Bourbon Pursuit

Jim Rutledge, Master Distiller at Four Roses, joins us for Part 1 of this 2-Part podcast and talks about his education, job history, his love for bowling, and how he brought Four Roses straight bourbon back to the US.Show Notes: What was your first experience with bourbon? What was your journey from different roles with Seagrams and your path into Four Roses? Who gave you the opportunity to get back into distillery operations? Blended Whiskey by Seagrams were top shelf at one time What impact did Kirin have on Four Roses since it was primarily an export only? How has the Four Roses brand grown since it’s been back in the US? What are you most excited for with the future of Four Roses? How are you planning for Four Roses future? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martha Carlin, Great Great Granddaughter of George T. Stagg, talks about her gaggle of Stagg bottles up for auction, her family history in the bourbon industry, and how much George T. Stagg really loved to fish.Show Notes: Pappy Spring Release in Louisville Bourbon auction: A gaggle of Stagg on thebourbonbabe.com What’s the auction currently priced at? Did you grow up around bourbon or did you just recently discover it all? Sour Mash smells like home Do you still have any family in the bourbon industry? Did you or your mom collect all of this research of family history? What happened to all the money? Any memories of George T. Stagg from your mother? Paul Sawyier was supported by Frank Stagg Lots of pictures in the show notes of the website Can you talk about the picture with the lock of hair in the folded envelope? What was George T. Stagg doing in Baltimore when he died? And how? Ryan is going to take Martha out to dinner if she gets him her extra bottle of 2013! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beau Beckman, Barrel Select Manager at Buffalo Trace (and great great great great great grandson of Colonel EH Taylor), talks about his family legacy, the process of buying a barrel, and how technology is changing the future of the program with Single Barrel Select.Show Notes: Tell us a bit about your lineage and the dirty rundown of the Taylor's Where did the EH Taylor packaging and logo come from? What led you to Buffalo Trace? Talk about your role as a Barrel Program Manager How many barrels are available for the program? How do you choose who gets to pick a barrel? What's the process of going through the barrel selection? What brands can you choose and the history of the barrel program? Why does the barrel program exist? Why mess with the "chef's recipe"? Talk about "Honor Tradition, Embrace Change" with Single Barrel Select app to follow the barrel selection process online. What your thought's on the Old Taylor brand getting a re-birth? If you have a Tornado you are willing to part with, Beau is in search of it! What's the best part about the job? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Johnson, Director of the KY Bourbon Trail & Bourbon Affair, talks about tourism, the places to visit, horse country, and craft distilling.Show Notes: Can you remember your first drink? Live, Eat, Drink, and Sleep Bourbon What's your elevator pitch for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail? What increase are you seeing in visitor attendance? There are quite a few on the trail. Is there a best way to plan this all out? What's the difference between the Bourbon Trail & The Craft Tour? Is there a better time of the year to visit? Talk about the Passport Program and free t-shirts Talk about biking (bicycle or motorcycle) the bourbon trail Are there plans for a bullet train between destinations? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maggie Kimberl (@LouGirl502), author of everything bourbon for Louisville.com, joins the duo to talk about bourbon in the news and media.Show Notes: What was your first bourbon memory? How do you perceive Master Distillers spending their time in liquor stores? Talk about your job for writing about bourbon industry news and culture for Louisville.com Has your following grown over the past year? Favorite barrel proof bourbons & Bottled-in-bond Talk about Bottled-in-bond Uncle Jemima’s Pure Mash Liquor What are your tips for traveling to bourbon country? Any bourbon bars you can suggest? Talk about being a woman in the whiskey world Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wes Henderson, Chief Innovation Officer of Angel's Envy, joins us to talk about the start of this brand, his father's heritage, and moreShow Notes: What was life like growing up around bourbon with your father's reputation? Talk about the origins of the brand and the design Where did the idea for port barrel finishes stem from? Talk about the cask strength More stores are starting to offer 'blended' picks What's going on with the new distillery? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blake Riber, author of bourbonr.com, talks about the popularity of his blog, his ideas and the release of a brand new app!Show Notes: How did you get into bourbon and how did it lead to the blog? You have almost two websites. The Blog and My Whiskey Cabinet. Where does inspiration for content come from? What are the most popular articles? Where did poor man's pappy spawn from? What does your current collection look like? There is a brand new bourbonr.com app coming to the market Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two part podcast. First part discussion about Heaven Hill growth and demand. In the second part, Ryan joins Mike Sonne, "Chief" Bourbon Quality Control Taster at Heaven Hill, to talk about his job working with Parker Beam and Denny Potter.Show Notes: We're out hunting for Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Does bourbon need to stay closer to KY? Heaven Hill fills their 7th million barrel The bottling facility is something impressive What's a typical day for tasting bourbon? How did Larceny come about? Vodka vs Bourbon in age preference How is Parker's Heritage decided every year? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Al Young, Brand Ambassador of Four Roses, talks about the rich history of the brand and his storyShow Notes: What's your story of how you got into the bourbon industry? What are some of your daily or weekly duties as a "Brand Ambassador"? Tell everyone about Four Roses: The Return of a Whiskey Legend What was the book writing process like? How long? Who was Paul Jones Jr and how did the name "Four Roses" come about? Where was Four Roses during prohibition? What role did Seagram's play in Four Roses? What are your favorite vintage advertising pieces? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harlen Wheatley, Master Distiller at Buffalo Trace, joins us we discuss multiple facets of his history and life at the famed Buffalo Trace DistilleryShow Notes: Do you remember life before bourbon? What led you here? Wheatley Vodka, the spirit named after Harlen. Sampling, tasting, and characteristics of the brands Don't you get tired of tasting bourbon all day? History and future of the Single Oak Project Warehouse X... what's the big deal? What's more important? The mash bill or the aging process Forecasting demand for Pappy and other BT products What's the best part about your job? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices