Category: Ecosystem

Smoke Wagon felt as if it came on to the bourbon scene like it was fired out of a cannon. In the past 2 years, they have become one of the most highly sought after brands. However, the story of Smoke Wagon began over a decade ago. Aaron Chepenik started in the bar scene in LA that expanded into Vegas, but he got burnt out with the late nights and partying. That led him and his investor friend to start a vodka business which eventually opened the door to bourbon. Aaron had dreams of distilling his own whiskey, but quickly had to face reality when he realized that the equipment he purchased to distill whiskey couldn't scale after a visit to a little distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. When he was at MGP, he ended up buying as much aged product as he could and had the foresight to begin putting down new fill barrels as well. As fate (or government restrictions) would have it, he couldn't release his first bourbon for almost 4 years after.  He's built a cult-like following with his overly transparent personality on Instagram which makes him even more genuine to us bourbon enthusiasts.

Show Partners:

• Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com.
• Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more.
• Wilderness Trail is Sweet Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey distilled, aged, and bottled in Danville, Kentucky. Learn more at WildernessTrailDistillery.com.
• You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now.
• Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com.
• Total Wine and More is wonderland for wine, spirits, and beer lovers! Explore more in store or online at TotalWine.com.
• Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about future bourbon history.
• Where did you first hear about Smoke Wagon?
• Tell us about your background.
• When did you get your first taste of whiskey?
• Why did you start a bar in LA?
• Tell us about your vodka business.
• How did you decide to get into the bourbon business?
• How is Smoke Wagon different than other MGP brands?
• Take us through the design of the bottle.
• Tell us about the stolen barrel.
• Where can someone get one of your hats?
• @smokewagonbourbon @aaron_from_nvdistilling
• Support this podcast on Patreon

The post 331 – How Smoke Wagon Became a Bourbon Jewel with Aaron Chepenik appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.

I've witnessed first hand the progression of bourbon over the past 6 years since this podcast began. It went from learning about new releases and hunting for them with relative ease to 72 hour campouts for bottles that used to be on the shelves. However, my time in bourbon doesn't match that of our guest's. Steve Ury, better known as Sku, is one of the original bloggers in bourbon before there were YouTubers and podcasters. He has backed off blogging, but still stays up to date with everything happening in bourbon and takes notice of how brands are changing. He's cynical about brands and the changing consumer, but that doesn't stop him from talking about every TTB label approval. Steve has also found a new home in brandy and we discuss how long it will take before Instagramers and podcasters ruin that too.

Show Partners:

• Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com.
• Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more.
• Wilderness Trail is Sweet Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey distilled, aged, and bottled in Danville, Kentucky. Learn more at WildernessTrailDistillery.com.
• You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now.
• Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com.
• Total Wine and More is wonderland for wine, spirits, and beer lovers! Explore more in store or online at TotalWine.com.
• Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about distilleries that have made the greatest impact on bourbon.
• How did you get into bourbon?
• Tell us about your blog and the time before the bourbon boom.
• When did you get more cynical about bourbon?
• When did you see the change where distilleries constantly had special releases?
• Were dusties big early on?
• Do you think vintage whiskey is overpriced?
• Do you blame people or brands more for the bourbon culture today?
• Do you still look at the TTB daily?
• Tell us about your journey into brandy.
• How long before the podcasters and Instagramers ruin brandy?
• Support this podcast on Patreon

The post 330 – Before the Bourbon Boom with Steve Ury aka Sku appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.

Starting a distillery is no easy task and figuring out how to bank roll it is even harder. Do you tie up all your money into equipment and wait a few years and hope the whiskey is good or is it smarter to supplement that with some sourced product? But beyond that, how do you scale, distribute, and sell? Scott Schiller from Thoroughbred Spirits Group has launched 30 distillers, designed over 50 brands, and facilitated 3 successful exits. He joins the show to talk about everything I just mentioned, but Scott also has a fascinating family history with spirits where he learned how to distill with his grandfather at an iconic Chicago tavern called Bucket O Suds.

Show Partners:

• Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com.
• Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more.
• Wilderness Trail is Sweet Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey distilled, aged, and bottled in Danville, Kentucky. Learn more at WildernessTrailDistillery.com.
• You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now.
• Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com.
• Savor every drop of summer at Total Wine & More! You’re sure to find cool prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com.
• Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about QR codes.
• How did you get into this industry?
• What company did your family start in Chicago?
• What is Bucket O Suds?
• Tell us about the distillery.
• Talk about one of your early successes.
• How do you approach the conversations with clients about scaling?
• Do you see a lot of NDPs that previously bottled older whiskey and now can’t get it?
• Are a lot of people starting to scramble because there isn’t as much access to aged whiskey?
• How do you advise someone on distribution?
• Do you ever have to tell clients sourcing might not work for them?
• How do you start conversations with potential clients ?
• Talk about bottle pricing.

The post 329 – To Source or Not To Source with Scott Schiller, Executive Director of Thoroughbred Spirits Group appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.

I read a meme one time that as soon as a man enters his 30s, there are two hobbies he picks up. It’s whiskey and smoking meats. Well, I’m guilty for it and I know Ryan and Fred are too. There’s nothing better than starting the fire in your grill and preparing for the long night ahead making sure your brisket is done. I know when I started cooking on my grill, I went to the resource where you go to learn everything on internet and that’s YouTube. Immediately, I was hooked on the channel called How To BBQ Right. I learned the 10 different ways to cook ribs, game day burgers, and even a delicious pot roast from our guest today, Malcom Reed. Malcom has made a name for himself in the BBQ competition circuit and has turned it into one of the largest BBQ places on the internet. You can find him on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and more talking how to BBQ crazy good meals. Malcom joins us to talk not only about BBQ, Wagyu steaks, dry rub vs sauce, but he’s also a big bourbon fan and you can catch him drinking Buffalo Trace or EH Taylor frequently on his channels. Don’t forget to to subscribe to his podcast called, you guessed it, How to BBQ Right.

Show Partners:

• Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com.
• Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more.
• Wilderness Trail is Sweet Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey distilled, aged, and bottled in Danville, Kentucky. Learn more at WildernessTrailDistillery.com.
• You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now.
• Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com.
• Savor every drop of summer at Total Wine & More! You’re sure to find cool prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com.
• Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about working for distributors.
• How did your passion for BBQ grow into a business?
• How did you get into BBQ competitions?
• Are there rivalries in the BBQ community?
• Were you nervous when you first started putting out content?
• How did you get into bourbon?
• What bourbon pairs well with specific meats?
• Do you prefer dry rub or sauce?
• Do you ever get tired of cooking at home and prefer to go out?
• Are Costco prime steaks as good as other butcher shops?
• What do you think about wagyu beef?
• What is your favorite way to cook tomahawk steaks?
• What do you think about health organizations encouraging society to eat less meat?
• You are stranded on an island and can only pick one cooking apparatus, what do you choose?
• How do you chose what grill to use?
• What do you think about Blackstone griddles?
• What BBQ pit is your go to?
• Do you like to turbo cook or low and slow?
• Is using a pellet grill cheating?
• What’s your go to bourbon cocktail?
• @howtobbqright

The post 328 – How to BBQ & Bourbon Right with Malcom Reed appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.

It’s the final episode in our 4 part series of “Is Bourbon Broken?” based on the Bourbon and Banter blog series. We’ve looked at the consumer, secondary market, distribution and retail, but this time we are looking back at the consumer from a different angle by evaluating purchasing trends. The market is changing and now there are craft distillers, younger age statements, and NDPs with price tags 10x the cost of what the original producer charges. So what continues to drive this behavior?

Show Partners:

• Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com.
• Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more.
• Wilderness Trail is Sweet Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey distilled, aged, and bottled in Danville, Kentucky. Learn more at WildernessTrailDistillery.com.
• You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now.
• Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com.
• Savor every drop of summer at Total Wine & More! You’re sure to find cool prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com.
• Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about pour spouts.
• Are we seeing an overabundance of options on the market?
• Why are consumers drawn towards brands that are selling younger MGP?
• Are consumers being manipulated?
• As bourbon enthusiasts, why are we compelled to try new products even though they might not actually be new?
• Why is bourbon so polarizing?
• Is there a reason that more distilleries or NDPs shouldn’t be putting out new products at a higher price point?
• As the bourbon pie grows larger, will there be more room for super premium bourbons that hit that $300+ price point?

The post 327 – Is Bourbon Broken? Part 4: Consumer Trends based off Bourbon & Banter appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.

Welcome back to Part 3 on our series of “Is Bourbon Broken?” as we analyze the multi-part blog series from Bourbon & Banter. This episode is one that many have been waiting for as we evaluate the variable that is completely out of our control as a consumer and that’s distribution and retail. We’ve challenged this system multiple times and I’m not sure if we’ll ever figure out the correct answer, but how do we make sure it’s always working in favor of the consumer? How should distributors reward stores differently?  What does the future of commerce look like? And should distributors and retailers be wary of the digital age?

Show Partners:

• Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com.
• Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more.
• Wilderness Trail is Sweet Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey distilled, aged, and bottled in Danville, Kentucky. Learn more at WildernessTrailDistillery.com.
• You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now.
• Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com.
• Savor every drop of summer at Total Wine & More! You’re sure to find cool prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com.
• Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about celebrity whiskey.
• Each state has its own laws on distribution, is this presenting a lot of challenges for the industry?
• How do you reward stores without making them take on a bunch of inventory in order to get allocated items?
• Do you feel that wholesalers and elected representatives are working for the benefit of the consumers?
• Do you think that it’s fair that retailers own the product and can charge whatever they want?
• At the end of the day, everyone is still making their margin so why do retailers choose to mark it up?
• Why don’t more retailers push back on distributors?
• Should distributors and retailers be scared about the future?
• Should we move to a system where highly desirable releases only happen through a distillery website?

The post 326 – Is Bourbon Broken? Part 3: Distribution and Retail based on Bourbon & Banter appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.

Last week, we kicked off the series of analyzing Bourbon & Banter’s article on “Is Bourbon Broken?” and this next installment looks at the secondary market. The prices of bourbon have been growing immensely and who knows if the prices will ever drop. Will there ever be an end in sight for consumers buying on the secondary or should companies adjust their prices accordingly? We tackle all this and more.

Show Partners:

• Catoctin Creek has been honoring that tradition of small craft rye whisky since 2009. Learn more at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com.
• Smooth Ambler builds on the traditional roots of American whiskey in West Virginia. Visit SmoothAmbler.com to learn more.
• Wilderness Trail is Sweet Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye Whiskey distilled, aged, and bottled in Danville, Kentucky. Learn more at WildernessTrailDistillery.com.
• You can now buy Barrell Craft Spirits products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit BarrellBourbon.com and click Buy Now.
• Spirits of French Lick is delivering the finest hand crafted Bottled in Bond bourbons. Check out SpiritsofFrenchLick.com.
• Savor every drop of summer at Total Wine & More! You’re sure to find cool prices in-store or online at TotalWine.com.
• Heaven Hill Distillery has been lifting America’s spirit since 1935. Check out educational resources and sign up for their newsletter at HeavenHillDistillery.com.

Show Notes:

• This week’s Above the Char with Fred Minnick (@fredminnick) talks about mixing bourbon.
• Are people forced to buy special bottles on the secondary market these days?
• Is it foolish to buy bottles for so much more than retail?
• How can you deter bottle flipping?
• Is there anything distilleries can do to prevent flipping on the secondary market?
• At what point will we hit the price ceiling?
• Is it ethical for distillers to look at pricing on the secondary market to make business decisions?
• Are auctions setting the secondary prices of bottles?
• How do auctions get a pass unlike the secondary market?
• Are current pricing strategies fair to the consumer?

The post 325 – Is Bourbon Broken? Part 2: The Secondary Market based off Bourbon & Banter appeared first on BOURBON PURSUIT.