488. Building a Bourbon Legacy: Saga Spirits Group with Wes and Brian

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 launching Saga Spirits Group alongside his six sons. We dive into the creation of his newest brand, True Story, and the philosophy behind its radically unique, six-sided, opaque black bottle design. Wes also gives us the inside scoop on his vision for the iconic Kentucky Castle, aiming to transform it into the ultimate bourbon-centric destination and world-class bourbon bar without ruining its historic charm with an industrial distillery on the lawn.

To kick off the tasting, Wes pours us the True Story Bourbon. This 90-proof expression is a 4-to-6-year-old blend of Green River and Barton bourbons, uniquely finished in white Moscatel barrels. The Moscatel finish softens the bourbon, creating a highly approachable, fresh, and bright profile. We pull notes of orchard fruits, honey, orange blossom, honeysuckle, apricot, and peach. It is a brilliant, layered whiskey that drinks like a warm spring day and would shine beautifully neat or in a cocktail.

For the second half of the episode, Brian Gelfo takes the reins to talk about Brothers of the Leaf. Brian shares his journey from hosting charity events with the Bourbon Mafia to taking the leap and launching his own brand with the Henderson family's support. He talks about his deep connection with the cigar community and an exciting upcoming collaboration with Drew Estate Cigars that involves aging cigar tobacco in empty Brothers of the Leaf barrels down in Nicaragua.

Brian then leads us through a tasting of two fantastic Brothers of the Leaf expressions. First is the Brothers of the Leaf Rye. This 112-proof whiskey is a 6-to-8-year-old MGP 95/5 rye finished in toasted, lightly charred (Level 1) white oak barrels. It is a flavor bomb that completely changes the minds of those who claim they don’t like rye whiskey. We picked up a wonderful floral spice, fresh mint, new leather, and a sweet profile reminiscent of graham crackers and toasted marshmallows. It drinks far below its 112 proof and makes for an incredibly smooth sip.

Next, we sample the Brothers of the Leaf Blend. This unique expression combines bourbon and rye whiskeys that were finished separately in heavily charred (Level 3 or 4) white oak barrels before being blended to taste. The result is a darker, richer whiskey with a deeply layered profile. We uncovered notes of vanilla cream sitting on top of smoky oak, accompanied by an unmistakable cherry cola flavor with a twist of lemon. It’s a beautifully balanced pour with a pleasant, spicy tingle that coats the palate.

Grab your favorite pour, perhaps light up a cigar, and join us as we explore the future of finishing, the importance of family, and the welcoming spirit of the bourbon community with Wes Henderson and Brian Gelfo!