Shortbarrel Sapsquatch Bourbon Returns With Unique Maple Finish

ATLANTA (May 19, 2026) – Shortbarrel, the rapidly expanding independent craft spirits brand based in Atlanta, has officially announced the return of its limited-edition Sapsquatch Bourbon. Acting as the sister expression to the brand’s highly sought-after Bee’s Knees honey-finished series, this year’s release pairs an expert multi-distillery blend with an innovative, two-stage sugar maple finishing process.

First appearing as an ultra-rare single barrel offering in May 2025, the 2026 iteration of Sapsquatch marks the first time the expression has been scaled into a broader batch. Bottled at a robust 110 proof, the release features a meticulous blend of 20 to 30 mature barrels. These 6-to-8-year-old high-rye bourbons were sourced from legendary Kentucky and Indiana producers, including Jim Beam, Barton, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Green River, and MGP.

The Two-Stage Finishing Innovation

Engineered by Co-Founder and Master Blender Clinton Dugan, the Sapsquatch finishing technique intentionally avoids artificial, sugary confectionery notes, using maple instead to build structural density and mid-palate weight.

Stage 1: The non-chill-filtered blend conditions inside stainless steel tanks for six to eight weeks using custom sugar maple infusion spirals, establishing a uniform baseline of toasted oak and caramelized sugar.
Stage 2: The whiskey transfers into Kelvin-toasted barrels that previously held premium maple syrup sourced from Barred Woods Maple (Vermont) and Seldom Seen Farm (Ohio), providing regional character and a rounded, velvety mouthfeel.

The resulting flavor profile delivers a whiskey-forward experience opening with caramelized maple and toasted sugar, moving into dense caramel and baking spice on the palate, and concluding with a long, drying, oak-driven finish.

Pricing & Availability

Shortbarrel Sapsquatch Bourbon (110 Proof / 55% ABV) is launching just in time for Father’s Day with a Suggested Retail Price (SRP) of $89.99. It is available online nationally via Shortbarrel’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) platform at shortbarrelbourbon.com and on retail shelves across Georgia, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas.

💬 Executive Quotes

“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.”

“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.”

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