brand? What is the price point? Any failed experiments? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special edition of Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review the 2020 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection in five 60 second reviews. The collection includes: Sazerac Rye 18 Year, Thomas H. Handy, Eagle Rare 17 Year, William Larue Weller, and George T. Stagg. Each bottle has a suggested retail price of $99. What's our favorite this year? Watch to find out. 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re joined by Ted, Christian, and Blake to talk about the family history on the farm that led them to have DSP-IN-31, which is a super super low number when it comes to a distilled spirits producer. We take a few twists, but there is one thing we came away with and that’s how this family never settles with a single recipe, single barrel entry proof, single cooperage, or even a single distiller. These three take turns at the helm steering their bourbon in a new direction. After recording, we went to the warehouse and tasted 12 or 15 different barrels and not one of the two was alike. Make sure you try a single barrel selection from Starlight Distillery and you will know what I’m talking about. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about media packages. Would you rather be an astronaut or an olympic gold medalist? Talk about the history of the farm and distillery. What law allowed MGP to operate as a distillery? Talk about your brandy. What were the learning curves when transitioning from brandy to whiskey? Tell us about the bourbon. What's the difference between a brandy still and a whiskey still? Why do you use so many different cooperages? Is there a better time of year to pull barrels? Tell us about your corn varieties. Talk about your latest releases. What is Carl T.? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review King of Kentucky 2020. This 14 year old bourbon is 130.6 proof and $250 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is sourced whiskey? It can mean a lot of different things and many of us bourbon geeks feel some do it better than others. There is contract distillation and there is outright buying barrels, but it’s what you are doing with the bourbon that makes the story. We evaluate some of the most iconic brands that built their legacy off of sourcing and then look at today’s market to see who is doing something special versus simply slapping a label on a bottle. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about barrel finishes. How do you know when something is sourced? How do you source whiskey? What brands are sourced? What about pricing sourced whiskey? What kind of influence has sourced whiskey had on the industry? What is more respectable, starting a brand sourced and then transitioning to your own distillate or starting with your own distillate? What about contract distilling? What are the primary places to source from? Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Angel's Envy Mizunara Cask. It is a blend of 4 and 9 year old bourbon, is 97.8 proof, and $350 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we look at how the size of a distiller will put a focus on their core name brand vs creating extensions. We talk a little bit about what you can and can’t patent in the whiskey business. Next, we examine the new Old Forester 150th anniversary and our thoughts on whether you would rather see single barrel cask strength releases or create a wide release. Lastly, we cover what has gone right and what’s been done wrong with limited edition releases that have happened in person and online. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about how sometimes ignorance is bliss. Orange juice, pulp or no pulp? Why don't new Distillers/Bottlers differentiate their products more? For instance, Barrell Bourbon, Barrell Rye, Barrell Rum, Pinhook Rye, Pinhook Bourbon, Pinhook Cask Strength. Whereas Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Sazerac Rye, etc. What can and can't be patented in the whiskey business? Old Forester drops 3 batches of cask strength at $150 per bottle. Before I saw the price, I thought it was going to be a competitor to ECBP or Bookers. Would you rather see wide releases at barrel proof or barrel selections at barrel proof? You can't choose both. Angel's Envy Mizunara Cask, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, Four Roses LE Releases. What has been done right and what went wrong? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Four Roses 2020 Limited Edition Small Batch. This 12-19 year old bourbon is 111.4 proof and $150 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. Support this Podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, you asked for another episode talking cocktails and that’s what you get. On this episode, we talk to Nic Christiansen who runs the single barrel program at Barrell Craft Spirits, but is also a nationally recognized bartender and cocktail competition champion. She talks about the variety of cocktails and how it’s really about swapping out simple ingredients to create endless possibilities. From a classic Old Fashioned or Mint Julep to creating your own bitters, this episode will have you wanting to create something unique of your own. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about bourbon heritage month. What was your favorite tv show growing up as a kid? Tell us about your background. What made you decide to get into cocktails? What bad habits did you learn when you first started making cocktails? What is involved with being a beverage director? How do you train bartenders? How did you remember all those cocktails? How do you make bitters? How do you build a cocktail from an economic perspective? What is your Old Fashioned recipe? What is a Brown Derby? What kind of ice do you prefer? What do you think about the growing mixology culture? Do you ever enter competitions? What is your go to vermouth? Rye vs. Bourbon in cocktails? What are your thoughts on Rum cocktails? How frustrated do you get when a place can't make a good cocktail? Do you prefer different cocktails for different seasons? Talk about using a raw egg in a New York Sour. Where did you get the inspiration for your New York Sour? Any upcoming cocktail trends? What do you do on a daily basis? Does your palate differ from Tripp and Joe? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices