The News
Shortbarrel, an Atlanta-based craft spirits company, has released its limited-edition Sapsquatch Bourbon, finished with sugar maple in Atlanta. The bourbon is available online and at select retailers for $89.99, and features a blend of Kentucky and Indiana whiskeys from distillers like Jim Beam, Barton, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Green River, and MGP. The release is scheduled for Father’s Day.
Shortbarrel’s latest Sapsquatch Bourbon launches as a Father‑Day gift, offering more than a typical maple‑infused finish. The limited‑edition bottle targets consumers who prize structural nuance over obvious sweetness and is available exclusively via Shortbarrel’s e‑commerce site plus a handful of retailers in 48 states.
Price creates a clear contrast with broader market trends. At $89.99 Sapsquatch sits firmly in the upper‑premium tier—a category that has contracted by 2.1 % in volume last year. Consumers remain interested in finished bourbons, yet they show heightened sensitivity to premium price points and operators must lean on compelling storytelling instead of relying on volume growth.
Another factor is the size of the non‑distiller producer landscape. Research shows about 1,800 active NDPs across the U.S., far outnumbering the few remaining traditional distilleries. In that context, maple‑finished bourbon accounts for under 1 % of all bourbon volume, while finished bourbons as a category expand roughly 6.8 % annually.
Sapsquatch’s finishing process provides a distinct differentiator. First, the spirit is conditioned in stainless‑steel tanks with sugar maple spirals for six to eight weeks; then it moves into Kelvin‑toasted barrels that once contained maple syrup from Vermont and Ohio producers. This two‑stage method imparts a maple nuance that boosts mouthfeel and mid‑palate heft without pronounced sweetness.
Distributors see a highly selective rollout—Sapsquatch ships to 48 states through DTC e‑commerce plus select outlets in Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas. Distributors that carry Shortbarrel’s Bee’s Knees honey‑finished line might find Sapsquatch a complementary addition, offering a range from sweeter to more complex finishes.
On‑premise managers can highlight the structural maple finish in premium cocktails or position the bottle as a high‑end Father’s‑Day gift. Because the bottle is limited to DTC and a few retailers, bars must tailor inventory plans accordingly and focus on its niche appeal rather than expecting broad consumer traffic.
Sapsquatch delivers a distinct maple‑finishing narrative aligned with the modest growth in finished bourbons. Its premium price and selective distribution require operators and distributors to treat it as a specialty item—one that can enhance a portfolio or menu when positioned correctly but is unlikely to drive volume without focused marketing and a robust DTC presence.
Original Press Release
Atlanta-based Shortbarrel, one of the fastest-growing independently owned craft spirits brands in the Southeast, today announces the release of its limited-edition Sapsquatch Bourbon, a flavorful blend of fine Kentucky and Indiana whiskeys finished in Atlanta with sugar maple. This sister bottling to Shortbarrel’s popular Bee’s Knees honey-finished series is available online and at select retailers for $89.99. Pairing perfectly with traditional Southern BBQ, given its oaky and spicy profile with a touch of sweet, Shortbarrel’s Sapsquatch release is an ideal Father’s Day gift for the dad who’s big on flavor and short on his current whiskey collection.
Shortbarrel’s Sapsquatch first appeared in May 2025 as very limited single-barrel finishes. Bottled at 110 proof, this latest batch is the first to feature a broader selection of bourbons in the blend—from 20 to 30 barrels. And those barrels of six-to-eight-year-old bourbon hail from some of Kentucky and Indiana’s most respected distillers, including Jim Beam, Barton, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Green River, and MGP. The mashbills vary by blend but are typically 70% corn/21% rye/9% malted barley and 75% corn/21% rye/4% malted barley—all primarily Kentucky-grown grains.
“Any great finished bourbon starts with great whiskeys,” said Co-Founder and Master Blender Clinton Dugan. “We chose barrels with a higher rye content to give us that spicy flavor that goes so well with the sweetness of the maple, making it reminiscent of the great Southern cooking you can find here in our hometown of Atlanta.”
As mythical as its namesake, Dugan’s finishing technique for Sapsquatch is equally rare and intentionally engineered. Built to challenge what maple finishing can be, this process doesn’t chase sweetness. Rather, it uses maple to enhance mouthfeel, build mid-palate weight, and round out the whiskey without masking its core character. The two-stage approach begins by placing the blended, non-chill filtered whiskey into stainless steel tanks, where it conditions for six to eight weeks using sugar maple infusion spirals. This step establishes a controlled foundation of maple oak-driven sweetness, caramelized sugar, and toasted depth, ensuring consistency before the whiskey ever sees a finishing barrel.
From there, the whiskey transfers into Kelvin-toasted barrels that previously aged maple syrup. This secondary maturation builds structure through oak influence, integrates the layered flavors developed during conditioning, and amplifies the maple character without pushing it into excess. The maple influence comes from both the wood itself and the carefully sourced syrup these barrels once held, including producers like Barred Woods Maple in Vermont and Seldom Seen Farm in Ohio. Each region contributes subtle variation: Vermont syrups tend toward richer, more robust profiles, while Ohio syrups offer brighter, more delicate notes.
“We found that simply finishing our bourbon in former maple syrup barrels wasn’t the right approach; it lacked consistency and missed the balance and depth we were looking for,” says Dugan. “Our goal was never sugary sweetness. Maple here is a structural component, contributing to mouthfeel, mid-palate density, and a perception of roundness without pushing the whiskey into dessert territory.”
The result is a bourbon that opens with caramelized maple and toasted sugar, transitions into a dense, rounded mid-palate, and finishes with drying oak and restrained sweetness. It’s designed for drinkers who want complexity, not confection.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Toasted oak up front, driven by maple wood and charred sugar, followed by dense caramel, vanilla bean, and layered baking spice with a subtle edge of ethanol lift
Palate: Bold and structured with immediate oak presence, carrying into dark caramel, burnt sugar, and seasoned wood. Maple shows as depth—not sweetness—supporting notes of clove, cinnamon, and roasted nut with a firm, whiskey-forward backbone
Finish: Long, drying, and oak-driven with lingering toasted wood, caramelized sugar, and persistent spice. Maple integrates into the structure, leaving a warm, slightly tannic close with lasting heat
Shortbarrel and Old Fourth Distillery products are available in 48 states through ecommerce, utilizing one of the most sophisticated DTC operations in the spirits industry. Products may be found on retail shelves in Georgia (Empire), Kentucky (Kentucky Eagle), Florida (Green Light), Tennessee (Advintage), and Texas (Green Light).
Sources consulted (web research):
- Shortbarrel Announces The Release Of Its Limited Edition Sapsquatch B…
- Shortbarrel Four Grain Bourbon Launches Nationwide
- Shortbarrelbourbon site
- How A Whiskey Market Reset Is Fueling Shortbarrel Bourbons Rise
- Forbes Features Shortbarrel Bourbon How A Whiskey Market Reset Is Fue…
Source: BevNET