Bourbon Pursuit

Parker’s Heritage 2026 brings a 14 year barrel proof bourbon with a rye backset twist.

How many times have you reached for a bottle on the shelf simply because the glass looked incredible or the label caught your eye? At Pursuit Spirits, we talk endlessly about what goes inside the barrel, but the multi-million dollar engineering and design process that gets that liquid onto the shelf is an entire science of its own. Today, we’re sitting down with Andrés Hernandez of Fusion Glass Mexico and Chad Michael of Chad Michael Studio to break down how custom bottles are engineered, designed, and brought to market. Andrés takes us behind the factory curtain to explain the mechanics of glassmaking—from collecting, washing, and remaking 100% PCR (post-consumer recycled) glass to managing extreme temperatures, color formulation, and structural tolerances. Then, Chad breaks down the creative process of turning a brand story into a physical icon, starting with a concise client questionnaire and translating brand DNA into custom glass, label textures, and closures. Whether you’re navigating minimum order quantities, weighing stock glass versus bespoke molds, or testing glass for impact resistance and machine line compatibility, this episode is a deep dive into the silent, high-stakes partner of every great whiskey: the package itself.

Bardstown Discovery 2026 brings a new name, new bottle, and a Garryana oak double-barrel finish

Scotland is experiencing a whiskey glut, Brown Forman announced the 2026 King of Kentucky, and Lost Lantern is preparing to launch its highly anticipated Fall 2026 George Dickel Collection.

Today, we’re welcomed back by a familiar face and industry powerhouse, Monica Wolf-Brown, to catch us up on her personal milestones—from marriage and motherhood to honoring the legacy of her late father, Richard Wolf—before diving into how she built The Blending House in Shelby County. Monica takes us behind the scenes of creating a state-of-the-art facility featuring a massive blending floor, seven custom rickhouses, and complete turnkey logistics for growing brands. We dive deep into the engineering of her rickhouses alongside a versatile bottling line built to handle formats ranging from 50ml minis to 500ml specialty bottles. Monica breaks down how she collaborates with top-tier clients like E.J. Curley and Jack Rose to consolidate inventory and execute precision blends, while offering her candid take on how American whiskey's view of blending compares to scotch, wine, and coffee. Finally, we explore the Shang project—a cross-cultural collaboration with Whiskey House and True Essence Foods that combines Chinese baijiu with American sorghum whiskey aged in oak—proving why she remains one of the most innovative minds in the industry today.