Bourbon Pursuit

Beyke Blue Corn Double Oaked Batch 1 takes the original blue corn bourbon to another level. Blueberry smoothie vibes, chocolate drizzle, creamy oak, and big dessert energy at 118 proof. This one disappeared FAST for a reason.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

On this week's episode, Kevin Carlson returns to the show and takes total control of the conversation with a rapid-fire set of “whiskey myth-busting” questions that every enthusiast needs to hear. We tackle the age-old debate head-on: was bourbon actually better before the boom, or are we living in a golden era of variety and innovation? We break down whether the concept of a true "daily drinker" is officially dead for the enthusiast, and touch on the eternal battle of proof versus flavor. We argue why higher proof doesn't automatically mean a better whiskey, because there are fan favorites like Michter’s 10 and Weller 107. Then there is the polarizing rise of American light whiskey and the truth behind age statements. We close things out by busting the romantic myths surrounding dusty bottles, the actual hands-on role of a modern Master Distiller, and whether the little guy stands a chance against heritage giants when releasing an ultra-premium bottle. Show Notes: Comparing the lower prices and dusty availability of the past to today's massive variety and diverse product landscape Analyzing how the explosion of available expressions has changed purchasing habits for casual vs. serious consumers Why every whiskey has an ideal balance point and how chasing high proofs can sabotage a spirit's true profile The technical reality of the category and why it gets overhyped when marketed under the guise of traditional bourbon Why age statements act as a guide rather than a guarantee of quality for aging barrels in Kentucky climates How premium presentation impacts consumer perception and the fine line between creative finishing and masking weak distillate The operational reality of today's heritage producers and why a corporate Master Distiller acts more like a ship captain than a hands-on operator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for June 5th 2026. Uncle Nearest May Have A Buyer, Saga Spirits behind True Story has two alleged lawsuits that just became public, and Four Roses Distillery is introducing Anthology, a new 21 year old bourbon.Show Notes: Uncle Nearest receiver signs letter of intent to sell distillery and assets to Black-owned investment firm Wes Henderson’s saga spirits group faces $1.5M in debt lawsuits over Kentucky Castle project New Riff Distilling drops exclusive 10-Year-Old Bourbon and Rye for High Note Series Michter's rolls out 10-Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye for June 2026 James B. Beam Distilling Co. elevates classic brand with Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel 7-Year MANORS Golf and Gentleman Jack launch A Gentleman’s Guide to Golf apparel and content partnership Bluegrass Distillers brings back highly anticipated blue corn program with new rye-inclusive mash bill Penelope Bourbon hits retail shelves with new Blackberry Old Fashioned ready-to-serve cocktail 15 STARS debuts First West Explorer, its first bourbon crafted from 100% in-house black corn distillate Knob Creek teams up with Huckberry for custom tote bag and Father's Day pop-up at Grand Central Terminal Stoll & Wolfe partners with Alan Bishop to launch colonial-style Wolfe & Wilson Straight Rye Rolling Fork Spirits revives historic 1906 REWCO Rye brand with limited small-batch release Koopers Whiskey gears up for Father's Day with rare 8-year-old Father’s Office Cigar Blend Adventure Spirits collaborates with Task Force 20 to release TF20 Bottled-in-Bond bourbon for veterans Four Roses Distillery introduces Anthology series with 21-year-old Chapter One: Origin Starlight Distillery announces estate-grown Indiana Straight 10-Year Reserve Bourbon at cask strength Wild Turkey honors Eddie Russell's 45th anniversary with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year and custom documentary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Old Treasure Bourbon is here… and this 139 proof release drinks WAY easier than expected. Big chocolate, caramel, cereal milk vibes, and one seriously fun pour. Is this hidden gem worth hunting down?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

Whether you call it Seagram’s, LDI, MGP, or its official modern name, Ross & Squibb—the massive facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, is the undisputed backbone of the whiskey industry. On this episode, we sit down with Ian Stirsman, the Master Distiller steering the ship at this legendary production powerhouse. We tackle the distillery's endless naming history head-on and trace Ian’s journey from a chemical engineer working in a paper mill to commanding one of the largest distillation footprints in the world. Ian delivers a technical masterclass on how they produce massive mash bills at an unbelievable scale, the history behind their iconic 95/5 rye recipe, and why vintage light whiskey is suddenly having a massive moment. Plus, we pull back the curtain on how their team approaches blending, warehouse aging, and wood selection for Ross & Squibb's own rapidly growing premium house brands like George Remus and Rossville Union. Show Notes: Why the industry still calls Ross & Squibb Seagram's, LDI, and MGP Ian Stirsman’s journey from chemical engineering to the Lawrenceburg distillery floor The Dayton whiskey bar epiphany that revealed MGP’s true market dominance Moving from process engineer to managing a multi-spirit team operation Deconstructing the legendary 95/5 rye recipe and the lasting impact of Seagram’s documentation The history of light whiskey and why older expressions are suddenly booming with consumers How the team selects barrels for George Remus and Rossville Union Wood management, rickhouse microclimates, and creating the Remus Experimental Series The future of Ross & Squibb’s brand strategy, bottle club, and upcoming changes to the barrel program Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder what it actually takes to build, run, and automate a distillery? On this episode, we sit down with someone unknown to most of the general population, but he's on speed dial for every major prodocuer across the country. A 2023 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Inductee, and the owner of Distillery Engineering: Pete Kamer. We talk about Pete’s incredible journey from his early days learning the ropes at Four Roses to his milestone career of 27 years at Barton in Bardstown. The distilling world has its own unique engineering hurdles, especially as traditional floor operations transitioned into modern automation. Pete shares his masterclass take on adjusting flavor profiles through still design, yeast, and cuts, and why relying on an operator's sight, smell, and hearing will always beat looking at a screen. Show Notes: Pete’s career journey from Four Roses to his 27-year legacy at Barton in Bardstown The evolution of traditional distillery floor operations into modern automation Technical insights into manipulating whiskey flavor profiles through still design, yeast, and cuts Why sensory skills—sight, smell, and hearing—beat relying on control-room screens The mechanics and engineering hurdles of running a large-scale Kentucky distillery The physics and environmental factors that make duplicating the exact same whiskey impossible across different warehouses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's This Week in Bourbon for May 15th 2026. Brown-Forman has officially rejected a $15 billion all-cash takeover bid from Sazerac, FBI Director Kash Patel is facing scrutiny with personalized bottles of Woodford Reserve, and Penelope Bourbon has announced Architects of Golf. Show Notes: Brown-Forman rejects Sazerac’s $15 billion takeover bid to maintain family-owned independence Sixth Circuit strikes down Ohio’s unconstitutional ban on out-of-state wine shipping "Free Our Spirits" campaign launches to privatize North Carolina’s government-run liquor system FBI Director Kash Patel under fire for gifting personalized Woodford Reserve bottles Little Book Chapter 10 “All the Wiser” debuts with intuitive blending at 122.6 proof New Riff 2026 Single Malt features heirloom British barley and five-cask finishing Wenzel Distillery Batch 2 Sherry Barrel Finished Bourbon launches as a 119.1 proof limited release Green River Honey Finished Bourbon utilizes 100% local, raw honey inside the barrel Chattanooga Whiskey marks 10th Bottled in Bond vintage with new five-grain mash bill Maker’s Mark honors America’s 250th anniversary with patriotic red, white, and blue bottle Town Branch releases 6-Year Wheated Bourbon as its first dedicated wheat expression Penelope Bourbon debuts "Architects of Golf" trilogy featuring variable stave finishing intensity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2026 Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series: The Stewards Release leans hard into dessert vibes. Think toffee, nougat, and chocolate candy bar richness from toasted oak staves. Smooth, sweet, and seriously interesting… but does it stick the landing?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