Listen Now

One of the biggest crazes right now is the single barrel. That special barrel that was chosen from a select few and shared with a bunch of people, most likely with a sticker on it. And as Ryan so eloquently puts it, it's the perfect product. It's a consumable, it's one of a kind, and there will never be another. Myself, Ryan and Fred have done our fair share of single barrels, probably selecting over 250 combined and probably tasting over a thousand at different distilleries. We've seen it all. In this episode, we talk about what we prefer when we do a private barrel selection experience. And speaking of single barrels, don't forget we have our own private barrel club where we select over 40 different barrels every year. Show Partners: Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com. Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more. You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now. Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com. Fling into spring at Total Wine & More. Always at low prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com. Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about deciding what to drink. What is your favorite part about a barrel pick? Would it still be exciting if everyone drilled into the barrel vs. thieving? What do you think about distilleries pre-picking barrels to select from? What is a good number of barrels you should be able to taste through when picking? How do you feel about proofing down the barrel pick? Do you have a glassware preference? Snacks or no snacks during a barrel pick? Should distilleries provide lunch?

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihl3eD-KYVs&w=560&h=315]On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond Spring 2021. This 8 year old bourbon is 100 proof and $85 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers! Whiskey Quickie is brought to you by Barrell Bourbon. Learn more at BarrellBourbon.com. 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.

On this 56th Bourbon Community Roundtable, we discuss what it means to Kentucky Owl now that Dixon Dedman is leaving the brand, what does Indiana Rye Whiskey mean as a new legal designation, and now that there are 10 million barrels aging in Kentucky, will we see an oncoming glut of bourbon in a few years? Show Partners: The University of Louisville has an online Distilled Spirits Business Certificate that focuses on the business side of the spirits industry. Learn more at uofl.me/bourbonpursuit. Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com. Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more. You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now. Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com. Fling into spring at Total Wine & More. Always at low prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com. Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about the color of whiskey. Dixon Dedman leaves KY Owl. What does that mean for the brand? What does Indiana Rye Whiskey mean as a new legal designation? Now that there are 10M barrels aging in KY, will we see a glut of bourbon in a few years? Thanks to @bourbonr, @breakingbourbon, and @sippn_corn for joining.

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Very Fine Rare Bourbon. This non-age stated bourbon is 90.4 proof and $130 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers! Whiskey Quickie is brought to you by Barrell Bourbon. Learn more at BarrellBourbon.com. 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.

What does it mean to be an influencer? Actually, what's the deal with bourbon and Instagram and why is it so popular? We're joined by Eric Kim of @scotchandtime and James Ashcraft of @bourbonenthusiast to analyze these questions and many more. It's a great insight into how social media and whiskey join forces to provide hours of entertainment, but also some annoyances. Show Partners: The University of Louisville has an online Distilled Spirits Business Certificate that focuses on the business side of the spirits industry. Learn more at uofl.me/bourbonpursuit. Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com. Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more. You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now. Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com. Fling into spring at Total Wine & More. Always at low prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com. Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about independent liquor stores. Are you a thrill seeker or do you enjoy relaxing? How did you start and grow your Instagram account? When did you get your first media sample? Do you see more brands using Instagram influencers? Do you think Instagram has a good ROI for brands? Why do people love day themed Instagram posts? How often do you post and when? Have you seen an influx of new bourbon content creators and is there enough room for everyone? How much time to you put into your Instagram account? What do you think of accounts who pay for followers? What do you think of people only posting pictures of sealed bottles? Talk about your whiskey reviews. What really is an influencer? What good things have come out of Instagram for you? Follow @scotchandtime and @bourbonenthusiast on Instagram.

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Wheel Horse Bourbon. This 2 year old bourbon is 101 proof and $32 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers! Whiskey Quickie is brought to you by Barrell Bourbon. Learn more at BarrellBourbon.com. 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.

The Last Drop Distillers is known for acquiring extremely old and rare spirits from across the world. We chat with Rebecca Jago, Managing Director of The Last Drop Distillers, to hear their story. It's an interesting history of generational knowledge and their release of the 1980 Buffalo Trace is what caught our attention. We even got a chance to try it on a past Whiskey Quickie and it blew us away. Listen to hear about their partnership with Sazerac and how they plan to sustain their business model. Show Partners: The University of Louisville has an online Distilled Spirits Business Certificate that focuses on the business side of the spirits industry. Learn more at uofl.me/bourbonpursuit. Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com. Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more. You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now. Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com. Fling into spring at Total Wine & More. Always at low prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com. Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about used rye barrels. What is on your bucket list? What is The Last Drop Distillers? Do you have an emotional standard when tasting a rare whiskey? How do you grow and sustain a business like this? Do you seek out sellers or do they seek you out? How do you determine if something is really unique or rare? Talk about the 1980 Buffalo Trace. Tell us about the rationale behind the pricing. Do you think bourbon is deserving or price point like this? @lastdropdistillers

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Rod & Hammer's Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This 2 year old bourbon is 90 proof and $42 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers! Whiskey Quickie is brought to you by Barrell Bourbon. Learn more at BarrellBourbon.com. 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.

On today's episode, the team sits down to discuss young whiskey. Is it a good thing or a bad thing? There are all sorts of angles because in this ever-changing landscape of losing age statements, craft distillers putting out amazing products at young ages, and bourbon drinkers continually looking for something new,  we have to ask ourselves... is the age of the whiskey less important? Show Partners: The University of Louisville has an online Distilled Spirits Business Certificate that focuses on the business side of the spirits industry. Learn more at uofl.me/bourbonpursuit. Upgrade your sleep today with a Bear Mattress. Visit BearMattress.com/bourbon. Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com. You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now. Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com. Fling into spring at Total Wine & More. Always at low prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about daily bourbon drinking limits. What is your whiskey age range preference? What about craft distillers outside of Kentucky? How do craft distillers treat consumers differently than the bigger distillers? What do you think about using different grains? How do you fight the stigma of young whiskey? Let's talk about pricing young whiskey. How important is packaging for craft whiskey?

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Single Cask Nation 1994 Kentucky Bourbon. This 24 year old bourbon is 94.8 proof and $295 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers! Whiskey Quickie is brought to you by Barrell Bourbon. Learn more at BarrellBourbon.com. DISCLAIMER: This whiskey in this review was purchased by Bourbon Pursuit for reviewing. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.

The roundtable is back with another discussion about bourbon news and our take on it. We discuss Heaven Hill vs Log Still Distilling over the use of the Dant name and trademark, what does direct to consumer shipping in Kentucky mean now that distilleries can cut out the wholesalers, and if you were to spend your $1,400 stimulus check on bourbon, what would get? Show Partners: The University of Louisville has an online Distilled Spirits Business Certificate that focuses on the business side of the spirits industry. Learn more at uofl.me/bourbonpursuit. Upgrade your sleep today with a Bear Mattress. Visit BearMattress.com/bourbon. Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com. You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now. Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com. Fling into spring at Total Wine & More. Always at low prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about posting bourbon on Instagram. Heaven Hill has opened up a lawsuit against the Dant family for trying to use their family name as it infringes upon their label. Kentucky HB415 has been signed into law with new direct to consumer laws that bypass the 3 tier system. $1,400 stimulus checks are going out. If you are going to spend $1,400 on bourbon, what are you getting? Thanks to @Bourbonr, @Sippn_Corn, and @BreakingBourbon for joining.

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Old Wm. Tarr Manchester Reserve. This 7 year old whiskey is 114 proof and $80 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers! Whiskey Quickie is brought to you by Barrell Bourbon. Learn more at BarrellBourbon.com. 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.

On today's show, we get to feature two great people at Bardstown Bourbon Company, Dan Callaway and Nick Smith. Bardstown Bourbon Company exploded on the scene as a destination hot spot for anyone visiting the trail and Dan was instrumental to the early success of creating a red carpet environment for anyone who visited. As whiskey production ramped up, Nick Smith brought his knowledge from working at Jim Beam to help customers create custom mash bills and guide them in the right direction to put a new spin on the distillation process that would be uniquely theirs. So next time you're headed to Bardstown, don't forget to make Bardstown Bourbon Company a must visit. Show Partners: The University of Louisville has an online Distilled Spirits Business Certificate that focuses on the business side of the spirits industry. Learn more at uofl.me/bourbonpursuit. Minimize drink dilution without sacrificing chill power with Meltdown, the ultimate ice ball press. Learn more at MeltdownIce.com. Upgrade your sleep today with a Bear Mattress. Visit BearMattress.com/bourbon. You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now. Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com. Get 15% off your purchase when you order two or more bottles of Firebee Honey at FirebeeHoney.com/BourbonPursuit. Fling into spring at Total Wine & More. Always at low prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about bourbon branded credit cards. What made you decided to come work at Bardstown Bourbon Company? What was the original vision for Bardstown Bourbon Company and how has it changed? Are banana croquettes a real thing? What lessons did you learn coming from Jim Beam to Bardstown Bourbon Company? How do you accommodate so many different mash bills? How do you work together? Is there a baseline for the mash bills? Are there any limitations on the mash bills? How do you guide customers to different cooperages? Do you help brands with marketing and packaging? Can this be a tourist destination for brands that contract through you? Tell us about the Discovery Series. Talk about the vintage library. What is the timeline for the bottling facility? How much of the distillery process is automated? What's a changeover? What is Pete's Place? Tell us about the Kentucky Proud product. Follow @bbc_whiskeynick, @dannybardstown, @bardstownbourboncompany

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO7iIA8jgKA&w=560&h=315]On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Buzzard's Roost Toasted Barrel Rye. This 3 year old rye is 105 proof and $80 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers! Whiskey Quickie is brought to you by Barrell Bourbon. Learn more at BarrellBourbon.com. 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.

There's a lot of whiskey out there and sometimes we get caught up in our bubble of bourbon. On this episode, I'm joined by Chris Perugini who does private tastings and boasts a lot of worldly whiskies on his instagram account @SingleMaltSavvy. He sent me a few blind samples and we discuss them to see what resonates with me as a bourbon drinker. Show Partners: The University of Louisville has an online Distilled Spirits Business Certificate that focuses on the business side of the spirits industry. Learn more at uofl.me/bourbonpursuit. Minimize drink dilution without sacrificing chill power with Meltdown, the ultimate ice ball press. Learn more at MeltdownIce.com. Upgrade your sleep today with a Bear Mattress. Visit BearMattress.com/bourbon. You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now. Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com. Get 15% off your purchase when you order two or more bottles of Firebee Honey at FirebeeHoney.com/BourbonPursuit. Fling into spring at Total Wine & More. Always at low prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about pairing music with bourbon. For more information about the Scotches discussed in this episode visit: https://www.singlemaltsavvy.com/guides/scotch-for-the-bourbon-drinker/ What was your first car? Scotch Tasting What's a good brand for a new scotch drinker? What are the differences between Scotch and bourbon? Tell us about the Scotches you selected. How are these priced? Are they removing age statements from Scotch like they are in bourbon? What is the Pappy of the Scotch world?

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Still Austin The Musician. This 2 year old bourbon is 98.4 proof and $45 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers! Whiskey Quickie is brought to you by Barrell Bourbon. Learn more at BarrellBourbon.com. 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.

Belle Meade is a very recognizable brand to bourbon enthusiasts. But how did that brand get revived and what's the story behind Nelson's Green Brier? We're joined by Charlie Nelson, Co-Founder of Nelson's Green Brier, who shares his story of stumbling into the bourbon business when his dad purchased a quarter of a cow. Show Partners: The University of Louisville has an online Distilled Spirits Business Certificate that focuses on the business side of the spirits industry. Learn more at uofl.me/bourbonpursuit. Minimize drink dilution without sacrificing chill power with Meltdown, the ultimate ice ball press. Learn more at MeltdownIce.com. Upgrade your sleep today with a Bear Mattress. Visit BearMattress.com/bourbon. You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now. Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com. Get 15% off your purchase when you order two or more bottles of Firebee Honey at FirebeeHoney.com/BourbonPursuit. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about helping others understand your bourbon hobby. What's your best halloween costume? How did this journey begin? Talk about building your business plan. Do you consider Belle Meade your flagship? When using old labels from the archive, did you have to get them re-approved? What is your DSP? Where did you get your recipes? Talk about building the Belle Meade and Nelson's Green Brier Distillery brands. Tell us about the success of the Belle Meade brand.

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Saint Cloud 7 Year Single Barrel. This 7 year old bourbon is 122.4 proof and $150 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers! Whiskey Quickie is brought to you by Barrell Bourbon. Learn more at BarrellBourbon.com. 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.

We're back with another BCR and this time we have 3 topics to discuss. The rise and fall of facebook groups since it seems like no group is safe now. Does knowing the source of a bourbon impact your willingness to buy or not buy? At what point does craft bourbon stop being craft? Show Partners: The University of Louisville has an online Distilled Spirits Business Certificate that focuses on the business side of the spirits industry. Learn more at uofl.me/bourbonpursuit. Minimize drink dilution without sacrificing chill power with Meltdown, the ultimate ice ball press. Learn more at MeltdownIce.com. Upgrade your sleep today with a Bear Mattress. Visit BearMattress.com/bourbon. You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now. Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com. Get 15% off your purchase when you order two or more bottles of Firebee Honey at FirebeeHoney.com/BourbonPursuit. Show Notes: This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick talks about losing your sense of taste after being sick. Are bourbon Facebook groups dead? Does knowing the source change your mind about a product? When does craft bourbon stop being craft?

On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review The Prideful Goat. This 15 year old bourbon is 115 proof and $100 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers! Whiskey Quickie is brought to you by Barrell Bourbon. Learn more at BarrellBourbon.com. 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.