))
Carrying the Badge: Why Every Bourbon Enthusiast Should Know About Challenge Coins
Manage episode 475961281 series 2810554
Content provided by Jeff Mueller, Martin Nash, Karl Henley,Chris thompson, Rachel Mueller, Jeff Mueller, Martin Nash, Karl Henley, Chris thompson, and Rachel Mueller. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Jeff Mueller, Martin Nash, Karl Henley,Chris thompson, Rachel Mueller, Jeff Mueller, Martin Nash, Karl Henley, Chris thompson, and Rachel Mueller or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.
The rich and storied tradition of challenge coins has made its way from military culture into bourbon communities, creating meaningful connections among enthusiasts and marking achievements in the whiskey world.
• Challenge coins originated with WWI pilots but became popular during Vietnam War
• Different types of bourbon challenge coins include Stave & Thief Bourbon Steward certification, Kentucky Bourbon Festival commemorative coins, and community recognition coins
• Coins must be carried at all times - you get only four steps to retrieve it during a challenge
• If challenged and you can't produce your coin, you buy drinks; if everyone has their coin, the challenger buys
• Bourbon Real Talk uses different colored coins to recognize various levels of community contribution
• Kentucky Bourbon Festival coins evolve each year, from bronze 30th anniversary to gold 2024 edition
• Challenge coins typically cannot be purchased - they must be earned through contribution or certification
• Carrying a challenge coin signifies membership and honors the tradition of bourbon camaraderie
Join us Thursday night with Kentucky Bourbon Festival President Randy Prass to learn everything about this year's festival. Tickets go on sale April 16th for pre-sale and April 17th to the general public
.
The humble challenge coin carries a weighty legacy that stretches from World War I battlefields to today's bourbon tasting rooms. This episode dives deep into these tokens of honor and belonging that have become an integral part of bourbon culture.
Challenge coins began with a wealthy lieutenant who gave medallions to his unit members. Legend tells how one such coin saved a pilot's life when he was captured behind enemy lines, unable to prove his identity except through this small token. The tradition evolved through the Vietnam War and eventually found a spiritual home among whiskey enthusiasts who recognized the perfect symmetry between military camaraderie and the fellowship of shared bourbon experiences.
For bourbon lovers, these coins serve multiple purposes. Some mark achievements, like the coveted Stave & Thief Society's Executive Bourbon Steward certification coin. Others commemorate events, like the annually changing Kentucky Bourbon Festival coins that evolve in design and finish. Communities like Bourbon Real Talk have created elaborate hierarchies of colored coins to recognize different levels of contribution, from first-time helpers to consistent top contributors.
What makes these coins special isn't just their appearance but the traditions surrounding them. The twelve rules of challenge coin etiquette transform them from mere collectibles into social catalysts. You must keep your coin within four steps at all times. When challenged, failure to produce your coin means buying drinks. If everyone shows their coin, the challenger pays up. These exchanges create spontaneous moments of connection among bourbon enthusiasts in an increasingly digital world.
Whether displayed proudly on a shelf or carried faithfully in a special wallet pouch, bourbon challenge coins represent something deeper than their metal composition suggests—they're physical reminders of shared experiences, hard-earned knowledge, and community belonging. Have you earned your place in bourbon culture with a challenge coin yet? The tradition awaits.
If You Have Gohsts
voice over Whiskey Thief
https://www.scotchybourbonboys.com
The Scotchy bourbon Boys are #3 in Feedspots Top 60 whiskey podcasts in the world https://podcast.feedspot.com/whiskey_podcasts/
Chapters
1. Carrying the Badge: Why Every Bourbon Enthusiast Should Know About Challenge Coins (00:00:00)
2. Introduction to Middle West Spirits (00:01:45)
3. The History of Challenge Coins (00:03:49)
4. Old Forrester Tasting Memories (00:10:24)
5. Coin Etiquette and Rules (00:18:49)
6. Bourbon Real Talk Challenge Coins (00:33:38)
7. Kentucky Bourbon Festival Preview (00:45:55)
483 episodes
Share
