Bourbon Pursuit

Ummmm; Wes Henderson, Uncle Nearest Inc. is nearing a potential asset sale, and Pursuit Releases XS Double Oak.

What happens when a hardcore barrel-picking group decides to stop just buying barrels and actually build their own whiskey brand from the ground up? Today, Ryan Cecil and Fred Minnick sit down with Clinton, co-founder and master blender of Short Barrel, alongside Manny, their head of sales, to trace the wild journey from improvised early packaging to a rapidly growing craft powerhouse. After selecting hundreds of barrels across the country, Clinton leverages his marketing background and self-taught blending skills to navigate the realities of running a boot-strapped, self-funded spirits company—expanding slowly, prioritizing relationships, and scaling a small team to conquer both on- and off-premise distribution. Clinton and Manny break down their product philosophy—blending strictly for the consumer market rather than personal ego—and share how warehouse microclimates, high heat, and Kelvin Cooperage barrels shape core lineups like their toasted bourbon, rye, four-grain, and SapSquatch expressions. We dive deep into the science behind their honey-finished Bee’s Knees line, treating distinct honey varieties as vital flavor components rather than simple back-sweeteners, while exploring their moves into clear spirits with Old Fourth and Lawn Dart. Finally, the guys discuss industry collaborations—including their joint project with Pursuit Spirits—scaling into major hubs like Atlanta airport tasting bars, and why staying authentic keeps Short Barrel ahead of the curve.

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