Pursuit Spirits and Texas barbecue powerhouse Meat Church BBQ are bringing together Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas flavors in a new limited-release bourbon designed with smoked meats in mind.
The collaboration, dubbed Pursuit x Meat Church Honey Hog Barrel Bourbon, marks the first whiskey release in the partnership between Pursuit Spirits and Meat Church BBQ founder Matt Pittman. Rather than creating a traditional sweet-flavored whiskey, the teams set out to build a bourbon that complements barbecue and balances rich smoke, spice, and fat.
The 105-proof release began taking shape in late 2025 after Pittman introduced Pursuit founders Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil to Burleson’s Honey, a family-owned Texas business that has been producing premium wildflower honey since 1907. More than 55 gallons of Burleson’s Texas Wildflower Honey were shipped to Pursuit’s Louisville blending facility and used to coat finishing barrels. According to the company, removing the thick honey during the winter months became an unexpected challenge, requiring the team to warm the barrels with space heaters before the honey would flow.
To create the whiskey, Pursuit blended Kentucky bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company with bourbon from a Tennessee distilling partner. The Kentucky component features a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, while the Tennessee bourbon consists of 80% corn, 10% rye, and 10% malted barley. The blend then spent an additional three months finishing in the honey-coated barrels before bottling.
“We selected this combination of regional mash bills to interact harmoniously with the wildflower honey, but it still needed enough punch to stand up to a bold BBQ spice like paprika,” said Ryan Cecil, Co-Founder and Master Blender at Pursuit Spirits. “The palate plays out like baklava in a glass, coating the mouth with complex layers of pastry and nuts that can easily hold its own against one of Matt’s famous seasonings.”
“This whiskey delivers a sweetness as bold as the pit that inspired it,” added Matt Pittman, founder of Meat Church BBQ. “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.”
While the initial allocation for Pursuit’s P.Club members has already concluded, the company will host a launch and tasting event on June 25 at its Whiskey Row location in Louisville. Pursuit x Meat Church Honey Hog Barrel Bourbon will officially release July 1 at the Pursuit Spirits retail shop with a suggested retail price of $79.99. The bourbon will also see distribution across Texas retailers and through Seelbach’s online platform shortly afterward.