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Big week, and I got to be in the middle of a lot of it. I added someone new to my team, attended some great events, and heard stories I can't wait to share.

Venture Connectors delivered. We heard from Louisville companies including David Horne and his dad from Tag Swag and Clarke and Mallory Burckle from Reimagine Golf, all on stage. Those of you who showed up already know.

I caught UofL's final home game, and that 9 PM tip felt like midnight (too late for me) on a Tuesday. Thankfully they won by 15.

I was also at Kentucky Inno's Startups to Watch. Congrats to all 20+ companies on the list. Big week for this city.

Hot job 💼: Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at Rise Technical ($100K–$140K). Own mechanical design from concept to production at a growing technical firm.

📈 Number: 70 is the number of minutes of daylight we gain in March, the fastest month for daylight growth all year, and I’m ready for it!

As always, I appreciate you reading. 👊

-Todd

In a recent conversation with Business First publisher Lisa Benson, she invited me to their upcoming Bourbonomics event on March 26. We talked about what feels like a widely accepted reality: many distilleries overproduced and are now stuck with inventory they can't move fast enough.

I'd already seen the KDA's 2026 economic impact report, but that conversation pushed me to contrast it against their 2019 pre-COVID numbers. This industry should matter to us all. This year’s report headline sounds triumphant, but the context tells a more complicated story.

🛢️ The Inventory Number Cuts Both Ways: Distillers are sitting on a record 17.1 million barrels, up from 8.1 million in 2018. The KDA calls it a milestone. The barrel market feels more like a glut.

📦 One Louisville Startup Sees Opportunity: The oversupply problem has given local bourbon marketplace Hogshead real tailwinds. When distillers need to move barrels and buyers want access to aged inventory, that marketplace starts looking like the right solution at the right time.

📉 The Headwinds Go Beyond Demand: American whiskey posted back-to-back annual sales declines for the first time in over 20 years. Jim Beam shut its flagship Clermont distillery for all of 2026 and Brown-Forman permanently closed its Louisville cooperage. Both reflect a combination of oversupply, tariffs, and softening demand accelerated by the post-COVID correction.

💪 Some Are Bucking the Trend: Last week we reported on three distilleries posting strong 2025 numbers despite the headwinds. Buzzard's Roost grew revenue 23%, Whiskey Thief grew revenue 37%, and Jeptha Creed saw a 28% jump in distillery tour visitors.

📊 The Jobs Forecast Finally Arrived, Five Years Late: The KDA's 2019 report projected 24,000 Kentucky jobs by 2020. The 2026 report celebrates 23,935 as a record, roughly where they predicted, after billions in capital investment.

🌍 Tariffs Are Real, But Not the Whole Story: Retaliatory tariffs have cost the industry an estimated half-billion in exports since 2018. A generation choosing tequila, cannabis, and sobriety is a problem trade policy can't fix.

🏆 Tourism Is Our Genuine Bright Spot: The Bourbon Trail drew a record 2.7 million visitors in 2024, roughly four times the attendance from a decade earlier. People still want the experience even as they drink less at home.

🥃 The Aging Inventory Is a Question Mark: What's currently in warehouses could become premium stock in the early 2030s. But that inventory is heavy on the balance sheet and patience has a price.

⚡ Spark Take: We have a stake in this beyond bourbon pride. The Trail creates opportunities we should leverage, and bourbon remains a key employer. The road ahead is just harder than the headlines let on.

Skip the basket candy and plastic grass. Take your family somewhere worth remembering.

Volare on Frankfort Ave was just named one of the top 40 restaurants in the country by USA Today, and Easter brunch is your chance to see why. They don't do Sunday brunch, which is exactly what makes April 5th worth planning around. Fresh pasta, seasonal features, and classic cocktails. The kind of place that makes you feel like a regular even on your first visit.

Adults: $55 | Children: $30 (10 and younger)
Seatings at 11:00 AM, 12:30 PM, and 2:00 PM.
Tables will go fast.

Call (502) 894-4446 or book online here.

Birthday love for some local standouts

People in Louisville doing things worth noticing

🚀 Jenn Callahan - Named the new CEO of Amplify, Louisville’s startup hub. A big leadership move for a key organization shaping our innovation ecosystem.

🏙️ Miriam Nally - From coordinator to chief, One Louisville (formerly GLI)’s new Chief Program Officer has risen through the ranks and now leads all programming.

📣 Aaron DuVall -Named VP of Marketing at One Louisville (formerly GLI), helping guide the organization’s voice and strategy as it rolls out its new identity.

📈 Tyler Elliott - Promoted to Senior Vice President at Truist Bank, continuing to expand his leadership role in the region’s banking sector.

💼 Will Raybon - Named Senior Manager, Sales Excellence at Porex, supporting the company’s global sales strategy and execution.

Two of the best new listings to hit the market. Click the photos to explore.

3614 Glenview Ave, Glenview 40025 | 5,300 sq ft | 4 bed, 6 bath | $1,395,000 Gibson Wiggington-built estate on an elevated 1+ acre lot with fireplaces throughout, a vaulted kitchen with two islands, covered stone terrace, his-and-hers owner's suite, and a finished basement.
Listed by: Ryan Davis, Homepage Realty

2436 Broadmeade Rd, Seneca Gardens | 3,500 sq ft | 4 bed, 3.5 bath | $1,029M A meticulously restored 1925 Craftsman with preserved millwork and fully updated systems. A rare third-floor bonus room adds flexibility, and Seneca Park's 531 acres are steps away.
Listed by: Brad Curry, simpler.realestate

Operations Manager at Trajan Scientific and Medical ($150K–$160K). Bridge production, logistics, and team performance for a growing scientific instrumentation company.

Business Litigation Associate Attorney at FBT Gibbons ($170K–$190K). Handle complex commercial disputes at an established Louisville firm.

Plant Manager II at Valicor ($90K–$120K). Lead safety, production, and team operations at an industrial waste processing facility.

SQL Developer at Galen College of Nursing ($100K–$105K). Build and maintain data systems for one of the country's largest nursing schools.

Fire Protection Systems Engineer at Amgen ($124K–$149K). Manage fire suppression, detection, and compliance systems at a major biotech facility.

The Phil Collins Story brings one of the most iconic catalogs in music to the Louisville Palace on March 16, and this is the kind of fully produced concert experience that hits different in a room that beautiful. Get your air drum skills ready, doors open at 7:00 PM. Grab your tickets before they're gone.

We found the fun, so you don’t have to.

🍺 13th Annual Tailspin Ale Fest
2:00 PM VIP / 3:00 PM General @ Bowman Field | $60
Louisville's premier craft beer festival returns with 50+ breweries, 250+ beers, live music, and a cigar lounge. No gate sales, so grab tickets in advance.

🏁 Monster Jam
7:00 PM @ Freedom Hall | $50
The biggest trucks on the planet bring insane jumps, freestyle mayhem, and head-to-head racing to Freedom Hall.

🔬 Sensory Friendly Science Morning: Fantastic Forts
8:00 AM @ Kentucky Science Center | $20
A quieter, lower-stimulation morning at the science center focused on building and engineering through fort-making exploration.

☘️ Dropkick Murphys
6:45 PM @ Paristown Hall | $68
Boston's Celtic punk institution brings raucous, sing-along energy to Paristown Hall just days before St. Patrick's Day.