Phil Talks Whiskey
Phil Talks Whiskey is a Louisville-based experiential company that hosts custom bourbon tastings, history classes, and private or corporate whiskey events led by founder Phil Kollin, supplemented by a branded merchandise e-commerce store.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersLouisville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Phil Talks Whiskey does
Phil Talks Whiskey is a Louisville, Kentucky-based experiential business founded by Phil Kollin that designs and hosts custom whiskey tastings, bourbon history classes, trivia nights, and private/corporate group events. The company operates an event-driven go-to-market with three primary service lines: (1) tailored tastings and educational sessions for private celebrations and corporate outings, (2) public ticketed events distributed via Eventbrite at partner venues, and (3) a branded e-commerce merchandise storefront selling glassware, tasting boards, apparel, and novelty items such as the $300 Jerry Can Minibar. Phil Kollin, an Executive Bourbon Steward certified by The Stave & Thief Society and a Louisville Certified Tourism Ambassador, is the sole named host and operator, with the company running lean at 1–10 employees.
The business monetizes through transactional event fees (per-ticket pricing typically $25–$65 per attendee depending on venue) plus unit-priced merchandise revenue. Public events are sold self-serve through Eventbrite, while private and corporate bookings are taken via direct inquiry through the company website and phone/text. The venue footprint centers on Story Louisville (828 E. Market Street) as the primary recurring partner, with secondary partnerships extending into Kentucky (GlenOaks Country Club, The Kentucky Castle, Starlight Distillery), Ohio (Jungle Jim's International Market), and Indiana (Jeffersonville), plus virtual offerings for clients such as Miami University. There is no disclosed technology platform, no proprietary software, and no AI/ML components — the offering is fundamentally a live, people-led service experience with a Squarespace website and Eventbrite ticketing layer. The company is privately held, bootstrapped, and founder-owned with no external funding rounds, parent company, or acquisitions on record.
Phil Talks Whiskey firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Phil Talks Whiskey
- Legal name
- Phil Talks Whiskey
- Website
- https://philtalkswhiskey.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Phil Talks Whiskey is a Louisville-based experiential company that hosts custom bourbon tastings, history classes, and private or corporate whiskey events led by founder Phil Kollin, supplemented by a branded merchandise e-commerce store.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Phil Talks Whiskey industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bourbon Education & Tasting Experience Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)
Keywords
Where Phil Talks Whiskey is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Louisville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Phil Talks Whiskey business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Event Tickets and Private Bookings: Revenue generated from ticket sales for public tasting events and fees for customized private group experiences and corporate events.
- Merchandise Sales: Sales of branded whiskey accessories including glassware (Glencairn glasses, Spey dram glasses), tasting boards, apparel, leather goods, and novelty items through the Phil Talks Whiskey store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Public tasting events with bourbon flights and education |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded merchandise and whiskey accessories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Phil Talks Whiskey product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Phil Talks Whiskey provides customized whiskey tasting events, bourbon history educational classes, and private/corporate group experiences hosted by founder Phil Kollin, an Executive Bourbon Steward. The business also sells branded whiskey accessories (glassware, tasting boards, apparel) through an online merchandise store, with primary operations in Kentucky and select events in Ohio, Indiana, and virtually.
Product overview
Phil Talks Whiskey is a bourbon education and tasting service led by Phil Kollin, offering a portfolio of experiential products centered around whiskey/bourbon education and events. The core offerings include customized whiskey events and tastings, bourbon history educational classes, and private/corporate group experiences. The company also operates an e-commerce merchandise store selling branded glassware (Glencairn glasses, Spey dram glasses), tasting boards, apparel (hats), and accessories (coasters, bottle openers, Jerry Can Minibar).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Whiskey Events & Tastings Tailored whiskey events and tastings customized to customer preferences, with expert guidance and curated experiences designed for corporate events or private celebrations.
- Bourbon History & Educational Classes Educational classes that dive into the colorful stories and larger-than-life characters of 230 years of Kentucky bourbon history, designed for beginners and enthusiasts seeking to learn about whiskey in an approachable format.
- Private & Corporate Group Experiences Customized whiskey experiences designed for groups ranging from intimate private gatherings to large corporate events, tailored to the specific preferences and interests of each group.
- Phil Talks Whiskey Store (Merchandise) Online store selling branded whiskey accessories and merchandise including Glencairn glasses, Spey dram glasses, tasting boards, notebooks, hats, tote bags, coasters, bottle openers, and the 'Let's Talk Whiskey' Jerry Can Minibar.
Quantifiable outcome
- Events hosted across Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana with varying group sizes from intimate gatherings to public events
Companies that use Phil Talks Whiskey
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Phil Talks Whiskey technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Phil Talks Whiskey partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Story LouisvillecorePrimary venue partner for Phil Talks Whiskey events, located at 828 E. Market Street in Louisville. Story Louisville serves as the recurring location for many tastings, presentations, and bourbon experiences hosted by Phil.
- GlenOaks Country ClubminorCountry club venue in Prospect, KY hosting Phil Talks Whiskey events including the Fairways and Flavors blind bourbon tasting experience.
- The Kentucky CastleminorHistoric castle venue in Versailles, KY hosting Phil Talks Whiskey presentations including bourbon history tastings and the Bourbon Market festival event.
- Jungle Jim's International MarketminorInternational market venue in Fairfield, OH hosting Phil Talks Whiskey tasting events including the Sazerac tasting and Whiskey, Wit & Fatherhood events.
- Starlight DistilleryminorKentucky distillery featured at Origin Park Bourbon Fundraiser hosted by Phil Talks Whiskey to benefit Origin Park.
- The Stave & Thief SocietyminorOrganization through which Phil Kollin earned his Executive Bourbon Steward certification, providing credentialing and industry recognition.
- Bourbon & Belonging FestivalminorInaugural LGBTQ+ inclusive bourbon festival in Kentucky featuring multiple Phil Talks Whiskey events including Sophisticated Sips, Pride in Every Pour, and Legends & Lore.
- Bourbon Country BurnminorThree-day cycling event through Kentucky bourbon distilleries where Phil Talks Whiskey hosts VIP tasting experiences and torch light trivia.
- Froggy's PopcornminorLouisville-based popcorn provider partnering with Phil Talks Whiskey to provide food pairings at tasting events including blind bourbon tastings and rye events.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Phil Talks Whiskey competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Master of Malt: UK-based online spirits retailer offering curated tasting sample boxes and tasting notes; adjacent experience commerce in spirits, though primarily e-commerce rather than hosted tastings.
- The Whisky Exchange: Major UK spirits retailer with in-store tasting events and educational content; comparable retail-plus-experience model in the whisky category.
- Whisky Magazine: Trade publication covering whisky tastings, distillery tours, and educational features; adjacent media/experiential overlap with PTW's blog and event programming.
- Imbibe: Drinks culture publication and event/training organization for beverage professionals; adjacent professional/experiential focus in spirits education and tasting culture.
Emerging players
- Flaviar: Whiskey subscription club that ships curated tasting kits and hosts virtual tastings; directly comparable on tasting-experience monetization, but built around DTC subscription rather than in-person events.
- The Bourbon Review: Bourbon-focused media brand that publishes tastings, distillery coverage, and hosts bourbon events; overlapping audience of bourbon enthusiasts and complementary event/experiential coverage.
Broad incumbents
- Airbnb Experiences: Broader experiential booking platform that includes food and drink hosts; competes for the same private/group experiential spend as PTW but as a general marketplace rather than a bourbon specialist.
Direct peers
- Tales of the Cocktail: Annual spirits industry festival and education platform featuring curated tastings, seminars, and experiential programming; same category (spirits tasting/education) but operates at much larger, festival-scale rather than small-group.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Phil Talks Whiskey social profiles
Digital presencePhil Talks Whiskey financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Phil Talks Whiskey leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Phil Talks Whiskey funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Phil Talks Whiskey M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Phil Talks Whiskey
What does Phil Talks Whiskey do?
Phil Talks Whiskey provides customized whiskey tasting events, bourbon history educational classes, and private/corporate group experiences hosted by founder Phil Kollin, an Executive Bourbon Steward. The business also sells branded whiskey accessories (glassware, tasting boards, apparel) through an online merchandise store, with primary operations in Kentucky and select events in Ohio, Indiana, and virtually.
Is Phil Talks Whiskey a public or private company?
Phil Talks Whiskey is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Phil Talks Whiskey founded?
Phil Talks Whiskey was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Phil Talks Whiskey based?
Phil Talks Whiskey is headquartered in Louisville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Phil Talks Whiskey make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Event Tickets and Private Bookings are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales.
Who are Phil Talks Whiskey's main competitors?
Others on record are Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange, Whisky Magazine and Imbibe. Emerging players are Flaviar and The Bourbon Review. Airbnb Experiences is listed as a broad incumbent. Tales of the Cocktail is listed as a direct peer.
Does Phil Talks Whiskey have an API?
No public API is recorded for Phil Talks Whiskey.
What industry is Phil Talks Whiskey in?
Phil Talks Whiskey's product category is Bourbon Education & Tasting Experience Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAGAF, Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka).