TWiB: Heaven Hill opens doors at Heaven Hill Springs, Jos. A. Magnus Private Cask Program returns, Freddie Noe's new Booker’s, The Reserves 2025
It's This Week in Bourbon for September 12th 2025. Heaven Hill officially opens its doors at Heaven Hill Springs, Jos. A. Magnus & Co. has announced the return of its Private Cask Program, and Freddie Noe announce the launch of Booker’s, The Reserves 2025.Show Notes:
HHS buries report linking alcohol to cancer, drawing criticism from industry watchdogs.
Heaven Hill opens $200M Springs Distillery in Bardstown and releases a special commemorative bourbon
Purple Toad Winery & Distillery joins the KDA as a new Craft member, using innovative techniques to repurpose winemaking byproducts
Speed Art Museum to auction rare whiskeys and custom single barrels to benefit educational programs
Von Payne Spirits buys historic Louisville building to create The Von Payne Castle distillery and tasting experience
Jos. A. Magnus & Co. brings back its exclusive Private Cask Program with a very limited number of 10-year-old high-rye bourbon barrels
Buffalo Trace Distillery to launch a traveling tasting tour featuring rare expressions and city-specific merchandise
Blue Note Bourbon re-releases its limited-edition Honey Rye Cask expression.
15 STARS launches its award-winning Artisan Collection, a limited-production blend of 15 and 12-year-old bourbons
Ingram Distillery releases Uncharted Kentucky Wheated Bourbon, a new whiskey aged on the Mississippi River in 100% recycled glass
New Era Whiskey releases its first three cask-strength, single-barrel bourbons honoring Kentucky landmarks
Angel's Envy releases two new limited-edition Distillery Series expressions, a Two-Grain Bourbon and a Peated Cask Rye
Middleburg Barrel Company debuts 1787 Provenance Bourbon, a new brand founded by Viyas Sundaram with a unique re-aging process
Heaven Hill releases the 2025 edition of its Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, made with a high-wheat mashbill from local farms
Jack Daniel's introduces the 2025 Heroes Selection, a Single Barrel Barrel Proof whiskey chosen by and for military veterans
Woodford Reserve unveils Sweet Oak Bourbon, the 21st release in its Master’s Collection, aged in rare Chinkapin oak barrels
Booker’s releases its highly-anticipated The Reserves 2025, a limited-edition bourbon finished in tequila barrels for the first time in Beam history
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531 - The Kentucky Bourbon Trail's Big Challenge with Adam Johnson of the Kentucky Distillers Association
If you've been a listener for a while, you might remember our next guest who has talked to us about the Kentucky Distillers Association over the years. Adam Johnson from the Kentucky Distillers Association, who for nearly two decades has been at the forefront of the Kentucky bourbon scene. We’re diving into the state of bourbon tourism, and as Adam reveals, visits to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail are absolutely going through the roof, transforming the experience from a day trip into a full-on bucket-list adventure. We also get into the legislative challenges facing our industry, from the battle for Direct-To-Consumer shipping rights to the elephant in the room: the cannabis beverage market, and why Adam believes it needs to play by the same rules. Adam also shares some great insights on how the collaborative nature of the bourbon community is actually fueling collective growth. If you’re planning a trip to Kentucky or just curious about the future of bourbon, you won't want to miss this one.
Show Notes:
Recollection of Adam Johnson's first podcast experience
Examining the booming bourbon tourism landscape
Statistics on the surge in Kentucky Bourbon Trail visitors
Advocacy for DTC shipping and legislative obstacles for small distillers
Discussing the impact of new dietary guidelines on bourbon marketing
Competition with cannabis beverages and calls for regulatory parity
The collaborative ethos of the bourbon industry and its historical foundations
Future outlook for bourbon tourism and KDA's sustainability initiatives
Encouraging exploration of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and KDA updates
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Whiskey Quickie: Frank August Small Batch Rye Whiskey Review
On this Whiskey Quickie by Bourbon Pursuit, we review Frank August Small Batch Rye Whiskey. This non-age stated rye is 100 proof and $70 MSRP. Let us know what you think. Cheers!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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TWiB: US alcohol competition order revoked, Heaven Hill Distillery announces 2 new releases, Rabbit Hole Distillery is releasing Regallier
It's This Week in Bourbon for September 5th 2025. An executive order has been revoked that looked into the competition in the U.S. alcohol industry, Heaven Hill Distillery announces two brand new releases, and Rabbit Hole Distillery is releasing Regallier.Show Notes:
Johnnie Walker partners with pop star Sabrina Carpenter to promote Black Label on her "Short n’ Sweet" tour
A 2021 executive order on U.S. alcohol industry competition has been revoked, a move supported by large brewers but opposed by craft breweries
Independent Stave Co., the world's largest bourbon barrel maker, will lay off 112 employees at its Kentucky facility due to market changes
Nashville Barrel Company is expanding to Louisville with a new tasting room and bottle shop opening in early 2026
The Frazier History Museum launches a new tasting experience called "Bourbon Through Bluegrass" combining whiskey with live music
Sazerac Barrel Select is hosting a charity sweepstakes for St. Jude's offering the chance to select a rare barrel of Elmer T. Lee
Barrell Craft Spirits releases a new Foundation Bourbon Single Barrels line that undergoes a secondary maturation process
Heaven Hill Distillery launches an Artist Series Collection featuring five unique bottle labels by Kentucky artist Bri Bowers
Heaven Hill releases Master Distillers Unity, a limited-edition bourbon blending a 34-year-old barrel with younger whiskeys to commemorate its new distillery
Rabbit Hole Distillery introduces Regallier, a new high-rye, double-malt bourbon finished in French oak casks
Limestone Branch Distillery releases its 10th-anniversary Yellowstone Limited Edition, a 10-year-old blend from two different distilleries
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530 - A Moonshiner Turned Legit with Royce Neeley of Neeley Family Distillery
In the bourbon world, we often talk about lineage and tradition. But what happens when that tradition is rooted in something a little... less than legal? That's the story we're getting into today with an incredible guest. We're sitting down with Royce Neely, the owner of Neely Family Distillery, whose family has been moonshining for generations. Royce isn't just carrying on a legacy; he's bringing it out of the backwoods. He’s taking us through his fascinating journey, from studying at Transylvania University to building his own distillery from the ground up. He's diving deep into the science and the art behind his craft, explaining his obsession with yeast, the secrets of sweet mashing, and what it takes to produce an award-winning absinthe. We're also getting an exclusive look at what's next for his distillery, including the installation of a one-of-a-kind three-chamber still designed to take his game to a whole new level.
Show Notes:
The origins and development of Neely Family Distillery
Royce's early interactions with moonshining and their influence on his career
Key distillation techniques, including sweet mashing and yeast selection
Insights into the distillery's acclaimed absinthe and market challenges
The anticipated impact of the new three-chamber still on whiskey production
The significance of family and collaboration in Royce’s distillation process
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The Official Podcast of Bourbon! The best in news, reviews and interviews with people making the bourbon whiskey industry happen. Join hosts Kenny Coleman, Ryan Cecil, and Fred Minnick as they talk with prominent guests and provide insight on American whiskey 3 times a week. Catch all new episodes every Thursday with special Whiskey Quickie reviews on Tuesday and get caught up on bourbon news with This Week in Bourbon on Friday.