Bourbon Pursuit

It's This Week in Bourbon for August 7th 2026. Old Overholt Extra Aged Cask Strength 11YR, Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Selection #17 High Angel’s Share Straight Tennessee Whiskey, and Uncle Nearest now has a proposed court date.Show Notes:
Uncle Nearest legal dispute moves forward as parties propose an October 2027 trial date.

MGP Ingredients reports a 59% drop in bulk whiskey sales despite growth in premium brands.

Chevalier Casks launches an online exchange for trading barrels, bulk spirits, and cooperage.

Author D.T. Poole releases The Men Who Made American Bourbon to explore the real history of six pioneers.

Overholt debuts its 11-year-old Extra Aged Cask Strength American Rye 2026 Edition.

Middle West Spirits launches the Old Elk 10-Year Collection following its brand acquisition.

Historic whiskey brand H. Obernauer & Co. revives in Pittsburgh after 110 years.

Jack Daniel’s unveils its 10-year, 138.4-proof High Angel’s Share Tennessee Whiskey.

Wyoming Whiskey releases State of the Union, a limited 6-year-old straight bourbon.

Dancing Goat Distillery launches Stillman's Sonder with new bourbon and single malt releases.

Jefferson’s Bourbon debuts an ultra-rare 20-Year-Old Founder’s Reserve finished in Bordeaux casks.

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What does it take to pivot from selling the hottest consumer tech of the early 2000s into leading, not one but two, distilleries? Today's guest is Luis Gonzalez. We've known Luis on our first trip out to Old Elk and he forever made an impression on us. If you've ever heard Ryan say "sanity over vanity" this the guy that shared that wisdom. Luis has an interesting journey of starting in mall kiosks selling BlackBerry before making his way to executive status at OtterBox and got the call to help build Old Elk from the ground up. His next big move is now stepping into the Chief Commercial Officer role at Middle West Spirits in Columbus, Ohio after the acquisition of Old Elk. For nearly two years, Middle West has been quietly operating in custom contract distilling, aging, and bottling behind the scenes. We talk about how Luis manages massive inventory networks, maintain transparency with customers, and how to avoid the race-to-the-bottom price wars. Plus, we get into how Middle West is already distilling Old Elk’s custom mash bills and what the future holds for all their brands.
Show Notes:
How a career-ending baseball injury led Luis from Baton Rouge to consumer tech sales at BlackBerry and OtterBox

Building Old Elk from the ground up and mastering the long-term lead times required in whiskey forecasting

Transitioning to Middle West Spirits as Chief Commercial Officer and managing commercial operations across multiple facilities

The hidden power of contract distilling and how Middle West has quietly served the industry for nearly two years

How Middle West manages inventory, warehouse operations, and custom mash bills while avoiding price wars

What the transition of Old Elk mash bills to Ohio means for transparency, blending, and future releases

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Bomberger’s 2026 brings a wild mix of historic Pennsylvania whiskey heritage, unique oak finishing, and some seriously unexpected flavor notes. Think cola, fruit, spice, and a pour that kept us guessing from nose to finish.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.
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It's This Week in Bourbon for July 31st 2026. 24th class of inductees into the prestigious Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame have been announced, More tariff wars resume, and Bardstown Bourbon Company is launching Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey.Show Notes:
Kentucky Distillers' Association announces 24th Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame class

Apogee 21 acquires Luca Mariano Distillery and Rod & Hammer's

President Trump levies 50% tariffs on select Canadian imports

Uncle Nearest receiver files major counterclaim alleging lender oversight and fraud

Starlight Distillery celebrates 25th anniversary with limited-edition releases

Bourbon Women SIPosium returns to Louisville for 15th anniversary event

Alabama Cooperage to close Trinity plant by September 2026

US removes 10% tariff on Scotch whisky imports

Moonshine University to cease operations at the end of 2026

RNDC files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and winds down operations

James B. Beam Distilling Company announces 2026 Old Grand-Dad 7-Year Bottled-In-Bond

Goose Island unveils 2026 Bourbon County Brand Family stout lineup

New Riff Distilling brings back annual Headliner release for 3rd year

B.H. James Distillers launches Spirit 76 line of flavored Kentucky bourbon

Heaven Hill Distillery debuts Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Double Mash 9-year bourbon

Maker's Mark launches travel retail exclusive Artist Series – City Edition

Brother's Bond Bourbon launches 7-year bottled-in-bond straight bourbon

Garrison Brothers Distillery announces 1st-ever pre-sale for Hye Rye Bourbon

Bardstown Bourbon Company debuts Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey

Old Forester debuts The 117 Series Triple Char Kentucky Straight Bourbon

St. Louis Bourbon Festival returns to Lemp Mansion on October 16, 2026

Bib and Tucker introduces 8-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Bourbon

Still Austin Whiskey Company opening massive 15,000-sq-ft venue in Austin

Jefferson's Bourbon debuts ultra-limited Founder's Reserve 20-Year-Old

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On this week’s Bourbon Community Roundtable, our panel is tackling two massive seismic shockwaves rattling the very foundation of the spirits world. We jump straight into the first major headline: the shocking closure of Moonshine University. We break down what losing a premier educational hub like the Stave & Thief Society means for the future of spirits education, and whether this shutdown is the ultimate canary in the coal mine for a slowing craft distillery boom.

Then, we turn our attention to the absolute biggest story in spirits retail: distributor giant RNDC filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and winding down operations. We unpack the domino effect of major supplier exits, razor-thin middle-tier margins, and unpaid invoices, analyzing the devastating fallout for small craft brands fighting for local liquor store shelf space. Finally, we throw down over what this massive distributor consolidation actually means for the three-tier system—debating whether this crisis will finally force lawmakers to rethink direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping laws, or if we’re simply watching a maturing bourbon market undergo a painful, necessary contraction.
Show Notes:
The closure of Moonshine University: What losing a premier distilling school means for the spirits industry

Assessing the value of bourbon certifications: Essential career springboard or mostly symbolic status?

Unpacking RNDC's Chapter 11 filing: Supplier exits, thin margins, and the winding down of a middle-tier giant

The ripple effect on small brands: Shelf space access, unpaid invoices, and the future of three-tier distribution

Will distributor consolidation accelerate the push for direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping legislation?

State of the bourbon market: Reading the room on consumer demand amid industry contraction and adjustments

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