About this episode

This episode discusses recent developments in the bourbon industry, including a proposed merger and new product launches.

It's This Week in Bourbon for April 17th 2026. Sazerac has reportedly approached Brown-Forman regarding a potential merger, MGP stops distilling operations at Limestone Branch Distillery and Lux Row Distillers, and Oscar Mayer has announced its first bacon innovation in five years with the launch of Maple Bourbon Bacon with Evan Williams. Show Notes: Sazerac has approached Brown-Forman with a rival merger bid, complicating Brown-Forman’s ongoing "merger of equals" talks with Pernod Ricard Sazerac has rebranded its La Vergne, Tennessee, site as the AJ Bond Distillery and will launch its first Tennessee whiskey this summer MGP Ingredients is idling distilling operations at two Kentucky facilities for at least 12 months starting May 1, 2026, to address market oversupply Kentucky Artisan Distillery Program launched a new single barrel program offering smaller 15- and 25-gallon barrels to increase accessibility for consumers A new 60-seat speakeasy focused on bourbon history and Prohibition-era legends will open beneath Louisville's Hotel Distil on May 5, 2026 Give 270's 19th Whiskey Wednesdays round, the "Bourbon Buddy Bonus," features weekly raffles for rare whiskey through June 24…

Topics covered

• mergers
• bourbon
• distilling operations
• food innovation
• whiskey tourism

Keywords

• Sazerac
• Brown-Forman
• Maple Bourbon Bacon
• MGP
• Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sazerac, Brown-Forman, MGP, Evan Williams, Lux Row Distillers, Kentucky Artisan Distillery Program, GALLO, Four Roses Bourbon, Kirin Holdings

Products: Maple Bourbon Bacon

Places: Limestone Branch Distillery, Louisville, Tennessee

More episodes of Bourbon Pursuit

• TWiB: Sazerac offers $15 billion to buy Brown Forman, Uncle Nearest potential shut down within 30 days, Buffalo Trace Distillery releases Eagle Rare 30 · April 24, 2026 · 43 min
• 563 - The State of Contract Distillation for 2026 · April 23, 2026 · 1h 0m
• Behind The Pursuit: The Relentless Pursuit · April 22, 2026 · 43 min
• Whiskey Quickie: What Happens When Bardstown Finishes Bourbon in Garryana Oak? · April 21, 2026 · 6 min
• 562 - An Intersection of Film and Bourbon with the Balas Brothers · April 16, 2026 · 1h 11m
• Whiskey Quickie: Tennessee Whiskey SHOCKER · April 14, 2026 · 7 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Bourbon Pursuit podcast page.