Bourbon Pursuit

The Bourbon Community Roundtable #7 talks about their beginnings with bourbon. Where did it all start, the intimidating scenarios, tips for beginners, and even tips for veterans. Show Notes: What was your gateway bourbon? The one that started it all... Blake you started with a barrel-proof, why is that? Do you think it’s a smart idea to introduce people to bourbon with low proof vs high-proof? Wha...

Bernie Lubbers, Whiskey Ambassador for Heaven Hill and also known as The Whiskey Professor, joins the show to talk about bottled-in-bond and what makes these bourbons “bricks of gold”. Show Notes: Talk about Bern’s Corner and how you arrange your bottles What has made you so fascinated with Bottled-in-Bond. Talk about the issue or necessity behind bottled-in-bond When people were diluting whiskey...

Tim Knittel, Bourbon Educator at Distilled-Living.com and a certified Stave & Thief Society Executive Bourbon Steward, kicks off "back to basics" month by giving an in-depth Bourbon 101 and 201 level knowledge bomb. You will learn something new, guaranteed or your money back! Show Notes: let's start from the top. What is bourbon? How's it made? What goes into it? What's the average proof coming of...

Brent Elliott, Master Distiller at Four Roses, talks about how he never owned a bottle of Four Roses until he interviewed and how the conversation went when he was tapped to be the new Master Distiller. Show Notes: Talk about growing up in Owensboro, your history and education What made you want to get into bourbon? Were you a Four Roses bourbon fan when you applied to work here? Was Four Roses th...

The Bourbon Community Roundtable #6 discusses Beam sales tactics with OGD114 news, Buffalo Trace OFC conspiracy theories, and is there a bias towards NDP/MGP when buying off the shelf. Show Notes: Blake from Bourbonr.com, Nick from BreakingBourbon.com and Kerry from Subourbia.com. OGD 114 is here to stay. Another Beam ploy to drive shelf sales. There’s been no shortage of getting your chance to bu...

James Markert, author of The Angel’s Share, joins the show to share information about the first fictional novel based on bourbon that takes place in Twisted Tree, Kentucky on an old family distillery that was abandoned after prohibition. Show Notes: Talk about your brush with bourbon Let’s talk about The Angel’s Share, what’s the premise of the story? What are some distilleries where you got inspi...

Elizabeth McCall, Sensory Scientist and Master Taster, Brown-Forman, joins the show to share what happens behind the white curtain and how people with a psychologist degree are recruited into bourbon. Show Notes: Talk about your past, growing up and your education What got you into brown spirits Did you have family influences or connections to the spirits industry? So I have to be honest, we have...

Ed Bley, Spirits and Beer Manager at Cork ’N Bottle, joins the show to talk about their historic past with bourbon, the importance of shopping small, and his process of doing barrel picks Show Notes: Dive into your past and some history to what led you into bourbon What’s the history of Cork N’ Bottle? Talk about how you deal with allocated releases What’s the importance to shop small and local? W...

The Bourbon Community Roundtable #5 dicusses the theories behind Old Scout, 2017 Predictions and Easily Obtainable Barrel Proof Choices. Show Notes: Joined by Blake of bourbonr.com, Jordan of breakingbourbon.com, and Kerry of subourbia.com So Smooth Ambler has discontinued their barrel program, which means no more private picks of SAOS. Thoughts? 2017 Predictions. What's going to happen? Are there...

Ryan Ashley, COO and Director of Distillery Operations, talks about how his history of beer brewing led him to distillation, the Four Roses brand, distillery expansion, and even hints at a possible Four Roses Rye. Show Notes: Today's Guest co-host is Linden Ferguson Talk about your past. Where did you grow up and your education, family influence, all that You’ve been known to be a big beer guy. Wh...

Chuck Cowdery, Bourbon Author and media pundit, joins to talk about Jim Beam backpedaling its way out of Booker’s price increase and the unique purchases Sazerac is making to expand their footprint. Show Notes: Talk about how you got into bourbon in the beginning Give the listeners a quick background on your books The Booker's thing is on everyone's mind and you had a article calling their actions...

John Little, VP and Head Distiller at Smooth Ambler, talks about the how the whole operation started from a note his father-in-law gave him from Time magazine. John dives into the roots of his current distillation and the single barrels seen on the market. Show Notes: Talk a little about your past and how you got into Whiskey What made you want to start a bourbon company a long time ago outside of...

This one is going to be a heater in December! Join Bourbon Pursuit along with bloggers from Bourbonr, Subrourbia, and Sipp'n Corn to talk about these following questions and a 2016 Year in Review: Show Notes: Let's bring the heat. What the hell is Beam doing?! On the last episode we talked about gifting bourbon in the $50 or $100 range. Now, what bourbons do you "want" to be gifted if you had the...

Jimmy Russell, Master Distiller and Legend at Wild Turkey, sits down to tell his story. He thinks he’s “Plain Ol’ Jimmy” but once you hear his stories about childhood, befriending the likeness of greats in the industry, and sharing his wealth of knowledge you will see he really is an icon. Show Notes: I want to talk about your history before Wild Turkey. Talk a little bit about your childhood and...

Kevin Didio, Manager of Kentucky Visitor Experience at Bulleit Frontier Experience, talks about his career in bourbon with multiple distilleries, dives into the history of Stitzel-Weller and IW Harper, and talks about the visitor attractions you can see at the reinstated Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Show Notes: Talk about your role here at the Bulleit Frontier. Before we talk about some of the other...

Bourbon Community Roundtable #3 - we discuss best bottles for the dollar, holiday sharing, hunting stories, and Kerry’s #pappyslap Show Notes: Max Gordian on Bourbonr Facebook: Just curious, how long do you usually let your bourbon breathe after you pour a glass? What's the -cheapest- bottle worth having? The holidays are coming up with the family. We've all got family members who like bourbon but...

Eddie Russell, Master Distiller at Wild Turkey, joins the show to discuss growing up around the distillery, apprenticeship, and what tradition has taught him about the business. Show Notes: Talk about your childhood. What was your upbringing like? What sports did you play? You were also going to play college ball at one point How did you get roped into this operation? In 2015 you were named Master...

Jim Kokoris, author of The Big Man of Jim Beam: Booker Noe And the Number-One Bourbon In the World, joins the show to talk about the life of Booker Noe and the impact he made on the industry. How did you get into writing about bourbon? What kind of man was Booker Noe? What was Booker doing as a Master Distiller before that term became skewed - over the years? How did Booker have the foresight of s...

Jay Erisman, Vice President, & Hannah Loween, General Manager, from New Riff Distilling talk about the unique bourbon they are making while being in an urban setting. Show Notes: Jay Erisman, Vice President - Distiller - Strategic Development Hannah Loween, General Manager Tell us how you got started with brown spirits? Talk a bit about the history of New Riff. What's the story behind the name of...

Chris Trevino, the YouTube sensation known as Liquor Hound, talks about the intricacies of reviewing whiskey ranging from the type of glass to even the water used to dilute it. Show Notes: How did you get started with whiskey Talk about what you do. How many videos do you have and how many whiskies have you reviewed? Lets talk about your process of tasting because a simple tasting with you on your...

Bourbon Community Roundtable #2 - we discuss bourbon regrets, thoughts on bottle signings, what brand markets best, and weller special reserve. Show Notes: Watch it on Bourbon Pursuit's YouTube Page Joined by Blake from Bourbonr.com, Jordan from BreakingBourbon.com, and Brian from Sipp'n Corn. What's your biggest bourbon regret? Getting bottles signed. your thoughts? What distillery or brand does...

Fred Minnick, acclaimed bourbon author who also happens to have the Amazon #1 Best Selling book in the Whiskey Category Bourbon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of an American Whiskey, shares his history before bourbon, dive into chapters of bourbon history, and get his opinion on barrel finishes if it’s still a bourbon and age statement removals Show Notes: Acclaimed bourbon author and media pundit o...

Tom Herbruck, Master Brewer and Distiller of Tom’s Foolery, and his wife Lianne, Rack House Manager, share their beginnings when Tom ran a still at the age of 15 and turning his hobby into a business that is producing the first bonded bourbon outside of Kentucky in over 50 years. Show Notes: Shout out to Ryan Lintz and Edwin Vargas. Both of these guys came to me and said “you’ve got to hear this s...

Bill Thomas (@MashBill_Thomas), Owner of Jack Rose (@JackRoseinDC), tells his history of turning a passion for whiskey and 20 years of dusty hunting into the single largest collection of epic bourbon that is available for sale at Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington D.C. Show Notes: Talk about your history and your love affair with bourbon? Explain to the listeners, what is Jack Rose? How many bo...

Tim Hagan and Ethan Pardieu, Kentucky Bourbon Boys Distillery Tours, give insights into their customized tours and how they learned about bourbon themselves. Show Notes: Tell us about yourselves and how you got into bourbon? How did this idea come about? How much of you had to study or learn to be able to give a tour? Talk about your tours for a little bit and what you offer? How customizable are...