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 (86 proof): A craft bourbon out of Thompsonville, Michigan, finished in barrels previously used to age maple syrup from a nearby family sugar bush farm. The nose opens with caramel green apple and buttery sweetness with virtually no ethanol heat. The palate is confectionary and sweet with a gentle warmth and a soft, hugging finish. Award-winning and approachable, this one shines as a warm-weather pour, especially over a large ice cube or alongside a glass of half-and-half iced tea. Retails around $50. *(00:02:11)*

- Company Distilling Weated Bourbon Finished with Maple Wood Chunks (90 proof): From the distillery co-founded by former Jack Daniel's master distiller Jeff Arnett, this weated bourbon blends whiskey from three states using both column and pot stills, aged four to six years. Rather than using a maple syrup barrel, fully matured straight bourbon was finished by placing maple wood chunks directly into the whiskey to coax natural toasted wood character. The nose carries green apple, a hint of cinnamon toast, and a subtle forest smokiness. The palate is extraordinarily silky and smooth with very little impact up front, building to a light zip on the finish. A dangerously sessionable pour. Retails around $50. *(00:07:04)*

- Green River Honey Finished Bourbon (92 proof): Distilled and aged in Owensboro, Kentucky, this four-year-old Green River straight bourbon was finished by adding a custom blend of locally sourced, seasonally selected raw unfiltered honey directly into the barrel, allowing the bourbon and honey to marry through natural barrel interaction. The result is a honey-colored, notably sweet whiskey with a confectionary nose and a smooth, very approachable palate that lends itself to mixing — a spiked Arnold Palmer or a light honey old fashioned being natural fits. Presented in distinctive hexagonal honeycomb-themed packaging. Retails at $24.99. *(00:13:31)*

- Oak Lore Distilling Company Port Cask Finished Four Grain Bourbon (92 proof): From Oak Lore Distilling in North Carolina, this four-grain bourbon sourced from Southern Distilling in Statesville, NC and Kentucky partners including Bardstown/Green River receives an additional 12 to 18 months of maturation in freshly dumped domestic port wine barrels that previously held port for up to 18 years. The nose is dark and figgy with cherry and deep fruit. The palate opens with upfront sweetness before settling into a rich, heavy dark fruit finish reminiscent of well-aged port. A campfire evening sipper, particularly appealing to port lovers making the move toward bourbon. Retails at $79.95. *(00:21:48)*

- Oak Lore Distilling Company Old Fashioned Finished Four Grain Bourbon (98 proof): The second of Oak Lore's Story Series entries, this four-grain bourbon finishes for an additional 18 months in barrels previously used to age Oak Lore's own old fashioned cocktail mixer. The result captures the essence of a classic old fashioned — bitters-forward aromatics with hints of orange, ginger, cardamom, and baking spice on the nose. The palate opens sweet and transitions into a bittery, cocktail-like finish that calls for nothing more than an ice cube and an orange garnish. Retails at $89.95. *(00:31:46)*

Jim and Todd round out the episode with news about the freshly launched Bourbon Road website, which now hosts over 1,320 tasting notes, all 500-plus episodes, a searchable blog, and the all-new Roadie Bar — a members community complete with chat, event calendars, giveaways, and a 24/7 AI bartender named Cooper. The pair also tease an upcoming event at the Frankfurt Bourbon Society's Corner Rick House during the Bourbon on the Banks weekend on October 3rd. Sign up at thebourbonroad.com to join the community and secure your spot.

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 the United States, and what it means for a legacy brand to stay independent.

On the Tasting Mat:

- **Jack Daniel's 10 Year Old Batch 5 (2026):** The newest annual release of Jack's decade-aged Tennessee whiskey, bottled at 97 proof with an 80/12/8 corn-rye-malt mash bill. The nose opens with inviting molasses, banana candy, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a hint of chocolate alongside a light leather note. On the palate it delivers warmth well above its sub-100 proof, with brown sugar, candy cherry, and a lingering spice-driven finish. *(00:01:48)*

- Jack Daniel's 12 Year Old Batch 4 (2026): The 12-year step-up in the Tennessee Heritage series, clocking in at 107 proof. The nose is more muted than its younger sibling but shifts toward darker fruit — raisins, black cherries, and molasses. The palate moves away from the lighter candy notes into a drier, more structured profile with bitter chocolate, dried cranberry, and a savory, slightly green mid-palate character. *(00:09:35)*

- Knob Creek Blender's Edition 01 — Sweet Bourbon Blend: The first installment in a new Knob Creek blending series, this 10-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon is bottled at 106 proof and retails for around $45. The nose leans into vanilla and light Rick house funk rather than the brand's signature nuttiness. The palate follows with a light, vanilla-forward profile featuring cake batter sweetness and confectionary notes — a deliberate stylistic departure aimed at accessibility. *(00:14:35)*

- Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series — Steward's Release: The third entry in Maker's Mark's five-part Wood Finishing Series, finished on 10 toasted American oak staves and bottled at approximately 109.8 proof for around $75–$80. The nose is richly expressive — cherry pie filling, baking spices, cinnamon, and caramel. The palate delivers vanilla custard, honey, chocolate, cardamom, allspice, stone fruit, and a savory oak note on the back end. *(00:26:41)*

- Evan Williams America 250th Commemorative Edition Single Barrel (Barrel #233): A special single barrel release bottled at the patriotically meaningful 117.76 proof to honor the nation's 250th birthday. Barrel #233 was laid down December 15, 2018 and bottled March 2, 2026 — just over eight years of maturation. The nose features toasted caramel, peanut shell, oak, and dark berries. The palate is rich and layered with peach, berry, sweet oak, and a long finish, all for a remarkable $45 retail price. *(00:31:15)*

Jim and Todd wrap up with a ranking of all five pours, debating heritage versus innovation across some of American whiskey's most iconic names. Whether you're a longtime fan of the Tennessee tradition or a Kentucky bourbon devotee, this episode offers a wide-ranging tour through the legacies that built the brown water world we know today. Grab your favorite pour and enjoy the ride.

Be sure to check the Roadie Bar on our website at: https://thebourbonroad.com

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 River Distillery in Owensboro, Kentucky, and how aging barrels across wildly different climates — from the cold, damp Rhode Island coast to the sweltering Florida interior — coaxes remarkably distinct flavor profiles from the same base distillate.

On the Tasting Mat:

- Wheel Horse Barrel Master Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Batch 002): 113 proof, 5-year age statement, sourced from Green River Distillery (70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley), blended from 14 barrels, non-chill filtered. Rich cherry cola on the nose, brown sugar and baking spice on the mid-palate, and a satisfying oak-driven finish with a full, coating mouthfeel. Retails for approximately $40. *(00:01:51)*
- Wheel Horse Barrel Master Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (Batch 001): 120.2 proof, 5-year age statement, sourced from Green River Distillery (95% rye, 5% malted barley), blended from 11 barrels, non-chill filtered. Reportedly the first cask-strength Green River rye released commercially. Candied orange and dark fruit on the nose give way to a lively rye spice on the finish, with a notably viscous and oily texture. Retails for approximately $40. *(00:13:57)*
- Copper and Cask Small Batch 16 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 116 proof, 11-year age statement, sourced from MGP (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley), blended from 24 barrels across two distinct lots laid down in September 2014, non-chill filtered. One lot delivers cocoa powder and austere oak depth; the other brings maraschino cherry, citrus, and a youthful vibrancy. Together they yield cream soda, fruitcake, and a ginger-tinged finish. Retails for approximately $84.99. *(00:25:54)*
- Copper and Cask Sauternes Cask Finish Bourbon (Single Barrel, Influencer Pick): 119.8 proof, 8-year age statement, sourced from MGP (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley), finished approximately 16 months in a Sauternes barrel, non-chill filtered. Selected in collaboration with whiskey influencers Whiskey Fly and Bourbon Hunt. Deep mahogany color; grape must, raisin, plum, and fig on the nose; a viscous, almost tawny port-like texture on the palate with a dry rye-spice counterpoint on the finish. Retails for approximately $64.99–$69.99. *(00:39:15)*

Beyond the bottles, Stephen opens up about the blending philosophy that guides every Latitude release — letting the whiskey dictate its own proof point, building toward a finish that lingers, and keeping price points honest so drinkers can pull a bottle off the shelf on any random Tuesday. He also teases the possibility of a future crossover product bridging the Wheel Horse and Copper and Cask lines, and confirms that Florida-aged barrels will be returning to the Copper and Cask single barrel program after a brief hiatus. Whether you're drawn to the accessible value of Wheel Horse or the premium craft of Copper and Cask, this episode makes a strong case that Rhode Island is quietly becoming one of the more interesting addresses in American whiskey.

Be sure to checkout https://thebourbonroad.com