Honey | Floral | Caramel | Toasted oak | Honey bun cake | Balanced

Wildflower honey | Gentle rye spice | Vanilla syrup | Oak | Syrup-covered mixed berries | Silky mouthfeel

Honey | White peppercorn spice | Gentle rye spice | Oak | Faint leather | Lingering dark honey

Pursuit United Bourbon is produced by Pursuit Spirits, whose two co-founders got their start in the world of American whiskey as part of the podcast team at Bourbon Pursuit. For their newest creation, they dive into the sticky world of honey-finished bourbons. In particular, this is the first Meat Church x Pursuit collaboration since Meat Church BBQ acquired a minority stake in the company at the end of 2025. Unsurprisingly, the bourbon was created to be specifically served with BBQ’d meat and to translate the flavor of Meat Church BBQ’s “Honey Hog” seasoning. Matt Pittman, founder of Meat Church BBQ, states that “at 105 proof, the viscous finish brings a powerful rush of baking spices intentionally dialed up to cut through heavy smoke and fat. It is the ultimate tabletop companion for smoked pork butt or spare ribs."

To create the bourbon, Pursuit Spirits obtained more than 55 gallons of Burleson's Texas Wildflower Honey. The company coated the finishing barrels with honey before introducing a blend of bourbons that gave a nod to the regional origin of the two creators. Specifically, bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Co. was used as a nod to Pursuit Spirit founders Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil, while bourbon from an undisclosed source in Tennessee was used to represent Pittman’s birth state. Once in the barrel, the bourbon was finished for 3 months before being bottled.

The sip opens with a well-balanced aroma that homes in on a honey scent, along with caramel, toasted oak, and honey bun cake. It comes across as lightly floral, which adds a pleasing aspect. The palate highlights the impact of the honey thanks to its silky mouthfeel. Wildflower honey leads the way and mingles with gentle rye spice and vanilla syrup. Oak and syrup-covered mixed berries add additional structure before moving into a honey- and spice-focused finish.

As you might expect, a bourbon finished in freshly coated honey finishing barrels will be heavily honey-influenced. In the case of Pursuit x Meat Church Honey Hog Bourbon, this is certainly the case; however, the honey enhances the overall sip without drowning out other flavors. It never comes across as sickly sweet; instead providing a nice balance of honey with more traditional and adjoining flavor notes. The end result is a great honey-influenced bourbon that stands out in today’s crowded honey-finished category.