Bourbon Market Challenges and Shifts With Erick Ostrander

Erick shares his journey from accidentally buying a bar at age 22 to building a successful bourbon business over 20 years. He highlights how bourbon prices and availability have changed dramatically, with rare bottles like Pappy Van Winkle going from $25 a pour to $350 now. His bar's bourbon selection has grown from around 150 bottles to 900 at his bourbon club. Erick notes that interest in neat pours and premium bourbons started picking up around 2012-2014 as the bourbon boom took off. Gavin and Erick discuss the evolution of the bourbon industry, particularly focusing on the period around 2015. They note that the industry was initially cautious about releasing large quantities of bourbon, but as demand grew, so did production. They also discuss the current state of the industry, with many distilleries now producing a wide range of brands and products. They highlight the significant increase in bourbon production, with companies like Jim Beam and Buffalo Trace now holding large stocks of bourbon.