TWiB: Brown-Forman & Pernod Ricard merger talks end, 4 North Carolina lobbyists indicted, Blade and Bow re-releases 22-Year-Old Bourbon

It's This Week in Bourbon for May 1st 2026. Merger discussions between Brown-Forman and Pernod Ricard are over, four North Carolina lobbyists have been indicted for organizing a bourbon tasting, and Blade and Bow re-releases of its ultra-premium 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Show Notes: Brown-Forman and Pernod Ricard merger talks collapse, reopening the door for Sazerac’s $15B bid Bardstown Bourbon Company launches NFC-enabled "Bourbon Gifting Reimagined" for personalized digital messaging North Carolina lobbyists indicted for illegal bourbon trip while "Operation High Octane" sweeps illicit secondary sales Maker’s Mark partners with basketball star Kelsey Plum for "Yam Jam" Private Selection and charity cocktail Major spirits brands pivot to TikTok as platform finalizes age-gating for organic and influencer content Blade and Bow re-releases ultra-premium 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon for April 2026 Wenzel Distillery announces Batch 2 of Sherry Barrel Finished Bourbon following World Whiskies Award win A. Smith Bowman returns to rye after 16 years with experimental 11-year Abraham Bowman release Blue Run Spirits debuts Blueprint Series as its new national flagship Kentucky Straight Bourbon Starlight Distillery unveils inaugural Dana Huber signature Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon release Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices