496. Summer Sippers: Five Finished Whiskeys for Hot Days and Cool Nights
The Bourbon Road
Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter settle into the Bourbon Road bar for a warm-weather tasting session built around one unifying theme: light-proof, finished whiskeys perfect for summer sipping. The pair reconnect after Jim's trip to Branson and Todd's afternoon on the soccer sidelines, pouring five bottles that span maple syrup barrels, maple wood chunks, raw honey, port wine casks, and even an old fashioned cocktail mixer barrel — each one bringing its own creative approach to the art of the finish. On the Tasting Mat: - Iron Fish Distillery Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Maple Syrup Barrels...
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495. Heritage Showdown: Jack Daniel's, Knob Creek, Maker's Mark & Evan Williams
The Bourbon Road
Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter are back at the Corner Rickhouse in Frankfort, Kentucky, just down the road from Buffalo Trace, settling in for a heritage distillery tasting that spans from the hills of Lynchburg, Tennessee, all the way through the heart of Kentucky bourbon country. The guys kick off with the latest annual drops from Jack Daniel's before crossing the state line to visit some of the storied names that built American whiskey into what it is today. Along the way, Jim and Todd also chat about the swirling acquisition rumors surrounding Brown-Forman, the upcoming 250th anniversary of...
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494. Wheel Horse and Copper & Cask: Four Bottles That Punch Way Above Their Price
The Bourbon Road
Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter welcome Stephen Corrigan — Barrel Master and Spirits Production Manager for Latitude Beverage LLC — for a four-bottle deep dive into two of the company's brands: Wheel Horse Whiskey and Copper and Cask Spirits. Stephen shares his winding path from organic farming and European viticulture to founding a DC craft distillery and ultimately landing at Latitude, where his focus is entirely on the art of blending and cask finishing. The conversation explores what it means to be a transparent non-distilling producer, the close relationship Latitude has built with Green...
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493. All Rye Everything: Short Barrel, New Riff, Frey Ranch & More
The Bourbon Road
Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter are back at the Bourbon Road bar for a dedicated rye whiskey night, working through five distinct expressions that showcase the breadth and character of American rye. From honey-finished blends to farm-strength single-grain pours, the lineup spans distilleries across Nevada, Ohio, Maryland, Kentucky, and Atlanta, giving listeners a wide-angle view of what rye whiskey looks like in 2025 and beyond. On the Tasting Mat:** - Short Barrel After Swarm 2: A blend of MGP and Green River 95/5 rye finished in Kelvin Cooperage barrels previously soaked with Oregon...
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492. Old Glory Distilling Co: Clarksville's Grain-to-Glass Story with Devin Puckett
The Bourbon Road
Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter welcome Devin Puckett, Brand Representative for Old Glory Distilling Co. out of Clarksville, Tennessee, to the Bourbon Road. Devin shares the remarkable origin story of Old Glory — from founder Matt Cunningham's days as a firefighter devising a distillery plan in his mid-twenties, through the COVID pivot to hand sanitizer that ultimately funded a towering 24-foot Vendome copper column still, to the 8,650-barrel warehouse that stands today. Devin also reveals his own path into the industry: a Ball State grad from northern Indiana who married into the Cunningham...
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491. Five Premium Pours: From Gatsby to Garryana Oak
The Bourbon Road
The Bourbon Road crew is back with an exceptional lineup of five premium pours that showcase the diversity of bourbon craftsmanship. Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter kick off with the 2025 Remus Gatsby Reserve, a 15-year-old 102.8 proof straight bourbon from MGP's Ross & Squibb Distillery, released to celebrate the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." This beauty delivers smoky oak, vanilla, and cinnamon notes that evolve beautifully throughout the tasting. Next up is Old Forester's High Angel Share Rye from their 117 series—a 110 proof, 375ml gem featuring a 65%...
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490. The Hazmat Flight: Tasting Lost Lantern's Highest Proof Releases
The Bourbon Road
Welcome back to another exciting episode of The Bourbon Road! This week, hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter are broadcasting from the Corner Rickhouse at the Frankfort Bourbon Society. They are joined by a very special recurring guest and friend of the show, Drew Hannish. Drew is the creator of Whiskey Lore, a seasoned whiskey historian, and the author of the new travel guide Experiencing American Whiskey. Drew drops in while traveling to the James B. Beam Institute Industry Conference to share his elite palate and incredible whiskey knowledge with the guys. The theme of the day is...
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489. A Four-State Craft Whiskey Tour with Drew Hannush
The Bourbon Road
Welcome back to another episode of The Bourbon Road! This week, hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter are broadcasting from the Corner Rickhouse at the Frankfort Bourbon Society. Joining them for his sixth appearance is a great friend of the show: Drew Hannush, the creator of Whiskey Lore and author of the upcoming travel guide Experiencing American Whiskey. Drew drops by during his trip to Kentucky for the James B. Beam Institute Industry Conference, bringing his elite palate to help tackle a fantastic lineup of craft spirits. In this episode, Todd takes the crew on a four-state craft whiskey...
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488. Building a Bourbon Legacy: Saga Spirits Group with Wes and Brian
The Bourbon Road
Welcome back to another incredible episode of The Bourbon Road! This week, hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter are back in the studio together to host a true double-header featuring two fantastic guests and some phenomenal whiskey. We are honored to welcome bourbon royalty to the show: Wes Henderson, the visionary behind Angel's Envy, and Brian Gelfo, a true bourbon aficionado, founder of the Bourbon Mafia, and the man behind Brothers of the Leaf. In the first half of our show, we sit down with Wes Henderson to discuss his decision to come out of retirement. Wes shares the inspiring story of...
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487. Overholt Overload: Tasting the 10, 11, and 12-Year Cask Strength Ryes
The Bourbon Road
Welcome back to The Bourbon Road! This week, hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter are diving deep into the history and flavor of one of America's most iconic whiskey brands. We are keeping a long-overdue promise to our listeners by doing a side-by-side comparison of the highly sought-after extended age Old Overholt rye whiskeys. If you are a whiskey history buff, you know that Old Overholt holds the title for the longest continuously maintained whiskey brand in the United States, dating all the way back to 1810. Founded by Abraham Overholt in West Overton, Pennsylvania, it began as a classic...
info_outlineIt’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 accident" that stunned them with notes of fudgesicle and dark chocolate. They also pour the Jack Daniel’s 12-Year-Old (Batch 3), a 107-proof expression that finally won Jim over with its rich profile of dark wood, fruit sweetness, and ripe banana.
Also making the cut is the Knob Creek 21 Year Old, the oldest release to date from Jim Beam. At 100 proof, it defied expectations with a velvety texture and complex notes of toasted coconut and dark cherry. The heavyweights continue with the Russell’s Reserve 13-Year Old (2025 Release), a barrel-proof bourbon praised for its "concentrated goodness" of salted caramel and brown sugar. Rounding out the finalists is the Wild Turkey Master's Keep Beacon, a 118-proof standout that the hosts describe as the "perfect turkey," bursting with burnt orange and toffee.
In addition to the main countdown, Jim and Todd announce their 2025 Craft Distillery of the Year.
Tune in to hear the debates, the tasting notes, and the final reveal of which bottle takes home the title of Whiskey of the Year!
Be sure to check out our private Facebook group, “The Bourbon Roadies” for a great group of bourbon loving people. You will be welcomed with open arms!