Bourbon Pursuit

Bourbon Pursuit
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  • Updated twice weekly

The Official Podcast of Bourbon! The best in news, reviews and interviews with people making the bourbon whiskey industry happen. Join hosts Kenny Coleman, Ryan Cecil, and Fred Minnick as they talk with prominent guests and provide insight on American whiskey 3 times a week. Catch all new episodes every Thursday with special Whiskey Quickie reviews on Tuesday and get caught up on bourbon news with This Week in Bourbon on Friday.

  1. 15 hr ago

    How Dinner Table Conversations Change Bourbon Forever with Craig Beam of Jackson Purchase

    What does it actually look like when your family dinner table conversations literally shape the history of American whiskey? Well today we're sitting down with a true legend of Kentucky distilling royalty: 2025 Bourbon Hall of Fame Inductee, Craig Beam. Growing up with a last name that defines the entire category, Craig shares what it was really like sitting at the table listening to his father, Parker Beam, and grandfather, Earl Beam, talk shop about Heaven Hill’s fermentation and equipment hurdles while simultaneously working cattle and farming. Craig takes us through his early days of pulling grunt work in vacant rickhouses in 1983, learning the legendary family jug yeast process, and eventually stepping up as Master Distiller. We even get to hear Craig's story about how casual conversations while working the farm led to the birth of Elijah Craig, Evan Williams single barrels, and the iconic Parker’s Heritage Collection. A master distiller's job used to mean grain buying, pressure washing, and lab work and not just marketing campaigns but that's why he's here today to give us the details about his exciting next chapter at Jackson Purchase Distillery. Show Notes: Craig growing up listening to Parker and Earl Beam balance Heaven Hill distilling mechanics with western Kentucky farming Craig’s journey from sweeping out empty rickhouses in 1983 to mastering the family's secret jug yeast lineage An inside look at how farming conversations birthed legendary labels like Elijah Craig and Parker’s Heritage Why historic distilling roles required hands-on labor, from grain buying and lab work to pressure washing warehouses How Craig Beam and Terry Ballard teamed up in 2021 to scale a hidden contract distilling powerhouse Technical insights into how a warmer regional climate impacts early barrel color extraction and aging physics Mapping out Jackson Purchase’s experimental library, including wheated mash bills, air-dried staves, and American single malts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 5min

  2. 1 day ago

    Behind The Pursuit: Don’t Ask Us About Bottling

    We’ve had a great run relying on volunteers and that original bottling setup in the back of the warehouse—it got us where we are today—but to be honest, things had to change. When you’re looking at your annual sales goals and trying to maintain a consistent product across the board, you eventually hit a ceiling where "the way we’ve always done it" just doesn’t cut it anymore. We spent a lot of time weighing our options, looking at contract bottling and beefing up our hand-lines, but at the end of the day, investing in our own internal infrastructure made the most sense for the future of Pursuit. Today on the podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on the process of installing our new bottling line. We’re talking about the headaches, the logistical hurdles, and the small wins that proved we were finally at the scale point to make this a reality. We also get into the weeds on our latest Meat Church collaboration: the Honey Hog Bourbon release. We discuss the inception of the project and, more importantly, the technical challenge of working with honey compared to the wood-finished profiles we’re typically known for. It’s a deep dive into the operational side of the spirits business that you don’t usually get to see.Show Notes: Investing in a Bottling Line Challenges and Learning Curves with New Equipment Future Needs and Scaling Up Considering Bottling for Other Brands Navigating Tax Challenges in Distilling The Importance of Operational Control Future Considerations for Growth Quality Control in Bottling Introducing the Honey Hog Collaboration Reflections on Product Development Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min

  3. 2 days ago

    Whiskey Quickie: Blue Corn Double Oaked?! This Stuff Is WILD

    Beyke Blue Corn Double Oaked Batch 1 takes the original blue corn bourbon to another level. Blueberry smoothie vibes, chocolate drizzle, creamy oak, and big dessert energy at 118 proof. This one disappeared FAST for a reason.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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

    5 min
  4. TWiB: $500,000 of Noble Oak bourbon stolen in heist, High-end whiskey collector crime ring solved, Booker's "The Milkshake Batch" Bourbon

    6 days ago

    TWiB: $500,000 of Noble Oak bourbon stolen in heist, High-end whiskey collector crime ring solved, Booker's "The Milkshake Batch" Bourbon

    It's This Week in Bourbon for June 12th 2026. $500,000 of Noble Oak bourbon has been stolen in a truck heist, An organized crime ring targeting high-end whiskey collectors has been solved from the Madisonville Police Department, and Booker's "The Milkshake Batch" Bourbon gets released.Show Notes: Philadelphia Police and FBI Investigate $500,000 Noble Oak Bourbon Heist Lawrenceburg Historic Homes to Host Exclusive Screening and Guided Tours This July Madisonville Police Disrupt FB Group Whiskey Scam Defrauding Buyers of $86K Whiskey House of Kentucky Lays Off 30% of Staff Amid Industry Slowdown Give 270 Announces Next 20/20 Unicorn Raffle Featuring Rare Brown-Forman 150th Anniversary Bottle Orphan Barrel Unveils 25-Year Night Sage Blended Canadian Whisky Allies for Cherry Point Partners with Bespoken Spirits for Final Flight Reserve Harrier Tribute Thirty-One Lengths Launches $1,500 Ultra-Premium Bourbon Honoring Secretariat’s Legendary Victory Adventure Spirits Distilling Partners with Toledo Mud Hens for Stadium Craft Cocktails Hard Truth Distilling Co. Welcomes Back Double Oaked Sweet Mash Rye at 113 Entry Proof Penelope Flips Strategy to Debut New Classic Everyday Bourbon and Rye Series Old Fourth Distillery Teams Up with Dragon Con for 2nd Annual Landmark Anniversary Bourbon James B. Beam Distilling Company Rolls Out Booker's "The Milkshake Batch" Bourbon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    37 min

  5. 11 Jun

    Bourbon Myths with Kevin Carlson

    On this week's episode, Kevin Carlson returns to the show and takes total control of the conversation with a rapid-fire set of “whiskey myth-busting” questions that every enthusiast needs to hear. We tackle the age-old debate head-on: was bourbon actually better before the boom, or are we living in a golden era of variety and innovation? We break down whether the concept of a true "daily drinker" is officially dead for the enthusiast, and touch on the eternal battle of proof versus flavor. We argue why higher proof doesn't automatically mean a better whiskey, because there are fan favorites like Michter’s 10 and Weller 107. Then there is the polarizing rise of American light whiskey and the truth behind age statements. We close things out by busting the romantic myths surrounding dusty bottles, the actual hands-on role of a modern Master Distiller, and whether the little guy stands a chance against heritage giants when releasing an ultra-premium bottle. Show Notes: Comparing the lower prices and dusty availability of the past to today's massive variety and diverse product landscape Analyzing how the explosion of available expressions has changed purchasing habits for casual vs. serious consumers Why every whiskey has an ideal balance point and how chasing high proofs can sabotage a spirit's true profile The technical reality of the category and why it gets overhyped when marketed under the guise of traditional bourbon Why age statements act as a guide rather than a guarantee of quality for aging barrels in Kentucky climates How premium presentation impacts consumer perception and the fine line between creative finishing and masking weak distillate The operational reality of today's heritage producers and why a corporate Master Distiller acts more like a ship captain than a hands-on operator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1hr 11min

  6. 9 Jun

    Whiskey Quickie: This Bourbon Tastes Like a County Fair?!

    Burnt Tavern’s new Kentucky bourbon from Chip Tate brings wild notes of kettle corn, nectarines, golden raisins, and smoky county fair vibes. A double oaked release with a seriously unique profile… but does the finish hold up?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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

    6 min
  7. TWiB: Uncle Nearest May Have A Buyer, Saga Spirits lawsuits become public, Four Roses Distillery introduces Anthology

    5 Jun

    TWiB: Uncle Nearest May Have A Buyer, Saga Spirits lawsuits become public, Four Roses Distillery introduces Anthology

    It's This Week in Bourbon for June 5th 2026. Uncle Nearest May Have A Buyer, Saga Spirits behind True Story has two alleged lawsuits that just became public, and Four Roses Distillery is introducing Anthology, a new 21 year old bourbon.Show Notes: Uncle Nearest receiver signs letter of intent to sell distillery and assets to Black-owned investment firm Wes Henderson’s saga spirits group faces $1.5M in debt lawsuits over Kentucky Castle project New Riff Distilling drops exclusive 10-Year-Old Bourbon and Rye for High Note Series Michter's rolls out 10-Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye for June 2026 James B. Beam Distilling Co. elevates classic brand with Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel 7-Year MANORS Golf and Gentleman Jack launch A Gentleman’s Guide to Golf apparel and content partnership Bluegrass Distillers brings back highly anticipated blue corn program with new rye-inclusive mash bill Penelope Bourbon hits retail shelves with new Blackberry Old Fashioned ready-to-serve cocktail 15 STARS debuts First West Explorer, its first bourbon crafted from 100% in-house black corn distillate Knob Creek teams up with Huckberry for custom tote bag and Father's Day pop-up at Grand Central Terminal Stoll & Wolfe partners with Alan Bishop to launch colonial-style Wolfe & Wilson Straight Rye Rolling Fork Spirits revives historic 1906 REWCO Rye brand with limited small-batch release Koopers Whiskey gears up for Father's Day with rare 8-year-old Father’s Office Cigar Blend Adventure Spirits collaborates with Task Force 20 to release TF20 Bottled-in-Bond bourbon for veterans Four Roses Distillery introduces Anthology series with 21-year-old Chapter One: Origin Starlight Distillery announces estate-grown Indiana Straight 10-Year Reserve Bourbon at cask strength Wild Turkey honors Eddie Russell's 45th anniversary with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year and custom documentary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min

  8. 4 Jun

    Does Low Barrel Entry Proof Create Better Bourbon? on Bourbon Community Roundtable #119

    On this week’s Bourbon Community Roundtable, our panel is tackling one of the deepest geek-out topics in the entire whiskey world: the battle over barrel entry proof and how it has evolved over time. While the modern industry has largely settled into an efficiency-driven standard of 120 to 125 proof, we’re digging into the history to ask the ultimate question: did the industry get it completely wrong in 1962, and does the next decade of bourbon belong at 105? With Buffalo Trace dropping a massive new 15-year-old wheated bourbon at a 105 entry proof and Michter's continuing to dominate the premium space with their signature 103 entry proof, we debate whether a lower entry proof creates a fundamentally superior water-wood-spirit interaction. We’re breaking down the financial temptation that drove the historical shift to 125 proof, the divide between casual drinkers and the hyper-informed enthusiast market, and examining real-world case studies from Wild Turkey, Maker’s Mark, and New Riff to see if low entry proof is a guaranteed flavor hack or if it still comes down to the skill of the producer. Show Notes: How and why the industry legally moved from 110 to 125 proof in the early 1960s Analyzing how volume, barrel costs, and efficiency drove production changes over flavor considerations How lower entry proof alters wood interaction to deliver enhanced sweetness, complexity, and mouthfeel Distinguishing how everyday casual drinkers view production specs versus the hyper-focused whiskey enthusiast Examining experimental releases and standards from Michter's, Buffalo Trace, New Riff, and Wild Turkey Predictions on whether craft innovation will force legacy heritage brands to lower their entry proofs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min
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About

The Official Podcast of Bourbon! The best in news, reviews and interviews with people making the bourbon whiskey industry happen. Join hosts Kenny Coleman, Ryan Cecil, and Fred Minnick as they talk with prominent guests and provide insight on American whiskey 3 times a week. Catch all new episodes every Thursday with special Whiskey Quickie reviews on Tuesday and get caught up on bourbon news with This Week in Bourbon on Friday.

Information

  • Creator
    Bourbon Pursuit
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.2k
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The work here is copyrighted and owned by Bourbon Pursuit LLC. You may not reproduce or use clips in monetized content unless approved. Embedding is permissible.
  • Show Website
    Bourbon Pursuit

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