The Whiskey Trip - Season 4, Episode 2 - Clinton Dugan, Co-Founder & Master Blender - Short Barrel Bourbon

On this episode of The Whiskey Trip, Big Chief sits down with Clinton Dugan, co-founder and master blender of Short Barrel Bourbon out of Atlanta. Clinton dives into his approach to blending, barrel selection, and what it really takes to build a whiskey brand that stands out without chasing trends. This is a conversation rooted in patience, experience, and letting the whiskey speak louder than the label. The first half kicks off with Short Barrel's new four grain whiskey, a five year old blend pulling wheat bourbon from Green River Distilling Co. and rye bourbon from Wilderness Trail Distillery. Bottled at 94 proof and priced at a wallet friendly $39.99, this 30 barrel batch delivers exactly what you want in an everyday pour. Soft wheat sweetness leads the charge while the rye brings balance and spice, making this an easy drinking whiskey that quietly punches above its weight. Things turn up quickly with OZ Tyler, a bruiser clocking in at 138.8 proof after spending three years aging in the Atlanta heat. Distilled by Jacob Call, this pour is bold, loud, and unapologetic. Heat, barrel, and time collide to create a whiskey that demands respect and doesn't apologize for it. In the second half, the big men come out swinging with an Old Fourth 10 Year Old Bottled in Bond. The MGP distilled juice is rich and oily, coating the palate with sticky sweetness and layers of stone fruit and chocolate that linger long after the sip. It's a reminder of how elegant well aged whiskey can be when the blending is done right. To close it all out, Clinton pours their Tokaji cask finished rye, and it stops Big Chief in his tracks. Finished in Hungarian Tokaji dessert wine barrels, this rye brings a deep raisin funk right out front, followed by grape driven sweetness, sugar cookie silk, and a smooth, confident finish. Big Chief doesn't hesitate to put it on record, calling it the first whiskey on his list for Whiskey of the Year for 2026. Real talk, real whiskey, and big pours from start to finish. Pour something good and Take the Ride with Big Chief and Clinton Dugan on The Whiskey Trip.