500. The OG Returns: Randy Minnick Joins the 500th Episode Celebration

Episode 500 of The Bourbon Road is a milestone worth savoring, and hosts Jim Shannon and Todd welcome back the man who helped start it all — original co-host Randy Minnick. Randy joined Jim for the very first episodes of the show before life took him and his wife Julie to the mountains of Virginia, and tonight he returns to raise a glass and reminisce about the early days of one of bourbon podcasting's longest-running shows. The conversation winds through memories of drilling barrels with Elizabeth McCall at Woodford Reserve, tasting dusty Wild Turkeys with David Jennings in Lexington, and the slow but deliberate journey from a handful of listeners to over 3,200 Roadies strong. It is a night of gratitude, laughter, and genuinely outstanding whiskey. On the Tasting Mat: - Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2022: A carefully composed annual release bottled at 109 proof, this Ellie opens with a beautifully floral nose of rose blossoms, ripe berries, and warm cinnamon. The palate is layered and polished in the way only a thoughtfully curated Four Roses release can be — sweet fruit up front giving way to gentle spice and a long, refined finish. A whiskey built for contemplation. *(00:02:03)* - Wild Turkey Masters Keep Beacon 13 Year: Bottled at 118 proof and finished in toasted American oak, the Beacon delivers the unmistakable Wild Turkey DNA in an elevated form. The nose offers grilled orange, dark cherry, toffee, and a signature dusty, funky oak character that is pure Lawrenceburg. On the palate the oak deepens into tobacco territory while sweetness from dark fruit and brown sugar keeps everything in beautiful balance. It does not drink its proof. *(00:21:00)* - Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2021: Texas bourbon at its most unapologetic — 131.3 proof and a color so dark it borders on black water. The nose immediately conjures campfire s'mores, burnt marshmallow, overcooked caramel, and graham cracker. The palate follows through with deep molasses, charred oak, and a touch of dark chocolate. A whiskey made for a Maduro cigar under open sky. *(00:33:06)* - Augusta Distillery Buckner's 13 Year Single Barrel: A high-proof single barrel release at 138.6 proof, almost certainly Barton distilled, selected by Todd and Jason Colori. Rich, concentrated dark cherry dominates the nose alongside clove, cinnamon, and fresh ginger. The palate is big and enveloping with dried dark fruit, tobacco, and a long, warm finish that earns its proof. *(00:58:10)* Five hundred episodes in and the Bourbon Road shows no signs of slowing down. With a new theme song composed by Todd, a brand-new website at thebourbonroad.com complete with a searchable archive of over 1,300 tasting notes and the all-new Roadie Bar, the community around this show has never been stronger. Randy put it best — who would have thunk it? Here is to the next five hundred.