Bourbon Pursuit

In this episode, we’re bringing you live, boots-on-the-ground coverage directly from the Pursuit Spirits booth at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown. This action-packed compilation captures the energy, debates, and dynamic voices shaping modern whiskey culture. We kick off by tackling the push-and-pull between digital marketing, detailed tasting notes, and the essential trust built through live tastings. From there, we explore how fresh, diverse perspectives are breaking traditional industry molds, why balance and distillate quality beat arbitrary age statement numbers every time, and how tight-knit communities keep enthusiasts connected beyond the bottle. Plus, we throw down in a live debate comparing the innovation of craft distillers against the scale of heritage titans, and wrap up with a look at how social algorithms, hype, and online content creators drive today’s bourbon market. Pour yourself a drink and experience the best of the festival floor with us!
Show Notes:
Live coverage directly from the Pursuit Spirits booth at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown.

The balance between digital marketing, detailed tasting notes, and building trust through live tastings.

How fresh, diverse voices and perspectives are reshaping traditional whiskey culture.

Why distillate quality and overall balance matter far more than age statements.

The role of tight-knit communities in keeping whiskey enthusiasts connected beyond the bottle.

A live debate comparing the innovation of craft distillers against the scale of heritage brands.

How social media algorithms, hype, and online content creators drive today’s bourbon market.

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Another PursuitPalooza is officially in the books. If you’ve never made it out for one, the whole idea is to pull back the curtain and give our listeners a completely immersive experience right here in our backyard, leveraging all the relationships we’ve built over years of running this podcast.

This year’s lineup was heavy. We spent the weekend hitting spots like Old Carter, Wild Turkey, Larrikin, and Whiskey Thief—giving everyone access to rare pours, a deep dive into the actual distillation process, and a chance to hang out with some of the best folks in the whiskey community. Plus, we finally christened our new home right on Whiskey Row with a live AMA podcast recording, capped off with an exclusive single barrel selection for the Pursuit Series crew.

On today’s episode, we’re recapping the whole chaotic, incredible weekend.Show Notes:
Pursuit Palooza Background & History

Unique Distillery Visits and Experiences

Community Building and Fan Engagement

Honey Hog Bourbon Release Reflection

Prepping for Kentucky Bourbon Festival

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We fresh-cracked the 2026 Michter’s 10 Year Rye to see if it still lives up to the hype. Sweet oak, cherry, and a surprise tropical twist made this one a fun pour to revisit.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 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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