443. The Great Divide: Bourbon, Barrel Picks, and Beyond

Hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter, connecting remotely from Colorado and Kentucky respectively, discuss recent happenings in the bourbon world and taste a couple of whiskies.

Jim is in Colorado Springs for a Derby party, having flown out of Louisville on Derby Day. He mentions winning an exacta on the Derby race. He is sipping on Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select 90.4 proof, the annual Derby bottle, describing it as a traditional Woodford. He notes that at the Derby party, they were making mint juleps with Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, and while not his favorite drink, he partook. He even helped make the simple syrup.

Todd is drinking Penelope Architect, the third in their series. It's a straight bourbon whiskey sourced from MGP, finished in French oak staves, bottled at 104 proof, and retails around $65. Todd finds it nice, noting the MGP cherry character and a "funky oak" from the French staves.

They discuss Lost Lantern's new monthly subscription service, which recently launched after they had previously speculated about something similar. The service costs $90 a month plus shipping for a different bottle each month, special sign-up bottles, behind-the-scenes stories, exclusive events, virtual tastings, and early access to new releases.

News from Buffalo Trace includes an announcement that they are adding an EH Taylor bottled-in-bond to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC). They speculate it will be a well-aged version and note that some EH Taylor bottles already fetch prices similar to BTAC on the secondary market. They express hope that these will be findable, perhaps requiring waiting in line as in past years.

Other news includes the release of the new Wild Turkey 8-year 101, which is starting to hit shelves at an MSRP of $49. They note that 8 years is the minimum age, and it could contain older stock. They are looking forward to reviewing it and comparing it to the 70th-anniversary release.

Whiskey Thief has released their 2025 Mayday Rye, a 7-year-old, 146 proof (hazmat) rye. It's available at their distillery in Frankfort and their new tasting room in Louisville, and they are now shipping to some states. The hosts praise Whiskey Thief's ryes.

Jim mentions an upcoming interview and tour at Law's Whiskey House in Denver during his Colorado trip. He notes Law's has established itself as a pioneer in Colorado whiskey, particularly with their bottled-in-bond and American single malts.

Jim's second pour is the 291 Colorado Rye Whiskey finished in Aspen wood staves and maple syrup barrels, the "M" release, at 122 proof. He finds it has a great maple sweetness and notes that 291 whiskies are generally easy to identify due to their unique profile. He mentions his son recently volunteered bottling and labeling at 291, noting things are going well for the distillery.

Todd's second pour is Pikesville Straight Rye from Heaven Hill, 110 proof and 6 years old, retailing around $50. He considers it a classic and a great value rye. He recalls being introduced to it during an interview with Bernie Lubbers at the Evan Williams Experience. They briefly discuss the Heaven Hill rye mashbill used for Rittenhouse and Elijah Craig Ryes, noting different proofs and ages.

They talk about recent trends, including the rise of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, which are exploding in popularity, especially with younger consumers. They mention that the largest distillery in the US is now producing White Claw. While neither host is personally a big fan of seltzers or most RTDs, they acknowledge the market demand and hope bourbon is well-represented in this category. They also discuss the growing trend of THC-infused beverages, noting that hemp-derived THC under 0.3% by weight is federally legal. They express confusion about the health claims and draw parallels to the initial marketing of vaping as a safe alternative to cigarettes.

They mention a recent barrel pick they did at James E. Pepper Distillery in Lexington for Bourbon on the Banks. They tasted three barrels and selected a bourbon, choosing one they felt would appeal more broadly, although they personally favored another with a great nose (vanilla icing, cake batter). They highlight the historical tour at James E. Pepper, discussing the distillery's long history and the role of James E. Pepper's wife. They note they also tried an excellent rye there aged 7-8 years.

They discuss the recent move of RD1 Spirits to a new location and Macaulay Minton's Dark Arts moving into the old RD1 space, noting Macaulay's unique tastes and the interesting decor. They mention Sarah Algrim joining Macaulay.

Beau Cumberland's Frankfurt Bourbon documentary is highlighted, with an upcoming screening on Friday, June 13th at The Foundry in Frankfurt, kicking off Bourbon Week. The screening is donation-based, with proceeds going to Frankfurt flood victims. Todd is the narrator for the documentary and receives praise from Jim for his narration skills. They hope to make the documentary more widely available in the future. Jim mentions researching a historical Shannon distillery in Shelbyville from the early 1800s. They recommend Beau Cumberland's YouTube page for short interviews and mini-docs on American spirits.

Jim concludes by noting the pleasant "chest hug" from the 291 rye and acknowledging the late hour for Todd. Todd mentions a busy day with his son's soccer game. They wrap up the episode, encouraging listeners to find The Bourbon Road on social media and subscribe to the podcast.

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