280 Upvotes Settled the Father's Day Bourbon Debate

Friday's American Whiskey Industry Brief opens on a community verdict with a retail deadline: r/bourbon ran Wild Turkey 101 versus Elijah Craig Small Batch to 280 upvotes and 94 comments and produced a gift-buying framework specific enough to use at the register on the last viable retail day before Father's Day. The Cut Spotlight is Elijah Craig 18-Year 2026 Pre-Allocation — $89.99 MSRP, 18-year age statement, Whisky Advocate scored the 2025 vintage 92 points, pre-allocation window closes June 25 in six days. Also covered: the Maker's Mark FAE-02's 18% stave-contact claim and the Bardstown Fusion Series #6 secondary floor correction at 21.6% erosion.Today's full written brief (free): https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/podcast/2026-06-19-the-cut-daily/The American Whiskey Industry Brief: https://chasingtheunicornpodcast.com/the-brief/