May 6, 2026
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