On December 5, I am throwing the Repeal Day Expo, my first party in a virtual world. 2020 has been crazy for us all. This is the story of how I got to this place. And it’s what I am professionally most thankful for, as we celebrate Thanksgiving.

As the cruise ships carried passengers with a new mystery virus and China closed welded doors shut to keep people indoors, I was planning for an incredible 2020. 

I co-produce live events all over the country and was about to announce an amazing dinner series with a prominent hotel chain. Then, those cruise ships docked, nursing homes had numerous people die from Coronavirus and event planners started cancelling public events.

Within a span of two days, I was told Bourbon & Beyond was cancelled and my entire live events calendar stripped to nothing. I had to furlough my only employee, Jessica Ann. Professionally, I was devastated. Personally, though, I was afraid: My wife told me she had a prominent role at her hospital for their Coronavirus task force. 

That week I looked in the mirror at a man whose once promising 2020 income was gone. And me being me, I created the absolute worst scenario in my head, playing it in my mind over and over: Jaclyn gets sick, we lose her income and I have to carry the mortgage, all the bills, etc., while solely taking care of our two precious little boys.

In March, I was in pure survival mode.

I was really close to picking up the phone and calling a distillery friend to see if they had a job—that’s how close I was to leaving everything I had built the past 15 years. The sense of security felt better than the fear of what could come.

But my good friend and manager, Clay Busch, gave me one of those pep talks that pushed me to fight, and I channeled all my energy into YouTube and the podcasts. My Bourbon Pursuit team also sliced off a little extra money to help me get by, a gesture that only your closest friends will do. 

And so, in the spring and early summer months, I live-streamed. Every night. I streamed. I recorded. And I endured. 

Meanwhile, out of survival, I saw something special happening: My YouTube community was growing and their support, their willingness to show up every night and their kind words and occasional criticism … All of it … It saved me. Through my YouTube community, I realized that these livestream engagements were replacing my in-person events, and I could feel the same professional accomplishment in front of a camera as I did on the stage, at a bar or somebody’s house. I crave the opportunity to teach people about the history of bourbon, explain how to nose it, analyze that sweet and spicy taste on the palate, and I just love people. 

As YouTube saved me, the world was adjusting as well. And these event planners who were once booking me for in-person gigs were now doing so virtually, and my podcast was blowing up. The Fred Minnick Show was never meant to be a bourbon show. It’s an interview show, where I talk to musicians, athletes and actors over a good drink. 

I had figured the first year would have some nice guests, but never did I dream of getting Daryl Hall, Mick Fleetwood, Killer Mike, Ludacris and more. “The Fred Minnick Show” was the lead media for many of their publicists’ press releases. 

And so, as I grew into a steady income again, I hired one of my longest and dearest friends—Kevin Gibson, who’s been managing my website—a talented video editor in Jason Lataillade, the former Bourbon & Beyond sponsorship lead Justin Zweig, who is now my head of sponsorships, and Allison Delande, who basically has organized my chaotic life, and Travis Wade, who manages my private events when he’s not producing livestreams for bands. This growth also would not have been possible without the best booking agent I’ve ever had—Andrew Goodfriend.

I decided to not put money into my retirement or buy a boat. I invested in people. And they’ve invested in me with their strength, strategy and frankly, they put up with my weirdness. 

Thus, Repeal Day Expo was born out of creative meetings with my teams and trying to figure out cool ways to bring you some semblance of normalcy in the drinks world. Like many of you, while appreciative of Zoom tastings and livestream content, I wanted something more for our greatest drinking holiday.

FDR didn’t sign the 21st Amendment so we could have a Zoom call. December 5 is meant to be an interactive, engaging day to share a dram. In this virtual world, you can have private conversations, see educational panels and listen to top level musicians. It’s absolutely amazing!

The Double Platinum tickets have already sold out and the other tiers are selling fast, so you better get tickets soon. And when you do, every ticket holder gets a bottle of whiskey. In addition, as I always try to do, I am giving back with this: A portion of the proceeds will go to the USO and the Museum of the American Cocktail.

Furthermore, as 2020 is coming to an end, The Repeal Day Expo is the second step of my survival pivot. The first was to just survive and now, I aim to grow. In the coming weeks, you will hear about a spirits competition, a national radio show, new websites, a barrel pick membership club and livestreams that will be off the charts awesome.

It wasn’t too long ago I feared losing everything, and I still do. That fear drives me. It’s why I work hard, and why I never give up.

But I do know none of this would be possible if not for my family, my team and you. 

In what has been the most challenging for many of us, your support has saved me in my most desperate times. As the whiskey media world becomes more of click bait, hate-driven sensationalism or lifestyle drivel, I will always strive to simply educate. My YouTube community taught me this: That educating fulfills me more than anything else I do professionally. 

Even though I can’t see my family for Thanksgiving, I want you to know I am thankful for you. 

You’ve made my pivot, Repeal Day Expo, possible.

Happy Thanksgiving!