ATLANTA (March 20, 2026) – Atlanta-based Shortbarrel, one of the fastest-growing, independently owned craft spirits brands in the Southeast, today announces the online-only launch of Shortbarrel Afterswarm Meadowfoam, a first-of-its-kind rye whiskey finished in Meadowfoam honey barrels. The third batch in its popular “Afterswarm” series, Shortbarrel’s Meadowfoam release spotlights Master Blender Clinton Dugan’s innovative whiskey making, using an uncommon honey varietal in the finishing that is unique within the American Whiskey landscape. An evolution of the brand’s highly-popular Bees Knees series, the rye whiskey is available exclusively for purchase at www.shortbarrelbourbon.com for $114.99.
The brainchild of Dugan, who sourced the base whiskey from MGP Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and Green River Distillery in Owensboro, Kentucky, Afterswarm Meadowfoam is 6-to-13-year-old, non-chill filtered rye whiskey featuring a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. Blended and finished in the company’s hometown of Atlanta and bottled at 108.6 proof, Afterswarm Meadowfoam is meant to be a special-occasion sipper that bridges the brand’s technical whiskey credibility with an approachable, but nuanced finishing profile. As such, the tasting notes offer the perfect interplay of sweet and spice.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Vanilla cream, honeycomb, toasted marshmallow, polished oak, baking spice
Palate: Dense rye spice transitions into vanilla bean, brûléed sugar, dark florals, and subtle citrus oil with a sweetness that is integrated rather than sugary
Finish: Lingering baking spice, raw honey, toasted coconut, dry oak warmth, and persistent rye structure
True to its Georgia roots, during the whiskey’s secondary maturation in Atlanta, elevated temperatures and humidity amplify the interaction between spirit and wood. Rather than accelerating aging, the climate intensifies barrel influence — deepening extraction and broadening texture while maintaining structural balance. That additional maturation provides Dugan with a hands-on opportunity to carefully monitor each barrel to find the right whiskey for the final blending.
Shortbarrel and Old Fourth Distillery products are available in 48 states through ecommerce at https://shortbarrelbourbon.com/ and https://o4d.com/, 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).
To learn more, visit https://shortbarrelbourbon.com/
