What We Learned From Blue Note President Logan Welk’s Bourbon Legends Interview: Arkansas Distribution, RiverSet, Barrel Challenges, and the Future of Bourbon

Last Updated on May 22, 2026 by Justin Jones

Editor’s Note: This article is based on a recent interview conducted by Central Arkansas bourbon personalities Craig Imboden and Roger Randall of The Bourbon Legends featuring Blue Note President and COO Logan Welk. ArkansasLiquor.com was not involved in producing the interview and is reporting on the discussion from an Arkansas perspective. Readers are encouraged to watch the full discussion on The Bourbon Legends YouTube channel for additional context and commentary.

Watch the Interview

The interview with Logan Welk begins at approximately 19:11 into the video.

Key Interview Moments

• 19:11 – Logan Welk discusses his background and Blue Note’s growth
• 24:30 – Why Welk believes the bourbon market is changing
• 29:35 – Blue Note Wheated Bourbon
• 30:55 – Arkansas distribution and dry counties
• 32:15 – Challenges of getting products into Arkansas
• 66:30 – Why some Blue Note projects never reach consumers
• 82:00 – What happened to RiverSet
• 83:00 – White oak shortages and barrel stave curing
• 88:00 – Barrel failures, warehouse losses, and aging realities

Key Quotes From the Interview

“Arkansas is a hard market.”
— Logan Welk on the unique challenges of distributing bourbon in Arkansas

“Can I buy another bottle?”
— Welk discussing how today’s bourbon consumers are focusing more on availability and value than scarcity

If a project doesn’t meet expectations, it doesn’t reach consumers.
— Blue Note’s approach to quality control and product development

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For Arkansas bourbon enthusiasts, Memphis occupies a unique place in the regional whiskey landscape. While Kentucky dominates most national bourbon conversations, Memphis often feels much closer to home for Arkansas whiskey drinkers. Located roughly two hours from Little Rock, Memphis is a regular destination for Arkansas enthusiasts attending release events, visiting retailers, participating in barrel picks, and exploring the broader whiskey scene. Likewise, Memphis-based whiskey brands frequently develop loyal followings throughout Arkansas.

That regional connection is one reason a recent episode of Thirsty Nite Live from The Bourbon Legends deserves attention from Arkansas whiskey enthusiasts.

The interview, conducted by Central Arkansas bourbon personalities Craig Imboden and Roger Randall, featured Logan Welk, President and COO of Blue Note Bourbon and B.R. Distilling Co. in Memphis, Tennessee. While The Bourbon Legends promoted the episode as a discussion focused on Blue Note Wheated Bourbon, the rapid rise of Blue Note, barrel finishing, blending, Memphis aging influence, and upcoming releases, the conversation expanded into a much broader look at the bourbon industry. Over the course of more than two hours, Welk shared insights into Arkansas distribution challenges, dry counties, RiverSet, white oak shortages, cooperage issues, barrel failures, warehouse losses, and what he believes is a major shift occurring within today’s bourbon market.

The result was one of the more informative and candid whiskey-industry discussions we have seen this year.

From Banking and Accounting to Blue Note Bourbon

One of the first surprises from the interview is that Logan Welk did not come from a traditional whiskey background. Before joining Blue Note, his career was rooted in accounting, banking, and financial services. He discussed his experience with KPMG and First Horizon before eventually joining what was then B.R. Distilling as Chief Financial Officer.

Welk explained that Blue Note looked very different when he arrived. At the time, the company was primarily a Memphis-focused brand with a much smaller footprint than it has today. Over time, his role expanded from CFO to COO and eventually President, placing him in a position to help guide Blue Note through a period of significant growth.

His perspective was particularly interesting because it comes from someone who entered the bourbon industry from the business side rather than the production side. Throughout the interview, that operational mindset repeatedly surfaced in discussions about distribution, inventory, product development, and long-term planning.

Blue Note Has Changed Dramatically Since 2019

One of the recurring themes throughout the interview was how much Blue Note has evolved in recent years.

Many Arkansas consumers know Blue Note through products such as Juke Joint, Crossroads, Uncut, Single Barrel releases, and more recently Blue Note Wheated Bourbon. According to Welk, the company that existed in 2019 was dramatically different from the Blue Note consumers recognize today.

Distribution was more limited. The portfolio was smaller. The company’s reach extended little beyond Memphis.

Today, Blue Note has become one of the more recognizable emerging bourbon brands in the Mid-South. Arkansas consumers have increasingly encountered Blue Note products on local shelves, at barrel picks, and through retailer partnerships. For many readers, the interview provided valuable context regarding how the company evolved from a regional Memphis brand into a much larger player in today’s bourbon landscape.

Logan Welk Believes the Bourbon Market Is Changing

Perhaps the most significant discussion during the interview centered on the state of the bourbon market itself.

Welk believes today’s bourbon consumer is fundamentally different from the consumer who emerged during the height of the pandemic bourbon boom. During those years, allocated bottles disappeared from shelves almost immediately. Secondary market prices soared. Consumers often purchased bottles simply because they were difficult to find rather than because they intended to drink them.

According to Welk, today’s consumers are asking a different question:

“Can I buy another bottle?”

That simple question may summarize one of the biggest shifts occurring in bourbon today. Instead of chasing every allocated release, consumers are becoming increasingly focused on quality, value, and consistency. Availability matters. Price matters. Enjoyment matters.

Personally, I think Welk may be right.

While Arkansas certainly experienced its share of allocation mania, the state’s bourbon culture has generally remained rooted in opening bottles, sharing pours, supporting local retailers, and attending barrel picks. The market Welk describes sounds remarkably similar to the culture many Arkansas whiskey enthusiasts have been building for years.

Arkansas Remains One of the Most Unique Bourbon Markets in America

One of the most noteworthy moments for Arkansas readers came when Welk specifically discussed Arkansas and its distribution challenges.

“Arkansas is a hard market.”

For Arkansas residents, that observation is not exactly surprising.

Welk pointed directly to one of the state’s most distinctive characteristics: dry counties.

Large portions of Arkansas continue to operate under a patchwork of wet and dry jurisdictions that influence distribution decisions, retail access, and product availability. While many states rarely think about local alcohol restrictions anymore, Arkansas continues to navigate challenges that simply do not exist elsewhere.

What made the comment noteworthy was hearing it acknowledged by the president of a major regional bourbon brand.

The discussion continued into distribution, where Welk explained that consumer demand alone does not guarantee product availability. Distributors manage enormous portfolios and compete for limited shelf space. Suppliers must constantly compete for attention.

According to Welk, certain Blue Note products would likely perform very well in Arkansas if more inventory reached local retailers. For Arkansas consumers who have watched bottles appear in neighboring states before arriving locally, that observation may sound very familiar.

Blue Note Wheated Bourbon Was Years in the Making

Another fascinating discussion involved Blue Note Wheated Bourbon.

Rather than reacting to recent consumer demand, Welk explained that Blue Note began planning the product years before its eventual release. The whiskey was laid down approximately four to five years earlier, long before wheated bourbon became one of the hottest categories in American whiskey.

That long-term planning reflects a theme that surfaced repeatedly throughout the interview: patience.

Whether discussing barrel aging, product development, or inventory management, Welk emphasized that many aspects of bourbon production simply cannot be rushed. He also discussed the decision to bottle the wheated bourbon at 101 proof and how proof selection plays an important role in presenting flavor.

The conversation offered a useful reminder that whiskey development often begins years before consumers ever see a bottle on a shelf.

Blue Note Explains Why It Continues to Partner with Green River Distilling

Green River Distilling Company, located in Owensboro, Kentucky, is one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Kentucky. Today, the distillery produces its own Green River-branded bourbons and ryes while also serving as a major contract distillation partner for several whiskey brands, including Blue Note Bourbon.

During the interview, Welk addressed one of the most common questions Blue Note receives: whether the company plans to produce its own distillate in Memphis.

His answer was surprisingly direct: probably not. Welk explained that large-scale bourbon production is better suited to Kentucky, where distilleries such as Green River can produce hundreds of barrels per day with consistent grain sourcing, cooperage access, and experienced distillation teams.

Blue Note has worked with Green River since 2018 and views the relationship as a strategic advantage rather than a limitation. According to Welk, Green River provides the consistency and scale needed to produce high-quality bourbon, while Memphis contributes what Blue Note believes is one of its greatest assets: aging conditions. Welk noted that Blue Note’s Green River production program currently exceeds 300 barrels per day, providing the scale necessary to maintain consistency across the brand’s growing portfolio.

Welk noted that Memphis offers high humidity, long periods of warm weather, and access to exceptionally pure water. Blue Note combines Kentucky-distilled bourbon with Memphis aging, blending, and finishing techniques to create its products.

We’ve been working with Green River since 2018

“We’ve been working with Green River since 2018,” Welk said, adding that Blue Note’s focus is not on where the whiskey is distilled, but on finding the best possible distillate and then maximizing its potential through aging and blending in Memphis.

Who Is Green River Distilling Company?

While many bourbon drinkers recognize Blue Note, fewer may be familiar with Green River Distilling Company, the Kentucky distillery that has produced Blue Note’s sourced whiskey since 2018. Located in Owensboro, Kentucky, Green River traces its roots to 1885 and is one of the oldest licensed distilleries in the state.

Today, Green River operates one of Kentucky’s largest distillation facilities, producing bourbon and rye whiskey at a scale that allows brands such as Blue Note to maintain consistency while still creating unique products through aging, blending, and finishing techniques. During the interview, Welk noted that Blue Note’s production program with Green River exceeds 300 barrels per day, providing the volume necessary to support the brand’s growing national distribution.

In addition to contract distillation, Green River has expanded its own portfolio in recent years with releases such as Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon and RiverSet Rye, helping establish the Owensboro distillery as both a historic Kentucky producer and a modern force in American whiskey.

Not Every Barrel Becomes a Product

One of the most revealing sections involved quality control and product development.

Welk explained that some projects never reach consumers.

In one example, an experimental French oak project developed bacterial issues and was ultimately abandoned rather than released. While many consumers assume every barrel eventually becomes a bottle, the reality is much more complicated.

Blue Note’s philosophy was one of the most refreshing aspects of the entire interview:

If a project does not meet expectations, it does not reach consumers.

That philosophy demonstrates a willingness to absorb losses rather than compromise quality. In an era where limited editions, special finishes, celebrity brands, and annual releases compete aggressively for consumer attention, hearing a producer openly discuss failed experiments and rejected projects was refreshing.

What Happened to RiverSet?

One of the more interesting discussions for longtime followers of Memphis whiskey involved RiverSet.

Many consumers may remember RiverSet as a separate label. During the interview, Welk explained how RiverSet ultimately became integrated into the broader Blue Note portfolio as the company streamlined its offerings.

For whiskey enthusiasts who have followed Memphis whiskey over the years, this portion of the interview helps answer questions regarding the evolution of the RiverSet brand and where those products fit within Blue Note’s current strategy.

The discussion serves as a reminder that whiskey brands are constantly evolving. Product lines change, portfolios shift, and labels that once existed independently may eventually become part of a larger brand identity.

White Oak, Barrel Staves, and the Hidden Side of Bourbon Production

For whiskey enthusiasts interested in production, one of the most fascinating sections involved white oak and barrel manufacturing.

Most consumers spend their time discussing mash bills, warehouse locations, age statements, and proof points. Few spend much time thinking about trees. Yet according to Welk, white oak shortages and cooperage challenges can influence whiskey years before consumers ever see a bottle.

He explained how barrel staves require seasoning and curing before becoming barrels. When demand for barrels increases dramatically, pressure can be placed on those timelines. The result may be subtle differences that eventually influence the finished whiskey.

The discussion led into one of the most technical portions of the interview, where Welk explained how stave curing may contribute to earthy characteristics found in certain whiskies. It was a rare behind-the-scenes look at production variables that most consumers never hear discussed.

When Barrels Fail

Perhaps the most eye-opening portion of the interview involved warehouse losses.

Consumers often assume every barrel survives the aging process.

According to Welk, reality is far messier.

Barrels leak. Barrels fail. Barrels collapse. Whiskey evaporates. Warehouse losses occur every year, often without consumers ever realizing it.

The discussion provided a valuable reminder that bourbon remains an agricultural product influenced by wood, temperature, humidity, time, and countless other variables. While consumers ultimately see a finished bottle on a shelf, a surprising amount of whiskey never makes it that far.

For many readers, this may be one of the most fascinating portions of the entire conversation because it highlights realities of bourbon production that are rarely discussed outside the industry.

Who Are The Bourbon Legends?

The interview itself also carries a strong Arkansas connection.

Craig Imboden and Roger Randall, hosts of The Bourbon Legends, are both based in Central Arkansas and have become familiar names to many local bourbon enthusiasts through their whiskey-focused content, interviews, reviews, and livestream discussions.

Their Thirsty Nite Live series regularly features guests from across the bourbon industry and provides Arkansas whiskey enthusiasts with access to conversations that might otherwise remain limited to larger national platforms.

The interview with Logan Welk is an excellent example of the type of content they continue to produce.

Final Thoughts

The Bourbon Legends interview with Logan Welk succeeds because it goes far beyond discussing individual products.

Instead, it provides a detailed look into the realities of today’s whiskey industry, from consumer behavior and distribution challenges to barrel production, warehouse management, product development, and long-term planning.

For Arkansas readers, the discussion carries additional significance because it directly addresses Arkansas distribution challenges, dry counties, and consumer demand. Yet even beyond the Arkansas connection, the interview provides valuable insight into Blue Note’s growth, RiverSet’s evolution, the changing bourbon market, and the countless behind-the-scenes factors that influence the whiskey consumers ultimately enjoy.

Blue Note may be headquartered in Memphis, but Memphis has long been part of the extended whiskey ecosystem that Arkansas consumers interact with every day. For that reason alone, this was a conversation worth paying attention to.

Credit for the original interview belongs to Craig Imboden and Roger Randall of The Bourbon Legends, both based in Central Arkansas. Their discussion with Logan Welk provided one of the most informative conversations about Blue Note Bourbon, Memphis whiskey, Arkansas distribution, RiverSet, and the future of the bourbon industry that we have seen this year.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Blue Note Bourbon, Logan Welk, and Arkansas Distribution

What did Logan Welk say about Arkansas distribution?

During the interview, Logan Welk described Arkansas as a challenging market for bourbon distribution. He pointed to factors such as dry counties and the complexities of getting products into certain areas of the state. He also suggested that some Blue Note products could likely perform well in Arkansas if additional inventory reached local retailers.

Why did Logan Welk call Arkansas a hard market?

Welk specifically cited Arkansas’ unique mix of wet and dry counties as one reason distribution can be difficult. Unlike many states where alcohol laws are more uniform, Arkansas continues to have regional restrictions that can influence retail access, product availability, and supplier strategies.

Who is Logan Welk?

Logan Welk is the President and COO of Blue Note Bourbon and B.R. Distilling Co. in Memphis, Tennessee. Before entering the bourbon industry, he worked in accounting, banking, and financial services, including roles with KPMG and First Horizon.

What is Blue Note Bourbon?

Blue Note Bourbon is a Memphis-based whiskey brand produced by B.R. Distilling Co. The company has become known for products such as Blue Note Juke Joint, Blue Note Uncut, Blue Note Crossroads, single barrel releases, and Blue Note Wheated Bourbon.

What is Blue Note Wheated Bourbon?

Blue Note Wheated Bourbon is a wheated bourbon expression from Blue Note Bourbon. During the interview, Logan Welk explained that the whiskey was planned years before its release and was not simply a reaction to recent consumer demand for wheated bourbons.

What happened to RiverSet Bourbon?

During the interview, Welk explained that RiverSet was ultimately folded into the broader Blue Note portfolio as the company streamlined its offerings. The discussion provided insight into how the brand evolved and how RiverSet fits into Blue Note’s overall strategy.

What did Logan Welk say about the future of the bourbon market?

Welk believes the bourbon market is changing from the speculative environment that emerged during the pandemic. According to him, today’s consumers are becoming more focused on quality, value, and availability rather than simply chasing allocated bottles and limited releases.

Why are white oak shortages important to bourbon?

White oak is a critical component of bourbon production because it is used to make aging barrels. Welk explained that shortages and supply chain pressures can affect barrel production and stave curing, potentially influencing whiskey years before it reaches consumers.

Can bourbon barrels collapse during aging?

Yes. During the interview, Welk discussed the reality that not every barrel survives the aging process. Barrels can leak, fail, collapse, or otherwise be lost during maturation. These losses are considered a normal part of whiskey production.

Why doesn’t Blue Note release every whiskey project it develops?

Welk explained that some experimental projects never reach consumers because they fail to meet quality expectations. One example discussed during the interview involved a French oak project that was abandoned rather than released after problems developed during the process.

Who are The Bourbon Legends?

The Bourbon Legends are Central Arkansas bourbon personalities Craig Imboden and Roger Randall. Through livestreams, interviews, reviews, and whiskey-related content, they regularly feature industry guests and discussions relevant to bourbon enthusiasts throughout Arkansas and beyond.

Why is ArkansasLiquor.com covering a Memphis bourbon company?

Blue Note Bourbon is based in Memphis, Tennessee, which is approximately two hours from Little Rock and has long been part of the extended whiskey ecosystem that Arkansas consumers interact with regularly. The interview also included direct discussion of Arkansas distribution, dry counties, and market challenges, making it especially relevant to Arkansas bourbon enthusiasts.

Is Blue Note Bourbon distilled in Memphis?

No. During the interview, Blue Note President and COO Logan Welk explained that Blue Note sources its whiskey from Green River Distilling Company in Owensboro, Kentucky. The bourbon is then aged, blended, and finished in Memphis, Tennessee.

Who makes Blue Note Bourbon?

Blue Note Bourbon works with Green River Distilling Company in Kentucky to produce its whiskey. According to Welk, Blue Note has partnered with Green River since 2018 and focuses on aging, blending, and finishing techniques in Memphis.

Why doesn’t Blue Note distill its own whiskey?

Welk stated that Blue Note currently has no plans to build its own large-scale distillery. He explained that Kentucky offers advantages in grain sourcing, cooperage access, and large-scale production, while Memphis provides ideal aging conditions and exceptionally pure water.

What is Blue Note Toasted Bourbon?

Blue Note Toasted Bourbon is the same liquid previously sold as Blue Note Crossroads. The company rebranded the product after discovering that many consumers outside the Memphis area did not understand the Crossroads name.

Is Blue Note Crossroads being discontinued?

Not exactly. Blue Note Crossroads is being renamed Blue Note Toasted Bourbon. Existing bottles labeled Crossroads may remain in some markets during the transition, but future releases will use the Toasted branding.

Are more Blue Note Honey releases planned?

Yes. Welk said additional Honey Barrel releases are expected, including future single-barrel offerings. Production for the next release cycle is already underway.

Are there any Survivor Barrels remaining?

Yes. Welk revealed that approximately 91 Survivor Barrels remain aging and are expected to be evaluated when they reach around 10 years of age, which could place future releases around 2028.