Bourbon Pursuit

The Official Podcast of Bourbon! The best in news, reviews and interviews with people making the bourbon whiskey industry happen. Join hosts Kenny Coleman, Ryan Cecil, and Fred Minnick as they talk with prominent guests and provide insight on American whiskey 3 times a week. Catch all new episodes every Thursday with special Whiskey Quickie reviews on Tuesday and get caught up on bourbon news with This Week in Bourbon on Friday.

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1,198 episodes
Updated Friday
Explicit

Episodes1198

Newest first

March 6 · 45 min
TWiB: Whiskey Thief and Louisville Bats partnership, Heaven Hill has 2 new releases, Pursuit Spirits' new Sakura Bloom Bourbon
Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. and the Louisville Bats have announced a multi-year partnership, Heaven Hill has 2 new releases, and Pursuit Spirits has the new Sakura Bloom Bourbon.
March 5 · 1 hr 10 min
556 - Hot Takes and Grievances of the Bourbon Market with Matt Kusek
And the guy who has all the hot takes is Matt "The Colonel" Kusek. Matt never pulls his punches, and today we'll talk about the non-stop barrage of Limited Time Offerings (LTOs) and if NDPs are more exciting now than traditional heritage distilleries. We kick things off with a candid look at the struggle of creating fresh content in a saturated market and ask the tough question, has the rush to release more bottles caused a massive dip in quality? We've seen it in secondary markets because if ev
March 3 · 10 min
Whiskey Quickie: Blade & Bow 30 Year Bourbon… Better Than Pappy?!
30 years in the barrel. $1,200 price tag.
February 27 · 49 min
TWiB: USDA awards DISCUS $1.07 million, Pursuit Spirits releases The Alpha Barrel, Heaven Hill releases 20th Anniversary Bottle
The USDA has awarded the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) over $1.07 million to promote American spirits, Pursuit Spirits has released The Alpha Barrel, and Heaven Hill Distillery announces the release of Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey 20th Anniversary Limited Edition.
February 26 · 1 hr 15 min
555 - The State of Cannabis and Path to Regulation with Jim Higdon of Cornbread Hemp
Today, we’re welcoming back a familiar face, Jim Higdon, co-founder of Cornbread Hemp and the author of The Cornbread Mafia. Last time Jim was on Episode 342, we were talking about the history of Kentucky's most infamous drug ring, but today we’re looking at the future of cannabis and how it’s fighting for its life against big bourbon. It's no doubt that THC beverages have been on a meteoric rise and Jim shares a vision of a future where a THC drink is just as mainstream as a vodka soda was back
February 24 · 6 min
Whiskey Quickie: $300 Russell’s Reserve Rickhouse… Worth the Hype?!
Wild Turkey drops one of its most anticipated bottles of the year: Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson E.
February 20 · 50 min
TWiB: E. & J. Gallo to acquire Four Roses, Uncle Nearest court-ordered receivership, Michter’s Releases Celebration a $6,000 bottle
E. & J. Gallo announced its plans to acquire Four Roses, Uncle Nearest will remain under court-ordered receivership, and Michter’s Releases their Celebration at $6,000 a bottle.
February 19 · 1 hr 9 min
554 - Blenders Without Borders with Justin Aden of Stranahans and Alex Tomas of Bushmills
We’re joined by Justin Aden from Stranahan's and Alex Thomas from Bushmills to break down the art of the blend and why local ingredients become a key competitve advantage in this market. Justin takes us inside the high-altitude aging of Colorado and the rise of the American Single Malt category, while Alex gives us a masterclass on Bushmills' legendary triple distillation and the weight of managing a distillery with centuries of history. We dig in further in to how two completely different clima
February 17 · 6 min
Whiskey Quickie: Willett Purple Top… as a Small Batch?! This Was NOT What We Expected
Willett Purple Top is legendary and usually ultra-premium. So what happens when Willett turns that DNA into a 4-year small batch bourbon?
February 12 · 1 hr 7 min
553 - What is the Perfect Proof? On Bourbon Community Roundtable #115
It’s time for another Bourbon Community Roundtable, and the panel is locked, loaded, and ready to talk about the one number that drives every enthusiast crazy: The Proof. We look at how we all start with those easy-drinking, low-proof staples like Kentucky Tavern before eventually finding ourselves chasing the high-octane allure of barrel-strength pours. We even get into some fun hypotheticals—if you could sample the same bourbon at every proof point from barrel to 80, how would that change your
February 10 · 5 min
Whiskey Quickie: Yellowstone Turned 10… But Is This Anniversary Bourbon Worth $100?
Yellowstone celebrates 10 years with a special anniversary blend featuring multiple mash bills aged 10 years or more.
February 6 · 40 min
TWiB: Grim financial outlook for Uncle Nearest, The Kentucky Bourbon Trail adds 10 new stops, Brown Forman's new King of Kentucky Small Batch
The court-appointed receiver for Uncle Nearest, presents a grim financial outlook for the whiskey brand, The Kentucky Bourbon Trail adds 10 new stops, and Brown Forman is releasing King of Kentucky Small Batch.
February 5 · 59 min
552 - How Old Crow Went From On Top to Bottom Shelf with Fred Minnick
Fred Minnick is back on the show to pull back the curtain on his most personal project yet, his new book, Bottom Shelf: How a Forgotten Brand of Bourbon Saved One Man's Life. Fred gets incredibly candid about his battles with PTSD following his military service and how the legacy of Old Crow—a brand many today just overlook on the bottom shelf—played a pivotal role in his journey toward healing. But it’s not all heavy; in classic Fred fashion, he shares some hilarious and heartwarming personal a
February 3 · 4 min
Whiskey Quickie: Bourbon Aged in a TRAIN CAR?! | Black Diamond Bourbon Review
We found a bourbon that claims it’s aged in a historic railroad boxcar turned “rolling rickhouse”, so of course we had to taste it.
January 30 · 36 min
TWiB: Sotheby's sets record for most valuable bourbon, Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction's new lot, Nelson brothers relaunch Belle Meade whiskey
Sotheby's has set a record for the most valuable bourbon ever sold at auction, Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction has announced a historic collaborative lot titled “United We Stand”, and Brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson have reclaimed and are relaunching their Belle Meade whiskey.
January 29 · 1 hr 1 min
551 - What Can A Copacker Do For You? with Jeff Wuslich of Cardinal Copacking
We’re joined by Jeff Wuslich, he's the President of Cardinal Spirits and Cardinal Copacking, to break down what it takes to actually manufacture booze at scale. Jeff has a background in manufacturing and slowly became a cornerstone of the Indiana craft scene. Jeff also has their own brands they use to showcase their abilities and have relationships with powerhouses like MGP. One thing that interested me was RTDs and the explosion of the canned cocktail movement, but as Jeff will talk about there
January 28 · 45 min
Behind The Pursuit: The 2026 Expansion Reality
In this episode of Behind the Pursuit, Ryan and I are pulling back the curtain on what it actually looks like to enter new markets in 2026. We’re diving into the nitty-gritty of distributor communications and why a solid on-premise strategy may be the only way to survive a landscape that is getting more crowded by the day. We also get honest about the challenges smaller brands face when trying to stay nimble while consumer preferences are shifting right under our feet. It’s a look at the balance
January 27 · 6 min
Whiskey Quickie: We Went Bourbon Hunting… And Found a Steal | Duck Club Bourbon
We go bourbon hunting and land on Duck Club Bourbon, a smooth, easy-sipping blend.
January 23 · 37 min
TWiB: Stoli Group USA and Kentucky Owl in liquidation, B3 Beverage Company acquires Casey Jones, Penelope Bourbon collaborates with Serena & Lily
Stoli Group USA and Kentucky Owl have moved into a Chapter 7 liquidation, Casey Jones Distillery has been acquired B3 Beverage Company, and Penelope Bourbon is doing a collaboration with Serena & Lily.
January 22 · 1 hr 2 min
550 - Leaving Jack Daniels to Start New with Jeff Arnett of Company Distilling
On this episode of Bourbon Pursuit, the team sits down with one of the most recognizable names in the whiskey world: Jeff Arnett. After nearly two decades at the helm of Jack Daniel’s, Jeff decided it was time to trade the corporate blueprint for his own vision, co-founding Company Distilling. Jeff opens up about what it’s really like to leave the world’s largest distillery to navigate the challenges—and the total creative freedom—of starting from scratch. We’re diving into his "best of both wor

Bourbon Pursuit

TWiB: Whiskey Thief and Louisville Bats partnership, Heaven Hill has 2 new releases, Pursuit Spirits' new Sakura Bloom Bourbon

556 - Hot Takes and Grievances of the Bourbon Market with Matt Kusek

Whiskey Quickie: Blade & Bow 30 Year Bourbon… Better Than Pappy?!

TWiB: USDA awards DISCUS $1.07 million, Pursuit Spirits releases The Alpha Barrel, Heaven Hill releases 20th Anniversary Bottle

555 - The State of Cannabis and Path to Regulation with Jim Higdon of Cornbread Hemp

Whiskey Quickie: $300 Russell’s Reserve Rickhouse… Worth the Hype?!

TWiB: E. & J. Gallo to acquire Four Roses, Uncle Nearest court-ordered receivership, Michter’s Releases Celebration a $6,000 bottle

554 - Blenders Without Borders with Justin Aden of Stranahans and Alex Tomas of Bushmills

Whiskey Quickie: Willett Purple Top… as a Small Batch?! This Was NOT What We Expected

553 - What is the Perfect Proof? On Bourbon Community Roundtable #115

Whiskey Quickie: Yellowstone Turned 10… But Is This Anniversary Bourbon Worth $100?

TWiB: Grim financial outlook for Uncle Nearest, The Kentucky Bourbon Trail adds 10 new stops, Brown Forman's new King of Kentucky Small Batch

552 - How Old Crow Went From On Top to Bottom Shelf with Fred Minnick

Whiskey Quickie: Bourbon Aged in a TRAIN CAR?! | Black Diamond Bourbon Review

TWiB: Sotheby's sets record for most valuable bourbon, Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction's new lot, Nelson brothers relaunch Belle Meade whiskey

551 - What Can A Copacker Do For You? with Jeff Wuslich of Cardinal Copacking

Behind The Pursuit: The 2026 Expansion Reality

Whiskey Quickie: We Went Bourbon Hunting… And Found a Steal | Duck Club Bourbon

TWiB: Stoli Group USA and Kentucky Owl in liquidation, B3 Beverage Company acquires Casey Jones, Penelope Bourbon collaborates with Serena & Lily

550 - Leaving Jack Daniels to Start New with Jeff Arnett of Company Distilling