Chasing the Unicorn: Bourbon & American Whiskey

Is Terry Bradshaw's Bourbon Cocktail Menu Worth Ordering? — The Cut — S02E110

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Terry Bradshaw's whiskey brand launched a four-drink cocktail menu today across five bars in Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, and Texas, with every drink named for a real moment in his playing career — the "Immaculate Refreshment," "The Blond Bomber." Priced $12–$22. The same week, Beyoncé bought LVMH's stake in SirDavis, reversing the usual celebrity-brand deal. Two athlete/celebrity whiskeys, opposite directions, same 48 hours.

Why Did Old Elk Release Three Bourbons at Once? — The Cut — S02E109

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Fifteen months after Middle West Spirits took over Old Elk Distillery, the brand answered the only question anyone was asking. On August 12, three 10-year whiskeys — a straight bourbon, a straight wheat whiskey, and a wheated bourbon — landed nationwide, all at $69.99, all 105 proof. Same decade in the barrel, three different grain recipes, no lottery required.

Is Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon Worth $249.99? — The Cut — S02E108

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Garrison Brothers confirmed everything about its 2026 Cowboy Bourbon: $249.99, 141 proof, minimum eight years in Texas heat-cycled barrels, 16,000 bottles total. Access comes in three waves — 1,000 bottles walk-up only at the Hye distillery on September 12, 279 bottles online September 18, then nationwide retail October 1. Distillery first, website second, shelf third.

Can You Blend Two Rye Mash Bills in One Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey? — The Cut — S02E107

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Hard Truth Distilling in Nashville, Indiana just locked in Dark Roast Rye, a Bottled-in-Bond whiskey that blends two separate rye mash bills — one built on chocolate malt, one on caramel malt — into one federally verified 25-barrel batch. Most bonded whiskey sticks to a single recipe; the law never required that. It lands September 26 at $59.99, with two Indiana preview pours in the weeks before.

A Bourbon Brand Ships Whiskey to England — Now It's Opening Its Own Distillery — The Cut — S02E106

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Never Say Die has always distilled in Kentucky, shipped the whiskey to Derbyshire, England to finish aging, then brought it home to bottle. That changes this fall. The brand confirmed it's opening a two-story brand home at 249 W. Short St. in downtown Lexington, complete with its own Distilled Spirits Plant license — the federal permission to actually distill, not just blend and bottle. The site will also be the only U.S. location selling its UK-only bottles, Barrel Strength Bourbon and Double Ocean Bourbon.

Frey Ranch Caps Its Farm Club At 500 — The Cut Weekend — S02E105

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Sunday's the day to look down the road, and this week has three things worth your attention: Alabama's quarterly allocated-spirits lottery is open through August 23rd, the Garrison Brothers Hye Rye pre-sale closes Monday, and Frey Ranch's new Tractor Tailgate Club just opened — capped at 500 members. Franklin digs into why Frey Ranch's farm-to-bottle model, growing all its own corn, rye, wheat, and barley in Fallon, Nevada, makes this club worth knowing about even if you're just watching from the sidelines. Small moves, real windows.

RNDC Bankruptcy and MGP's 59-Percent Slide — The Cut Weekend — S02E104

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

This week's current ran under every headline: what happens to the pipeline that gets bourbon from barrel to glass when parts of it stumble. Franklin covers RNDC's bankruptcy and wind-down, MGP's steep drop in contract-distilling, and Oaklore's bet on lower prices — plus a run of distilleries earning trust the hard way, from Old Elk to Garrison Brothers to Stetson's three-year bourbon debut. The feature stop is Starlight Distillery in Borden, Indiana, marking 25 years with a 10-year single barrel bottled unfiltered at 120.4 proof, on-site only, while it lasts.

A Hat Company's Bourbon vs. the Distillery That Made It — The Cut — S02E103

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Stetson, the hat brand founded in 1865, just released its first bourbon — and it didn't take the quick licensing route. Master blender Dan Callaway spent three years sourcing and tasting barrels from two named Kentucky distilleries, Green River and Bardstown Bourbon Company, before finalizing a 100-proof, high-rye Kentucky straight bourbon. It launched August 4 at $70. Today's Cut pours it next to Green River's own $25 release to test what three years of blending actually added.

Garrison Brothers Wants You to Wait Two Years — The Cut — S02E102

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Garrison Brothers, Texas's oldest legal whiskey distillery, opened its first-ever pre-sale on Hye Rye Bourbon — a bottle that normally vanishes in seconds. Pay $99.99 plus tax now, four-bottle limit, and pick up in person at the Hye, Texas distillery in October 2028. The window closes August 10. It trades a browser-refresh race for a guaranteed allocation, two years out.

A $39.99 Bourbon Just Held Its Price Two Years Running — The Cut — S02E101

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Old Grand-Dad's second annual Bottled-in-Bond batch shipped at the same $39.99 price as last year — a 7-year, 100-proof bourbon that clears its federal age floor by three years. The same week, Stetson launched its first bourbon at $70 and Oaklore Distilling cut prices across its lineup on purpose. Three companies, three different price calls, one 72-hour window.

Bottled-in-Bond Just Left Bourbon Behind — The Cut — S02E100

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Stranahan's released Colorado's first-ever Bottled-in-Bond whiskey on Colorado Day — an 11-year single malt from one 2015 season, $159.99, now expanding into California, Texas, and Florida. Bottled-in-Bond is a 1897 federal law that doesn't check your mash bill, only your paperwork — one distillery, one season, four years bonded aging, 100 proof. A Colorado single malt house choosing it shows the credential is spreading past bourbon.

Old Elk Released Three Bourbons in One Day to Prove a Point — The Cut — S02E99

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Old Elk, under new owner Middle West Spirits, released a straight bourbon, a wheated bourbon, and a straight wheat whiskey the same day — all 10 years old, all $69.99. The only variable that changed between bottles is the grain recipe, handing drinkers the cleanest mash-bill comparison on shelves this year without hunting down two different distilleries.

Garrison Brothers Hye Rye Pre-Sale Closes August 10th — The Cut Weekend — S02E98

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

It's the Sunday look-ahead: one real deadline, a couple of things to keep half an eye on, and one bottle worth planning a trip around. Garrison Brothers' first-ever Hye Rye Bourbon pre-sale closes August 10th — four bottles per customer, under a hundred dollars, but a two-year wait before it ships. Franklin also flags a coming Canadian whisky tariff and a Heaven Hill distributor shift, then closes on Bardstown Bourbon Company's Victoria Pineapple release from their new Finishing Series.

Garrison Brothers Pre-Sells a 2028 Hye Rye — The Cut Weekend — S02E97

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

It's the Saturday recap on The Cut Weekend. Franklin walks through a week of restart, risk, value, and access across four different producers, then lingers on Garrison Brothers' new pre-sale — a Hye Rye Bourbon locked at $99.99 that won't be ready to drink for two years. He closes with two still-reachable weekend options: Virginia's Blanton's lottery and the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond decanter at Heaven Hill's Bourbon Heritage Center.

Old Elk's Three-Bottle Bourbon Experiment — The Cut — S02E96

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Old Elk put three 10-year bourbons on the shelf at once — a Straight Bourbon, a Wheated Bourbon, and a Straight Wheat Whiskey — all $69.99, all released July 29. Same distillery, same decade in the barrel, only the grain changes. It's the cleanest mash-bill comparison the category's offered in a while, no lottery required.

Six Bottles of Pappy, One $100 Ticket, Tonight — The Cut — S02E95

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

A Kentucky nonprofit, Commonwealth Causes, closes ticket sales tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern on a raffle whose grand prize is six bottles of Pappy Van Winkle. Tickets are $100 each, capped at 1,500. No allocation, no waitlist — just a ticket and a same-night drawing, with proceeds funding Kentucky charities.

Three Bourbons, One Decade, One $70 Price — The Cut — S02E94

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Old Elk just shipped its first releases under new ownership: a straight bourbon, a straight wheat whiskey, and a wheated bourbon, all aged ten years, all priced at $69.99. That's $20 to $80 below what comparable 10-year bourbons usually run. Also today: a distributor's bankruptcy reshuffles shelves in 26 states, and a Texas rye pre-sale won't deliver until 2028.

A Bourbon Just Spent 27 Months in a Pineapple Cask — The Cut — S02E93

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Bardstown Bourbon Company launched its new Finishing Series this week, and the first bottle is a real swing: a blend of 10- and 11-year bourbon plus 11-year rye, finished 27 months in pineapple rum casks. Bottled at 106 proof, $139.99, under 350 nine-liter cases, Kentucky-exclusive. Disclosed base-whiskey ages make the long finish more credible than most.

A Kentucky Distillery Just Turned the Lights Back On — The Cut — S02E92

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Beam Suntory confirmed its Booker Noe plant is back to full seven-day production after an eight-month partial idle, and its Clermont site is restarting slower, at 60 percent capacity. Same mash bills, same yeast — just more bourbon, starting now. It's a bet that the years-long inventory glut has cleared enough to justify making more, with full output not expected until early 2027.

Birthday Bourbon Lands Early, Before September 2 Release — The Cut Weekend — S02E91

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Franklin walks through the week ahead: a free Ohio lottery for Weller Antique 107 closing tonight, the pre-allocation window for Wild Turkey's Master's Keep Triumph closing Thursday, and the real story of the week — Old Forester Birthday Bourbon arriving at retail early, well before its usual September 2 release date. He traces the bottle's roots as a family birthday tribute and explains why this early window is a rare shot at buying it honestly, at retail.

Old Fitzgerald Beats Weller in Blind Tasting — The Cut Weekend — S02E90

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Saturday's recap ties the week together around one idea: the honest bottle keeps winning. Franklin walks through a Heaven Hill supply squeeze, New Riff's first 8-year Bottled-in-Bond, an August price increase on Elijah Craig and Larceny, and the feature story — a blind tasting at The Sawyer in Louisville where a twenty-seven dollar Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond beat Weller in front of forty voters who walked in rooting for it. He closes with three bottles still pourable this weekend.

A $27 Bottle Just Beat Weller Blind — The Cut — S02E89

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

A Louisville bar ran a blind tasting of four wheated bourbons — Maker's Mark, Weller Special Reserve, Larceny Barrel Proof, and Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond. Forty drinkers submitted ranked ballots. The $27 Old Fitzgerald BiB won by more than double the next closest bottle, beating Weller, which trades for four times the price on secondary.

This Free Bourbon Lottery Closes at Midnight — The Cut — S02E88

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Virginia's free E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch lottery closes tonight at 11:59pm — 340 bottles, no purchase required, and better odds than the marquee lotteries everyone actually chases. John also covers a Wilderness Trail founder signing bottles in Danville, and a same-day walk-up, pre-order, and lottery all running at once — the three ways an allocated bottle actually reaches you.

Your Cheap Bourbon Just Got a Price Hike — The Cut — S02E87

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Heaven Hill confirmed a 6-8% wholesale price increase on Elijah Craig and Larceny, effective August 1 — the second hike on these two bottles in fourteen months. Elijah Craig Small Batch is headed toward $32-$33; Larceny toward $29-$30. Today's Chase: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2026 is already shipping, weeks ahead of its usual release date.

New Riff Just Turned Eight Years Old — The Cut — S02E86

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

New Riff cleared TTB approval for its first 8-year Bottled-in-Bond, the Newport, Kentucky distillery's first age statement to rival the legacy houses. It's unallocated, shipping to Kentucky and Ohio shelves by Friday. Also today: Texas clears direct-shipping for craft distilleries, the TTB tightens "non-chill filtered" labeling, and a fresh Weller lottery opens in North Carolina.

Your $23 Bourbon Just Got Scarcer — The Cut — S02E85

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Heaven Hill's Bernheim distillery restart has slipped from mid-July to early August after a fermentation-tank supplier delay. Bottling of aged stock continues on schedule, but Heaven Hill has told retailers to expect thinner Bottled-in-Bond allocations on Evan Williams and Elijah Craig through late summer. Also today: Four Roses names its first public Master Distiller successor track in a decade, and Wild Turkey finishes a debt-free capacity expansion six months early.

Michter’s and Stagg Lotteries Close Monday July 20th — The Cut Weekend — S02E84

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

It's Sunday, and Franklin trades the rearview for the windshield. Michter's Toasted Barrel Finish pre-order and Virginia's George T. Stagg lottery both close Monday, July 20th, so this is the week to act. He also previews E.H. Taylor's August distributor ship date and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, September 10–13.

AWIB July 18, 2026: Live gatherings and resale drama across four distinct reader angles

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

This week's news ran on long bets: new warehouses at Heaven Hill, a second Peerless tasting room, and Buffalo Trace landing the next E.H. Taylor release at $54.99. Franklin also digs into a Louisville bar's blind wheated bourbon showdown, where Weller and Larceny came back nearly even once the labels were hidden. He closes with what's actually restocked and pourable this weekend, including New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Buffalo Trace's walk-up O.F.C. Vintage 1994 allotment.

A $15 Gap Her Staff Couldn’t Guess

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

The Rickhouse Room in Louisville runs its sixth annual blind wheated-bourbon flight tonight — Maker's Mark, Larceny, and Weller Special Reserve, labels hidden, all three within $15 of each other. Owner Sara Beth Hoagland's staff trial last week nearly split down the middle between Larceny and Weller — a real surprise given Weller's bigger reputation.

One Founder, Thirty Barrels, One Winner

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Wilderness Trail Distillery launched its first single barrel program today. Co-founder Shane Baker tasted through thirty barrels of the distillery's wheated Bottled-in-Bond stock before picking the debut release: 189 bottles, $54.99, sold only at the Danville visitor center. No lottery, no distributor — future barrels rotate monthly, announced through the newsletter.

One Price Held, One Didn’t

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Buffalo Trace confirmed the next E.H. Taylor Jr. release will ship at 12 years old, 100.6 proof, and $54.99 MSRP — roughly five dollars under trade projections. National allocation lands around 18,000 bottles, shipping in August. In the same 48 hours, Heaven Hill raised wholesale prices on its value tier while Wild Turkey held 101 flat for a fourth straight year — a real-time contrast in how distilleries handle rising costs.

Peerless Opens a Second Door

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Peerless Distilling won final state licensing this week for a second tasting room on Louisville's Whiskey Row, opening to the public later this month. Peerless has run tight allocation since its 2017 relaunch, and this new door is built specifically to ease purchase limits that have frustrated visitors for years. It's the fifth new licensed tasting room the corridor has added since 2024 — Louisville is building its walk-in bourbon economy in real time.

Heaven Hill Bet Against Itself

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Heaven Hill broke ground today on six new warehouses outside Bardstown, adding roughly 42,000 barrels of aging capacity — in the same quarter it cut its own new-make production 15%. That's not a contradiction, it's a bet: the correction is closer to its floor than its middle, and the company wants storage ready before construction costs climb again. Warehouse space built today becomes bourbon on shelves eight to twelve years out.

Four Roses 2026 Pre-Allocation Closes July 18

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Franklin takes a quiet Sunday minute to lay out the week's real dates: Four Roses' 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch pre-allocation closes July 18 at $129.99 for Brent Elliott's 108.2 proof blend, with New Riff's Fall Bottled-in-Bond Single Barrel window closing July 20. Further out, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon lands September 2nd, Blood Oath Pact 12 awaits its federal filing announcement, and Parker's Heritage 2026 arrives this fall. He also flags Hard Truth Distilling Co.'s Bourbon & BBQ Festival on July 18 in Nashville, Indiana, and closes with how the allocation calendar inside The Perfect Pour keeps every one of these dates from sneaking past you.

Wild Turkey 101 Beats Pricier Bottles, 3 of 4

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Franklin closes out the week by tracing one question through five days of news: what actually makes a bottle worth its price. From Elijah Craig Barrel Proof's federally audited Bottled-in-Bond status to Four Roses' Limited Edition pre-allocation to Friday's blind-tasting upset — Wild Turkey 101 beating pricier bottles three times out of four — the answer keeps landing on production, not price. He also flags the Richmond Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival on July 25th and the last chances to pour this weekend, including Ohio's George T. Stagg lottery closing tomorrow night.

A $28 Bourbon Keeps Beating $80 Ones

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Wild Turkey 101 has won or tied three of four blind-tasting rounds on r/bourbon against bottles costing two to three times its $28 price. Master Distiller Eddie Russell credits the distillery's low barrel-entry proof — 107 to 110 — for pulling more flavor from the wood over time. Breaking Bourbon's own panel backs it up at 4.1 out of 5.

Ohio’s Free Stagg Lottery Closes Sunday

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Ohio's state liquor agency is running a free lottery for George T. Stagg, and it closes this Sunday at midnight. No purchase required — just a name in a drawing. George T. Stagg's secondary floor has held between $1,100 and $1,250 for months while other allocated bottles softened toward retail. Win, and you pay store price: $129. Ninety seconds of effort against an $1,100 gap.

Four Roses 2026 Pre-Allocation: Buy It Before It Exists

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliott confirmed the 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch at 108.2 proof after TTB review cleared July 4 and 5. The pre-allocation window opened July 7 at $129.99 MSRP and closes July 18 — before bottles arrive at any retail shelf. Last year's edition traded at $200 to $240 secondary within two weeks of distribution. The math is simple: lock in $129.99 now or pay $200 later.

E.H. Taylor Jr. BiB 2026: The Man Who Passed the Law, $69.99

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. lobbied Congress to pass the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 — the first consumer protection law in American history. His label just cleared federal TTB review at the statutory 100 proof and is distributing nationally this week at $69.99 MSRP. No lottery. No pre-allocation at most accounts. Each bottle traces to one barrel, one distilling season, one federally bonded warehouse position, bottled without dilution. The colonel's name is the argument, and it's on your shelf right now.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof E926: $74.99 Before the Floor Closes

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof E926 cleared federal review at 130.2 proof and is arriving at national retail this week at $74.99 MSRP. Comparable E-batch expressions have settled 40 to 60 percent above that price within 90 days of distribution. Today's episode also covers Heaven Hill's 15% Q3 new-make reduction at Bernheim — the first Big 4 production cut documented in the current correction cycle — and what that means for the American Whiskey Industry Brief's long-range outlook on the Elijah Craig and Larceny shelf from 2030 forward.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-07-06-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

Four Roses 2026 Pre-Allocation Closes Today

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000

The Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch pre-allocation closes this afternoon, and Franklin lays out exactly what you're deciding and where to go. Once that window shuts, the week ahead is calmer — Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof 2026 and Larceny Barrel Proof B926 both arrive at standard retail mid-July with no lottery or list required. Ohio residents still have time to enter the George T. Stagg 2026 lottery through July 14, and Horse Soldier Farms in Somerset, Kentucky wraps up its grand opening weekend today with a founding story unlike anything else in the industry.

Mount Vernon's $1,000 Spirit of '76, 350 Bottles

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Franklin recaps a week shaped by one recurring question: what is something actually worth when the price is honest? The releases — Knob Creek 18-Year, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2026, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof D926, Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof, and a Larceny Barrel Proof A926/B926 side-by-side — each answered differently. And on the Fourth of July, George Washington's distillery at Mount Vernon offers the week's most singular answer: fewer than 350 bottles of cask strength Spirit of '76, at $1,000 each, available in person only at The Shops at Mount Vernon. Franklin closes with the supply picture — Heaven Hill, MGP, Beam Suntory all pulling back production — and what it means for the shelf in the early 2030s.

Same Mash Bill, 2.4 Proof Points, and a Verdict Worth Knowing

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Heaven Hill's Larceny Barrel Proof A926 and B926 are simultaneously on standard retail at $69.99 — same distillery, same mash bill, 2.4 proof points apart — and r/bourbon's 1,100-comment verdict is in: B926 at 124.4 proof opens fruit-forward character before the heat competes, A926 at 126.8 holds structure longer on the back palate. Today's episode covers the community findings, First Sip Concept 12 on barrel proof, and the Ohio OHLQ George T. Stagg lottery open through July 14.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-07-03-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

Two Bottles Per Person: Michter's 10-Year Walk-Up at $159.99

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Michter's Fort Nelson opened walk-up access this morning for the US★1 10-Year Single Barrel — $159.99 MSRP, two-bottle limit, no lottery, no application, first-come at 10 AM at 801 West Main Street in Louisville. Today's episode covers the walk-up value math against a $275–$350 secondary floor, the Larceny Barrel Proof B926 buy call at $69.99 and 124.4 proof on standard retail now, and the Ohio OHLQ George T. Stagg lottery open through July 14.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-07-02-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

No Lottery: Wild Turkey Barrel Proof Confirmed at $59.99

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Wild Turkey confirmed 2026 Rare Breed Barrel Proof at 116.8 proof and $59.99 MSRP — standard national distribution, no lottery, arriving mid-July. Today's episode covers the production decision behind the price, the buy call on Weller Antique 107 Batch 2026-02 arriving at allocated accounts today at $39.99 with a secondary floor holding at $65–$85, and the Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026 recipe reveal at 108.2 proof with pre-allocation open through July 18. Two barrel-strength stories in one window — one requires a phone call, one just requires showing up.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-07-01-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

Birthday Bourbon Shrank a Year: What the Age Drop Means

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:00:01 +0000

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2026 cleared federal label approval at 11 years before Brown-Forman issued a press release — one year shorter than the last two vintages. Today's episode covers what the TTB's public COLA system confirms before distilleries say a word and what the age step-down means for September allocation planning. Also in this episode: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof D926 is at national retail at $74.99 and 130.4 proof, completing the 2026 four-batch annual cycle, and the D-series character is worth understanding before you open it.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-06-30-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

$99 for 18 Years: Knob Creek Pre-Allocation Closes Tonight

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Knob Creek 18-Year Single Barrel Reserve 2026 pre-allocation closes tonight at midnight CT — 4,200 bottles nationally at $99.99 MSRP, pre-2008 Clermont production confirmed by Fred Noe. The American Whiskey Industry Brief has the full Knob Creek 18-Year versus Elijah Craig 18-Year comparison. Also in this episode: Heaven Hill's Bernheim production reduction, what the bourbon shortage cycle tells you about the current correction, and Eagle Rare 17 Year 2025 trading at 77% below its peak.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-06-29-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

Michter's Toasted Barrel Walk-Up Opens July 11

Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Franklin walks through the week ahead while it's still quiet. Michter's Fort Nelson is running a walk-up release of the Toasted Barrel Finish 2026 — July 11 through 13, $59.99, no reservation required — and prior Fort Nelson programs haven't restocked once weekend inventory clears. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof D926 hit TTB last Sunday and pre-allocation windows are opening at retailers now, following the same 72-hour burn rate as C926. Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch is still in pre-allocation at $139.99, but Brent Elliott's recipe reveal in late July will compress that window fast. And on July 24th, the North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition hosts a "Best of" tasting at Antoine's Restaurant in New Orleans — 24 top-scored products, one evening, during Tales of the Cocktail week.

Wild Turkey Drops Two Master's Keep Bottles Simultaneously

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 14:30:00 +0000

This week in bourbon, every story traced back to the same question — whose name is on the list, and which door do you walk through? Franklin walks through five days of allocation windows, age-statement releases, and secondary floors that tell you exactly where genuine scarcity lives. Wild Turkey made history this week with both Master's Keep Landmark and Triumph open for pre-allocation at the same time — and a few doors are still open heading into the weekend.

Wild Turkey Just Solved Comparison Shopping

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

riday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with Wild Turkey's Master's Keep 2026 lineup — both Landmark at 14 years and Triumph at 17 years in pre-allocation at the same time, a first for the series. First Sip covers the Angel's Share: the production math behind why three additional Kentucky barrel seasons cost what they do before the distillery ever sets a price. Also in today's edition: the Michter's Fort Nelson walk-up closes tomorrow at 801 West Main in Louisville, both US★1 expressions at $59.99 with no lottery required; and William Larue Weller 2025 with 63.5% floor erosion from its $2,850 peak.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-06-26-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcas

Eighteen Years. Eighty-Nine Dollars. Tonight Only.

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:00:01 +0000

Thursday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with a hard midnight deadline: Elijah Craig 18-Year Straight Bourbon 2026 pre-allocation closes tonight at midnight Central — $89.99, 18-year age statement, 90 points on the prior Whisky Advocate vintage, no extension in recent release history. Today's edition also covers the age statement versus NAS distinction, the Michter's Fort Nelson walk-up through June 28, the 86-proof debate running on r/bourbon, and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A926's 14.3% secondary floor erosion from its $98 peak to $84 realized.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-06-25-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

Everyone Else Dropped. This Bottle Didn't.

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Wednesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief opens on Weller Antique 107 Batch 2026-02: TTB-confirmed at 107 proof, with a secondary floor holding $65 to $85 against a $49.99 MSRP while W.L. Weller Special Reserve has returned to near-retail at the same distillery. The divergence follows per-account allocation, not brand name alone — and two consecutive same-year batches are now in distribution overlap at MSRP. Cut Spotlight is Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph 2026 at $199.99, pre-allocation open through mid-July. Secondary Spotlight is Parker's Heritage Collection 2025 Cognac Cask Finish — 32.9% floor erosion from its $295 peak to $198 realized.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-06-24-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

Seventy-Two Hours. Then It's Gone.

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Tuesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief opens on the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof D926 TTB COLA confirmation — 130.4 proof, same as the C926 that sold through most retailers in 72 hours, with pre-allocation at $69.99 to $79.99 expected to open any day. The Cut Spotlight is Elijah Craig 18-Year 2026: pre-allocation at $89.99, hard close June 25, two days left — Whisky Advocate has scored the expression within one point of Knob Creek 18 across four vintages while Knob Creek runs $49 higher for the same age statement. Secondary Spotlight: Parker's Heritage Collection 2025 Heavy Char at $274 realized, down 29.7% from its $390 peak.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-06-23-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

Your Retailer Got the Letter. You Didn't.

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Monday's American Whiskey Industry Brief opens on the Knob Creek 2001 Vintage Reserve distributor letter — a 24-year expression at 118.4 proof with single-digit per-account bottle counts, no public lottery, no portal, and a phone call as the only access path. The Cut Spotlight is Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch: Brent Elliott confirmed the late-July recipe reveal at his June 21 Lawrenceburg session, and four vintages of secondary history show the pre-allocation window at $139.99 compresses within 48 hours of that announcement. Secondary Spotlight: Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year at $870 realized — 63.8% floor erosion from its $2,400 peak, crossed below $1,000 for the first time since 2023.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-06-22-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

Elijah Craig 18 Pre-Allocation Closes Thursday

Sun, 21 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Sunday's edition of The Cut Weekend sets up the week ahead — two moves with real deadlines and a few things worth putting on a list so they don't catch you off guard. Franklin covers the Elijah Craig 18-Year pre-allocation closing Thursday at $89.99, the Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph lotteries open across six states through the 25th–28th, and a closer look at Four Roses' unusual 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch process, where the recipe doesn't get named until July 19th in Lawrenceburg. Plus a quick look ahead at Michter's Fort Nelson and the first Maker's Mark FAE-02 reviews expected in late July.

Elijah Craig 18 Undercuts Eagle Rare 17 by Ten Dollars

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

This Saturday recap follows the week's through-line: 18-year bourbons are no longer a single-bottle lottery. Heaven Hill's Elijah Craig 18 lands at $89.99 with a pre-allocation window closing June 25, Knob Creek 18 checks in at $99.99, and King of Kentucky sits above $150 — three bottles, same age, different grain stories. Franklin also walks through the Michter's US★1 10-Year walk-up event at Fort Nelson in Louisville on July 11–13, explains why it's worth the drive, and rounds out the week with a few honest, shelf-available pours for anyone still looking on a Saturday night.

280 Upvotes Settled the Father's Day Bourbon Debate

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Friday's American Whiskey Industry Brief opens on a community verdict with a retail deadline: r/bourbon ran Wild Turkey 101 versus Elijah Craig Small Batch to 280 upvotes and 94 comments and produced a gift-buying framework specific enough to use at the register on the last viable retail day before Father's Day. The Cut Spotlight is Elijah Craig 18-Year 2026 Pre-Allocation — $89.99 MSRP, 18-year age statement, Whisky Advocate scored the 2025 vintage 92 points, pre-allocation window closes June 25 in six days. Also covered: the Maker's Mark FAE-02's 18% stave-contact claim and the Bardstown Fusion Series #6 secondary floor correction at 21.6% erosion.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-06-19-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

A $70 Bottle Ships Today. Pappy Doesn't.

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Thursday's American Whiskey Industry Brief opens on a single clock: the E.H. Taylor Jr. Old Warehouse C Bottled-in-Bond 2026 has a Father's Day ground-ship cutoff before 5 PM ET today. The bottle is $69.99 MSRP with a confirmed BiB credential and pre-Prohibition Warehouse C provenance on the Buffalo Trace campus — baking spice and stone fruit, slower extraction, 89–91-point track record. The Cut Spotlight is Wild Turkey Master's Keep 2026 Triumph: 116.4 proof, 17-year minimum, free lottery entry in six states closing approximately June 25–28.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-06-18-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

Tomorrow Is Your Last Father's Day Call

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:00:01 +0000

Wednesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief opens with the most time-sensitive MSRP call in the current window: Heaven Hill's Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Spring 2026 Decanter at 100 proof and an 11-year minimum age statement — the most defensible bourbon gift in the $75–$90 tier, with Father's Day ground-shipping deadlines expiring tomorrow. The Cut Spotlight is the Elijah Craig 18-Year 2026 at $89.99, pre-allocation open through June 25. First Sip covers The Mash Bill — the grain-by-grain framework that resolves the 18-year bracket's $10 price gap into a palate question rather than a value question.

Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-06-17-the-cut-daily/

The American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast

One Bottle Per Day. No Application.

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Tuesday's Cut: Michter's confirmed the Fort Nelson walk-up window for the US★1 10-Year 2026 — July 11, 12, and 13 in Louisville, no lottery, no reservation, $159.99 MSRP against a $350 to $450 secondary floor. First Sip Concept 46 covers the three access mechanisms — pre-order, lottery, and walk-in — and when each one rewards a buyer. Cut Spotlight: Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch, TTB confirmed 108.2 proof, pre-allocation open at $149.99 before the recipe reveals and secondary adjusts. Bar Talk: EC18 at $89.99 and 86 proof versus Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926 at $79.99 and 130.4 proof. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast. Written brief at chasingtheunicornpodcast.com.

Heaven Hill Just Undercut Eagle Rare 17

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Monday's American Whiskey Industry Brief opens with the value reset that reshapes the premium tier: Heaven Hill's Elijah Craig 18-Year Straight Bourbon confirmed at $89.99 — the brand's first 18-year age statement, 6,000 bottles through standard retail, pre-allocation closes June 27. A year older than Eagle Rare 17 at ten dollars less. First Sip Concept 9 covers age statements versus NAS and what the 18-year federal floor actually guarantees. Cut Spotlight is Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph 2026 — today is the final day at primary retail, with pre-sale secondary tracking $280 to $320 on 11,400 bottles at 17 years and 116.4 proof.

Heaven Hill Just Undercut Eagle Rare 17 — The Cut — S02E50

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:00:00 -0500

← All episodes June 15, 2026 Heaven Hill Just Undercut Eagle Rare 17 Read the full brief → All episodes Or subscribe where you already listen Spotify YouTube TikTok RSS feed New episode every weekday morning. The Cut Weekend lands Saturday and Sunday.

Four Roses LESB 2026 Blind Commitment at 108.2 Proof

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Franklin maps out the allocation calendar for the week ahead, starting with Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph 2026 — 17 years, 116.4 proof, 11,400 bottles nationally — closing its window Monday, June 15. BTAC 2026 lotteries are live in Virginia and Ohio, with Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Michigan portals expected soon. The feature this week is the Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2026: buyers are committing on proof data alone — 108.2, the highest the series has run since 2019 — before master distiller Brent Elliott reveals the recipe on July 8. It's a look at what trust in a distiller actually costs.

Garrison Brothers Earns Texas's First Bottled-in-Bond

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Franklin walks through a week where the common thread was access — who gets the bottle, how, and on whose terms. BTAC lottery portals opened free of charge in Virginia and Ohio, a federal label clearance for E.H. Taylor Old Warehouse "C" gave specialty retailers a quiet window, and Wild Turkey's Master's Keep Triumph started drawing secondary quotes before most buyers had heard of it. The week's standout story comes from Hye, Texas: Garrison Brothers released what the Texas Whiskey Association is calling the first Bottled-in-Bond bourbon in Texas craft distillery history — the same 129-year-old law, doing real work in a rickhouse where summer runs past 105 degrees and the angel's share runs twice what Kentucky surrenders. Franklin closes with what's still reachable this weekend.

National Bourbon Day Debate Has Real Numbers and a Deadline on One Side

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Friday's American Whiskey Industry Brief opens with National Bourbon Day 48 hours out and the sharpest community one-bottle debate in years: Larceny Barrel Proof A926 at 126.8 proof and $69.99 versus Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph 2026 at 116.4 proof, 17 years, and $199.99. Triumph allocation window closes June 15 — one side of this debate has an action clock. Cut Spotlight: A926, BUY AT MSRP. First Sip Concept 24 covers the framework for comparing two bottles smartly. Full analysis at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Wild Turkey Triumph's $199.99 Window Closes in Four Days While Secondary Quotes $320

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Thursday's American Whiskey Industry Brief opens with the sharpest active price spread in the current market: Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph 2026 at $199.99 while secondary pre-sale tracks $280–$320, allocation window closing June 15. Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 11-Year walk-up closes tomorrow at $99.99 — today's Cut Spotlight, 100-proof federal BiB credential, walk-up at Heaven Hill-connected retailers through June 14. First Sip Concept 6 covers the angel's share — the evaporation physics behind why 17-year bourbon costs what it does. Full analysis at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Three Bourbons, Three Prices, One Father's Day Deadline: The Gift Map Is Unusually Clean

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Wednesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with a clean Father's Day gift map: three confirmed bourbon MSRPs — $54.99, $99.99, and $199.99 — landed in the same 48-hour window with hard shipping deadlines closing before June 21. First Sip Concept 10 covers Finishing — what stave finishing actually does to bourbon and how to taste through it. Hunt Cut Spotlight: Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph 2026, 17-year minimum at 116.4 proof, allocation closes June 15 at $199.99. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

E.H. Taylor Jr. BiB Approved: Get on the List Before the Press Release Drops

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Tuesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with E.H. Taylor Jr. Old Warehouse "C" Bottled-in-Bond 2026 — TTB confirmed June 6, press release not yet dropped, and the retailer notification list is at its narrowest in this gap. First Sip Concept 8 covers The Rickhouse: what warehouse designation actually tells you about what's in the bottle and why the secondary market prices it the way it does. Hunt Cut Spotlight: Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph 2026, 17-year minimum at 116.4 proof, MSRP closes June 15. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

BTAC Lottery Is Open — $129 Gets You George T. Stagg

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Monday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with the BTAC 2026 lottery now open in Virginia and Ohio — free entry, George T. Stagg at $129 MSRP, secondary floor above $1,100, Virginia portal open through June 27, Ohio opens June 10. First Sip Concept 44 covers BTAC Explained: the five expressions, their pricing, and the production architecture behind the Collection. Hunt Spotlight: BTAC 2026 Lottery, WORTH THE CHASE. Also in this edition: Larceny Barrel Proof A926 at a series-record 126.8 proof, actively shipping now. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Pappy Van Winkle Lotteries Open Starting July 22

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Franklin sets the table for the week ahead on this Sunday look-ahead edition of The Cut Weekend. The Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph window closes June 15 — seventeen years old, 116.4 proof, around eleven thousand bottles nationally at $199.99 — so a retailer call this week is worth making. The bigger story is the 2026 Pappy Van Winkle lottery calendar coming into view: Ohio's OHLQ opens July 22, Virginia ABC on July 28, with Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Mississippi following in the weeks after. Franklin explains how state lotteries work, why they're worth entering, and which dates to put somewhere you'll actually see them.

Elijah Craig 130.4 and Four Roses 108.2 Converge

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

The week opened quietly — Beam Suntory's Clermont campus restarted after fourteen weeks dark, a decision whose consequences won't land on shelves until 2035. Then it accelerated: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926 at 130.4 proof and Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Fall 2026 both closed pre-allocation lists Thursday at midnight, Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch arrived at a series-high 108.2 proof, and Larceny Barrel Proof A926 set a series record at 126.8. Franklin closes with a deep look at the Four Roses recipe system — two mash bills, five yeast strains, ten distinct bourbons — and what the 108.2 proof tells you before July's recipe reveal even arrives.

The $70 Bottle Just Won Father's Day — Larceny Barrel Proof A926 vs. Wild Turkey Triumph

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Friday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with the Father's Day proof-versus-age debate: Larceny Barrel Proof A926 confirmed at a series-record 126.8 proof at $69.99 MSRP with a June 7–10 ship window, against Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph 2026 at 116.4 proof and $199.99 MSRP with 10 days left. First Sip covers proof and ABV — what the number means and what water does to a barrel-strength pour. Hunt Spotlight: Larceny Barrel Proof A926, WORTH THE CHASE. Secondary Spotlight: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2025 at 58.3% floor erosion. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Two $79.99 Windows Close Tonight — Old Fitz BiB vs. ECBP C926

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Thursday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with two simultaneous pre-allocation deadlines closing at midnight — Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Fall 2026 at $79.99, 100 proof, wheated BiB from Bernheim with Father's Day delivery confirmed; and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926 at $79.99, 130.4 proof, the highest-proof C-batch in series history. First Sip covers the three access paths — pre-order, lottery, and walk-in — and when each one applies. Hunt Spotlight: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926, WORTH THE CHASE. Secondary Spotlight: Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2024 at 40.4% floor erosion. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

108.2 Proof: Four Roses 2026 LESB Pre-Allocation Opens Before the Recipe Drops

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Wednesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with Four Roses' 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch — TTB-confirmed at 108.2 proof before Master Distiller Brent Elliott publishes the recipe in July, with pre-allocation windows open at specialty accounts now. First Sip covers the Four Roses recipe system — two mash bills, five proprietary yeast strains, ten possible combinations, and why the proof confirmation is already telling you the barrel cohort is strong. Hunt Spotlight: Parker's Heritage Collection 2026 Bottled-in-Bond, WORTH THE CHASE, ships Saturday at $99.99. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

130.4 Proof: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926 Pre-Allocation Closes Thursday at $79.99

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Tuesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with Heaven Hill's Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926 — TTB-confirmed at 130.4 proof and 14.2 years average age, the highest-proof C-designated batch in the expression's history — shipping June 8 with pre-allocation closing Thursday at $79.99. First Sip covers what barrel proof actually means and the water technique that makes 130.4 readable in the glass. Hunt Spotlight: Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2026 at $149.99, WORTH THE CHASE, reserve window open through mid-June. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Beam's Clermont Distillery Restarts: 14 Weeks Dark and What It Means for Bourbon Through 2035

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Monday's Cut: Beam Suntory's Clermont distillery — the world's largest bourbon production campus — restarted full operations this morning after a 14-week production pause. Every barrel going in today becomes Knob Creek in 2035. First Sip: bourbon shortage cycles and how to read production pauses before they reach your shelf. Hunt Spotlight: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Fall 2026, WORTH THE CHASE, pre-allocation closes June 4 at $79.99. Secondary Spotlight: George T. Stagg 2025 at 56.4% floor erosion. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

The Cheaper, Older Bottle Is Still Available

Fri, 29 May 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Friday's Cut: Heaven Hill ran two wheated Bottled-in-Bond pre-allocation windows in the same week — Parker's Heritage 2026 BiB closed last night at $99.99 for a 10-year expression, and Old Fitzgerald BiB Fall 2026 is still open through June 4 at $79.99 for an 11-year expression from the same Bardstown distillery. First Sip covers wheated vs. high-rye vs. traditional mash bills and how to taste the difference. Cut Spotlight: Old Fitzgerald BiB Fall 2026, $79.99, worth the chase. Secondary Spotlight: Blanton's Gold Label at 71.2% floor erosion. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Ohio's BTAC Lottery Closes Tonight — Free Entry

Thu, 28 May 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Thursday's Cut: Ohio's BTAC 2026 lottery closes tonight and Pennsylvania's closes tomorrow — free entry, no purchase required, for a bottle realizing 8 to 10 times retail at auction. First Sip: the full BTAC breakdown — all five expressions, what they're worth, and which ones to chase. Cut Spotlight: Parker's Heritage 2026 Bottled-in-Bond, 10-year BiB, $99.99, pre-allocation also closes tonight. Bar Talk: Parker's Heritage BiB versus Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926 — same distillery, opposite bottles, one closes tonight. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Wild Turkey's 17-Year Just Confirmed 11,400 Bottles

Wed, 27 May 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Wednesday's Cut: Wild Turkey confirmed Master's Keep 2026 "Triumph" at 17 years, 116.4 proof, $199.99 MSRP, and 11,400 bottles nationally — reserve lists at Campari accounts are open before the press release exists. First Sip: the angel's share, and why 17 Kentucky summers explain the price and the allocation ceiling. Chase Spotlight: Parker's Heritage 2026 Bottled-in-Bond, 10-year BiB, $99.99, pre-allocation closes tomorrow. Bar Talk: does the BTAC 2026 MSRP increase change whether you should enter a free lottery? Full American Whiskey Industry Brief at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

The Proof Just Confirmed Your Next Woodford Buy

Tue, 26 May 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Tuesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with the federal label approval confirming Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 2026 at 123.2 proof — the highest in the expression's five-year history — and explains why specialty retailers open pre-allocation lists six weeks before any announcement reaches the market. First Sip covers what barrel proof actually means and why water is a tool, not a concession. Chase Spotlight: Four Roses Single Barrel Select "Reunion" 2026, OBSV recipe, 11-year, 115.8 proof, $99.99, shipping this week. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

A Tax Law Just Expanded Your Bourbon Shelf — Heaven Hill 2033

Mon, 25 May 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Monday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with Heaven Hill's Q3 2026 Bardstown production expansion — Master Distiller Conor O'Driscoll named Kentucky's barrel inventory tax phase-out as the direct trigger, making it the first Big 4 public confirmation that the 20-year phase-out is redirecting fiscal relief into new-make capacity rather than margin. First Sip covers what actually moves bourbon prices — the short list behind why the same bottle costs $45 in Kentucky and $85 in Utah. Chase Spotlight: Parker's Heritage 2026 Barrel Proof Bottled-in-Bond at $129.99, pre-allocation opening today. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

No Lottery Required: Old Fitz BiB 15-Year Is at Walk-Up in Louisville Now

Fri, 22 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Friday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 15-Year Spring 2026 at walk-up in Louisville — $79.99 at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience door, no lottery, no reservation, Spring 2025 comparable tracked $110 to $135 secondary within 30 days of close. First Sip covers wheated versus high-rye versus traditional mash bills — the single biggest flavor driver on the shelf. Cut Spotlight: Old Fitzgerald BiB 15-Year Spring 2026, worth the chase at MSRP. Bar Talk: the BiB credential debate. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Free Stagg Lottery Entry Is Live in Two States

Thu, 21 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Thursday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with Ohio and Pennsylvania opening their 2026 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection lottery portals — entry is free, takes sixty seconds, and closes in early June, with win probability around 10% on Stagg and Weller at confirmed $129.99 MSRP. First Sip covers pre-order, lottery, and walk-in access strategies — which mechanism fits which tier of bottle, and why today's BTAC portal is exactly the right tool for this release. Cut Spotlight: Larceny Barrel Proof C926, ship window closes tonight at $69.99. Bar Talk: Four Roses "Reunion" age premium. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

A $70 Bottle Beat the $200 Shelf | Larceny C926 Closes Tomorrow

Wed, 20 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Wednesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with Heaven Hill's Larceny Barrel Proof C926 — 130.4 proof, 14.2 years, $69.99 MSRP — and the national ship window closing Thursday, May 21. Today is the last realistic day to contact your specialty retailer before secondary takes over above $100 for the same bottle. First Sip covers barrel proof and cask strength: what the term means, why the 21-proof gap between C926 and Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength tells you something useful, and how three drops of water changes what you taste at 130 proof. Bar Talk: Heaven Hill's pricing discipline versus Beam Suntory's $89.99 entry — where the wheated barrel-proof tier breaks. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

TTB Locked September's Best Bottle | Birthday Bourbon 2026 Confirmed

Tue, 19 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Tuesday's American Whiskey Industry Brief leads with the TTB's label approval for Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2026 — the federal confirmation that Brown-Forman's September release is on track and the signal that retailer reservation lists are open right now in May. First Sip covers sourced whiskey and NDPs: what the DSP number on your back label tells you that the front label may not. Cut Spotlight: Ohio and Pennsylvania BTAC 2026 lottery windows are open through June 1 across all five expressions. Bar Talk covers the TTB's "produced by" guidance update and what it does and doesn't change for the bottles already on your shelf. Full report at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Eddie Russell Opens the Rickhouse | $125 Flavor Map | The Cut

Mon, 18 May 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Monday's Cut: Wild Turkey launched the "Flavor Map" Rickhouse Education Tour Saturday — Eddie Russell on the production floor at Lawrenceburg, 18 participants, three floors of Rickhouse K, documented per-floor temperature variance data, and barrel samples at every level. The first Big 4 program built around the rickhouse-position argument, bookable through September at wildturkey.com. First Sip: what top floor, middle floor, and ground floor do to the same bourbon aging in the same building. Hunt Spotlight: Larceny Barrel Proof C926 ships today at $69.99 MSRP, wheated barrel-proof, no lottery required. Bar Talk: ECBP C926 versus Larceny BP C926 — both BiB, both Bernheim, ten dollars apart. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

The Cut — May 15, 2026 — Hard Truth French Oak Closes Tonight | $65 vs $109 | The Cut

Fri, 15 May 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Sixty-five dollars buys French cooperage tonight. Hard Truth Distilling's French Oak Reserve 2026 — Breaking Bourbon 4.0 out of 5, the same review range as Garrison Brothers Lady Bird at $109 — closes its allocation window at end of business today.

The Cut — May 14, 2026 — Michter's Fort Nelson Open Now | $119.99 vs $235 Secondary | The Cut

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Secondary says $235. MSRP says $120. Michter's US★1 Barrel Strength Sour Mash Batch 25S1 — the series-high 116.2 proof, 4.5 out of 5 from Breaking Bourbon — is at Fort Nelson in Louisville right now at $119.99. Walk up, no reservation, no lottery.

The Cut — May 13, 2026 — Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926 Confirmed | $79.99, 14 Years, No Lottery | The Cut

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Fourteen years of bourbon. Seventy-nine dollars. Heaven Hill confirmed the full spec on Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C926 this morning — 130.4 proof, fourteen years and two months, $79.99 MSRP, thirty-two thousand bottles shipping nationally June 8.

The Cut — May 12, 2026 — Booker's Charlie's Batch 2026 Official Specs | $100 Cask-Strength Tonight | The Cut

Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 -0500

A hundred bucks for cask-strength bourbon. Beam Suntory confirmed "Charlie's Batch" 2026-01 this morning — 124.5 proof, seven years three months, twelve thousand bottles at $99.99 MSRP. Pre-allocation lists at Total Wine, Seelbach's, and Westport close tonight.

The Cut — May 11, 2026 — Wild Turkey Documents 3-Generation Succession | Michter's 25S1 Opens Today | The Cut

Mon, 11 May 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Seventy-two years. One family. Just documented. Campari Group made it official this morning — Bruce Russell is Master Distiller-in-Training, Eddie Russell extends through 2030, and the production commitments that have defined Wild Turkey since Jimmy Russell first walked in in 1954 are now corporate promises on paper.

Brown-Forman Stock Pops 14.2% On Sazerac Bid — The Cut

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Brown-Forman didn't crash. It opened up fourteen. The stock that makes Jack Daniel's, Woodford, and Old Forester gained 14.2% Monday morning on more than four times its normal volume — Wall Street saying the Sazerac bid is real, and the Pernod talks are real too.

Sazerac Bids $15 Billion for Brown-Forman

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Today's Cut covers Sazerac's $15 billion all-cash bid for Brown-Forman — the biggest American whiskey deal since 2014 — and the Brown family's apparent preference for Pernod Ricard's competing share-swap offer. First Sip covers the mash bill, anchored to Angel's Envy's first-ever age-stated cask-strength rye. Today's Chase Spotlight is that same Angel's Envy 10-Year Cask Strength Rye at $269.99, launching Friday. Full AWIB waiting on Patreon at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Whiskey Riot Boston Opens Tonight — 240 Pours

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Today's Cut covers Whiskey Riot Boston 2026 Spring, opening at six tonight at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center — roughly 240 American whiskey labels poured across two days, the cheapest fast-track to bourbon education on the spring calendar. Today's First Sip is How to Actually Taste Bourbon — the routine for working a 240-label tasting floor without burning out your palate. Today's Cut Spotlight is Frey Ranch's Single Estate Bottled-in-Bond Reserve 6-Year, $79.99, a 6-year BiB from one of three single-estate American whiskey operations in the country. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Brown-Forman Cuts Louisville While Expanding Lynchburg

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Today's Cut covers Brown-Forman's full Q4 fiscal 2026 earnings — a $215 million Lynchburg expansion through 2028, a 12 percent right-size of Louisville bottling, and fiscal 2027 guidance that holds bourbon-segment volume flat. Today's First Sip explains finishing — what the term actually means and how to taste through it. Today's Cut Spotlight is the Lux Row Blood Oath Pact 12 ticket-allocation cycle, opened Friday at 3.9x standard / 13.8x premium ratios, distillery-direct event April 25 in Bardstown. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Bardstown Lottery Opens — More Bottles Than Entrants

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Today's Cut covers the Bardstown Discovery Series 11 lottery — opened Thursday at 7,800 bottles against 6,200 entrants, a 1.26 ratio that's the cleanest allocation math the program has produced in six years. 14-year MGP wheated cask strength, $169.99 distillery direct, entrant window closes Sunday night. Today's First Sip explains allocated versus regular release — distribution reality, not a quality grade. Today's Cut Spotlight is Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series 11. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Master's Keep 2026 — Smallest Run Since 2018 Revival

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Today's Cut covers Wild Turkey Master's Keep 2026 — 11,400 bottles, the smallest run since 2018 Revival, with a 17-year base, 110.4 proof, re-toasted-original-barrel finish at $249.99 single-day rollout April 30. Today's First Sip explains the mash bill — corn for sweetness, rye for spice, wheat for softness, malted barley for fermentation. Today's Cut Spotlight is Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series 11 at $169.99 — 14-year MGP wheated cask strength, the cleanest sourced-bourbon disclosure in the segment. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Three Regional Ryes Just Landed — Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Today's Cut covers three regional rye flagships landing at retail the same Tuesday — Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Bottled-in-Bond ($59.99), Kings County Empire Rye 2026 ($79.99), and Sagamore Spirit Reserve Cask Strength ($74.99) — three distinct mashbill traditions across Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland. First Sip explains Bottled-in-Bond — the 1897 federal designation behind the Dad's Hat label and one of the cleanest value signals on a whiskey shelf. Today's Cut Spotlight is Sagamore Reserve Cask Strength at $74.99 — the cleanest accessible entry to the Maryland 52-39-9 mashbill profile most American whiskey drinkers have never actually tasted. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Pappy 23 Hammers at $2,750 — 47% Off Peak

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Today's Cut covers Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year hammering at $2,750 on Sunday's April 12 cycle — the bottle's lowest multiple over MSRP since 2019 and a 47.1% compression from the $5,200 peak. First Sip explains the secondary market — what it is, what it isn't, and why those prices are a signal about real scarcity. Today's Cut Spotlight is Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 12-Year at $89.99 — twelve years, 100 proof, BiB-grade, the cleanest age-stated value buy on the spring shelf. Full American Whiskey Industry Brief on Patreon at patreon.com/ChasingTheUnicornPodcast.

Bourbon Blind Tastings—Putting Your Palate to the Test

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:00:00 +0000

In Episode 4 of Chasing the Unicorn: Your Quest for the Perfect Pour, we're asking the question every bourbon lover needs to consider: Are you truly experiencing the spirit in your glass, or are you being swayed by labels, brands, and preconceived notions? This week, we're diving headfirst into the fascinating and incredibly valuable world of blind bourbon tastings!Join host John Schuster as we demystify the process of blind tasting and reveal why it's the ultimate tool for refining your palate and discovering your true bourbon preferences. We'll show you how to strip away the biases, focus solely on your senses, and unlock a deeper level of appreciation for bourbon's complexities.In this episode, you'll discover: • The surprising power of blind tasting to challenge your assumptions about bourbon. • Practical techniques for setting up your own blind tastings at home. • Tips to improve your sensory focus and identify key flavor elements. • Why Four Roses Small Batch is the perfect bourbon to hone your blind tasting skills. • How blind tasting can transform your bourbon journey from casual enjoyment to connoisseurship.Ready to put your palate to the test and experience bourbon in a whole new way? Click play and join the blind tasting showdown! Don't forget to share your own tasting notes and experiences with us on social media using #ChasingTheUnicorn!

Bourbon Myths and Misconceptions Debunking Common Beliefs about the Spirit

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:07:00 +0000

Think you know everything about bourbon? Think again! In this episode of Chasing the Unicorn, we're debunking common bourbon myths and misconceptions. We'll explore the truth about where bourbon can be made, how age affects flavor, and whether filtering really removes flavor. Plus, our 'Perfect Pour' segment features a deep dive into the history and tasting notes of Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style.

Water Works The Impact of Water Sources on Bourbon

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:11:00 +0000

Dive into the fascinating world of bourbon and water in this episode of Chasing the Unicorn! We explore how different water sources impact flavor, from limestone springs to Jack Daniel's unique cave spring. Plus, we discuss the influence of social media on bourbon culture and take a historical look at Jack Daniel's distillery.

Whiskey Wanderlust Planning Your Bourbon Adventures

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 15:05:00 +0000

Planning your Kentucky Bourbon Trail trip? This episode is your guide to crafting the ultimate bourbon adventure! We share tips on choosing distilleries, booking tours, and maximizing your experience. Plus, we explore the history of bourbon, spotlight Buffalo Trace Distillery, and feature Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel.