The Bourbon Road

The Bourbon Road

The Bourbon Road is two friends sharing pours and good stories with interesting guests. Each week we sip on bourbon while talking with celebrities, musicians, chefs, authors, industry experts and everyone in between. If bourbon makes it better... or even the other way around, then we want to talk about it.

Episodes

October 22, 2025 67 mins

Jim and Todd welcome Joe Beatrice, Founder, and Tripp Stimson, Chief Whiskey Scientist, from the highly acclaimed Barrel Craft Spirits to the studio. While their award-winning whiskeys have graced the show before, this episode offers listeners a chance to hear directly from the minds behind the brand. Joe and Tripp share the origin story of Barrel Craft Spirits, their unique philosophy as non-distilling producers (NDPs), and their ...

Mark as Played

Jim and Todd take the show on the road to the beautiful Elkwood Farm in Midway, Kentucky, home of Bluegrass Distillers. They sit down with friend of the show Sam Rock for his third appearance to discuss the distillery's incredible evolution and taste through a stellar lineup of their unique whiskeys. Sam shares the story of their new home, a historic farm they purchased in 2020 and transformed into a premier grain-to-glass distille...

Mark as Played

In a very special episode, host Todd Ritter travels back in time to sit down with a true titan of the bourbon industry: the ghost of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. himself. Taking a brief leave from his permanent residence in the Frankfort Cemetery, the Colonel joins the show to tell his incredible life story in his own words. He recounts his early life, from being orphaned as a child and sent to live with a prominent guardian in New Orl...

Mark as Played

Jim and Todd are back together in the Bourbon Road bar for a tasting flight of five unique whiskeys, along with a roundup of the latest bourbon industry news. They kick off the night with the Brothers Bond Regenerative Grain Bourbon. This 92-proof, four-year-old expression is a four-grain blend of wheated and high-rye bourbons from 70 barrels hand-selected by founders Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley. The hosts find a pleasant nose ...

Mark as Played

Jim is back from his worldly travels, and he’s not just returning to work—he’s returning to bourbon after a two-week hiatus filled with Belgian beers and French wine. He recounts his trip through Amsterdam, Brussels, Germany, and Paris with original Bourbon Road co-host Randy, from backpacking and train travel to attending the World Belgian Beer Festival. He’s joined by Todd and longtime friend of the show, Amsey Winning, for a ful...

Mark as Played

This week, host Todd Ritter flies solo while Jim Shannon is on vacation in Europe. He's joined by special guests Dude Pool and JD Fritches, two of the hosts from the popular Bourbon Hunters podcast. The guys kick things off by tasting their very first legacy distillery barrel pick as a podcast, a fantastic Old Forester 100-proof single barrel selected from Warehouse I, floor two. The second pour of the episode is a special single b...

Mark as Played

Join hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter at the Corner Rick House for a powerhouse sample review show on The Bourbon Road. The guys are finally catching up on their sample backlog and are tasting four tremendous, high-profile whiskeys that listeners will not want to miss. From a coveted annual release to a unique cigar blend and a Mizunara-finished masterpiece, this episode is packed with incredible pours and the latest news from aro...

Mark as Played

Join hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter on another episode of The Bourbon Road podcast, recorded live from the Corner Rick House in Frankfort, Kentucky. They are joined by a special returning guest and friend of the show, Diane Strong, for an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated 2025 Bourbon on the Banks Festival.

Diane gives listeners the ultimate insider's guide to the festival, taking place on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Sh...

Mark as Played

In this episode of The Bourbon Road, hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter hit the road and set up their mics at the beautiful RD1 Distillery in Lexington, Kentucky. It’s a return visit for RD1—last featured in Episode 340—but this time, things have evolved. The distillery has expanded its footprint, sharpened its brand, and doubled down on innovation in wood finishing. Joining the conversation are Ba...

Mark as Played

This week, hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter venture down a sweeter path on The Bourbon Road podcast for a truly decadent and educational experience. They are joined by a very special guest, Nicole Patel, the founder and master chocolatier of the Austin-based Delysia Chocolatier. In a fascinating twist, Nicole reveals that her journey to becoming a chocolatier began after earning a master's degree in engineering. She discusses how ...

Mark as Played

In this community-powered tasting, The Bourbon Road hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter dive into five fan-voted pours—each selected by members of their Bourbon Roadies Facebook group. With a lineup that spans both heritage and experimental releases, this episode explores everything fr...

Mark as Played

In this region-spanning tasting session, The Bourbon Road hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter guide listeners through four American whiskeys that each bring something unique to the table. From the high plains of Wyoming to the oak-rich rickhouses of Kentucky and the bold, sun-soaked wa...

Mark as Played
July 23, 2025 67 mins

In this special episode of The Bourbon Road, hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter reunite with returning guest Rob Carter at the beloved Rare Eagle Bar for a crowd-powered tasting experience unlike any other. But this time, the listeners have spo...

Mark as Played

In this globe-trotting episode of The Bourbon Road, hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter are joined once again by Rob Carter, one-third of the “Maltmigos,” for a single malt tasting session that travels from the Himalayas to the Highlands. Though ...

Mark as Played

In this captivating episode of The Bourbon Road, hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter sit down with Rabbit Hole founder Kaveh Zamanian at the distillery’s stunning downtown Louisville location for a twofold journey: one through the glass, and one through time. Their guest isn’t just a master distiller and entrepreneur — he’s ...

Mark as Played

In this episode of The Bourbon Road, Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter return for Part Two of their deep dive into Lost Lantern’s 2025 Summer Collection — and this time, it’s all about the rye. The duo tastes through a curated lineup of four standout rye whiskeys, plus a bonus pour, delivering flavor notes, backstories, and some playful banter along the way.

The tasti...

Mark as Played

In this week’s episode of The Bourbon Road, Jim and Todd settle into the Bourbon Road Bar with four exciting pours—all part of Lost Lantern’s 2025 Summer Collection. Known for spotlighting unique, independently bottled whiskeys, Lost Lantern returns with a compelling lineup that champions

Mark as Played

In this episode of the Bourbon Road podcast, hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter are joined by Joe O'Sullivan, Master Distiller at Minden Mill Distilling, for an in-depth exploration of their unique Nevada-born spirits

Mark as Played

In this relaxed and whiskey-rich episode of The Bourbon Road, hosts Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter take a well-earned pause from their recent travels and barrel picks to enjoy a night of good conversation and even better pours. Broadcasting from the Bourbon Road Bar in Simpsonville, Kentucky, the duo dives into a curated flight of four whiskeys—two bourbons and two...

Mark as Played

This week on The Bourbon Road, Jim and Todd sit down with Julian Jones of West Fork Whiskey, an emerging Indiana distillery making bold moves in the American whiskey scene. In a rare twist, the trio kicks things off with a reverse-proof tasting—starting strong with Old Hammer Cask Strength Bourbon. Julian shares the story behind West Fork’s grain-to-glass mission, the challenges of building a craft brand in a Kentucky-dominated wor...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

    It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.