Bourbon Pursuit

It's This Week in Bourbon for September 25th, 2026. The Brown Hotel is holiday cocktail competition titled "Top of the List", Eastern Light Distilling is moving forward with building a $60M distillery, and the release of Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength.Show Notes:
The Brown Hotel hosts "Top of the List" holiday cocktail competition benefiting Toys for Tots

Eastern Light Distilling secures $23.1M investment to build $60M contract facility in Morehead

Willett Distillery unveils Willett Pot Still Reserve Cask Strength wheated bourbon

B.R. Distilling Co. expands allocation for Blue Note Honey Bourbon and Rye Cask releases

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What happens when the biggest distilling powerhouse behind the scenes decides to step into the spotlight and release whiskey under its own name? On this edition of the Bourbon Community Roundtable, the crew kicks things off by celebrating a massive milestone—our very own Fred Minnick being inducted into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. After raising a glass to the iconic ceremony, national coverage, and the community that made it happen, the panel dives headfirst into one of the most controversial moves in the spirits industry today: MGP dropping its flagship Chapter One 10-year, 111-proof straight bourbon. We debate whether the distilling titan is directly competing against the very NDP customers who built its reputation, if everyday consumers will even recognize the brand, and what happens when the ultimate supplier becomes a frontline producer.

The conversation quickly expands into a high-stakes clash between massive legacy distillers and nimble, enthusiast-led brands. The panel breaks down why independent bottlers and craft innovators are constantly outmaneuvering corporate giants by moving faster, cutting through red tape, and listening directly to what whiskey drinkers want. We trace the complete lifecycle of a modern bourbon enthusiast—from hunting allocated unicorns to returning to reliable everyday pours—while debating direct-to-consumer clubs, barrel pick culture, and whether the market has reached a tipping point for craft saturation. Wrapping up with a look at why fan-first entrepreneurs continue to dominate the modern whiskey space, this is an unfiltered, deep-dive discussion on the shifting power dynamics of American whiskey.
Show Notes:
The panel debates MGP releasing its own 10-year 111-proof bourbon and whether the distilling giant is directly competing with its own NDP clients.

The crew compares how nimble enthusiast-led brands outpace slow corporate heritage distillers by reacting faster to consumer demand.

The discussion examines the evolving lifecycle of bourbon drinkers, from hunting allocated bottles back to appreciating value and everyday pours.

The group wraps up by analyzing direct-to-consumer clubs, barrel picks, and whether the enthusiast market can sustain the surge of new brands.

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Garrison Brothers Lady Bird Cask Strength Single Barrel layers Texas bourbon with wildflower honey and cognac cask finishing. Orange blossom honey, grape, warm spice, and cinnamon candy give this pour a big, sweet, and unexpected ride.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 September 18th 2026. Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits will pay a 12.5M penalty, More tariffs and bans of canadian liquor into the US, and Booker’s Bourbon The Reserves 2026 and Little Book The Infinite, Edition III.Show Notes:
Kentucky Bourbon Festival announces dates for 2027 event in Bardstown

Evan Williams expands college football presence with tailgates and collegiate bottles

Bluegrass Distillers launches quarterly Bottle Club membership program

Southern Glazer's pays $12.5M penalty to resolve federal trade practice investigation

President Trump announces plans to remove 10% tariff on Irish whiskey

Crown Royal avoids Canadian spirit import ban via bulk shipping strategy

Shady Rays and Pappy & Co collaborate on limited-edition sunglasses and giveaway

Charlotte Bourbon Society announces 9th Annual Bourbon Hearts Dinner Benefit

Mark Pringle releases The Whiskey Taster's Flavor Guide reference book

MGP debuts Chapter One 10-Year Straight Bourbon as flagship brand

Neeley Family Distillery debuts PaPaw’s Legacy Reserve 10-Year Triple Pot-Stilled Bourbon

Koopers Whiskey releases repackaged Prodigal Son Bourbon for Bourbon Heritage Month

Breckenridge Distillery debuts Broncos-themed commemorative whiskey lineup and seltzer

Joseph Magnus returns to rye whiskey with 10 Year Cask Strength release

Penelope Bourbon releases Cigar Sessions Chapter 2 in collaboration with Alec Bradley

Buffalo Trace and Van Winkle announce 2026 Van Winkle Whiskey Collection lineup

Wilderness Trail debuts exclusive whiskeys for Hall of Fame induction of co-founders

Angel's Envy announces Cellar Collection Volume 6 Straight Rye Whiskey release

Ingram Distillery debuts Batch 6 of river-aged Flagship Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Buffalo Trace debuts Elmer T. Lee 40th Anniversary Edition uncut bourbon

Brother Justus Whiskey Company releases Brother Justus Founder’s Reserve IV

The Maven Distillery launches flagship 104-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Garrison Brothers announces Hye tailgate event featuring 2 new cask-strength single barrels

Beam Distilling announces Booker’s Bourbon The Reserves 2026 and Little Book Infinite III

Knob Creek introduces 12 Year Old Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Jack Daniel’s launches Tennessee Blackberry mixed with Lemonade canned cocktail

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We're back with Part 2 of our PursuitPalooza 2026 AMA session. We kick off by tackling the business realities of the RTD boom because we keep punting the idea if we should do one ourselves, and exploring why entering the canned cocktail market is a completely different beast than aging bourbon in a barrel.

We talk about some the weirdest tasting notes we've ever pulled like peanut butter and jelly, peach rings, and Grandma's candy jar. Finally, we get personal about what it really takes to run an independent spirits company. We talk about managing operational pressure, our core philosophy of "no problems, only solutions," and some of the wild, unfiltered Palooza memories from over the years.
Show Notes:
RTDs vs. Aged Whiskey: The hidden challenges of canned cocktails, including shelf-life stability, high R&D costs, and retail distribution hurdles.

Sourcing Strategy: Why Pursuit Spirits prioritizes proven legacy distillates over volatile craft profiles to establish consumer trust.

Wild Tasting Notes: Recalling the most unusual flavor profiles we've encountered, from PB&J and peach rings to farmyard funky pours.

Labeling & TTB Regulations: How slight legal nuances define "straight bourbon" versus finished expressions, and what consumers actually notice.

Leadership & Problem Solving: Behind the scenes of scaling Pursuit Spirits, empowering employees, and keeping cool under operational stress.

Celebrity Brands & Industry Hype: Our unfiltered thoughts on celebrity-backed spirits, hazmat-proof trends, and the ongoing craze for allocated bottles.

Palooza War Stories: Reliving hilarious, late-night Palooza memories, EDM club outings, and keeping the annual event fresh for repeat attendees.

Historical Dream Pours: Ryan and Kenny name the iconic figures—including George Garvin Brown and President William Howard Taft—they'd love to share a dram with.

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