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 inspiration behind Afterswarm Meadowfoam was Dugan’s natural curiosity as a Master Blender and his desire to explore honey-conditioned oak as a structural finishing method rather than purely a sweetening technique. Native to the Pacific Northwest – particularly Oregon’s Willamette Valley where the plant thrives – Meadowfoam honey is known for its naturally high vanillin concentration and marshmallow-like aromatic profile. Employing new American Oak barrels from Kelvin Cooperage, Dugan and his team conditioned the barrels with Meadowfoam honey sourced from Flying Bee Ranch, a small, family-owned business based in Salem, OR. 

Prior to finishing, the honey was introduced into the wood to condition the inner oak staves of the Kelvin barrels, which subtly altered the extraction profile of the wood. The honey was dumped out of the barrels, and then the rye whiskey was introduced for a secondary maturation of almost 12 months. Once the whiskey entered these #3 char barrels, the finishing process broadened the mid-palate texture by softening its tannic edges and providing a honey-laced aromatic boost without muting the natural rye spice. 

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). 

Follow Shortbarrel on Instagram. To learn more, visit https://shortbarrelbourbon.com/ 

Editor’s Note: Because the barrels were conditioned with Meadowfoam honey prior to filling, trace aromatic compounds integrate into the oak during maturation. However, no honey remains in the barrel at the time the whiskey is introduced. As a non-chill filtered rye, natural sediment or slight haze may occur. Honey-derived compounds and fatty acids can settle over time. A gentle shake before pouring will fully re-integrate the whiskey’s texture and aromatic profile.

‍ABOUT SHORTBARREL
Atlanta-based Shortbarrel is one of the fastest-growing independently owned craft spirits brands in the Southeast, founded in 2020 when friends Adam Dorfman, Clinton Dugan and Patrick Lemmond turned their love of whiskey into much more than a passion project. The company consists of two core businesses: Shortbarrel is an award-winning, nationally available American Whiskey brand; and Old Fourth Distillery, which was acquired in 2023, is a legendary, hyper-local brand featuring white spirits and specialty whiskeys with a true hometown flair. The company is built on a simple belief: the future of American Whiskey belongs to brands that blend authenticity, transparency and relentless innovation with real, measurable performance.