Bourbon Pursuit

• Whiskey Quickie: Bluffton Whiskey Carolina Gold Rice

  We put Bluffton Whiskey Carolina Gold Rice to the test. Expect fresh donut vibes on the nose, sweet almond and brown sugar on the palate, and a soft finish thanks to those ultra pampered barrels. A fun, gentle pour for newcomers and a unique pick for anyone curious about American rice whiskey. 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

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• TWiB: Tennessee Distilling Acquires Waterford Whiskey, Michter’s Drops their 20 Year Bourbon, Willett Distillery announces new Willett Bourbon

  It's This Week in Bourbon for November 14th 2025. Tennessee Distilling to Acquire Waterford Whiskey, Michter’s Drops their 20 Year Bourbon, and Willett Distillery has announced its new Willett Family Estate Small Batch Bourbon.Show Notes: Tennessee Distilling Group (TDG) is in exclusive talks to acquire the collapsed Irish company Waterford Whisky for €6M, excluding its existing cask inventory Hong Kong authorities report a rise in drug trafficking, with narcotics like liquid cocaine increasingly concealed within alcohol and wine shipments Buffalo Trace will open "Perfectly Untamed" in Spring 2026, a remote Wyoming tasting room with wild buffalo views, offering guided tastings with Freddie Johnson for a $500 donation Castle & Key announced its 2025 Cask Strength releases: a 7-year Wheated Bourbon and an Experimental Rye finished in Extra Old Haitian Rhum Casks Southern Distilling Company released the highly anticipated second batch of Southern Star Bourbon Finished in Honey Barrels (108.4 proof) in North Carolina Garrison Brothers announced the 11th annual release of its Cowboy Bourbon, an 8-year, uncut, and unfiltered straight bourbon bottled at a robust 146.4 proof Yea Alabama (the NIL entity) partnered with Bespoken Spirits to launch the Yea Alabama Bourbon line, featuring two expressions celebrating the Crimson Tide Willett Distillery released the Willett Family Estate Small Batch Bourbon, a new cask-strength blend of two distinct mashbills from Master Distiller Drew Kulsveen Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon (114.2 proof, $1,200 SRP) has been approved and begins shipping to retailers on December 1st Fr. Jim Sichko concluded his "Papal Series" with a limited 11-year Wheated Bourbon honoring Pope Leo XIV, with proceeds supporting various charities Jack Daniel's increased its donation to $150,000 for the 15th year of "Operation Ride Home," helping service members travel home for the holidays Booker's Bourbon's fourth 2025 batch, the "Phantom Pipes Batch" (126.4 proof), is inspired by old distillery remnants and aged over seven years Bardstown Bourbon Co. concluded its 2025 Reserve series with the Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrel Finish, an 11-12 year bourbon finished for 28 months Buffalo Trace introduced Sazerac Rye Whiskey Full Proof (125 proof) as a new, permanent addition to the Sazerac Rye portfolio, retailing for $39.99 Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 540 - Your Questions about the Three Tier System Answered on Bourbon Community Roundtable 112

  This is the follow-up you asked for! We're back with Bourbon Community Roundtable number 112 to continue tackling the "spicy" and controversial topic of the three-tier distribution system. Last time, we were bombarded with questions in the chat, so this episode is dedicated to answering your submissions. Our panel dives into how consumers can actually help their favorite smaller brands get distribution, offering real-world advice on retailer outreach and using social media for buzz. We then dissect what massive political or economic shift would be required to see meaningful reform. Finally, we debate the powerful question: if the whole system disappeared tomorrow, who would win—the hustling craft distilleries or the heritage brands with deep pockets?. This one is packed with high-stakes debate! Show Notes: A follow-up discussion on the three-tier distribution system, specifically addressing consumer-submitted questions Actionable ways consumers can help their favorite spirits brands get distribution, including direct retailer outreach and using social media to generate buzz An explanation of LibDib as an alternative, smaller avenue to market, particularly useful for single barrel programs and single-customer orders Analysis of the necessary political or economic shifts required for meaningful three-tier system reform The argument that major change is unlikely unless a strong economic interest or consumer-driven demand (similar to Uber or the push for cannabis legalization) forces it Discussion of the potential for a parallel direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipping system for spirits, mirroring the progress made in the wine industry following the Granholme v. Heald case A deep-dive debate on which segment of the industry—"hustling" craft distilleries or heritage brands with deep pockets—would adapt faster if the three-tier system were to disappear The argument that the biggest organizations control the power dynamic and maintain the status quo to protect their existing turf Encouragement for consumers to advocate for change by reaching out to their congressmen and congresswomen Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Behind The Pursuit: What You Missed at the First Founder Hour

  You’ve heard us talk about single barrels for years, but this time we’re sitting on the other side of the table. Kenny and Ryan just dropped a new round of Pursuit Series bottles — Episodes 77 through 81 — and if you’ve been following the brand since the early days, this lineup might feel like a full-circle moment. These were first unveiled during the debut of Founder Hour, a brand-new, six-seat tasting experience inside the Pursuit Spirits gift shop on Whiskey Row. Think of it as the most intimate flight we’ve ever done, with pours that tell the story of how far this brand has come. In this episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes of those releases for everyone who couldn’t make that inaugural Founder Hour. Kenny and Ryan walk through what makes each of these barrels special — from a 12-year Bardstown sibling to the legendary 017, to a 20-year Tennessee giant that officially becomes the oldest whiskey in Pursuit Spirits history. We talk about how long they’ve been sitting on some of these barrels, what patience really looks like when you’re building a brand, and why Founder Hour might be the most personal experience they’ve ever created. So pour a glass, settle in, and let’s go inside the story of Pursuit Series 77–81 — the bottles that turned a small tasting idea into a full-blown experience.Show Notes: Introduction of the Pursuit Founder Hour Introducing Episodes 77-81 Backstory of Episodes Tasting the Latest Releases The Future of Pursuit Series Closing Thoughts and Community Engagement Support this podcast on Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Whiskey Quickie: Gin Meets Bourbon?! The Chameleon Whiskey You Didn’t See Coming

  Blue Run is back with one of its wildest experiments yet: Glimmer, a Kentucky straight bourbon finished in Barr Hill Tom Cat Gin barrels and dressed in a flashy, color-shifting bottle. Kenny and Ryan dive into the nose, taste, and finish of this limited 103.2-proof release to find out if gin and bourbon can actually work together. Fewer than 90 cases exist, so let's see if Glimmer is worth the hunt or just a shiny distraction.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

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