Behind the Pursuit: From Bourbon to Brand

C+C Pursuit Spirits
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Behind the Pursuit: From Bourbon to Brand

Take part in a journey to build a bourbon brand. Brian Beyke sits down with the founders of the top whiskey podcast, Kenny and Ryan of Bourbon Pursuit, to figure out what it takes to bring their whiskey label to life. Experience the highs, lows, and everything in between from investments, filling barrels, and shipping bottles. Special episodes will feature in-depth tasting notes for single barrel releases. It's your chance to have the first ever inside look into the bourbon business and learn about the whiskey industry with Pursuit Spirits.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Building a Team

    Building a team can be hard. Not just finding people who jive with the brand but also passing the baton on responsibilities. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of the team at Pursuit Spirits, the challenges of hiring in the whiskey industry, and the importance of building a strong team culture. We dive into the dynamics of communication within a startup, the significance of defining roles and responsibilities, and the need for adaptability as the company grows to push the vision of the brand forward.  We hit on: What unique challenges exist coming from a larger brand to Pursuit? What have you learned from your first hires to what you are looking for in your new hires? Kenny what responsibilities are you wanting to pass off, and in turn move on to focus on? Ryan do you see yourself beginning to start passing off responsibilities, and what would you pass off? and much more. Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com.

    36 min

  2. JAN 29

    Social Media & Marketing Strategies

    How do you balance the 'lifestyle' that is usually portrayed in marketing strategies in the whiskey space and the 'authenticity' the current consumer wants to interact with? On today's episode we break free from some of our earlier conversations on brand strategy and communication that we talked about in Episode 029 and start to focus on narrowed efforts you may have seen in 2024 and ongoing in 2025. Specifically Ryan has been giving direction on how we engage our growing audience and stay true to the personality being built for Pursuit Spirits, while also trying to keep from being stagnant. We hit on: Marketing strategies for Pursuit Spirits are evolving to focus on engagement. Content creation must balance entertainment and product promotion. Social media platforms require tailored content strategies for success. Authenticity and relatability are key in modern branding. TikTok has proven to be a powerful tool for small businesses. Content should be adapted for different platforms to maximize reach. Engagement with the audience is crucial for brand growth. and much more. Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com.

    34 min

  3. JAN 15

    The Biggest Hurdles in 2025

    As we kick off the new year, we dove right into the topic: what do you think the biggest hurdles in the industry are that will affect the brand in 2025? Ryan & Kenny discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the bourbon industry in 2025. They reflect on the impact of larger distilleries on smaller brands, the shift towards online sales, and the importance of tourism in downtown Louisville. The conversation also touches on the development of their new space and the need for continuous innovation to stay relevant in a competitive market. We hit on: The bourbon industry is facing increased competition from larger distilleries. Online sales present both opportunities and challenges for smaller brands. Tourism is crucial for the growth of downtown Louisville and the bourbon industry. The market is becoming more crowded with limited-time offerings from big brands. There is a need for smaller brands to innovate and differentiate themselves. Consumer behavior is shifting towards higher-priced items in the bourbon market. The development of new spaces can enhance the consumer experience and drive sales. Building strong distributor relationships is essential for growth. Economic uncertainty may impact consumer spending in 2025. and much more. Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com.

    39 min

  4. JAN 1

    ARCHIVE - 2022 In Review

    Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to 2025! We are taking the week off for some travel and rest, but will be back at it next episode to talk our goals and predictions for the new year. It's hard to believe we've been doing Behind The Pursuit for almost three years now, so we are jumping back to our first Year End Review episode, Episode 027, where we wrapped up 2022 and look forward to 2023. I love being able to see which goals remain the same, and where we've grown over the last two years. 2022 was a wild ride for us. We began Behind the Pursuit for starters, so thank you for a successful first year as we go behind the scenes starting this whiskey brand. Not only that, but there was a lot of learning and pivoting for the guys through the year. Today we recap 2022, some things we learned through the months, and what we look forward in as the company continues the momentum in 2023 and beyond.  We hit on: Do you feel more pressure or more difficulty solidifying your position in the market with other brands or products that have come on-line? Has the target demographic for the brand changed? What were the biggest learning moments in 2022? What brings you the most optimism for 2023 and beyond? and much more. Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com.

    53 min

  5. 12/18/2024

    2024 Reflections With Ryan

    While Kenny was out we sit down with Ryan and dive into current blending projects and inventory decisions that have to be made to keep up with current demand. We also reflect on the whiskey industry as a whole in 2024, what some of our favorite pours have been, and the landscape of what other producers are doing help form how he blends or thinks about whiskeys heading into 2025. We hit on: How has the PUPS program changed over the course of the year? How have you kept up with held inventory for 2025 and beyond when there is so much demand as we close out 2024? What trends in your Double Oaked finishes have been the most popular, and why do you think that is? With the growing demand for some of the SKUs, have you had to go back to your distilling partners to increase your barrels on hand from your original forecasts? Are you still anchored to your original scale points based on what you’ve seen in the industry?  What have some of your favorite releases been in 2024, and how do they shape your perspective on blending for Pursuit going into 2025? and much more. Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com.

    41 min

  6. 12/04/2024

    Packaging Update

    I'm gonna make a change… it's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right. No, MJ wasn’t singing about Pursuit Spirits, but on today’s episode the boys dive into the latest developments at Pursuit Spirits, including their recent bottling adventures, community engagement through the new Pursuit Parlor Facebook group, and significant changes in their packaging and product terminology. They explore the challenges and strategies involved in evolving their brand and products to better connect with consumers and adapt to market trends. We hit on: The Pursuit Spirits brand evolving with new packaging designs and the reasoning for the changes. Simplifying product terminology can help consumers understand offerings better. The new packaging aims to stand out on shelves and attract attention. Managing product volumes with continually changing target dates. Future product strategies include diversifying proof offerings. More future developments coming in 2025. and much more. Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com.

    42 min

  7. 11/20/2024

    10 Years In The Making

    2025 marks the 10-year mark for Bourbon Pursuit, and even longer of the guys having conversations about what they will do in the whiskey space together. Fresh off of their live Bourbon Community Roundtable event, In this episode of Behind the Pursuit Kenny and Ryan reflect on their experiences in the bourbon industry and the evolution of Pursuit Spirits. They discuss the challenges and successes they've faced over the past decade, the importance of building a brand that resonates with consumers, and the lessons learned from industry trends and guests. The conversation highlights the journey of entrepreneurship in the bourbon space and the significance of storytelling in connecting with audiences. We hit on: What was the inception point into whiskey deeper than the podcast? How has 10-years in the industry affected how you continue to focus the brand, with what you’ve seen in trends coming and going and movement to the bourbon consumer?  As you are interviewing guests and hearing people talk about the industry for the last 10-years, what have some of the more recent guests continued to reveal or teach you about the industry, and how has that shaped how you think about Pursuit Spirts? and much more. Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com.

    39 min

  8. 11/06/2024

    Early Goals For 2025

    In this episode of Behind the Pursuit we reflect on the past year, focusing on both growth and challenges. Kenny and Ryan delve into their goals for 2025, including the opening of our new downtown location, the importance of connecting with consumers, and the strategies for direct-to-consumer sales. The conversation also touches on the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship, the challenges of marketing in the spirits industry, and the need for innovative approaches to stand out in a crowded market. We hit on: As we wind down 2024, what are some goals you are focusing on for 2025 and beyond? What are you thinking about doing in the downtown space to help people relate to the brand, and what is the breakdown of focus on Pursuit Spirits vs. Bourbon Pursuit? What are the pros and cons of focusing on a DTC distribution model? What does scale look like for something like that vs. the existing distribution model? Where have you found success in terms of marketing and how do you see that changing or staying the same in 2025? How do you navigate the importance of being involved as much as possible but hands off as much as possible for healthy growth?  and much more. Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com.

    40 min
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About

Take part in a journey to build a bourbon brand. Brian Beyke sits down with the founders of the top whiskey podcast, Kenny and Ryan of Bourbon Pursuit, to figure out what it takes to bring their whiskey label to life. Experience the highs, lows, and everything in between from investments, filling barrels, and shipping bottles. Special episodes will feature in-depth tasting notes for single barrel releases. It's your chance to have the first ever inside look into the bourbon business and learn about the whiskey industry with Pursuit Spirits.

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