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Episode 351 June 21, 2023 · 01:21:44
351. A Fathers Day Special

351. A Fathers Day Special

Jim Shannon, Rob Carter & Steve Ladden sip Jack Daniel's Bonded and Old Forester 100 in Carter's Rare Eagle Bar, toasting ten timeless marks of a Southern gentleman on Father's Day.

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Tasting Notes

Show Notes

Happy Father's Day from the Bourbon Road! Host Jim Shannon settles into the Carter's Rare Eagle Bar — the legendary basement bourbon cave of returning guest Rob Carter in Shelbyville, Kentucky — for a thoughtful Father's Day conversation joined by Steve Ladden of Shelby Bourbon Tours. The trio raises a glass to the dads, granddads, and stand-in fathers who shaped them, working through ten timeless qualities of a Southern gentleman: hospitality, honoring tradition, work ethic, sportsmanship, humility, a love of the outdoors, fine craftsmanship, integrity, community, and the power of storytelling. Along the way they swap memories of barn-raising neighbors, barefoot judges, clothing-store proprietors who defied the racial norms of their era, and a Ukrainian teenager who found his footing through the tag-team of two families.

On the Tasting Mat:

  • Jack Daniel's Bonded Tennessee Whiskey: 100-proof, bottled-in-bond Tennessee whiskey made on the classic Jack Daniel's corn-heavy mash bill and filtered through maple charcoal via the Lincoln County Process. Hand-selected barrels deliver a richer, bolder profile than the standard Black Label — deep caramel up front, a burnt spice on the finish, and surprising smoothness throughout. Retails in the $27–$30 range. (00:11:43)
  • Old Forester 100 Proof Bourbon: 100-proof Kentucky straight bourbon from Brown-Forman, the house George Garvin Brown founded in 1870. At least four years old and priced under $30, this pour reminded the room just how much character lives at this price point — bright cherry fruit on the nose and palate, rounded sweetness, and a clean, satisfying finish that had the group wondering why they had ever set it aside. (00:46:00)

Whether you are a new dad still figuring it out or a grandfather watching the seeds you planted finally bloom, this episode is a warm reminder that the most important things a father does are rarely the things he says — they are the things his children quietly watch him do. Pour something you love, call your dad if you still can, and join us down the Bourbon Road.

Full Transcript

Rob Carter Steve Ladden Tasting Bottled in Bond Interview Bourbon Tennessee Whiskey Bottled in Bond Kentucky Tennessee Brown-Forman Old Forester Jack Daniel's Bonded Old Forester 100 Tennessee whiskey Kentucky bourbon bottled in bond Brown-Forman Jack Daniel's Distillery Rob Carter Steve Ladden Jim Shannon Shelby Bourbon Tours Carter's Rare Eagle Bar Shelbyville Kentucky Father's Day bourbon Southern gentleman bourbon tasting bourbon lifestyle Kentucky traditions bourbon under 30 bourbon podcast