519. Introducing The Whiskey Six: Does Kentucky Need More Whiskey?

Welcome back to The Bourbon Road, episode 519! Hosts Todd Ritter and Jim Shannon are thrilled to unveil something brand new: The Whiskey Six, a monthly video podcast featuring six voices from across the whiskey world. Joining Todd and Jim are Amzie Winning (president of the Frankfort Bourbon Society and Bourbon on the Banks board member), Drew Hannush (host of Whiskey Lore podcast), Jerry Daniels (co-owner of Stone Fences Tours), and Bo Cumberland (creator of My Journey Through American Spirits and documentaries on Frankfort and Lawrenceburg). This premiere episode doubles as the official launch of The Whiskey Six, airing here as a special dedicated episode and features in full-video on Youtube on the channel My Journey Through American the Spirits.

The crew digs into a meaty topic: does Kentucky need more whiskey? The arrival of Eastern Light Distilling Company — a massive contract-only operation in Morehead, Kentucky, backed by USDA loan guarantees and featuring a 54-inch column still with capacity exceeding 125,000 barrels annually — sparks a wide-ranging conversation. The group examines contract distilling versus barrel sourcing, the health of bourbon tourism (still at 2.7 million Kentucky Bourbon Trail visitors), shifting sales numbers, the rise of RTDs, the craft beer parallel, and whether the current market correction is a blip or a turning point. Drew brings a fascinating historical lens, tracing the current Canada trade tension all the way back to Hiram Walker, the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890, and the origins of the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.

The Bourbon Road and The Whiskey Six are off to a fantastic start. Tune in monthly for the video version over on YouTube at My Journey Through the American Spirits, and watch for bonus audio episodes dropping right here on The Bourbon Road feed. Whether you're a seasoned roadie or just discovering the show, there has never been a better time to belly up to the Bourbon Road bar at thebourbonroad.com, grab your free membership, and join the conversation.