Some stories are as old as time. A few friends get together, pick a few barrels, then all of a sudden it turns into full blown business. It kind of sounds familiar but I’m not talking about Pursuit, I’m talking about Shortbarrel. In this episode Clinton Dugan and Manny, co-founders at Shortbarrel talk about starting their company after selecting hundreds of barrels across the country. Clinton leveraged his marketing background and self-taught blending skills to focus on the consumer market rather than personal ego. They talk about how warehouse microclimates, high heat, and Kelvin Cooperage barrels shape core lineups like their toasted bourbon, rye, four-grain, Bee’s Knees and Sapsquatch expressions. At the very end we talk about industry collaborations like our Found Footage that has now been sold out to our clubs plus scaling into major hubs like Atlanta airport tasting bars, and why staying authentic keeps Shortbarrel ahead of the curve.

Show Notes:

• The team sits down with Short Barrel co-founder Clinton and sales head Manny to discuss the brand’s evolution from barrel picks to a full-scale whiskey company.
• Clinton shares how a marketing background and self-funded growth strategy helped shape Short Barrel’s methodical distribution expansion.
• The team explores core product development, warehouse aging impacts, Kelvin Cooperage barrels, and blends designed specifically for consumer palates.
• The conversation details the creation of the Bee’s Knees honey-finished series and the team’s approach to using honey as a core flavor ingredient.
• Clinton and Manny discuss clear spirits offerings, airport tasting bar expansions, and their collaborative release with Pursuit Spirits.