{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"494. Wheel Horse and Copper & Cask: Four Bottles That Punch Way Above Their Price","description":"Jim Shannon and Todd Ritter welcome Stephen Corrigan \u2014 Barrel Master and Spirits Production Manager for Latitude Beverage LLC \u2014 for a four-bottle deep dive into two of the company's brands: Wheel Horse Whiskey and Copper and Cask Spirits. Stephen shares his winding path from organic farming and European viticulture to founding a DC craft distillery and ultimately landing at Latitude, where his focus is entirely on the art of blending and cask finishing. The conversation explores what it means to be a transparent non-distilling producer, the close relationship Latitude has built with Green River Distillery in Owensboro, Kentucky, and how aging barrels across wildly different climates \u2014 from the cold, damp Rhode Island coast to the sweltering Florida interior \u2014 coaxes remarkably distinct flavor profiles from the same base distillate. On the Tasting Mat: - Wheel Horse Barrel Master Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Batch 002): 113 proof, 5-year age statement, sourced from Green River Distillery (70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley), blended from 14 barrels, non-chill filtered. Rich cherry cola on the nose, brown sugar and baking spice on the mid-palate, and a satisfying oak-driven finish with a full, coating mouthfeel. Retails for approximately $40. *(00:01:51)* - Wheel Horse Barrel Master Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (Batch 001): 120.2 proof, 5-year age statement, sourced from Green River Distillery (95% rye, 5% malted barley), blended from 11 barrels, non-chill filtered. Reportedly the first cask-strength Green River rye released commercially. Candied orange and dark fruit on the nose give way to a lively rye spice on the finish, with a notably viscous and oily texture. Retails for approximately $40. *(00:13:57)* - Copper and Cask Small Batch 16 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 116 proof, 11-year age statement, sourced from MGP (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley), blended from 24 barrels across two distinct lots laid down in September 2014, non-chill filtered. One lot delivers cocoa powder and austere oak depth; the other brings maraschino cherry, citrus, and a youthful vibrancy. Together they yield cream soda, fruitcake, and a ginger-tinged finish. Retails for approximately $84.99. *(00:25:54)* - Copper and Cask Sauternes Cask Finish Bourbon (Single Barrel, Influencer Pick): 119.8 proof, 8-year age statement, sourced from MGP (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley), finished approximately 16 months in a Sauternes barrel, non-chill filtered. Selected in collaboration with whiskey influencers Whiskey Fly and Bourbon Hunt. Deep mahogany color; grape must, raisin, plum, and fig on the nose; a viscous, almost tawny port-like texture on the palate with a dry rye-spice counterpoint on the finish. Retails for approximately $64.99\u2013$69.99. *(00:39:15)* Beyond the bottles, Stephen opens up about the blending philosophy that guides every Latitude release \u2014 letting the whiskey dictate its own proof point, building toward a finish that lingers, and keeping price points honest so drinkers can pull a bottle off the shelf on any random Tuesday. He also teases the possibility of a future crossover product bridging the Wheel Horse and Copper and Cask lines, and confirms that Florida-aged barrels will be returning to the Copper and Cask single barrel program after a brief hiatus. Whether you're drawn to the accessible value of Wheel Horse or the premium craft of Copper and Cask, this episode makes a strong case that Rhode Island is quietly becoming one of the more interesting addresses in American whiskey. Be sure to checkout https:\/\/thebourbonroad.com ","author_name":"The Bourbon Road","author_url":"https:\/\/thebourbonroad.com","html":"