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% rye, 20% malted barley, and 15% corn mashbill. The hosts discover fruity strawberry jam notes balanced with spicy gumdrops and subtle chocolate, making it a standout rye experience.

The third pour brings something truly unique: the Bardstown Bourbon Company Cascadia Garriana Oak, a distillery reserve blend featuring 80% 10-year Kentucky bourbon, 12% 10-year Indiana bourbon, and 8% 9-year Kentucky bourbon finished for 10 months in rare Garriana oak barrels from Oregon's Willamette Valley. This expression delivers sandalwood, clove, and sophisticated woody notes that transport you to the Pacific Northwest.

Moving into the second half, the hosts explore Redemption's 10 Year Old Barrel Proof High Rye Bourbon at 114.4 proof—60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley—which impresses with candy-like sweetness, toffee, glazed pecans, and a surprising mint quality.

Finally, Todd shares his first-ever personal bottle of EH Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 14B at 127.4 proof, a 6-8 year old mash bill one expression that delivers traditional bourbon character with red berries, caramel, and sophisticated baking spices.

Each whiskey tells its own story, from heritage distilleries to innovative finishes, making this an episode where every pour earns serious consideration.

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 cross-country craft whiskey, thanks to the incredible team at Lost Lantern. Founders Adam Polonski and Nora Ganley-Roper have sent over their highly anticipated 2026 Spring Collection. Known for sourcing exceptional casks from under-the-radar craft distilleries across the United States, Lost Lantern has curated a lineup that pits high-proof monsters against nuanced, lower-proof gems.

It wouldn't be a true Bourbon Road episode without an epic tasting mat. The guys travel across the map, hitting four different states and a special seven-state blend, experiencing some of the highest proofs ever poured on the show!

On the Tasting Mat:

• Montgomery Distillery Montana Straight Bourbon: Distilled in Missoula, Montana, this 4-year-old single barrel clocks in at 104.6 proof. With a wheated mash bill of 70% corn, 20% wheat, and 10% malted barley, it offers a bright, dry, and mineral-forward profile. The guys pull out intriguing notes of stone fruit, green banana, and a lingering underlying sweetness shaped by the cold Montana climate.

• Broad Branch Distillery North Carolina Straight Rye: Heading to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this 8-year-old release marks Lost Lantern's first "hazmat" rye, coming in at a scorching 141.6 proof. Made from 100% prairie rye and aged in a Char 4 barrel, it drinks surprisingly smooth for its octane. The hosts rave about its dessert-like nose, finding notes of dark chocolate, mint, and burnt orange that perfectly mimic eating Thin Mints and Samoas Girl Scout cookies.

• Dread River Distilling Company Alabama Straight Bourbon: Distilled in Birmingham, Alabama, this 6-year-old wheated bourbon (60% white corn, 30% winter wheat, 10% malted barley) sits at another hazmat level of 141.8 proof. Named after a mythic underground river, this dark, rich pour delivers a "warm river of flavor." The crew finds deep, syrupy notes of dark cherry, molasses, cola, and a smoky baking spice that coats the palate.

• Days to File Idaho Straight Bourbon: An incredibly rare 10-year-old bourbon sourced from a now-closed distillery in Shelley, Idaho. Boasting a massive 154.4 proof, it utilizes a unique mash bill of 76% corn, 11% triticale, and 13% malted barley. It is an unapologetic, intensely hot pour that challenges the palate with aggressive heat and concentrated oak.

• Lost Lantern Far-Flung Bourbon 4: To showcase the magic of blending, Adam Polonski combined straight bourbons from seven distilleries across seven states (MD, SC, MS, AZ, TX, IL, WI). Bottled at 120.7 proof, it is a beautifully balanced masterpiece. The guys pick out complex layers of licorice, lemon zest, leather, chocolate, and cherry cola.

To wrap up the show, Todd attempts his own "Blendageddon" by mixing the first few high-proof pours together in his glass. Does his makeshift blend rival the masterful touch of the Lost Lantern team, or does it become a disjointed hot mess? Tune in to hear the final verdict, listen to the guys rank their favorites, and join the conversation as they explore the wild frontier of American craft whiskey!

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 Hannish, 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 road trip, exploring hidden gems and highly unique mash bills from across the country. The craft whiskey scene is booming, and this flight proves that there is incredible innovation happening well beyond the borders of Kentucky.

The tasting mat features four remarkable expressions:

• James E. Pepper Bottled in Bond Bourbon (Kentucky): A historic Lexington brand revitalized. This Bottled in Bond bourbon features a high-rye mash bill utilizing malted rye, delivering a classic caramel and vanilla nose backed by an oaky, smoky depth and a light, fruity twist. It is a fantastic representation of traditional Kentucky distilling.

• 1832 Distilling Missouri Straight Wheat Whiskey (Missouri): A true "soil to sip" operation from Concordia, Missouri, founded by a local farmer and a Marine veteran. This 100% wheat whiskey, aged 4.5 years in a #4 char Missouri white oak barrel, clocks in at 108.2 proof. It stuns the table with its incredibly dark color, rich stewed fruit and plum butter notes, and a complex palate of spicy gumdrops, sassafras, and sorghum.

• Southern Star Limited Series Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Zinfandel Casks (North Carolina): Clocking in at 108 proof, this limited-edition release spent over a year finishing in red Zinfandel wine casks. The guys pull out distinct wine barrel tannins, dark chocolate, overripe raspberries, warm pralines, and a tart cranberry finish.

• Belle of Dayton - Detrick Fine Whiskies Straight Bourbon (Ohio): A 5-grain, pot-stilled bourbon (corn, oats, rye, wheat, malted barley) aged 8.5 years. At a whopping 123.2 proof, this single barrel brings fresh orange peel on the nose and a rich, honeyed cherry palate that gracefully dries out with a hint of cinnamon oatmeal and black tea.

Tune in as Jim, Todd, and Drew analyze the nuances of these exceptional pours, discuss the impact of low barrel entry proofs, and debate their final rankings. Will a 100% wheat whiskey from Missouri take the crown, or will a massive 5-grain pot-stilled bourbon from Ohio win the day? Pour yourself a glass and join us on The Bourbon Road to find out!