Dr. Heist is breaking down the full, fascinating journey of Wilderness Trail—from its incredibly dedicated early days to the huge, strategic partnership with Campari. And you know Pat and his background in microbiology, so we had to talk about yeast for a bit. But it’s not just about science; we also explore his unexpected second career in music with his band, Zella May, and what he's now doing with his wealth of investing in other businesses. Plus, we dive into the glass with a tasting of some new bourbon and rye whiskeys they are about ready to share.

This 10 year old bourbon is is 120.5 proof and $90 MSRP.

A million dollars worth of whiskey has been stolen from Westland, Diageo has temporarily paused whiskey production at its Balcones and George Dickel, and The Tennessee Whiskey Trail is launching the Tennessee Collective.

Today, we're sitting down with two leaders in the short-form video game, Kevin Carlson and Mike Yates. They give some insight into building a following on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and how they’re tackling the biggest challenges of creating content today—from the struggle of video editing to audience engagement. Then we get into a lively game of "Over, Under, or Properly Rated," where we debate everything from "hazmat" bottles to the authenticity of influencers. The conversation gets real about home barrel projects and if building a relationship with your local liquor store owner is still the most valuable move you can make.

This non-age stated wheat whiskey is 114.7 proof and $100 MSRP.

Turkey has officially removed its 70% retaliatory tariff on U.S. spirits, Black Button Distillery has been saved from Bankruptcy, and Angel's Envy is releasing Angel’s Envy 10.

We're welcoming back Beau Beckman, a name you may remember from past shows, who is with a new venture called Hogshead. In this episode, we get into the challenges faced by both consumers and new brands in this confusing market. Beau is pulling back the curtain on the "gold rush" mentality and showing us how Hogshead aims to use technology to create a transparent, online marketplace for barrels. He's also sharing some powerful reflections on his own deep bourbon heritage and the experience he had running the largest private barrel program while at Buffalo Trace. He shares what's really happening behind the scenes in bourbon sourcing world.

This non-age stated bourbon is 117 proof and $125 MSRP.

Van Winkle 2025 Lineup Is Announced, 2XO has released its first rye, and Penelope Bourbon has partnered with FCancer for two limited-edition whiskeys.

The idea of sourcing has been around a very long time but it's a new concept for some while it's old hat for some. Are we at the point where sourcing is more widely accepted? What's it going to take to overcome it? Knowing that we are going to see an abundance of available sources here real soon, will it become more popular? Or even maybe more popular than distilling your own?

This non-age stated bourbon is 104.8 proof and $65 MSRP.

Heaven Hill officially opens its doors at Heaven Hill Springs, Jos. A. Magnus & Co. has announced the return of its Private Cask Program, and Freddie Noe announce the launch of Booker’s, The Reserves 2025.

We're talking with Adam Johnson from the Kentucky Distillers Association, who for nearly two decades has been at the forefront of the Kentucky bourbon scene. We’re diving into the state of bourbon tourism, and as Adam reveals, visits to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail are absolutely going through the roof, transforming the experience from a day trip into a full-on bucket-list adventure. We also get into the legislative challenges facing our industry, from the battle for Direct-To-Consumer shipping rights to the elephant in the room: the cannabis beverage market, and why Adam believes it needs to play by the same rules. Adam also shares some great insights on how the collaborative nature of the bourbon community is actually fueling collective growth. If you’re planning a trip to Kentucky or just curious about the future of bourbon, you won't want to miss this one

This non-age stated rye is 100 proof and $70 MSRP.

An executive order has been revoked that looked into the competition in the U.S. alcohol industry, Heaven Hill Distillery announces two brand new releases, and Rabbit Hole Distillery is releasing Regallier.

We're sitting down with Royce Neely, the owner of Neely Family Distillery, whose family has been moonshining for generations. Royce isn't just carrying on a legacy; he's bringing it out of the backwoods. He’s taking us through his fascinating journey, from studying at Transylvania University to building his own distillery from the ground up. He's diving deep into the science and the art behind his craft, explaining his obsession with yeast, the secrets of sweet mashing, and what it takes to produce an award-winning absinthe. We're also getting an exclusive look at what's next for his distillery, including the installation of a one-of-a-kind three-chamber still designed to take his game to a whole new level.

This 8 year old rye is 100 proof and $130 MSRP.

Bourbon & Banter is hosting its 12th annual "30 Days of Bourbon Challenge", Castle & Key Distillery has debuted The Key Collective, and Penelope Bourbon announced its 2025 Estate Collection.

On this episode we get the inside scoop on one Ohio’s unique control state system with Anne Dimmick and Kristen Castle of OHLQ. They breaking down everything from why every bottle has the same fixed price across the state to their incredibly efficient real-time inventory tracking system, which, as you'll hear, is a big contrast to a lot of other places. Anne and Kristen also give us the details on the highly sought-after Single Barrel Saturday events and how they create a fair playing field for smaller brands to compete. We’re also getting into the nitty-gritty, discussing how issues like theft and recent cannabis legalization are impacting the spirits market. Whether you live in Ohio or you're just curious about how these systems work, this is a must-listen.

This 18 year old rye is 103.4 proof and $400 MSRP.

Four Roses Distillery is releasing its 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, Old Forester is releasing its most anticipated annual whisky: Birthday Bourbon, and The James B. Beam Distilling Co. is releasing a limited-edition Beam Pin Bottle.

In this episode of the Bourbon Pursuit Podcast, host Kenny Coleman is joined by a panel of bourbon experts—Fred Minnick, Ryan Cecil, Nick from Breaking Bourbon, and Blake from Sealbox—to explore the turbulent situation surrounding Uncle Nearest. They delve into the recent lawsuit from Farm Credit Mid-America, which claims Uncle Nearest defaulted on over $100 million in loans due to financial mismanagement and inflated barrel inventory reports. The discussion is both informative and laced with humor as the panel unpacks the legal jargon and financial strategies, with an emphasis on how a prior CFO's actions have complicated the case. As they analyze the impacts of a federal judge's ruling that could place the distillery under receivership, the panel considers the potential fallout for co-founders Fawn and Keith Weaver and the future governance of Uncle Nearest. They also reflect on broader industry trends exacerbated by rapid growth driven by pandemic demand and examine how communication failures between the distillery and its lender contributed to the crisis. The episode wraps up with listener questions and insights on the emotional toll of this case on supporters of the brand—visibly illustrating the gravity of its implications not just for Uncle Nearest but for the entire bourbon landscape.

This 4 year old rye is 100 proof and $55 MSRP.

Pursuit Spirits on Whiskey Row is officially open, Fred Minnick has a new book set to release, and Uncle Nearest is given a gag order.

We sit down with Rick and Ricky Johnson, the father-son team behind 15 Stars Bourbon. Their journey begins in an unexpected place—popcorn—where they turned their specialty brand, Black Jewel Popcorn, into a launching pad for their bourbon venture. The conversation delves into how a college project sparked Ricky's interest in creating bourbon from their unique black corn, leading to a partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company. The Johnsons share their meticulous approach to blending and flavor proofing using older whiskeys, including 14- and 15-year-old blends. They highlight the role of heirloom corn varieties in shaping their bourbon profiles. And yes, we get school again on what 15 Stars means which reflects Kentucky’s bourbon heritage and Americana.