OUR PURSUIT
Ryan Cecil and Kenny Coleman are the creators of Bourbon Pursuit, the #1 whiskey podcast and the proclaimed “Official Podcast of Bourbon”. They learned everything about the whiskey business through 10 years of interviews and thousands of hours of candid conversations with industry experts. This unique opportunity led them to go on an adventure to find the best flavors possible. Pursuit Spirits didn’t take the conventional or easy path, instead they employed a modern approach by partnering with multiple award-winning distilleries to become masters at the next evolution in American Whiskey… blending.
Many companies source their whiskeys from the same usual suspects or use multiple mash bills from a single distillery. Even heritage distilleries only have 3 mashbills that make 30 different labels. Pursuit Spirits sought out the best whiskeys, regardless of location, and put an emphasis on developing products that compete against the most highly acclaimed and allocated bottles on the market. Pursuit Spirits partners with 4 distilleries across multiple states to create 6 specific mashbills with customized barrel char levels. Barrels age at their respective distillery to maintain terroir then are hand selected and shipped before being united. It’s a process that requires skillful blending to create a product that won’t be like anything else on the shelf. Enjoy this pursuit.
PURSUIT ON MELLWOOD
We had no idea of the rich history beneath our feet when we first moved into our new building at 1700 Mellwood Ave. It was only after settling in that we discovered we had unknowingly planted our roots on the very site of the former Mellwood Distillery, DSP-KY-34. This revelation sparked an intense curiosity and set us on an unexpected journey of discovery.
Excited by this connection to the past, we dove headfirst into researching the distillery’s history. We scoured local archives, pored over old newspapers, and searched to the end of Google. Each piece of information was like putting together a puzzle, slowly revealing the story of this once-thriving beacon of bourbon.
As we delved deeper, we learned about the distillery’s founding, its rise to prominence, the challenges of National Prohibition, it’s resurgence as General Distillers Corporation of Kentucky and then it’s eventual demise. It was fascinating to imagine the hustle and bustle that once filled this very space, the scent of fermenting grain in the air, and the pride of craftsmanship that went into every barrel.
Now, as we go about our daily work on Mellwood Avenue, we feel a profound connection to this legacy. It’s as if the spirit of the old distillery lives on through us. This unexpected link to the past has inspired us to honor the site’s heritage in our own work.
We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to revive this legacy in our own way. While we may not be distilling the same whiskey, we’re committed to bringing the same level of passion, craftsmanship, and community spirit that made Mellwood Distillery and General Distillers of Kentucky a national icon. It feels like we’re not just occupying a space, but continuing a legacy – one that we’re excited to share with others and build upon for the future.
