Bourbon Pursuit

Heaven Hill Double Mash combines traditional and wheated bourbon mash bills in a 9-year, 100-proof Bottled-in-Bond release. Bright raspberry, citrus, and brown sugar sweet tea bring an unexpected twist to this $50 bourbon. Does double mash mean double the character?

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 30th, 2026. Fawn Weaver’s attempt to halt the sale has been denied, Tennessee Whiskey Trail is launching Fireside Tennessee, and Heaven Hill Phoenix.

Show Notes:

• Judge denies Fawn Weaver's bid to pause Uncle Nearest asset sale amidst receivership
• Tennessee Whiskey Trail launches seasonal Fireside Tennessee experience across eight distilleries
• Kentucky Distillers' Association honors Brown-Forman's Chris Morris with Lifetime Board designation and UK scholarship
• Heaven Hill unveils Phoenix 18-Year Bourbon featuring pre-1996 fire whiskey to mark 30th anniversary
• Barton 1792 Distillery announces new 1792 Wheated Full Proof Bourbon at 125 proof

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

So what happens when a retail guy from D.C. decides he’s going to jump into the whiskey business? We're sitting down with Sid Dilawri, Founder and CEO of Filibuster Distilling, to talk about his journey. After moving from Delhi to the U.S. in 2007, Sid got his start working at a local liquor store where he discovered orange flavored vodka. He wasn't much of a drinker at the time. But In 2010, his family bought a struggling D.C. liquor store and Sid helped turn it around growing annual sales from under $400K to over $1.2 million simply by changing up the product mix and introducing customers to great bourbon. After an eye-opening trip to Four Roses to select his very first single-barrel, he worked towards his new idea. Sid launched Filibuster using sourced barrels but eventually transition to a full-scale distilling operation in Virginia, including figuring out how to run a column still himself. With lots of tenacity, Sid gives us an honest look at building a legacy brand for his kids and crafting a true everyday pour.

Show Notes:

• Sid Dilawri shares his journey moving from Delhi to the U.S. in 2007 and learning the retail ropes on the liquor store floor.
• How turning around a struggling D.C. shop in 2010 by pushing bourbon sparked his passion for the industry.
• The Four Roses barrel pick that convinced Sid to leave retail and launch Filibuster.
• Starting with MGP sourced juice, early French oak finishes, and navigating distributor portfolios when craft bourbon was just taking off.
• Transitioning to distilling in Virginia, installing a column still, and teaching himself how to run the equipment when his team walked out.
• The ins and outs of local grain sourcing, fermentation practices, and managing over 6,200 aging barrels.
• Why patience, product quality, and smart pricing matter when building a legacy brand for the next generation.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jefferson’s Founder’s Reserve brings a 20 year Kentucky bourbon finished in French Bordeaux wine casks. With only 250 bottles available, this rare release delivers old oak, dried cranberries, leather, and tobacco. But does it live up to its $500 price tag?

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 23rd, 2026. As Uncle Nearest Comes to an End, Fawn is still appealing, Bourbon and Board Games Are hot this week, and Old Elk Distillery Folds of Honor Blended American Whiskey.

Show Notes:

• Judge sets accelerated briefing schedule on Uncle Nearest asset sale appeal
• Bib & Tucker collaborates with Hasbro to launch MONOPOLY collector's edition
• Old Fitzgerald and Jonathan Adler partner on luxury backgammon gift set
• Bulleit and Mike’s Hot Honey announce 15-city nationwide mobile bar tour
• MGP Ingredients rebrands corporate identity as Sempreon with CASK ticker
• Knob Creek brings back 21 Year Old Bourbon at 100 proof for $249.99
• New Era Distillery debuts Marquee Exclusive Small Batch Bourbon at $49.99
• Liberty Pole Spirits launches High Rye Straight Bourbon at 100 proof
• Penelope Bourbon releases FCancer Batch 5 alongside $250,000 donation pledge
• Booker’s Bourbon unveils Southern Thunder Batch at 127.3 proof for $99.99
• 15 STARS launches First West Cigar Blend finished in three cask types
• Jack Daniel’s debuts 2026 Coy Hill Rye Single Barrel at barrel proof
• Chattanooga Whiskey introduces Bad Chattanoogan finished with playable wooden records
• Middle West Spirits and Old Elk launch Blended American Whiskey for Folds of Honor
• 15 STARS First West Cigar Blend sells out online in one day

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Van Winkle announced the 2026 collection on September 11 with price increases. This lands in a year of a 16-million-barrel glut, craft sales down a third straight year, a distributor in liquidation, and a softening mid-tier secondary. Back on BCR #42 in 2020 this panel specifically praised Sazerac for not pricing Pappy at what the market would bear. Six years later they moved the number up in a down market. Was the restraint we praised always temporary? Look at October’s release calendar. Woodford’s 30th anniversary bundle is distillery-only at $225. New Riff’s six-year wheated went to whiskey club members with distillery pickup only. Pursuit’s own XS Double Oak to P. Club members before anyone else. Is thi the beginning of a much larger shift where allocation migrating out of retail?

Show Notes:

• What does the Van Winkle price increase mean for demand
• Has Pappy’s appeal changed among bourbon enthusiasts
• Who benefits more from the Van Winkle–Sazerac partnership
• Could Pappy be released through the Buffalo Trace gift shop
• Are limited releases shifting from retailers to distilleries and clubs
• How can brands balance direct sales with retail distribution
• Could regional and online releases provide other ways to reach buyers

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026 brings 14 to 23 year barrels together for a rich, balanced pour. Toasted vanilla, leather, cinnamon rolls, gooey frosting, and that classic sweet oak finish made this one stand out.

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 16th, 2026. Ummmm; Wes Henderson, Uncle Nearest Inc. is nearing a potential asset sale, and Pursuit Releases XS Double Oak.

Show Notes:

• Glenns Creek Distillery fire destroys historic vacant structures without loss of spirits
• Federal probe examines hidden cameras seized from former Angel’s Envy founder Wes Henderson
• Receivership sale of Uncle Nearest assets nears Chapter 11 filing amid federal probes
• ACSA economic study shows U.S. craft spirits volume declined 8% in 2025
• Performance fuel maker VP Racing acquires Alamo Distilling in contract expansion
• JetBlue adds 50ml bottles of Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon to onboard flights
• Fourth annual National Bourbon Week announced for Bardstown, Kentucky, June 14–20, 2027
• Lofted Spirits promotes Nick Smith to Master Distiller following 1,000,000th barrel milestone
• Pursuit Spirits announces Pursuit United XS Double Oak Rye capped at 720 bottles
• Starlight Distillery debuts Estate Collection 7-Year Cask Strength Bourbon at 110.8 proof
• Woodford Reserve releases 30th anniversary Triple Pot Still and ceramic decanter offerings
• Russell’s Reserve debuts Single Rickhouse 2026 – Camp Nelson D at 120.8 proof
• Maker’s Mark debuts World Wood Collection Expedition 01 travel-retail exclusive at 101 proof
• High West releases A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 14 finished in Port and Sherry casks
• Kentucky Senator Bourbon debuts Thoroughbred Legacy Series dedicated to champion filly Nitrogen
• KNOBEL Tennessee Whiskey launches 7-Year Special Edition funding trade scholarships at $99.99
• Frey Ranch introduces Harvester Series Third Harvest featuring farm-grown triticale at 90 proof
• Old Forester debuts Tribute Series 12-Year Bourbon in historic decanter bottle for $299.99
• Wyoming Whiskey launches Queen of the Tetons Second Edition honoring Grizzly 399 at 99 proof

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some stories are as old as time. A few friends get together, pick a few barrels, then all of a sudden it turns into full blown business. It kind of sounds familiar but I'm not talking about Pursuit, I'm talking about Shortbarrel. In this episode Clinton Dugan and Manny, co-founders at Shortbarrel talk about starting their company after selecting hundreds of barrels across the country. Clinton leveraged his marketing background and self-taught blending skills to focus on the consumer market rather than personal ego. They talk about how warehouse microclimates, high heat, and Kelvin Cooperage barrels shape core lineups like their toasted bourbon, rye, four-grain, Bee's Knees and Sapsquatch expressions. At the very end we talk about industry collaborations like our Found Footage that has now been sold out to our clubs plus scaling into major hubs like Atlanta airport tasting bars, and why staying authentic keeps Shortbarrel ahead of the curve.

Show Notes:

• The team sits down with Short Barrel co-founder Clinton and sales head Manny to discuss the brand's evolution from barrel picks to a full-scale whiskey company.
• Clinton shares how a marketing background and self-funded growth strategy helped shape Short Barrel's methodical distribution expansion.
• The team explores core product development, warehouse aging impacts, Kelvin Cooperage barrels, and blends designed specifically for consumer palates.
• The conversation details the creation of the Bee's Knees honey-finished series and the team's approach to using honey as a core flavor ingredient.
• Clinton and Manny discuss clear spirits offerings, airport tasting bar expansions, and their collaborative release with Pursuit Spirits.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Parker’s Heritage 2026 brings a 14 year barrel proof bourbon with a rye backset twist. Cherry limeade, brownie batter, fudge, and rich Heaven Hill oak make this one feel like a return to form.

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many times have you reached for a bottle on the shelf simply because the glass looked incredible or the label caught your eye? At Pursuit Spirits, we talk endlessly about what goes inside the barrel, but the multi-million dollar engineering and design process that gets that liquid onto the shelf is an entire science of its own. Today, we’re sitting down with Andrés Hernandez of Fusion Glass Mexico and Chad Michael of Chad Michael Studio to talk about custom bottles from engineering, designed, and evenutally going to market. Andrés has the factor that specializes in 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) glass that gives their glass a certain rustic appeal. But that process has to managing extreme temperatures, color formulation, and structural tolerances from the designer. That's where Chad comes in. He's the creative guy that can turn an idea on the back of a napkin into a bottle that looks like artwork. He spends his time understanding the brand DNA and translating that into one of a kind package design. This is an angle of the show we've never taken before and I'm sure a lot of bourbon geeks will appreciate everything that goes into the bottle you pick up off the shelf but if you're a whiskey producer looking into the custom space for something your brand can call your own, this episode is the complete package... see what I did there?

Show Notes:

• How Fusion Glass Mexico approaches sustainable glass manufacturing and 100% PCR recycled glass
• The step-by-step process of collecting, crushing, washing, and remaking recycled glass
• How high-temperature glass forming impacts bottle symmetry, wall thickness, and weight
• Chad Michael’s journey from agency design work to founding Chad Michael Studio
• Using brand story questionnaires to define brand personality before designing packaging
• Stock glass vs. bespoke custom molds: balancing cost, MOQs, and shelf presence
• When and why growing brands should transition away from stock bottles
• Technical limits of glass production: machine compatibility, GPI standards, and impact testing
• The future of whiskey packaging design: balancing creative storytelling with logical, cost-effective engineering

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bardstown Discovery 2026 brings a new name, new bottle, and a Garryana oak double-barrel finish. Rich oak, brown butter pastry, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking spice give this release a warm fall-inspired profile.

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 2nd, 2026. Scotland is experiencing a whiskey glut, Brown Forman announced the 2026 King of Kentucky, and Lost Lantern is preparing to launch its highly anticipated Fall 2026 George Dickel Collection.

Show Notes:

• Bourbon Mixer reaches $1 million raised for Coalition for the Homeless
• Scottish distilleries pause production amid massive Scotch supply surplus
• US enforces import ban on Canadian alcohol as trade tensions escalate
• Copper & Kings relaunches interactive Bottle Your Own distillery experience
• Brown-Forman announces 2026 release of 14-year King of Kentucky Single Barrel
• Lost Lantern prepares Fall 2026 launch of rare George Dickel Collection

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first time we had our guest on the show, we barely scratched the surface of what she has going on with the industry. It was more of a moment to remember her dad, Richard Wolf, and his impact on the industry. But now Monica is back and with a new last name of Wolf-Brown. We talk about some personal milestones before diving into how she built The Blending House in Shelby County. Monica about the state-of-the-art facility featuring a massive blending floor, seven custom rickhouses, and complete turnkey logistics for growing brands. Monica shares her take on how American whiskey's view of blending compares to scotch, wine, and coffee which leads into her latest Shang project. A cross-cultural collaboration with Whiskey House and True Essence that combines Chinese baijiu with American sorghum whiskey aged in oak.

Show Notes:

• Monica Wolf-Brown returns to share updates on family life, motherhood, and how her father's legacy continues to shape her career in the bourbon industry.
• Monica details the origin of The Blending House in Shelby County, built to solve storage, blending, and bottling challenges for independent brands.
• The episode explores the facility's single-species yellow pine rickhouse engineering and its versatile bottling line designed for various bottle formats.
• Monica breaks down her blending partnerships with clients like E.J. Curley and Jack Rose while comparing American blending traditions to scotch, wine, and coffee.
• The conversation covers the Shang project, an innovative collaboration with Whiskey House and True Essence Foods blending Chinese baijiu and American sorghum whiskey.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Riff’s 2026 Kentucky Single Malt takes a sharp turn from bourbon with smoky, peaty, Scotch-like notes, charcoal, chocolate sweetness, and a finish that may speak more to malt fans than bourbon drinkers.

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices