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!

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!