Bourbon Pursuit

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 27th 2023. Bardstown Bourbon Company’s new tasting experience is now open in Louisville, Frank August has two new releases, and Knob Creek releases a skillet collaborationShow Notes: The Federal Trade Commission brings Total Wine & More into the Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits investigation Ky ABC threatens Doc Crow’s Southern Smokehouse & Raw Bar Bardstown Bourbon Company’s new tasting experience is now open in Louisville 2023 DtC Report shows more people want craft spirits shipped Flag Hill Distillery Releases New Hampshire’s First 10-Year-Old Bourbon Frank August has two new releases Michael Buble announces the launch of Fraser & Thompson Knob Creek partners with Smithey Ironware The Hardin’s Creek Kentucky Series @@totalwine @@doccrows @@bardstownbourbonco @@flag_hill @@fraserandthompson @@knobcreek @@thefrankaugust Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is no stranger to the show. We've had the privelege of knowing Blake Riber of Seelbach's for many years. However, before he had Seelbach's he was a past guest on episode 007 when he was running one of the premier bourbon blogs on the internet called bourbonr. I wanted to invite Blake on the show to talk about the past few years because building an e-commerce business on bourbon, is no easy task. We talk about legal licensing, his first Purchase orders, and being scrappy by growing into his warehouses. Now he helps kickstart brands' success by giving them an online presence. He finds new customers through content marketing and builds loyalty through customer service. It's a story about passion, knowledge, and a little bit of luck. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) asks if barrel proof will last in the bottle over time Are you going to give us an updated shirtless picture we can use on our website? What opportunity presented itself to go from a blogger to a whiskey e-commerce business? What was some of those early hurdle of getting people to order online? How are you finding new customers? What legal hurdles have been the toughest to overcome? Can you share what your warehousing situation was like versus today? Is it gratifying to look back and think about what's like to help kickstart some brand's success? How do you figure out inventory management and the challenges of doing this on e-commerce versus brick and morter? Were you searching for brands or are brands coming to you now to have that online retail presence? How are you trying to connect the brands and the consumers? How are you building customer loyalty? Can you share your initial investment to get your licenses and first POs to get your first sales? Are you see a trade down with de-premiumization and how consumers are shifting? What does growth look like now? Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Rare Hare Lucky Bastard Whiskey. This 30 year old Canadian whiskey is 89 proof and $600 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 20th 2023. The Whiskey House announces its operation date, American Whiskey exports could face a 50% tariff soon, and King of Kentucky is returning this year with the release of its sixth edition.Show Notes: The Whiskey House announces its operation date The 10 most-consumed alcoholic drinks in the world Burglars used tractor trailers to steal more than $1.6 million worth of alcohol from Republic National Distributing Company BAXUS has announced the launch of its whiskey and wines marketplace It's Bourbon Night announces the first ever BIG Bourbon Night American Whiskey Exports Could face a 50% tariff soon Pinhook Artist Series No. 3 Double Blended Bourbon Laws Whiskey House Special Finish Series release: Honey Cask Finished Bourbon Barrell Foundation Bourbon Booker’s Batch 2023-03 Mighty Fine Batch New Riff dual release of two 8-year-old whiskeys Woodford Reserve 2023 Master’s Collection release - Sonoma Triple Finish King of Kentucky is returning this year with the release of its sixth edition @rndcusa @baxus.@co @itsbourbonnight @pinhook_bourbon @lawswhiskey @barrellbourbon @newriff @woodfordreserve Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the daily drinker dead? I take this roundtable into the direction of deep thoughts once again. At some point in our bourbon journey, someone has asked you "what's your go to?" and maybe you had an answer, but today you may be uncertain about it. I ask everyone on the roundtable if we're living in the golden age of american whiskey and if they feel there's too many options on the shelf to be living in the bubble of only a few bottles. Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about bourbon legislation. Is the daily drinker dead? Are we living in the golden age of American Whiskey? How do you break away from the daily drinker? @breakingbourbon @fredminnick @drinkseelbachs @bourbonr Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Elijah Craig Ryder Cup Toasted Barrel Bourbon. This non-age state bourbon is 94 proof and $100 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for October 13th 2023. The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection details have been announced, a new world record has been set for the most bourbon bottles at a bar , and you can spend the night in a bourbon barrelShow Notes: Warehouse H: The Story of Blanton’s Bourbon Prohibition Bourbon Bar at Newberry Bros. Coffee in Newport, Kentucky has set the world record Uncle Nearest will launch a Cognac brand Diageo countersued Sean Combs in New York state Whiskey Riot expands 2024 tour Devils River Whiskey partners with Dave Bautista Catoctin Creek Distilling Company reacquires its interest from Constellation Brands Bourbon Barrel Retreats in Lawrenceburg WIDOW JANE’S THE VAULTS 2023 WOODFORD RESERVE 2023 HOLIDAY BOTTLE Philadelphia Eagles launch Bird Gang Spirits Heaven’s Door Spirits launches “Homesick Blues” Minnesota Wheated Bourbon Never Say Die Rye Whiskey Nelson Brothers Rye Whiskey WhistlePig 12 Rye Whiskey Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Toasted Staves. A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 11 Milam & Greene Whiskey Free-Tailed Bat Single Barrel Bourbon Blue Run 8-Year-Old Single Barrel The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection @warehousehinfo @newbery_prohibition @unclenearest @diageo @whiskeyriotfestival @devilsrwhiskey @davebautista @catoctincreeks @bourbonbarrelretreats @widowjane @woodfordreserve @heavensdoor @whistlepigwhiskey @yellowstonebourbon @drinkhighwest @milamandgreenewhiskey @bluerunspirits @buffalotrace Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Riff has been a brand that many whiskey enthusiasts have followed for many years. I was excited to have Jay Erisman on the show, once again, to talk about his vision for New Riff. Jay came into the industry with no production experience but learned the ropes quickly. Under the guise of Ken Lewis, New Riff put a focus on unique grain experimentation over finishes. Over time, that itch for curiosity has built famous releases based on heirloom grains and a brand new vision for single malt. Through collaborations with farmers and consumers, New Riff has charted its own adventure in the spirits world Show Notes: Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about nosing high proof spirits. Can you tell everyone again about how you got started at The Party Source and New Riff? Do you remember doing private Van Winkle picks? How did Ken Lewis impact today's retail of beverage alcohol? How did you get smart real quick on running a distillery with no background? What brands inspired you to figure out what your whiskey was going to be? Did you make a bet on grain experimentation vs finishes? Have your batches been all luck or have there been some duds? Does New Riff have a higher educated consumer fanbase? Did you all try to embrace the single barrel fad? What's the thought process behind the single malt project? Did you learn anything from the Kentucky regimine of heirloom varieties? @newriff Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Very Olde St. Nick Immaculata. This non-age state bourbon is 118.1 proof and $260 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe to Behind The Pursuit: From Bourbon to BrandThere can be a lot of confusion when it comes to the term 'NDP' or Non-Distilling Producer and a producer who makes contract distilling purchases. Both are, in essence, buying whiskey instead of making whiskey, but what other factors are at play to separate these two? We hit on: What does the sourced market inventory pool generally look like? What is the largest hurdle for brands at the mercy of the sourced market? What does it look like for a brand to use either model long-term? What has it looked like for brands that have started in the sourced market and pivoted to their own distilling or contract distilling? For someone who does rely on contract distillation, are there concerns with expansions, buyouts, brands going in different directions etc. from those who are producing whiskey for them and those implications to your brand?  How do you differentiate your brand from others when so many have access to, essentially, the same base product? and much more.For questions or topic requests on upcoming episodes, email us at podcast@pursuitspirits.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices