Episode 478: May 10, 2014

Mark Brown heads up Buffalo Trace and its parent company, Sazerac, and he’s known for speaking his mind even when it goes against the rest of the Bourbon industry. These days, he’s expressing concerns about an ongoing shortage of Bourbon that can’t meet today’s demands, let alone the potential demand in years to come. Not only is aged Bourbon in short supply, but the new oak barrels Bourbon producers depend on are also in short supply. Brown says distillers, cooperages, and forest owners need to start working on a strategy for the future. In the news, Whyte & Mackay sells for $724.5 million, Suntory’s moving quickly to get more Japanese whisky into the US market after closing its deal to buy Beam, and a Speyside golf club now has whiskies from every one of the area’s distilleries in its clubhouse.

Links: Buffalo Trace | Whyte & Mackay | Alliance Global | Beam Suntory | Four Roses | Kilchoman | Teeling Whiskey Company | Maverick Drinks | Master of Malt | Johnnie Walker | Spirit of Speyside Festival | Moray Golf Club | Gordon & MacPhail | The Glenlivet | Ardbeg