# 381: Bourbon, Derby, and Creativity: A Journey Through Whiskey and Spirit Trends

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bourbon-lens-1160749/381-bourbon-derby-and-creativity-a-journey-through-whiskey-and-spirit-trends
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bourbon-lens-1160749/381-bourbon-derby-and-creativity-a-journey-through-whiskey-and-spirit-trends.md
Podcast: [Bourbon Lens](https://stenobird.com/podcast/bourbon-lens-1160749)
Published: 2026-05-04T02:54:52+00:00
Episode link: https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/9190ef105428424f941982359420c14dc7a5533374e4d63c49a8b7198bcdbcfe/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI1NjZiZDFkNC03YTEyLTRmOWMtYWUyNi05NjRkZDlhODRmYzQiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI1OTExYTg0OC0wODVkLTQ2ZjctYTFjMy00ZDIwMjkyYTE3MDYiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2ODI4YjkwMzQ1Y2QwY2M3ZDY2NGRkOWUiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjlmODA4NzVhYmFkNzVkZTg3YWMzM2FjL2pha2UtbGV3ZWxsZW5zLXN0dWRpby1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTUtNF9fNC00Ni0xMy5tcDMifQ==.mp3
Audio file: https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/9190ef105428424f941982359420c14dc7a5533374e4d63c49a8b7198bcdbcfe/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI1NjZiZDFkNC03YTEyLTRmOWMtYWUyNi05NjRkZDlhODRmYzQiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI1OTExYTg0OC0wODVkLTQ2ZjctYTFjMy00ZDIwMjkyYTE3MDYiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2ODI4YjkwMzQ1Y2QwY2M3ZDY2NGRkOWUiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjlmODA4NzVhYmFkNzVkZTg3YWMzM2FjL2pha2UtbGV3ZWxsZW5zLXN0dWRpby1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTUtNF9fNC00Ni0xMy5tcDMifQ==.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/bourbon-lens-1160749/episodes/381-bourbon-derby-and-creativity-a-journey-through-whiskey-and-spirit-trends
Duration seconds: 1542

## Resource

In this episode of the Bourbon Lens , Jake and Scott celebrate the peak of the horse racing calendar and the "May the Fourth" crossover. The guys dive deep into the high-stakes world of spirits business, covering the recently terminated merger talks between Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman , while speculating on Sazerac’s massive cash bid for the Jack Daniel’s owner. We also explore the innovation side of the industry, from Diageo’s state-of-the-art sustainable facility in Alabama to the headline-grabbing Fireball-infused BuzzBallz . Plus, we get you Derby-ready with a masterclass on the Mint Julep and the debut of the "Perfecta" —the refreshing pineapple and ginger highball taking Churchill Downs by storm. Show Notes & Timestamps 00:00 – May the Fourth and Derby season catch-up 01:04 – Star Wars rankings: From Jar Jar Binks to modern spin-offs 02:50 – Derby sponsorship: How brands win at Churchill Downs 03:03 – The Merger that Wasn't: Why Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman walked away 03:57 – Diageo Montgomery: $415M investment and the future of Alabama distribution 05:44 – Sazerac’s big moves: 818 Tequila investment and the $15B Brown-Forman bid 06:32 – RTD Innovation: BuzzBallz meets Fireball’s cinnamon heat 07:34 – The Mint Julep Masterclass: Batching, steeping, and the "pebble ice" rule 12:21 – Recipe Alert: How to make "The Perfecta" (Old Forester + Pineapple + Ginger) 16:40 – Inside the Finish Line Suites: A look at the Churchill Downs renovations 19:00 – Woodford Reserve Master Tasters and the 2026 limited-edition flights 24:49 – Global Whiskey: Future plans for Peerless, Suntory, and Yamazaki 🔔 Subscribe for more weekly discussions, tastings, and bourbon insights from the Bourbon Lens community. 📸 Follow on Instagram: @bourbonlens 🌐 Visit: www.bourbonlens.com Di…

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## Transcript

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