Will consumers become tired of Kentucky bourbon? With the rise of non-Kentucky brands gaining recognition for their quality whiskey, Kentucky bourbon still holds a strong position in the market due to its long-established reputation and consumer perception of safety and acceptance.  While Kentucky will likely continue to hold the cache of consumer preferences, today we debate whether consumers will move past the big six Kentucky brands, or Kentucky in general, and latch on or explore other...

You know what they say about all work and no play. Today, Kenny and Ryan are back in the studio after a week off. We break down their trips, discuss the access to bourbon outside of our Kentucky bubble, and the importance of stepping away from time to time. We hit on: Taking time off for vacation being important for mental and physical health Bourbons popularity to other spirits at outside of Kentucky The challenges of being a whiskey-focused company in a market dominated by mass-market...

Everyone has seen it play out: there's a bottle you cant get, really want to get, or you see someone else get it... and now you gotta have it. We saw it ourselves with the positive reception to the Pursuit United Double Oaked release, but what made it more hyped than our other offerings? In today's episode, we talk about what drives hype for certain brands and bottles, and explore the playbook for building and maintaining it. We hit on: In a world of Double Oaked products, what was it about...

"As longtime fans of vintage whiskey, we wanted to craft something truly special that gives a nod to the best bottles we've been lucky enough to try over the years," said Ryan Cecil, Master Blender and Co-Founder of Pursuit Spirits. "This double oaked release encapsulates part of that nostalgic flavor profile but in a modern, premium bourbon experience." In the works for nearly a year, the guys finally announced the release of Pursuit Spirits Double Oaked Bourbon. In today's episode, we...

In this episode, the boys discuss their recent trip to DC and Maryland to launch Pursuit Spirit in the new market. They share their experiences with visiting on-premise accounts, bottle signings, engaging with customers and store owners and standing in awe at the bourbon mecca - Jack Rose. The guys highlight the positive reception of their products and the success of their private selection program. They also mention unique liquor store experiences and the importance of building relationships...

Stemming from the episode of the Bourbon Pursuit podcast with John Foster of Ragged Branch, today's episode comes from a few listeners of the show, Todd and David, as Kenny discusses the process of choosing distributors specifically for Pursuit Spirits. We touch on topics such as the three-tier distribution system, the role of distributors in the industry, and the challenges of market launches and incentives. We also share experiences with different distributors and the importance of building...

On today’s show we discuss the topic of innovation in the bourbon industry and explore the different ways brands differentiate their products. We question whether there is anything left to innovate and the reasons consumers are drawn to finished whiskeys. The conversation touches on the marketing strategies of brands and the perception of American finished whiskeys compared to other products such as Scotch whisky. We also discuss the potential for future innovations and trends in the...

There are always small hurdles and goals we are continually going through here at the distillery, but we have to make sure we pull back a bit to look at some of the larger picture goals and projects for 2024, with the largest one being the space on Whiskey Row. From hiring to interior design to drink menus, there are so many moving pieces that need focus over the next 9-10 months and we dive into those today. We hit on: How do you forecast on hand stock for products/blends going into a full...

From PUPS to Whiskey Row to new states of distribution, there are a lot of moving pieces as we roll into 2024. On today's episode, Kenny dives into some of the podcast stats from the last year and we begin focusing on a potential key area of growth for our ambassador program in the new year. All this and more, on episode 053: Metrics & Early Goals. Be sure to visit pursuitspirits.com and click on Visit Us to book a tasting or barrel selection experience. For questions or topic requests...

Throughout the year we’ve talked about all sorts of things going on with the brand, the guys, the company, the warehouse…everything. This time last year, where did we hope we’d be at the end of the year, and are we there yet? How are things different than we expected? Today on the podcast we reflect on 2023. We hit on: At this time in 2022 we didn’t know we’d be in the building we are now in. Do you still feel you made the right move on this location or what could you have pictured in a...

We’ve talked for awhile now that as we’ve been bringing people in for tastings and experiences at the distillery, and it has been an amazing time to bring people in, that Kenny and Ryan have lead all those experiences. As fun as that is, it isn’t scalable to the business for that to always take place and we needed people to be an extension of Kenny and Ryan. People who can speak on their behalf, know the product, and can show folks a great time when they visit.  As a fan suggestion to the...

The Bottle Your Own and Pursuit Breakdown Tastings are now live, and we’re bringing team members in to help run various operations to get the guys free to keep doing what they’ve always done: make awesome podcasts and make awesome whiskey. That said, the needs of the business keep growing, sometimes multiplying, and always have them pulled in one direction or the other. We sit down with Kenny in a laid back chat. Now that the distillery is bringing people regularly in, where does focus now...

We’ve been up and running at the distillery for several weeks now. We’ve processed barrels, worked on blends, we’ve had friends and family and Patreon members in to help us iron out the experience that will soon be open to the public. While we recently had Kenny talk with us about the process to getting the distillery open, now we want to talk the fun part: what we have to show everyone.  Join us today as we talk with the guys about what to expect from the soon-to-open bottle your own...

Pursuit United Private Selection is here. We previously talked with Kenny about turning the warehouse into a functioning distillery, but now that we’re up and running it is time to get liquid to lips. On today’s episode both Kenny and Ryan are on discussing what the PUPS program looks like for stores and groups as well as in-person experiences and what you may expect.  We hit on: What was the genesis in how you started thinking about a private selection process? With your model of sourcing...

Ryan is out living la vida loca again, so Brian sits down with Kenny to discuss the warehouse/studio now being a licensed distillery, and the road it took to get the permitting and licenses over the last year.  We hit on: What were the reasons for having the licensed distillery/bottling location, as an NDP, outside of solely the downtown location we previously announced?  What did it take to engineer and architect a distillery in the location that you all found?  What hurdles did you have...

Fresh off the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, Kentucky and Bourbon & Beyond in Louisville, Kentucky, Ryan and Kenny break down their experiences at the shows this year, what was different about last year, and what they hope for in 2024. We hit on: In what ways did you see brands stand out from the crowd at Kentucky Bourbon Festival? How was the reception at the festival this year compared to last year? What was the reception like of the first private selections done from...

While we are usually talking all things Pursuit Spirits or the backstage of the business, today we are taking a rare opportunity to taste through this year’s Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch, and each of the 4 components that make it up, to see if we can peel back a bit of Brent Elliott’s brain on how he put together this year’s annual bottling. Aged 12-25 years old, and bottled at 108 proof, we taste through a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old OESV recipe, which features notes of delicate...

There can be a lot of confusion when it comes to the term 'NDP' or Non-Distilling Producer and a producer who makes contract distilling purchases. Both are, in essence, buying whiskey instead of making whiskey, but what other factors are at play to separate these two?  We hit on: What does the sourced market inventory pool generally look like? What is the largest hurdle for brands at the mercy of the sourced market? What does it look like for a brand to use either model long-term? What...

Our most recent press release revealed to the public the plans to put a physical location and experience for Bourbon Pursuit and Pursuit Spirits in the heart of downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Today, the guys open up about the plans for the location, some of the challenges so far, and challenges coming up in the foreseeable future.  We hit on: What led to the opportunity for a physical space for Pursuit downtown? What does it mean to be a passion project of the industry instead of a...

As Kenny takes the night off, we take the opportunity to pick Ryan's brain about blending. Where has the industry focused historically, and where is it now? How does Ryan's own philosophy fit into that? We hit on: Ryan's perception as a consumer of the historical way others thought about blending. What is the perceived philosophy of blending in our current state of whiskey? Are small-batch blends just a more acceptable, slightly less limited version of what single barrels were? Are they...

Ryan is back from Redneck Riviera and his mind is burning wondering how or if whiskey brands can break into a lifestyle brand like we’ve seen brands like Yeti, High Noon, Stanley, etc. Is there still a place today for newer brands to break into that, or has Jack Daniels taken the only spot there is? We hit on: How do brands today make people feel? Is Pappy simply a status symbol, or a lifestyle?  Does accessibility of a product come in to play to whether or not a brand could become a...

Do people really care if you have the #1 bourbon podcast in the world, or do they just want a really good bourbon? There is no denying that after months of the ambassador program it is still a great tool to spread the word of the brand. The blueprint, however, is maybe a bit different than it initially was in our heads. Through various ambassador welcome calls, emails, and sessions, we and the ambassador team have identified several things about the messaging for the brand to really hit the...

As both the Bourbon Pursuit Podcast and Pursuit Spirits continue to grow in their own ways as brands, surely it would come at a crossroads of time management. While there is only one Kenny and one Ryan, how do you balance all the requirements for the two growing paths and still manage other work and family? We hit on: While the Bourbon Pursuit Podcast becomes more well oiled in the processes or systems, how do you maintain the growing demand for time devoted to Pursuit Spirits? Is it...

What exactly does sell-through look like, what’s the entire process chain? We hear often that anything you want to do you need to do at least a year in advance, but why exactly is that? Today on the episode we dive into the process.  We hit on: What does the timeline look like post product development?  What does being on focus mean and what does it do for you? Does the timeline chain change if you move more into a model of higher B2C sales, be it direct online sales or through on premise...