Bourbon Pursuit

It's This Week in Bourbon for June 19th 2026. Green River Distillery Select Toasted Double Oak Bourbon, the debut of SHANG from the whiskey house, and Lost Lantern has announced the launch the United States of Bourbon collection.Show Notes:
Spec’s Family Corp. acquires Lee’s Discount Liquor in first move outside Texas

Give 270 launches restored 1989 Ford Bronco raffle for Kentucky Jailers Association

Liberty Pole Spirits and MB Roland team up for America's 250th anniversary blend

Green River Distilling Company debuts 8-Year Toasted Double Oak Bourbon

Coors launches exclusive 110.5-proof Blended American Malt Whiskey in expansion into premium spirits

Whiskey House of Kentucky and global partners debut innovative SHĀNG baijiu whiskey line

Town Branch Distillery releases groundbreaking Bourbonola Tropical Style banana seltzer

Industry veteran Jason Wooler makes comeback with launch of Wooler Brands whiskey

Lost Lantern launches United States of Bourbon featuring first-ever 50-state blend

Belmark and ADI Distilling partner for distillery packaging and revenue webinar

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What does it actually look like when your family dinner table conversations literally shape the history of American whiskey? Well today we're sitting down with a true legend of Kentucky distilling royalty: 2025 Bourbon Hall of Fame Inductee, Craig Beam. Growing up with a last name that defines the entire category, Craig shares what it was really like sitting at the table listening to his father, Parker Beam, and grandfather, Earl Beam, talk shop about Heaven Hill’s fermentation and equipment hurdles while simultaneously working cattle and farming. Craig takes us through his early days of pulling grunt work in vacant rickhouses in 1983, learning the legendary family jug yeast process, and eventually stepping up as Master Distiller. We even get to hear Craig's story about how casual conversations while working the farm led to the birth of Elijah Craig, Evan Williams single barrels, and the iconic Parker’s Heritage Collection. A master distiller's job used to mean grain buying, pressure washing, and lab work and not just marketing campaigns but that's why he's here today to give us the details about his exciting next chapter at Jackson Purchase Distillery.
Show Notes:
Craig growing up listening to Parker and Earl Beam balance Heaven Hill distilling mechanics with western Kentucky farming

Craig’s journey from sweeping out empty rickhouses in 1983 to mastering the family's secret jug yeast lineage

An inside look at how farming conversations birthed legendary labels like Elijah Craig and Parker’s Heritage

Why historic distilling roles required hands-on labor, from grain buying and lab work to pressure washing warehouses

How Craig Beam and Terry Ballard teamed up in 2021 to scale a hidden contract distilling powerhouse

Technical insights into how a warmer regional climate impacts early barrel color extraction and aging physics

Mapping out Jackson Purchase’s experimental library, including wheated mash bills, air-dried staves, and American single malts

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We’ve had a great run relying on volunteers and that original bottling setup in the back of the warehouse—it got us where we are today—but to be honest, things had to change. When you’re looking at your annual sales goals and trying to maintain a consistent product across the board, you eventually hit a ceiling where "the way we’ve always done it" just doesn’t cut it anymore. We spent a lot of time weighing our options, looking at contract bottling and beefing up our hand-lines, but at the end of the day, investing in our own internal infrastructure made the most sense for the future of Pursuit.

Today on the podcast, we’re pulling back the curtain on the process of installing our new bottling line. We’re talking about the headaches, the logistical hurdles, and the small wins that proved we were finally at the scale point to make this a reality. We also get into the weeds on our latest Meat Church collaboration: the Honey Hog Bourbon release. We discuss the inception of the project and, more importantly, the technical challenge of working with honey compared to the wood-finished profiles we’re typically known for. It’s a deep dive into the operational side of the spirits business that you don’t usually get to see.Show Notes:
Investing in a Bottling Line

Challenges and Learning Curves with New Equipment

Future Needs and Scaling Up

Considering Bottling for Other Brands

Navigating Tax Challenges in Distilling

The Importance of Operational Control

Future Considerations for Growth

Quality Control in Bottling

Introducing the Honey Hog Collaboration

Reflections on Product Development

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Beyke Blue Corn Double Oaked Batch 1 takes the original blue corn bourbon to another level. Blueberry smoothie vibes, chocolate drizzle, creamy oak, and big dessert energy at 118 proof. This one disappeared FAST for a reason.DISCLAIMER: The whiskey in this review was provided to us at no cost courtesy of the spirit producer. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is our honest opinion based on what we tasted. Please drink responsibly.
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It's This Week in Bourbon for June 12th 2026. $500,000 of Noble Oak bourbon has been stolen in a truck heist, An organized crime ring targeting high-end whiskey collectors has been solved from the Madisonville Police Department, and Booker's "The Milkshake Batch" Bourbon gets released.Show Notes:
Philadelphia Police and FBI Investigate $500,000 Noble Oak Bourbon Heist

Lawrenceburg Historic Homes to Host Exclusive Screening and Guided Tours This July

Madisonville Police Disrupt FB Group Whiskey Scam Defrauding Buyers of $86K

Whiskey House of Kentucky Lays Off 30% of Staff Amid Industry Slowdown

Give 270 Announces Next 20/20 Unicorn Raffle Featuring Rare Brown-Forman 150th Anniversary Bottle

Orphan Barrel Unveils 25-Year Night Sage Blended Canadian Whisky

Allies for Cherry Point Partners with Bespoken Spirits for Final Flight Reserve Harrier Tribute

Thirty-One Lengths Launches $1,500 Ultra-Premium Bourbon Honoring Secretariat’s Legendary Victory

Adventure Spirits Distilling Partners with Toledo Mud Hens for Stadium Craft Cocktails

Hard Truth Distilling Co. Welcomes Back Double Oaked Sweet Mash Rye at 113 Entry Proof

Penelope Flips Strategy to Debut New Classic Everyday Bourbon and Rye Series

Old Fourth Distillery Teams Up with Dragon Con for 2nd Annual Landmark Anniversary Bourbon

James B. Beam Distilling Company Rolls Out Booker's "The Milkshake Batch" Bourbon

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