480. Bonjour Bourbon: A Deep Dive into French Oak Finishing
The Bourbon Road
Bonjour and welcome to another episode of The Bourbon Road! With Jim still observing Dry January, Todd Ritter is flying solo in the host chair—but he’s certainly not drinking alone. To help him navigate a deep dive into the world of French Oak finishing, Todd has recruited two heavy hitters from the local whiskey scene: returning guest Amzie "The Alec Baldwin of The Bourbon Road" Wenning and David Sandlin, proprietor of The House of Commons bar in Frankfort. The trio embarks on a flavorful journey to explore how French Oak influence changes the profile of both bourbon and rye. They kick...
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479. The Narrator, The Historian and The Guide
The Bourbon Road
Welcome back to the Bourbon Road! In this episode, your host Todd Ritter is flying solo while Jim takes a brief hiatus for Dry January. But don't worry—Todd isn't drinking alone. He has recruited two heavy hitters from the world of whiskey history and travel to fill the void and co-host a packed episode dedicated to the art of the distillery visit. Joining Todd in the studio is Drew Hannish, the voice behind Whiskey Lore and the author of the upcoming book Experiencing American Whiskey. With over 400 distillery visits under his belt across the United States and abroad, Drew brings a national...
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478. Travel Guide to Experiencing American Whiskey
The Bourbon Road
Jim and Todd welcome back a familiar face to the Bourbon Road: Drew Hannush, the host of the Whiskey Lore podcast and author of the massive new travel compendium, Experiencing American Whiskey . With the 2026 edition of his book hot off the press, Drew joins the hosts to discuss the monumental task of documenting over 1,000 distilleries across all 50 states . From the historic roots of Kentucky to the surprising whiskey scenes in states like New York and North Dakota, Drew shares stories from the road and tips for planning the ultimate whiskey adventure In the second half of the show, the...
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477. Whiskey of the Year 2025: The Top 5 Countdown
The Bourbon Road
It’s the most anticipated episode of the year! Jim and Todd return to the Bourbon Road bar to ring in the New Year and unveil their 2025 Whiskey of the Year. After a marathon year of reviewing nearly 200 different spirits—including 121 bourbons, 29 ryes, and 24 single malts—the hosts have crunched the data and narrowed the field down to five elite contenders. The "Top 5" lineup represents the absolute best pours of 2025, featuring heavy hitters from some of America's most iconic distilleries. The hosts revisit the Woodford Reserve Chocolate Malt Whisper Redux, a 139.4-proof "happy...
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476. New Year's Eve Sample Blowout: Calvados Casks to Mesquite Smoke
The Bourbon Road
Happy New Year from The Bourbon Road! Jim and Todd ring in the New Year at the Bourbon Road bar with one final sample show to close out 2025. With the "Whiskey of the Year" episode just around the corner, the hosts are clearing the decks and diving into four distinct and intriguing pours that range from experimental finishes to classic Kentucky profiles. It’s a diverse lineup that takes their palates on a journey from the coast of France to the American Southwest. The tasting begins with a luxurious offering from Bardstown Bourbon Company's Distillery Collection: the Normandy Calvados Brandy...
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475. The Wrath of Todd: Tasting the Harden's Creek Trio
The Bourbon Road
Jim and Todd return to the Bourbon Road bar for a sequel to their recent Jim Beam tasting, dubbing this episode "The Wrath of Todd" With the holiday season in full swing, the hosts settle in for a sample show dedicated to exploring the impact of warehouse location—or "terroir"—on whiskey. While there are no live guests in the studio, the episode features a special drop-in from friend of the show Drew Hannush (host of Whiskey Lore), who shares details about his massive new travel guide, Experiencing American Whiskey, a resource covering over 1,000 distilleries across the United States....
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474. Grain-to-Glass in North Carolina: Southern Distilling's Story
The Bourbon Road
Jim and Todd welcome Pete Barger, co-founder of Southern Distilling Company, to the show for a deep dive into the history and revival of Statesville, North Carolina—once known as the "Liquor Capital of the World". As one of the nation's largest privately owned distilleries, Southern Distilling balances a massive contract distilling operation with their own award-winning Southern Star brand, all while championing a "grain-to-glass" philosophy that supports over 5,000 acres of local farmland. The tasting kicks off with the Southern Star Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey. Crafted with a...
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473. Revenge of the Maltmigos
The Bourbon Road
The "Maltmigos" ride again! Jim and Todd welcome back recurring guests and fellow whiskey lovers, Amsey and Rob, for a long-awaited reunion show. Dubbed "The Revenge of the Maltmigos," this episode strays from the bourbon path to explore a diverse lineup of Irish whiskeys and Scotch whiskies, including a rare and experimental rye from a legendary Islay distillery. The tasting begins with a duo from Two Stacks Irish Whiskey. First up is The First Cut Complex Blend, a unique combination of grain, pot still, and malt whiskeys aged in virgin oak, ex-bourbon, and Oloroso sherry casks. At 86 proof,...
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472. Beam Me Up, Toddy: A Trek Through Jim Beam’s 2025 Rarities
The Bourbon Road
"Beam me up, Toddy!" Jim and Todd embark on a voyage to the final frontier of flavor with an epic tasting of four highly anticipated limited releases from the James B. Beam Distilling Co. In a show packed with Star Trek puns and serious spirits, the hosts explore how Eighth Generation Master Distiller Freddie Noe is pushing the boundaries of the family legacy. The mission begins with Little Book Chapter 9: "None For Granted." This 2025 release is a complex blend of five unique whiskeys, including 11-year-old bourbon, 8-year-old rye, and two distinct 7-year-old bourbons. Clocking in at 121.8...
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471. The Sample Safe: Unlocking Lost Lantern's Fall 2025 Collection
The Bourbon Road
Jim and Todd return to the "Corner Rick House" for a massive tasting session, cracking open the "Sample Safe" to explore Lost Lantern’s Fall 2025 Collection. Dubbed "The Scotch Lovers' Collection," this ambitious release focuses entirely on American Single Malt, showcasing the incredible diversity and maturity of the category across seven distinct expressions. From the maritime influence of Nantucket to the high-altitude mountains of Idaho, the hosts take a deep dive into unique mashbills, historic re-releases, and heavy-hitting barrel proofs. The journey begins with two blends: the American...
info_outlineIn this region-spanning tasting session, The Bourbon Road hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter guide listeners through four American whiskeys that each bring something unique to the table. From the high plains of Wyoming to the oak-rich rickhouses of Kentucky and the bold, sun-soaked warehouses of Texas, this episode offers a full-flavored exploration of how place and process shape the final pour.
First up is Buffalo Bill Cody Straight Bourbon from Wyoming Whiskey—a 6-year-old, 97-proof bourbon blended from 26 barrels. Distilled with 100% Wyoming-grown grain in Kirby, this expression honors a frontier legend with bold notes of cherry, leather, exotic spice, and sweet cream. Jim and Todd both agree it’s a standout example of what regional distilling can deliver—complex, approachable, and full of character.
The second pour shifts eastward to RD1’s Sister Cities, a blend of 5- and 7-year-old Kentucky bourbons with an 8-year-old rye, finished using French oak “necklaces” and Japanese Mizunara staves. Bottled at 102 proof, the whiskey opens with a bright, tart fruit nose—orange zest, raisin bran, and cherries—then develops into warm layers of milk chocolate, spice, and drying oak. The result is a richly nuanced pour that pays homage to Lexington’s international connections with refinement and flair.
In the second half, the hosts feature two expressions from Milam & Greene’s “The Answer” line—each identical in distillate but aged in different states. The Kentucky-aged version delivers a more traditional bourbon profile, showcasing smooth oak integration, brown sugar, and baking spice. Meanwhile, the Texas-aged version leans bolder and darker, shaped by the state’s intense climate with notes of charred wood, molasses, and earth. Side-by-side, these two pours demonstrate how dramatically aging environment alone can influence a whiskey’s flavor, texture, and personality.
Throughout the episode, Jim and Todd offer their signature banter, detailed tasting notes, and honest reflections on what makes each pour special. Whether it’s a frontier homage, an internationally inspired blend, or an experiment in terroir through aging, every whiskey in this lineup tells a compelling story.
This is American whiskey at its best—diverse, regional, and endlessly expressive.
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