May 20, 2026
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.