Kentucky's Liquid Gold: The Resurgence of Bourbon After the False Glut

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The bourbon glut is over, with distilleries reporting exceptional
sales and Kentucky Bourbon Festival tickets selling out in just
four days rather than months.

• Pandemic caused a temporary slowdown as society reopened and
people returned to busier lifestyles
• Political uncertainty during election year contributed to
consumer hesitation
• Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2025 completely sold out in four days
instead of taking until August
• Secondary market for allocated bottles like Weller has changed
as collectors have already acquired them
• Bourbon enthusiasts now seeking unique barrel picks rather than
just allocated bottles
• Pot still whiskeys offer different flavor profiles than column
still products
• French Lick Spirit distillery's William Dalton (wheated) and
Lillian Sinclair (rye) showcase craft bourbon diversity
• American-made whiskeys may benefit from international tariffs
as consumers look local

Listen to our barrel picks breakdown with tasting notes on kettle
corn, cherry, butterscotch, and fresh-baked bread profiles. Join
us for upcoming events including a smoke wagon tasting in
Youngstown on May 21st.
Is the bourbon bubble really bursting? Everything you've heard
about the "bourbon glut" might be completely wrong. After months
of industry predictions about oversupply and waning interest,
we're seeing overwhelming evidence of bourbon's resilience and
continuing popularity.

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival provides perhaps the clearest
indicator – what normally takes until August to sell out
disappeared in just four days this year. All 7,500 tickets, gone.
Heaven Hill's Bernie Lubbers recently confirmed their exceptional
fiscal year, and distilleries across Kentucky are reporting
similar success. What many analysts missed was that last year's
perceived slowdown was merely a temporary pause as society
adjusted post-pandemic and navigated election year
uncertainties.

We dive deep into the evolution of bourbon collectors' interests,
noting how the secondary market has shifted away from simply
chasing allocated bottles like Weller and EH Taylor. Today's
enthusiasts are increasingly drawn to unique barrel picks,
innovative finishes, and craft distillery releases that offer
something different. We also explore how American whiskey stands
to benefit from international tariffs, potentially driving more
consumers toward domestic products.

The highlight of our episode is an in-depth breakdown of our
barrel picks from Spirit of French Lick – the William Dalton
(wheated bourbon) and Lillian Sinclair (rye bourbon). Both pot
still products offer fascinating tasting notes ranging from
kettle corn and cherry to baking spices and fresh bread. These
selections represent master distiller Alan Bishop's final barrel
picks before his departure, making them particularly
special.

Ready to join the continuing bourbon conversation? Listen now,
and don't forget our upcoming tasting event in Youngstown on May
21st featuring our smoke wagon barrel picks. The bourbon
renaissance is just getting started!



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