Bourbon Pursuit Bourbon Pursuit

This is a question that has plagued me for quite some time and it was inspired by my wife. Ryan and I continuously evaluate brands as we compare what works and what doesn't when it comes to consumers. We get caught in this trap of continually pivoting as we see other brands catch fire because of a bottle design or some element. So my wife asked me, Kenny, are you are whiskey company or a marketing company? It caught me off guard and I really had to think about the broader landscape so I wanted to make an episode where we talk about what it takes to be a whiskey company versus a marketing company. There's probably a lot of brands out there that think of themselves as a whiskey company but in reality they are a marketing company. Here's the thing, there's no wrong answer. Marketing plays a crucial role in whiskey and it could be the marketing that's in your face through point of sale, it could be bottle shapes, or even the lack of marketing to keep the mystique alive. I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and it probably requires us to hit this topic again in the future if you send us your feedback.

Show Notes:

Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about Maker's Mark and their role in bourbon resurgence.

Where do you spend your first initial investment?

Does the liquid even matter?

Does having special distillation, heirloom grains, or anything else really matter?

Can a big distiller be considered a marketing company?

When a big distiller creates the same label with different colors and proofs, is that about the whiskey?

How do you transition from being a marketing company to a whiskey company?

Does it matter if you're getting it from one source like everyone else?

Do you need to cater to the neophytes or the mass consumer market?

If Fred Minnick starts a brand would you put your money in marketing or the whiskey?

Can you be a whiskey company if you are using MGP?

Is a lack of marketing considered marketing?



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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review High N' Wicked Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. This 5 year old whiskey is 98.2 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.

It's This Week in Bourbon for April 19th 2024. Maker's Mark, Ed Lee, and Messermeister come out with a knife collaboration, Bourbon Women announces the 2024 SIP Scholarship Program, and Keeneland Race Course and Maker’s Mark launch Greats of the Gate.Show Notes:
Woodford Reserve Distillery has unfairly influenced a 2022 unionization vote

Maker's Mark, Ed Lee, and Messermeister come out with a knife collaboration

Bargo 459 joins The Kentucky Distillers’ Association

Bourbon Women is pleased to announce the 2024 SIP Scholarship Program

Hard Truth Distilling Co. to break ground on its third rackhouse

Old Line Spirits 51 Rye Whiskey

Keeneland Race Course and Maker’s Mark launch Greats of the Gate

@woodfordreserve @makersmark @chefedwardlee @messer_meister @bourbonwomen @hardtruthspirits @oldlinespirits @keeneland

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Whenever you get into a hobby that involved enthusiasts and collecting, there are trends that begin to appear. Allocations, raffles, lotteries, fakes, these are things that become common. One of those hobbies that has quite a few parallels is sneakers. Matt Kusek is a certified whiskey enthusiasts as a write for Malt Review but he's also the host of the Swoosh Life podcast that focuses on sneaker heads. He joins the show to give us an insight into how the shoe game and bourbon have so many similarities that, in Matt's words, sneakers are 20 years ahead of bourbon. We dive into the types of collectors, brands, sales, allocation, and so much more. If sneakers are really 20 years ahead of bourbon, who knows what the next few years has in store for us.

Show Notes:

Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about Buffalo Trace expansion.

What's the similarity between Jordan's and bourbon releases?

Are there raffles, lotteries, or hunts for sneakers?

Who is the distributor and how do they own the retail store?

If Nike is number one, who would they be compared to and who's the next biggest?

Mom and pop stores vs chains and how are they getting pushed out of the market?

What about saving and storing vs wearing or drinking?

Is it Jordan and then everyone else?

What is the Heaven Hill or Weller of sneakers?

Are there people that only collect one type of shoe?

Bourbon hits all walks of life or does the sneaker enthusiasts hit all walks of life?

Are there sneakers that don't need marketing?

Do you look differently at people who are rookies and buy stuff just because they want every color?

Are there any value brands that hold up over time?

Are there some LTOs that flop?

Are replicas or fakes a big problem?

Has the market gone down because everything became a limited edition?

Was Blue Run able to sneakerize the industry in your opinion?

@mattkusek

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On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Jack Daniel's 12 Year Batch 2 Tennessee Whiskey. This 12 year old whiskey is 107 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.

It's This Week in Bourbon for April 12th 2024. Derby season is abuzz in Louisville with lots of events, Jeff Hopmayer joins the board for Staghorn, and 18 new whiskey releases.Show Notes:
A21 Wine & Spirits has agreed to purchase the Noble Oak American Whiskey brand from Edrington

Slow Pass Bourbon Co. LLC is considering opening a $70 million distillery in Springfield, Ky

Three limited-time Derby experiences for booking on Buzzard's Roost

The Woodford Reserve $1,000 and $5,000 Mint Julep cups charity program

Staghorn has appointed Brindiamo Group founder Jeff Hopmayer to serve on the advisory board

Chef Edward Lee recently released a cookbook called Bourbon Land

Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon

2XO The Kiawah Blend

High n’ Wicked cask strength rye and bourbon

High West Bourye

Jim Gaffigan launches Fathertime Bourbon

Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish

Ole Smoky Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Booker’s Springfield Batch

BHAKTA 2014 Bourbon

A. Overholt

Chicken Cock Double Oak Single Barrel

BLACKENED Whiskey 2024 edition of Rye the Lighting

Savage & Cooke Distillery Howling Mob Bourbon Whiskey and Bloody Butcher Bourbon Whiskey

Still Austin Ruby Red Port Barrel Finished Straight Rye Whiskey

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition

Orphan Barrel Indigo’s Hour Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Milam & Greene Whiskey 2024 Wildlife Collection: Mockingbird Single Barrel Bourbon

@nobleoak @buzzardsroostwhiskey @woodfordreserve @brindiamogroup @chefedwardlee @michterswhiskey @2xowhiskey @dixon_dedman @highnwicked @drinkhighwest @jimgaffigan @fathertimebourbon @ezrabrooksbourbon @olesmokey @bhaktaspirits @chickencockwhiskey @blackenedamericanwhiskey @savageandcooke @stillatx @heavenhilldistillery @milamandgreenewhiskey

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