460. Ranking the Titans: Old Forester Birthday vs. Bardstown Hokkaido

Join hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter at the Corner Rick House for a powerhouse sample review show on The Bourbon Road. The guys are finally catching up on their sample backlog and are tasting four tremendous, high-profile whiskeys that listeners will not want to miss. From a coveted annual release to a unique cigar blend and a Mizunara-finished masterpiece, this episode is packed with incredible pours and the latest news from around the whiskey world.

The tasting kicks off with one of bourbon's ultimate unicorns, the 2025 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. This year's release is a rare departure, a 12-year-old sweet mash bourbon bottled at a surprisingly low 92 proof. The nose is classic Old Forester, bursting with what the hosts describe as "ooy cherry," walnut, and a distinct 12-year oak presence. On the palate, it's delicious and soft, with the cherry notes shining through alongside a pleasant, sweet cherry bubble gum character.

Next up is the innovative Penelope Cigar Sessions. This is a unique American whiskey, a blend of straight bourbon, American single malt, and American light whiskey, crafted to be the perfect companion for a medium-bodied cigar. The nose is a fun contrast, with one host picking up sweet cotton candy and bubble gum from the light whiskey, while the other finds more bready, malty, and stewed fruit notes. The palate is a sweet and complex delight, with flavors of stone fruit, dried peach, chocolate, and a standout note the hosts creatively describe as a "candied peach on a grill."

The third pour is a masterclass in blending and finishing: the Bardstown Bourbon Company Hokkaido Mizunara Oak Barrel Finish. This exceptionally complex whiskey features a blend of four different aged whiskeys—including 14, 15, and 18-year-old components from Kentucky and Tennessee—all finished for 28 months in Japanese Mizunara oak barrels. The nose is savory and intriguing, with notes of sassafras spice and the distinct aroma of new leather. The palate is a showstopper, a buttery, savory, and beautifully complex experience with notes of baked pear and Danish butter cookies that leaves the hosts speechless.

The final glass holds the new Jefferson's Reserve Cask Strength. This is the brand's first cask strength release that hasn't been aged at sea, an 8-year-old bourbon bottled at a hefty 130 proof. The nose is surprisingly floral, with notes of cherry blossom that are both light and powerful. The palate is intensely sweet and memorable, dominated by bright maraschino cherry and a distinct amaretto-like nuttiness.

Throughout the episode, the hosts also discuss the latest whiskey news, including new releases from Woodford Reserve, Blue Run, Jack Daniel's, Pursuit Spirits, and a new distillery café coming to Buffalo Trace. Stick around to the very end to hear Jim and Todd's final ranking and find out which of these incredible bottles was crowned the winner of the day.

Bourbon on the Banks 2025

Smokeys Lifestyle Cigars

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