TWiB: Uncle Nearest is sued for $100M, IW Harper releases a 34 year old bourbon, Parker’s Heritage #19 details are announced.

Summary

Bourbon Pursuit Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: TWiB: Uncle Nearest is sued for $100M, IW Harper releases a 34-year-old bourbon, Parker’s Heritage #19 details are announced

Release Date: August 8, 2025

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1. Introduction and Headlines

The episode begins with the hosts, Kenny Coleman, Ryan Cecil, and Fred Minnick, presenting the latest headlines in the bourbon industry:

• Uncle Nearest faces a $100 million lawsuit.
• IW Harper releases a rare 34-year-old bourbon.
• Parker’s Heritage #19 details are unveiled.

Timestamp: [00:00 - 04:27]

2. Major Lawsuit: Uncle Nearest is Sued for $100 Million

Overview: Uncle Nearest and Uncle Nearest Green Distillery are embroiled in a multi-million dollar lawsuit initiated by their creditor, Farm Credit Mid America PCA. The lawsuit alleges that the company defaulted on over $100 million in loans.

Key Allegations:

• Misuse of Loan Proceeds: Funding the purchase of a $2 million home and selling bourbon barrels to pay other vendors.
• Financial Misrepresentation: Failing to maintain a net worth of at least $100 million in 2024 and overstating the borrowing base by approximately $21 million.
• Default on Payments: Allegations that Uncle Nearest has been in default since January 2024, with delayed responses to resolution attempts.

Response from Uncle Nearest: Fawn and Keith Weaver, owners of Uncle Nearest, have publicly denied the allegations, stating that the claims are "demonstrably false." Weaver emphasized that the Martha's Vineyard home was a legitimate business expense and not a personal benefit. He also highlighted the company's continuous growth and international expansion.

Hosts' Analysis: Ryan Cecil provides insight into the complexities of financing in the bourbon industry, noting the declining value of bourbon barrels and increased scrutiny from banks. Kenny Coleman expresses concern about the potential impact on Uncle Nearest's reputation and operations.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Cecil [11:13]: "Uncle Nearest is facing a multi-million dollar lawsuit, alleging default on $100 million in loans..."
• Keith Weaver [12:44]: "The suggestion that we haven't paid the bank in over a year is just not true."

Timestamp: [11:00 - 20:43]

3. Trademark Dispute: Maker's Mark vs. Wiggle Wow

Case Summary: Maker's Mark has reached a settlement with Wiggle Wow, a Louisville-based gourmet dog treat company, over the trademark dispute concerning "Maker's Bark." The lawsuit was prompted by Maker's Mark's claims of brand dilution and intentional infringement.

Settlement Details:

• Wiggle Wow agrees to retire the "Maker's Bark" product by August 19, 2025.
• Terms of the settlement remain undisclosed.
• Wiggle Wow, a company employing individuals with Down syndrome, faced the legal battle due to its product mimicking Maker's Mark's branding.

Hosts' Perspectives: Kenny Coleman expresses sympathy for Wiggle Wow, emphasizing the company's charitable mission. Ryan Cecil discusses the balance between protecting trademarks and supporting community-focused businesses.

Notable Quotes:

• Kenny Coleman [21:45]: "It's unfortunate that Wiggle Wow, a company that helps provide jobs for people with Down syndrome, had to give up production due to trademark issues."

Timestamp: [20:08 - 22:21]

4. National Bourbon Week Announcement

The hosts announce the return of National Bourbon Week to Bardstown from June 14th to 21st, 2026. The week-long celebration will feature tastings, distillery dinners, limited edition releases, educational experiences, and a street concert.

Hosts' Excitement: Ryan Cecil shares his positive experiences from the previous year's event, highlighting the vibrant street festival and live music performances.

Timestamp: [23:45 - 24:37]

5. New Bourbon Releases

The episode delves into several exciting new bourbon releases:

a. Proof and Wood's Tumblin Dice Single Barrel Rye

• Details: Finished in Laird’s Apple Brandy barrels, 7 years aged followed by 1 year in brandy barrels.
• Production: Limited to 10 barrels.
• Availability: Select markets and retailers.

b. New Riff’s Second Annual Headliner Release

• Celebration: Marks 11 years of whiskey excellence.
• Proceeds: Benefit the Brighton Center of Northern Kentucky.
• Varieties: Includes corn whiskey and rye expressions.
• Availability: Through New Riff’s Whiskey Club.

c. Buffalo Trace’s Ultra-Aged Wheated Whiskey Innovations

• Releases: Weller 18 Year Old and Weller Millennium Edition.
• Distribution: Available exclusively at global travel retail locations like LAX, JFK, and London Heathrow.

d. World Whiskey Society’s Modern Bottle Straight Kentucky Bourbon

• Aging: 9 years old.
• Proof: 54% ABV.
• Price: $159.
• Packaging: Opulent bottle design.

e. IW Harper’s 34-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

• Details: Aged 34 years, bottled at cask strength (63.1% ABV).
• Availability: Limited to 5 barrels auctioned at Sotheby's.
• Benefit: Proceeds support Native Sun, aiding the black queer community.

f. Larrikin Bourbon Co.'s Tennessee Barrel One

• Type: 121.5 proof, single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon.
• Launch: Exclusively at the Southern Food and Whiskey Festival in Franklin, Tennessee.
• Extended Lineup: Includes Rosewater Bourbon and Maple Cream.

g. Heaven Hill’s Parker's Heritage Collection #19

• Composition: Blend of wheated bourbon, corn whiskey, and rye whiskey.
• Aging: 15 years old, bottled at 122.5 proof.
• Price: $180.
• Benefit: Supports ALS research in memory of Parker Beam.

h. Smith Bowman’s Hungarian Oak

• Series: Final release in the Abraham Bowman Oak series.
• Details: Aged 12 years in charred Hungarian oak barrels, bottled at 115 proof.
• Availability: Online lottery from August 11th to 18th, priced around $80.

i. Flavored Whiskey Updates

• Blue Note BlackBerry: Newly added to their flavor lineup, 70 proof, available in 750ml.
• New Riff's Red Turkey Wheat: Releasing their first wheated straight bourbon in four years.

j. Ready-to-Serve Cocktails

• Penelope Bourbon’s Black Walnut Old Fashioned: Pre-mixed bourbon cocktail at 76 proof, priced at $30.
• Yellowstone’s Cocktail Lineup: Includes Gold Rush Old Fashioned and Espresso variants, priced at $24.99.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Cecil [29:15]: "Love me some New Riff’s. So sure it's good."
• Kenny Coleman [37:32]: "IW Harper’s 34-year-old bourbon is a limited release..."

Timestamp: [28:29 - 51:36]

6. Discussion on Flavored Whiskey

The hosts engage in a conversation about the rising trend of flavored whiskeys. Ryan Cecil critiques the authenticity of some flavored options, suggesting they are similar to homemade mixes and offer better value.

Suggested Experiment: They propose a blind tasting segment where they mix base bourbon with local honey to compare with commercial flavored whiskeys.

Notable Quotes:

• Kenny Coleman [35:56]: "If we were to create a flavored whiskey, what would you like it to taste like? And everybody goes oak. That's it."
• Ryan Cecil [36:03]: "Anytime like Crown comes out with a new flavor, it flies off the shelves."

Timestamp: [35:20 - 46:09]

7. Conclusion

The episode concludes with the hosts reflecting on the extensive topics covered, including significant legal challenges and exciting new product launches in the bourbon world. They tease upcoming segments and encourage listeners to stay tuned for more in-depth analyses and tastings.

Timestamp: [51:07 - End]

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Final Thoughts:

This episode of Bourbon Pursuit offers a comprehensive look into the dynamic and sometimes tumultuous bourbon industry. From high-stakes lawsuits affecting prominent distilleries to the unveiling of rare and innovative bourbon releases, the hosts provide valuable insights and thoughtful commentary. Their discussion on flavored whiskeys adds a relatable touch, encouraging listeners to explore both commercial and homemade options. Whether you're a seasoned bourbon enthusiast or a casual drinker, this episode delivers informative and engaging content tailored to your interest in American whiskey.

Transcript

[Ryan]

Foreign.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

It'S this week in Bourbon. Lizard lizard lizard. Here's your headlines for August 8, 2025. Uncle Nearest is being sued for $100 million and is publicly fighting back. IW Harper releases a 34 year old bourbon and Parker's Heritage number 19. The details have been announced. Before we come back, here's a quick word from our partners. Always find what you love at Total Wine and more. With so many great spirits to choose from and at the lowest price, it's easy to rediscover a smooth weeded bourbon or try a bold new single barrel. And you can do it with the help from one of their friendly guides. From small batch to big names, bourbon lovers will find plenty to explore. And with every bottle comes the confidence of knowing you just found something amazing with the lowest prices for over 30 years. Find what you love and love what you find only at Total Wine and more. Visit totalwine.com to learn more. Spirits not sold in Virginia and North Carolina, drink responsibly and be 21. It's back. Give Two Seven Zero's 2020 unicorn raffle for just $20, you get two chances to win from 20 incredible eagle rare prizes, including the grand prize, the legendary Eagle Rare 25, the oldest release in the Eagle Rare lineup. Get your tickets now through September 24th at 7pm Eastern Time. Then watch the live drawing on YouTub YouTube at 8pm Tickets and details at give270.org that's give270.org charitable gaming license.org 0002703.

[Deborah]

This episode is brought to you by Greenlight. Get this Adults with financial literacy skills have 82% more wealth than those who don't. From swimming lessons to piano classes, Us parents invest in so many things to enrich our kids lives, but are we investing in their future financial success? With Greenlight, you can teach your kids financial literacy skills like earning, saving and investing. And this investment costs less than that. After school treat start prioritizing their financial education and future today with a risk free trial at greenlight.com Spotify greenlight.com Spotify Ford BlueCruise Hands Free highway driving takes the work out of being behind the wheel, allowing you to relax and reconnect while also staying in control. Enjoy the drive in blue cruise enabled vehicles like the F150 Explorer and Mustang Mach E. Available feature on equipped vehicles. Terms apply. Does not replace safe driving. See Ford.com BlueCruise for more details.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

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[Deborah]

Deborah had to have surgery.

[Ryan]

I had hip surgery in November of 2024.

[Deborah]

Her United Healthcare nurse, Crystal checked on her.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

We do a routine call after surgery.

[Ryan]

And I could tell that she was struggling.

[Deborah]

Deborah needed help.

[Ryan]

My infection markers were through the roof.

[Deborah]

And Crystal knew what to do.

[Ryan]

I called the hospital and said she's.

[Deborah]

Coming in and got Debra the help she needed.

[Ryan]

Crystal and United Healthcare saved my life.

[Deborah]

Hear more stories like Deborah'[e-mail] benefits, features and or devices vary by plan, area limitation and exclusions apply.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Hey, everybody. Welcome back. It is this week in Bourbon a very tired, strenuous, but yet exciting this.

[Ryan]

Week in Bourbon it is. Yes. I've never slept better in my life.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah.

[Ryan]

But I'm still tired.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I'm still getting less sleep than usual, but I am more excited than ever. And we'll talk about that here in a second because we've got some other big announcements happening on the pursuit side of things, but. Yeah, Lizard, lizard, lizard.

[Ryan]

I know. I'm like, what does that mean?

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Never. Never heard that.

[Ryan]

I haven't. No.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

All right.

[Ryan]

Some tick tock thing.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

No. Well, I mean, obviously it's on tick tock and a few other things. You might put your headphones on so you can hear this one.

[Ryan]

Okay.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

But the, the reason why it got to there is because. Let me pull it up here real quick. It's at the end of a. Of a. I think it was a Pixar or a Disney movie or something like that. And it's, you know, after the credits, they just show something and it's. This is all it is.

[Ryan]

Lizard, lizard, lizard, lizard.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

It's just a lizard pressing a lizard.

[Ryan]

That's like my kids.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

But everybody's like remixing it and doing different things with it. So, you know, you have something like this.

[Ryan]

Lizard should have been.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Lizard, lizard, lizard, lizard, lizard. Yeah.

[Ryan]

That brings me back to my DJ days where you could, you know, put stuff.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

You know those days you could record.

[Ryan]

That loop and then just hit the button and, you know, did you know.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

You know how to work the whole board? Do you still have like the bpms and all that sort of stuff? Yeah.

[Ryan]

Oh, yeah, I bet I could do that.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Okay. I've got A. My daughter had dreams of being a DJ for eight seconds. And so we bought her a legit board.

[Ryan]

Was it Pioneer or.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, it's a Pioneer board. Yeah.

[Ryan]

Pioneer is what I had. And it's nice.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah.

[Ryan]

I can't remember the exact model. It's been, hell, 12 years since I retired.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

But I think the technology's upgraded since then, too. You don't actually have to use turntables.

[Ryan]

The thing is, the technology is so good. Like, people are like, these DJs are so amazing live. I'm like, no, they're not. It's. Most of it's done like pre, you know, pre show and then it's just like putting on headphones and like, you know when. So when they're like up there, like, it just all bs.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Well, I'm sure a lot of the. The large stage productions. Yeah. Because it's all time to pyrotechnics and lighting and also that kind of stuff. So that would be impossible to be able to do. I mean, I guess it wouldn't be impossible, but, you know, you can at least turn the volume down. Turn the volume up. You have that going for you. So there's, you know, there's other ways.

[Ryan]

Putting the horn, you know.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, it's a good old. That's what we like to see.

[Ryan]

Yep.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

All right, well, let's talk about some announcements. You got any travel or anything coming up?

[Ryan]

I do, yeah. I'll be at. In Denver at spirit wine provisions. August 29th. I believe that's the day. Gosh. Yes or no? Sorry. August 30th.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

There we go.

[Ryan]

August 30th. Saturday, August 30th. But I'll be in Denver, so looking forward to seeing folks there at Spirit Wine and Provisions. That'll be at night. Well, evening, like five o', clock, so. But I'll.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

It's. It's an early, early dinner.

[Ryan]

It's a. It's a liner, not a dinner. Okay. But just got back from Kansas City. Want to give a huge shout out to Kansas City Bourbon Club. We had a great event at the Rock Hill Grill. Want to give a huge thanks to the folks at Ben Holiday, especially Mark, for allowing me to use their Diamond Club passes at the Royals game. That was really nice.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Oh, Diamond.

[Ryan]

Ben Holiday must be doing way better than we are because they have the Diamond Club. My son loved it.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

We don't have that. We might be able to get maybe like a, like a 50 cent hot dog at the bat stadium for you. That's right.

[Ryan]

Yeah. But no Kansas City Is great, great city. I hadn't been there in like 15 years, and it's. It's an awesome city, so really enjoyed it. Had a great time. Shout out to M. Mike D. Got to meet him in person for the first time. And smart. You know, Craig and Sarah are our reps there. They're awesome. So it was great to meet everybody. All the accounts, J. Macadoodles, Bubbles, you know, all those great accounts throughout.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

So, yeah, why don't you talk about your barbecue pursuit while you were there? Oh, yeah.

[Ryan]

Meet Mitch. Thank you for reminding me. Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Our good friend Matt Pittman and Brian Lowe connected me with a Mitch Benjamin who owns Meet Mitch. If you haven't had his sauce, the womp sauce, it's freaking. The best barbecue sauce on the planet. But his burn ends were outstanding. Ribs were outstanding.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I like it.

[Ryan]

But he gave me. They were doing this thing. They kind of did it on Tik Tok and it blew up. It had like a million views and can't. But they took burn ins, dipped them in like corn dog batter, then fried them, you know, like, for corn dog burns. And it might have been the best bite of barbecue. Oh, wow. But I need a side of Lipitor.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

So does that mean you understand the virality of TikTok and what it can do for you?

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Are you finally coming around?

[Ryan]

He's in food and restaurants. I think you do it with alcohol.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah. You haven't actually, you can, because that's what Cut Water is going through right now.

[Ryan]

Oh, that's true.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

See, Cut Water's got a moment on Tick Tock right now. I mean, that doesn't know. It's basically all these kids are getting. I say kids, they're over 21, but they're getting cut water because it's what, like, 14, 15 or whatever? Yeah. And so you have three of them, and everybody's just making videos of them, like using video effects of them being dizzy and stuff.

[Ryan]

Because wait till you taste them, then you won't want them anymore.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Well, I mean, they're. They're just. They're just really boozy.

[Ryan]

Yeah, they are.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Just goes to show you that you can have a moment on Tick Tock.

[Ryan]

You can. Yes. Well, you got any announcements?

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Not really.

[Ryan]

Oh, and I'll be. Well, I'll be in Nashville this weekend, but if you haven't bought tickets, you can. Well, this airs Friday.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

So it is. There it is.

[Ryan]

So I'll be there this Saturday. I'll be at the Southern Whiskey Society Festival. So it's Food and spirits. So come by and see us.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Come by and see us. We got some other things to kind of talk about with Pursuit on Whiskey Row, but you'd have to stay tuned a little bit for that because we have been working our tails off this week getting ready to open the doors. We are so, so very close. We're not even a soft 30 more. We might be like a soft seven.

[Ryan]

Five.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yes. Soft seven.

[Ryan]

We'll see.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

We'll see what it is. So make sure you follow us on Instagram. If you're subscribed to the Pursuit Spirits email list, you will be the first to know exactly when we're going to be able to do that. And who knows, might be dropping some old anvil there. Oh, finally, right?

[Ryan]

I need some. Finally. Finally.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, it's. You know, I actually, I didn't have a bottle at my house. I didn't either until I was just walking around here the other day and I saw a sample bottle open. I was like, you know what? I'm taking that home. I was like, I. I deserve it.

[Ryan]

You know, I haven't had one either. And no, I haven't tried it since I blended it together. And we were in Kansas City and somebody had it at their like. Like they had this little speakeasy bar. It's a home bar. But anyways, they had a bottle of it and that was the first time I've had it. Had to go all the way to fricking Kansas City.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Just goes to show you that when you're in the business, you kind of get so jaded and forgotten. Well, about all the things that you're working on.

[Ryan]

I'm always working on the next six months to a year. So it's like whatever's out now, like, I don't know what it. That. That was put together a long time ago.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Long ago.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

So long ago. Well, let's go ahead and. You ready to dive on some bourbon news?

[Ryan]

Let's do it.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

The first half is going to be pretty light, but it is all pretty much lawsuits.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Then since we took last week off, there's a bunch of new releases. But the first one is our big headline. It's the one that's taken over all the social media airwaves.

[Ryan]

Uncle.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Nearest and Nearest Green Distillery are facing a multi million dollar lawsuit from their creditor, Farm Credit Mid America PCA, which alleges that the company has defaulted on over $100 million in loans. This lawsuit is filed in the U.S. district Court and seeks to have a receiver appointed to protect the collateral, because, according to the suit, Uncle Nearest has failed to make principal and interest payments. They used loan proceeds. Over 2 million. Sorry. Actually used the loan proceeds to buy an over $2 million home and then sold the barrels, which served as the majority of the collateral, to then pay other vendors. The lawsuit also claims that Uncle Nearest failed to maintain a net worth of at least $100 million in 2024 and had previously overstated its borrowing base by approximately 21 million. The creditor states, that's a little rounding area. Yeah, yeah, man. Give or take a million between friends. The creditor states that Uncle Nearest has been in default on its loan since early as January 2024, and that attempts to reach a resolution were largely met with delayed responses, forcing them to seek.

[Ryan]

Relief in federal court.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

The lawsuit asked for a judgment against Uncle Nearest for a grand total of $102,269,182 and a solid 84 cents, plus interest, fees, and costs.

[Ryan]

Yikes.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Well, you mean to go ahead and talk about the rebuttal here.

[Ryan]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

All right. So in response, it has been very public. Fawn and all them have been on social media.

[Ryan]

The people CEO.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah. And it says, in response to a lawsuit filed by the creditor, Uncle Nearest owners Fawn and Keith Weaver have described the allegations as demonstrably false. The lawsuit claims the company has defaulted on over $100 million loans and so on and so forth. And they said that. Let's see, the $2.2 million estate, which we didn't mention was in Martha's Vineyard. Keith Weaver addressed these claims, stating that the suggestion that they have not paid the bank in over a year is just not true and that the Martha's Vineyard home was not a personal benefit. He called the lawsuit personal because it named him and Fawn individually. And Weaver referred to the timing of the suit as purposeful, especially given the company's planned participation in an annual event in Martha's Vineyard. And he maintained that Uncle Nearest continues to experience year over year growth and is worth protecting.

[Ryan]

Yeah, this one's juicy. It's.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Oh, it's. We. We've had a little bit of a sidebar conversation about this because we've. We're kind of. We're watching it all happen in real time.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

And I know one of the things that you said, you actually reached out to me and you're like, I really want to comment on this, but I know I shouldn't, but. And that's because banks typically don't start smear campaigns.

[Ryan]

Yes. They want to be in the background. They just want to get.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

They just want money.

[Ryan]

They just want to get paid. They don't want to be acknowledged for anything, even good or bad. And so that. That's my first conclusion. Now, obviously, this is them. This is their lawsuit, so this is all their side. We haven't. We've heard a little bit, you know, from Fawn on Instagram, you know, stating that this is a smear campaign and that, you know, she went through each state and like, how much growth Uncle Nearest has had and this and that. And so we haven't seen any, like, official response. We've kind of seen like, you know, public response, which is. I don't. It doesn't really matter. It's.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, that's not an actual lawsuit exactly. That's a bunch of podcasters commenting on it.

[Ryan]

That's.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

That's about the same equivalent.

[Ryan]

You hate to see it. You know, we. We understand this space kind of with lending with barrels and assets. You know, barrels appreciate and they. You can take that equity and finance more barrels and this and that. Well, barrels have kind of came down in value because of how much whiskey was made over the few years. And so there's a lot of companies are going through, you know, how do we navigate this loan to value and this and that. And so banks are getting more, I guess, scrupulous with understanding, like the value of these barrels and whatnot. Because really, you didn't have to think about it. They were appreciating so fast. And now. So I'm sure banks are putting under microscope and they're like, well, wait a minute, you know, where are these barrels? You know, and you're doing all this and. And allegedly haven't paid. So, yeah, this is not good at all for I think Uncle Nearest. But no, that's just.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

If a Bank calls in $100 billion loan on you, yeah, you, you. What do you. You can't fight it. Like, you owe the money.

[Ryan]

The money.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

The bank can do whatever they want.

[Ryan]

The bank can absolutely do whatever they want. You know, this happened in the real estate market in the 80s where, you know, banks were just calling a lot of people. Same in the late 2000s where, you know, people were just so leveraged with real estate because it was appreciating so fast. And then they're like, well, we're calling your note.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

We don't care.

[Ryan]

You know, we need the money back because we need. Because banks also need, you know, they have to have a lending ratio to where they have positive assets versus loans. And so they need to call some loans to get those positive assets. So they need the money too, so they can continue to lend. And so, yeah, it's. I'm rambling here, but no, it's okay.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

This is, this is why we have you as our pseudo cfo, because you can explain. Well, this sort of stuff and the accounting purposes.

[Ryan]

I know, very surface enough to be. Enough to be dangerous enough to keep our. But I did message our banker and say we haven't even bought anything. I was like, I guess we could. Kenny could buy a Porsche with.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, can I get my Porsche finally?

[Ryan]

Yeah, Porsche. But yeah, it'll be interesting to see. This is juicy. Fawn's obviously a very, you know, energetic, captivating person. So, like, of course, you know her. She feels like her reputation's on the line. And, and two, her fans are like, they don't care what.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

You know.

[Ryan]

If you read through the comments on Instagram, they don't care what the allegations say. They're all 100. Yeah, it was really weird on Fawn side.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

And so it's. I am amazed by how much, like, engagement she does have. She has a ton on Instagram and stuff like that. There was a ton. I did find it a little weird when she said to show your support, go out and clear the shots.

[Ryan]

I know that seemed a little desperate or like.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, that's what I was kind of like. We, being in the industry, we know what that means. It's like you need your sales numbers pumped up.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

And that's, that's what that means. And then to do a sign off with regulators. I mean, I'm, I'm a child of that era. And so I love Warren G, but I didn't understand it.

[Ryan]

So I was like, well, mount up.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Well, like I said, we've got. I would say the next couple months of this topic is going to be poking its head out. We're probably going to see a countersuit relatively soon as well. It could be for defamation, it could be for different kinds of things. I would like to see this get resolved in a happy and healthy way. But yeah, everything that we've seen so far in the bourbon industry, when we talk about Luca Mariano, Whiskey House, Gerard County, Garrard county, all these people that are facing some sort of. I wouldn't say Whiskey House wasn't a default, but some sort of default. You know, you're in the, you know, tens to thirties million 100. Like that's, that's substantial.

[Ryan]

Big cash.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

That's substantial.

[Ryan]

Yeah. Until you don't Know, like, how the company's set up. I'm sure there's private investors, you know, bank loans, this and that. And so I don't know. They're going to have to. I don't. It's going to be a mess for. But the article did say that Uncle Nearest does get to keep ownership and maintaining business as usual. I think there was a blurb in there. It said that.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Oh, during this talk. Process.

[Ryan]

During this process. Oh, I hope so.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

That would be a huge hit to them.

[Ryan]

Yeah. So hopefully they can get all figured out. And because it was the most awarded bourbon, you know, in history.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

It is, it is. I mean, it's. It is interesting when you see these things happen because it's. It's hard to. Hard to gauge, like, how well a company's doing because from the outside looking in, for a longest time I looked at Uncle Nearest, I'm just like, man, they are on a rocket ship.

[Ryan]

Great story.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

There's great story. Scaling as fast as they possibly can. They're going international. They're.

[Ryan]

They bought a damn cognac company.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

They bought a cognac company. They bought a Martha's House. Martha's Vineyard house.

[Ryan]

Like a $40 million facility down in. Was it Shelbyville? Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Quote unquote.

[Ryan]

The.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

The biggest bar in America. They put in there, too. So from the outside looking in, you're like, holy crap, they're. They're killing it. But when you see this happen, you're kind of like, well, you know, you do have to pay back the bank. That is. That is number one. That's. It's. It's kind of being, you know, the owner of the business. Right. Everybody gets paid except for you. You're the last one getting paid.

[Ryan]

100.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

That's. That's how it's supposed to work. So we'll just sit over here with our. Our pursuit chump change, and we'll. We'll be. We'll be just fine.

[Ryan]

We'll be okay. Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

All right. Ready for the next lawsuit?

[Ryan]

Let's go. Okay, so it's turning into like, what's her name? Nancy. She was like on one of those CNN or she would, like, cover like, hot trials.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Oh, okay. I thought you say return to like a Judge Judy episode or. Yeah. Well, a settlement has been reached in a trademark dispute between Maker's Mark and a Louisville based gourmet dog treat company called Wiggle Wow over the name of Maker's Bark. Wiggle wow created a dog treat back in 2021 that is shaped like a Maker's Mark bottle has the red wax which is dipped and everything like that, but it's icing and this was filed for a trademark for maker's bark in February 2022. However, maker's marks legal representative opposed the trademark in January claiming Wiggle wow quote knowingly and intentionally infringed upon and diluted their brand. They asserted that Maker's Mark has coined the term and explored using the Maker's Bark brand for pet treats years prior to Wiggle Wow's filing, even contracting another dog food producer, which is Rudy Greens, in late of 2019. And it was going to help create these kind of treats. Maker's Mark alleged that Rudy Greens reached out to Wiggle Wow for assistance and Wiggle Wow subsequently launched its own mimicking product quote without seeking Maker's Mark's approval. And indeed behind Maker's Mark's back, Wiggle Wow's founder Mark Pfeiffer confirmed the settlement was reached on Friday, July 25, stating that he is unable to continue the legal fight due to the high costs. The Maker's Bark dog treat is scheduled to be retired from production on August 19, 2025. However, the terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.

[Ryan]

Yeah, this one's kind of a no brainer.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

It is a no brainer. Here's a, here's the, here's the, the part that's kind of. I don't know, it's tough. So Wiggle Wow. Do you know much about the company?

[Ryan]

I don't.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

It's all people with down syndrome that work there. And, and it all goes to help like give jobs to people with down syndrome.

[Ryan]

Oh, that makes it.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, exactly.

[Ryan]

Oh right, yeah, man. You think they would be able to come to an agreement or something on that?

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

It's, it's, it's unfortunate to.

[Ryan]

I mean, I get it, you got to protect your mark. But if they're raising money. Okay. I don't just pulled on my heartstrings there.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I know. And to be fair, I do think Wiggle Wow was probably in the wrong over there because they created something that obviously looks fake or looks like it. It's all the same thing. I'm sure Sazerac is going to go after anybody that has anything Pappy related. We're going to go after anybody. No, I'm just kidding. We're not going to do that. We don't have the money. So if you do want to make some pursuit stuff, we can come like with a co lawsuit just to be.

[Ryan]

Able to like get some, get some headlines and headlines.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Other than that, you know, we'll, we'll draft up some, some season desist for the, for the fun of it. But just to go along with that, we actually do have a new dog toy in the gift shop. Yeah, the Pawsuit, Pawsuit United. This was something that we wanted to create a bottle shape out of our new bottle as a dog toy. And we were going to have pursuit across it. My wife says, well, let's do a fun little play on it and call it Pawsuit United.

[Ryan]

And I was like, oh, yeah, that's cute.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

That is good.

[Ryan]

It does look good.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

That's better than Maker's bark. Yeah.

[Ryan]

And stuffing won't come out of it, right? It probably will. Yeah, it probably will. Those dogs are notorious for that. Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Actually, this guy reminds me, remember, there was another lawsuit. It was the Jack Daniels, the bad spaniels one. This is just proof that if you're going to be in the dog toy.

[Ryan]

Business, stay away from bourbon.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Stay away from whiskey brands. Because at this point you should know that whiskey brands, they love to sue people.

[Ryan]

That's right.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

All right, our last news story here is that National Bourbon Week week.

[Ryan]

What?

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

National Bourbon Week will return to Bardstown from June 14th to the 21st of 2026. So I guess start making plans now. The week long celebration includes tastings, distillery dinners, limited edition releases, educational experiences and the Bourbon City street concert. The Bourbon Capital alliance and the Bardstown Nelson County Tourism are collaborating to host the event. And who knows, it might be pursuit Palooza 2026 as well.

[Ryan]

Yeah, we were part of it this year. It was awesome. That street festival was fun. It was cool.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, everybody had a good time. You could go and hit up all the different bars and restaurants and go to toddies and buy a bottle and drink it on the street because that's what we did.

[Ryan]

Brilliant. Then the band was good too. I remember like they just started when we were getting on the bus and they started just blaring zombie. Cranberry Zombie. And I was like, yes, this is awesome.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Zombie.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Well, that's going to be your earworm until we go to this next commercial break. But stick around. We got bourbon released news coming up. Typically you don't associate speed with quality. It's like trying to make a rapid aged bourbon. You can't fight Mother Nature and Father Time. While there is an exception to this unwritten rule, and that's if you're hiring, you can find candidates fast who are also extremely qualified for your job. Just use ZipRecruiter. And right now you can try ZipRecruiter for free at ZipRecruiter.com pursuit Want to meet a standout candidate? You can unlock their contact info instantly, so it's no wonder why ZipRecruiter is the number one rated hiring site based on G2. Four out of five employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. And if you go to ZipRecruiter.com pursuit right now, you can try for free again that ZipRecruiter.com pursuit ZipRecruiter the smartest way to hire Always find what you love at Total Wine and More with so many great spirits to choose from and at the lowest price, it's easy to rediscover a smooth weeded bourbon or try a bold new single barrel. And you can do it with the help from one of their friendly guides. From small batch to big names, bourbon lovers will find plenty to explore. And with every bottle comes the confidence of knowing you just found something amazing with the lowest prices for over 30 years. Find what you love, and love what you find only at Total Wine and more. Visit totalwine.com to learn more. Spirits not sold in Virginia and North Carolina. Drink responsibly and be 21. You ever wondered what really makes a business successful? Sure, a great product, a cool brand and smart marketing help. But let's be real, there is a powerhouse behind the scenes making it all work. So take brands like Skims and Allbirds. Yeah, they've got hype. They've got some real magic. But it's the system that makes selling and shopping really seamless. And for millions of other businesses, that's Shopify. Nobody does selling better than Shopify, home of the number one checkout on the planet and the not so secret secret shop pay boosting conversions up to 50%, meaning way fewer abandoned carts and way more sales. So if you're serious about growing your business, your commerce platform better be ready to sell. So wherever you get your customers that are scrolling, strolling or shopping either online, in store and in their feeds, you can get them everywhere. Because businesses that sell more, they sell on Shopify. Upgrade your business and get the same checkout that many other brands use. Sign up for your $1 per month [e-mail] all in lowercase, that's shopify.combounbon. to upgrade your selling today, you say.

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[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Zombie Zombie Finish it up. Here's the bourbon release news, y'.

[Ryan]

All.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

We got quite a few since we took a week off last week, so we're gonna kind of scream through a little of these. So Proof and Wood has announced the newest release and it's Tumblin Dice series called Tumblin Dice single Barrel rye and this is finished in Laird's Apple Brandy barrels. This begins with a rye whiskey made from mashable 955 aged for seven years followed by an additional year in Laird's Apple Brandy barrels. The special Release represents a 10 barrel production and it says that it was finished apparently Lairded company. I didn't know this. It's America's oldest licensed distillery that was established in 1780. It's got some history there.

[Ryan]

Dang.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

This official launch took place at Tales of the Cocktail and I'm going to start being available in select markets and retailers while supplies last. I don't have a proof or a price on it.

[Ryan]

I love Lairds. You know I bought a bottle of it for a cocktail that was like rye whiskey Lairds and another some three. Anyways, it was really boozy but really good. So I'm a big fan of apple brandy or Calidos for finishes. So I bet it's good.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, I'm trying to think what's the, what's the cocktail that has brandy and bourbon or brandy and rye and some other stuff in it?

[Ryan]

I don't know. I think it's the one. I'm.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

It'll come to me and then some people are gonna be in the comments and be like, yeah, this is what it is. I'm like, okay, yep, I could probably look it up here in a second. But we'll go to the next new story and that's new. Riff has announced the return of its second annual headliner release and this is gonna be celebrating 11 years of world class whiskey. The 2025 edition features four. Four different whiskeys including two from the first batches distilled 11 years ago. Proceeds from this will release and will benefit the Brighton center of Northern Kentucky, which is another nonprofit. This year's edition is bottled without chill fration, without chill filtration, 111 proof and features a chorus. Chorus. That's funny. 28% of 11 year old corn whiskey, 27% of 11 year old bourbon, 15% of a 10 year Balboa Rye, 15 of a 10 year old rye and 15 of an 8 year old Aroostook malted rye. Not sure this is going to retail for 150 per bottle and they will be available for purchase starting well last week and through New Riffs Whiskey Club.

[Ryan]

Love me some new Riffs. So sure it's good brandy. Really like the high note we tried.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yes. They've been doing a lot of kind of good stuff recently. So I've always liked a lot of stuff from New Riff so that I'm, I'm sure it's always going to be solid. All right, so let's go ahead and with the next one, which is Buffalo Trace, everybody's favorite distillery, woohoo. They're releasing two ultra aged wheat whiskey innovations. The first is a Weller 18 year old and the second edition of Weller Millennium. Weller 18 year old is the brand's oldest age statement to date and will be available only at global travel retail at airports including lax, JFK and London Heathrow. The second edition, well it says will be available via gtr. I don't know if it just means that you're not going to see it on shelves, but I guess if you're flying through and you're an international traveler, go look for that. The second edition of Weller Millennium is a newly crafted blend of vintage straight wheated bourbons and wheat whiskeys distilled at Buffalo trace in 2001, 2003 and 2006. And this is going to be available via their global distributor networks. And we'll have another limited supply. Again, no proof, no price.

[Ryan]

You know it's funny, I had never bought anything at whatever those called duty free shops. Yeah. And so it's a funny story. I was out of Zen, but here we go, right? And I was stuck at the airport because my flight got delayed and the only place I had it was the duty free. Okay. And so I go try bomb. And they're like sir, you can't bomb. You're like, you live in Kentucky. And I'm like what? What the hell? So I can't buy anything if I'm. And you can't buy if you live in the US you can't buy anything from the duty free store.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I don't know.

[Ryan]

So that's what they told me.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

And so maybe if you're only traveling domestically, if you're traveling internationally, I think you can.

[Ryan]

We did.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

We flew.

[Ryan]

We were flying from. Back from. We were flying to Canada. And so I was like, what airport was this? This was at Washington Doles.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Oh, okay. In D.C. okay.

[Ryan]

Yeah. Huh. And so I was like, ah. So I had to spend a day with, like, no nicotine. It was like, I'm scratching.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

How's my family gonna cope with me? Exactly. I'm. I'm cranky and everything like that.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

By the way, the cocktails of Vue Car.

[Ryan]

Oh, yes, that's right. View car.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Voicar. Whatever. Vicar. How bad did I butcher that? Everybody? French Vue Car.

[Ryan]

All right.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Goose island has Already announced their 2025 Bourbon County Stout lineup that'll be happening on Black Friday, November 28th. Featuring six distinct variants with strong emphasis on collaborations with Heaven Hill. Senior Innovation manager Mike Siegel highlights that the barrels are viewed as a key ingredient leading to partnerships with distilleries like Heaven Hill. And this year's collection includes. First is the original stout. This is aged for an average of 12 months. And these bourbon barrels come from four major Kentucky distilleries including Heaven Hill, Buffalo Tree Spore Roses, and Wild Turkey. Then here's your variants. First is the cherries jubilee stout. This is finished in cognac cask and blended with Montmorri, Montmorency cherries, citrus and Panella. Don't know what that is. Again, inspired by dessert.

[Ryan]

That sounds good.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

The second is a chocolate praline stout, and this is flavored with cocoa nibs, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews and dates. You have the prop or the proprietor stout. This is aged with walnuts, pistachios, cassia bark and honey inspired by baklava. And this is again, prop is only exclusive to the Chicago area. You have the double barrel stout and aged in two sets of previously used of Heaven Hills 7 year old bottled and bond bourbon. And then you have the reserve stout. However, this one was aged for two years in barrels that previously held the 2023 Parker's Heritage Collection 10 year cask strength rye.

[Ryan]

Wow. Lots of good options. Sounds like you're the beer guy. So any of those excite you?

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Actually, the prop is the only one that I'm kind of mostly excited about.

[Ryan]

But I like the one with the cognac and cherries. That sounds tasty.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, I actually just opened one up this week because we've had such a hell of a time getting everything downtown ready to open, and I have a few different Bourbon county stouts, and so I grabbed it was the bramble rye essentially stout, Asian rye whiskey barrels but also infused with like berries. And I was like, it's not bad, but it's not like my jam. You know, I kind of don't like.

[Ryan]

Fruit in your beer.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Not as much. But I'm also kind of getting to the point where, you know, everything that we're flavoring with, with cocoa nibs and hazelnuts and citrus and all this sort of stuff, I'm just like, I'm ready for just beer flavored beer again. Like, just gimme a good stout.

[Ryan]

Yeah. Reminds me of honey finished bourbon and.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Maple finish everything, right?

[Ryan]

Yeah. Because to me it's essentially adding flavors.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah. I mean this is, this is the cycle that we've seen. I mean, we saw the, the pastry stout, rise of, of beers and then the same things kind of happened with bourbon. It'll fall off. It'll eventually fall off. I actually, you know what? I don't think it will. And here's the thing, because I, I just put on Patreon this past week because there was a, an article that came out saying flavored whiskey is on a substantial rise.

[Ryan]

Oh, yeah, I believe it.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I mean, so I put out to our community and I said, if we were to create a flavored whiskey, what would you like to taste like? And everybody goes oak. That's it.

[Ryan]

That's it.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

That's it.

[Ryan]

Well, we got you. Yeah, but yeah, I mean, anytime like crown comes out with a new flavor, it flies off. Jack just came out with their BlackBerry, so I hear it's doing well. Yeah, yeah. People like flavors.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yep. Well, I'll go ahead and skip to that because Jack Daniel has announced the launch of his Tennessee BlackBerry.

[Ryan]

I didn't even look at the headline.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

It's the newest addition to its flavor lineup which includes Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire, Tennessee Apple, and the blackberries Blend is offered at 70 proof and will be available in 750ml bottles. So there you go.

[Ryan]

Yeah, go, go. This is. If you like honey flavored whiskey or maple or whatever, all this BS from these NDPs, go buy this stuff off the shelf for a third of the cost. It tastes pretty damn similar. Save you some money.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I think that's going to be our next blind tasting with you. I'm going to.

[Ryan]

Oh, let's do that.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, we're just going to go take random stuff. We probably have to proof it down though, because most of these are 70 to 80 proof. And if you're getting like a honey cast from somebody, it's probably barrel proof.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

So we got to make it a fair fight.

[Ryan]

That's true. Okay, I like that idea.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

We're going to do it. Our next one is that the World Whiskey Society, you know, they're the people that have the opulent bottles and everything like that. They have a new straight Kentucky bourbon. Modern bottle is what it Sundays. It's aged nine years and this core offering is designed to appeal both collectors and everyday enthusiasts. The bourbon inside is bottled at 54% and it's a nine year old expression described as a classic bourbon. And it's available for $159 on their shop.

[Ryan]

Like the perf.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yes. Now this is where I probably need to say, like you should probably go to their website and look at it. It's kind of like this, I don't know, like a puffer fish, but it spun like 25 degrees.

[Ryan]

Oh.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

And that's saying it's like a puffer fish. It just has like all these angles and stuff onto it. So it's a very opulent type of bottle.

[Ryan]

Cool. People like packaging.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yep. All right, so here's our other headline, is that IW Harper has unveiled its rarest offering ever in my opinion, to date. And this is a IW Harper 34 year old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. And this is a limited release coming from the historic Stitzel Weller distillery, or maybe while they still have it until it's sale. This bourbon is distilled in 1989 and aged for 34 years, was crafted of just four barrels and is bottled at cask strength, which is 63.1%. Not doing the math. However, here's the problem. There's only 11 barrels that became available out of it and only five are actually going to be going up for auction at Sotheby's. And these proceeds from these auctions will benefit Native sun, which is a platform dedicated to uplifting black queer men. The initiative is supported by collaboration with two time Oscar nominated actor and director Colman Domingo, emphasizing the release's connection to cultural storytelling and supporting the black queer community.

[Ryan]

Oh, that's very cool. Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

34 year old.

[Ryan]

It's depressing that the oldest whiskey ever is still younger than me.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah. Yep. I mean, other than we had Thompson's Reserve when we tried that before we turned 40. That's about all I got. Yeah. At this point we're, we're past the age now where every bourbon that's going to come out is going to be younger than us.

[Ryan]

Yeah. Old men.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Well, the good thing is is that most of our listeners are probably in the same boat because a lot of us all drink 5 to 10 year stuff anyway. So yeah, if, if you're still, you know, 21, you have a shot, you have a shot right now that you can still drink whiskey that was distilled.

[Ryan]

Before you were born on your birthday.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Larrikin Bourbon Co. If you don't know Greg Keighley and all them, they're awesome. It's a veteran owned craft distillery. They're now expanding into Tennessee with the release of Tennessee barrel one. This is 121 and a half proof cash strength single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey and it's unveiled exclusively at the Southern food and Whiskey Festival experience happening in Franklin, Tennessee. That's where you're going.

[Ryan]

I'll be there.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

The full Lyrakin lineup will be available across Tennessee through the Franklin selections including their award winning single barrel bourbon bottled and Bond High wheat small batch rosewater bourbon and bourbon maple cream.

[Ryan]

O I'm excited.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, I like the rose water.

[Ryan]

Excited to see Greg. I like him.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yes, he's a good guy. I actually just sent him a text message before you came up here to book a time. And on our next recording he'll sound.

[Ryan]

Sophisticated with that Aussie.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Oh yeah, that Aussie accent. Oh yeah. We're, we're going to sound like another.

[Ryan]

Shrimp on the barbie.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Wow, that was probably the most like cultural like let's put you in a box kind of moment.

[Ryan]

Great movie.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah. I was about to say thanks to Dumb and Dumber. It'll never die white. All right, so I'm going to skip that one. We'll talk about our other headline is that Heaven Hill has announced the 19th edition of Parker's heritage collection and this is featuring a Kentucky straight American whiskey because guess what, it's not bourbon. They're blending mash bills. How dare they. It is a blend of three mash bills. It's a 15 year old straight weeded bourbon, an 11 year old corn whiskey and a 12 year old whiskey made from rye and malt. Each mash bill was aged in unique rick houses and floors then married together post aging. I'd hope so. The addition of this bottle is at barrel proof which is 122 and a half non chill filtered. It can be rolling out at $180 SRP and if as usual this a portion of the proceeds goes to benefit ALS research in the memoriam of Parker Beam.

[Ryan]

I'm really excited for this one now. So the bottle that put me on the blending path was the original Parker's blended mash bills where they blended the wheat, you know their wheated bourbon and their rye bourbon. I wish they would come back with that. But I'm actually excited about. They're pretty close to this because the, you know, the, the three mash bills are blending together, like individually.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Are they all your favorites?

[Ryan]

Well, individually they're very like one dimensional. And so I'm excited to see how these kind of coalesce together and bring out, you know, really interesting flavors. So I'm, I'm pretty excited. Before this. I know probably some people are like, oh, and it just straight bourbon or.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Raw, but give me a 34 year old bourbon. Heaven.

[Ryan]

Hell. Exactly. Yeah. But I'm, I'm excited for this.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, I think it'll be really cool. I'm excited to be able to try it as well. So moving on here is that a Smith Bowman is releasing Hungarian Oak. This is the third and final experimental whiskey. They're finally done experimenting.

[Ryan]

They're done. I doubt it.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

They just said, we've, we've gone through everything and we're stopping here. But this is its final experimental whiskey from its Abraham Bowman Oak series. The Abraham and Bowman Oak series explores cask maturation in different oak varietals from around the world, as well as effect charring has on the flavor of the whiskey. And this particular series launched back in March of 24 and the release of you had French oak, and then that continued with the release of American oak. How innovative. Abraham Bowman Oak series. Hungarian oak is made from a blend of liquids aged for 12 years in charred Hungarian oak barrels and then bottled at 115 proof. The opportunity to purchase one of these bottles will be available through an online lottery taking place August 11th through the 18th. However, you have to purchase in person within three weeks of winning too. And each bottle will be sold at a suggested retail price of pretty comparable 80 bucks.

[Ryan]

Oh, that's not bad. Yeah, I always like the Bowman stuff. I mean, I know it's somewhat like.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Sasrack portfolio I remember talking about a long time ago.

[Ryan]

We had a podcast.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I know. It still kind of feels like we didn't get the right answer, though.

[Ryan]

Yeah, because it's like they distill it in Frankfurt, then ship it to Virginia, then they distill it again there and then fill it into barrels.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, it was something like that.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

It seems very inefficient.

[Ryan]

It does, but, you know, it's all.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Part of a story, I guess. You wouldn't have to have mash tanks. That would reduce a lot of the.

[Ryan]

You wouldn't have to do fermentation.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, you would have. You all you do is you just basically bring it in in a truck and pump it through the still and.

[Ryan]

Exactly. I mean, that's hell. It's what Tito's does.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah. It reduces your footprint by at least 50%.

[Ryan]

Exactly.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

All right, maybe they're onto something.

[Ryan]

That's right.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

That's what we're going to do. I'm not letting you mash anything.

[Ryan]

We're getting a hundred million dollars still in here.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah. Once we see this Uncle Nearest thing come around.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

You're like, yeah, well, we're gonna get it for a fraction of the cost. We'll get it for a hundred thousand dollars.

[Ryan]

I'll do a cheap beef. Jealous on 30A. Not Martha Ginger.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I'm just gonna keep living my powerball dreams over here.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

All right. Well, speaking of more flavored whiskey. Flavored whiskey, according to you, Ryan, Blue Note has brought back its honey bourbon cask. This limited edition whiskey that sold out quickly last year. And to create this expression, American oak barrels were first used to age honey before using to age whiskey. And then they were returned to the same cask for a second aging period. The release, which was crafted in Memphis, has a mash bill of 71.29, bottled at 113.86. Of course, that's barrel proof. Only 1800 bottles will be available and they can be purchased for a retail price of $65. Bluenote bourbon.com and in select US markets.

[Ryan]

There you go. That's. At least it's not too egregious on price.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

That's not egregious.

[Ryan]

Yeah, it's. They had a raw honey that was decent.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I haven't.

[Ryan]

They just. All the honey ones just taste so thick to me. They're just like.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Oh, you mean like it's mixed with honey.

[Ryan]

Exactly. Okay.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, I was like nailed that one. I'm like a little viscous. I wonder why.

[Ryan]

Like, I'm gonna just pour a bourbon, then go to my local farmer's market and get a 15 jar of honey. 15 jar of honey. And just put like a teaspoon in there and it's pretty similar.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Oh, that would be such a good idea. We should. Let's keep these ideas rolling. Like, what if we got all the. The highly limited allocated honey release bourbons that we could get our hands on or at least samples of it. So if you're listening to us, the listeners, we get samples of it. And then we do that too. We'll get a few different bourbons.

[Ryan]

Oh, yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

And we'll get.

[Ryan]

We'll take base Bourbon.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

We'll get some local honeys, we'll just mix it together and blind sampling it.

[Ryan]

That's. There we go.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yeah, we'll just do that.

[Ryan]

I'm here for it.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Prove you that it's. It's like you don't need to go. This is exactly. If you know our good friend Wade from Texas, he's probably not going to listen to this, but he was, he was on the show a long, long time ago. When Parker's came out with the Curacao finish, he goes, I could make this myself. He got a bottle of Heaven Hill whiskey, a bottle of Curacao, essentially just did a few drops of it. And he goes, here you go. Try to tell me it tastes any different.

[Ryan]

Actually, I was rearranging bottles a couple weeks ago and I found that one, the curtain. I was like, I try. I was like, oh, so orangey. It wasn't bad. It's just so orangey. But it makes a really good old fashioned. But it is straight orange. It is.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I've got two, I'm going to say for the very end here. But our other one is New Riff is still going to stay in the news because they are re releasing their Red Turkey Wheat Kentucky straight bourbon for the first time in four years. This rare weeded whiskey is made from an heirloom grain varietal and will be available in limited quantities across New Rift's national footprint. New Rift first began distilling with Red Turkey wheat in 2016. And this is going to be aged for five years, bottled 100 proof and has a suggested retail price of $60.

[Ryan]

Yummy.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yes. The wheat, it actually is good. I've had it before.

[Ryan]

It is good.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

It is good. All right, so this other one, leather too, are all coming from our friends over at Luxco. And they're not coming out with new whiskeys.

[Ryan]

No, no, no. They're.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

They're going hard on the rtd rtp, the ready to pour route. So this first one is that Penelope bourbon has released a black walnut Old fashioned in its cocktail innovation in the Ready to pour market. This premium bottled cocktail is crafted with Penelope's signature bourbon and these Black walnut Old fashioned features. Hand selected award winning Penelope street bourbon and rye whiskey blended with black walnut bitters and vanilla Demera and then some slight traces of molasses and all this other kind of stuff in there. Anyway, it's bottled at 76 proof and will be available starting nationwide for a suggested retail price of $30.

[Ryan]

Yeah, I was texting you about this. It's amazing. They Came out with this so fast after the peach one.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

They just had the peach one.

[Ryan]

Yeah.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Slow down. You got, you got time. You got to let the peach one catch the, catch the buzz first. Yeah, I say that kind of like catch a buzz.

[Ryan]

But yeah, they're just taking over the shelves. But they're smart.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

At some point we're going to leave room for everybody else on the shelf.

[Ryan]

There's none. There's like 12 Penelope's up there now.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

There's no. I, I know there's a lot of Penelope fan people out there. Are you buying every single one that they come out with? I'm, I'm genuinely curious.

[Ryan]

I think they are. Okay.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I mean, I guess if you're a fan. Yeah, you are. There is. It comes to a point though, I mean, barrels, they, they ran into this where if you are not in our world, at what point do you start hitting consumer confusion and they look at it and they're like, I can't make a decision. I'm just gonna go grab Woodford Double Oak.

[Ryan]

Yep. But I don't know. Penelope's got the branding and not that Barrel doesn't, but they just have a different. I don't know, I think they're. Barrel is a very niche whiskey geek kind of brand, whereas Penelope is more kind of mainstream. Yeah, they're. They're able to hit more mainstream consumers with their offerings.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I agree.

[Ryan]

I agree.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

All right, so our last one here is that Yellowstone is now also getting the launch of Yellowstone cocktails.

[Ryan]

No way.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yes they are. It's a new offering of premium ready to serve cocktails made with their Yellowstone Kentucky straight bourbon and all natural ingredients. Yellowstone cocktails feature modern flavors to meet the needs of today's.

[Ryan]

Unlike vanilla, like ugh. Not modern.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I'm just kidding. But Yellowstone, they are doing this of today's whiskey drinkers to cater to increased demand of consumers looking for convenience, high quality and spirits based ready to serve options. So every bottle delivers a bold bourbon forward taste in a convenient shareable 750ml format. And then so each one is also. It's a spill proof bottle. It's actually a whole new packaging that they made for this using clean energy and packaged and fully recyclable materials. So since 2018 they're rolling out some other stuff. So anyway, the lineup here is you're going to have the gold rush, an old fashioned and an espresso, I guess like bourbon espresso and all these will have a retail price of 24.99.

[Ryan]

Oh wow.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Undercutting Penelope.

[Ryan]

That's right. Stephen Beam's probably like, what the hell's gone? What the hell happened to my brand?

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

I think Stephen Beam's like, whatever, whatever. Yeah. As long as we're getting whiskey out.

[Ryan]

Of here, I wanna, I want to hear shelves. I can't wait to hear Fonte getting character for these.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Oh, yeah. Let me tell you about our gold rush.

[Ryan]

That's right. It was when we were hiking across San Francisco looking for gold.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Instead I got myself a pair of Levi's.

[Ryan]

That's right. And Rice a Roni.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

You don't know what we're talking about. I guess do a little deep dive in history of the gold rush days.

[Ryan]

That's right.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

But that's it. Man. That is going to be our this week in bourbon. We had a longer one than usual.

[Ryan]

We did. Back to downtown.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

We are. We're going to go down there and keep setting up.

[Ryan]

Keep dusting.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

Yes. And if you do want to come, come, come help dust. We'd love to have you.

[Ryan]

Yes.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

With that. Cheers, everybody. We'll see you next time.

[Ryan]

Toodles.

[Bourbon Pursuit Host]

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