Shortbarrel’s fourth annual Cigar Batch blends mature Kentucky and Indiana whiskeys finished in more than 50 Armagnac, Cognac, rum, Tawny Port and Sherry casks.
There are plenty of ways to make a whiskey more complicated. Shortbarrel’s approach is to make the individual pieces more interesting first—and then figure out how they belong together.
The Atlanta-based whiskey company has released Cigar Batch #4, the fourth edition of its annual limited-release American Whiskey. Bottled at 107 proof (53.5% ABV) and non-chill filtered, the 2026 release carries a suggested retail price of $89.99.
What makes this year’s release particularly interesting is the sheer number of finishing casks involved: more than 50 individual Armagnac, Cognac, rum, Tawny Port and Sherry casks, with Sherry making its first appearance in the Cigar Batch series.
The release began rolling into select retail markets September 1, with Shortbarrel’s direct-to-consumer release scheduled for September 4.
What’s in Cigar Batch #4?
The foundation starts with mature bourbons and whiskeys distilled in Kentucky and Indiana, using four different mash bills:
- 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
- 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley
- 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
- 91% corn, 9% malted barley
Those components bring different levels of body, spice, fruit, oak and texture to the blend.
From there, individual components undergo extended secondary maturation in their respective finishing casks before Shortbarrel assembles the final blend in Georgia.
The result is a whiskey built around multiple layers rather than one dominant finishing note.
And that’s where the cigar inspiration comes into play.
Shortbarrel says Cigar Batch #4 was designed around the progression of a premium cigar, rather than simply being a whiskey intended to accompany one. The profile is meant to move from brighter fruit and baking spice toward darker fruit, cocoa, leather, tobacco and oak as the pour develops.
Tasting Notes
*per press release
Nose: Dark cherry preserves, fig, candied orange peel, toasted walnut and aged leather lead into cocoa nibs, espresso, caramel, vanilla and mature oak.
Palate: Luxardo cherry, raisin, burnt sugar and milk chocolate are joined by cinnamon, clove, black pepper, candied citrus, toasted almond, cigar wrapper and dark maple.
Finish: Long and evolving, with dried fruit, cocoa powder, leather, toasted oak, tobacco leaf, orange oil, vanilla and persistent rye spice.
Shortbarrel recommends pairing Cigar Batch #4 with an Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Robusto, Padrón 1964 Anniversary Maduro Exclusivo or Liga Privada No. 9 Toro.
“Shortbarrel is treating the cigar as inspiration for the whiskey’s progression rather than relying on the pairing alone…”
Why This Matters
Finishing whiskey in multiple cask types isn’t exactly new. What makes Cigar Batch #4 worth watching is how Shortbarrel approaches the blending process.
Rather than taking one finished whiskey and putting it through a series of different finishes, Shortbarrel matures individual whiskey components separately. Those components are then evaluated on their own before being blended together.
In other words, the finishing casks aren’t simply being used to add another flavor to the whiskey. They’re being treated as individual building blocks.
According to co-founder and Master Blender Clinton Dugan, the goal is to understand what each component contributes before finding the point where they work together.
“Every barrel has a purpose,” Dugan said.
That’s a philosophy that makes Cigar Batch particularly interesting for whiskey drinkers who enjoy blends. More finishing doesn’t automatically mean better whiskey. The real test is whether all those individual pieces still make sense once they’re brought together.
“The result is a whiskey built around multiple layers rather than one dominant finishing note.”
Bourbon Bishop Bottom Line:
Cigar Batch #4 is less interesting because Shortbarrel used more than 50 finishing casks than because of what the company is trying to accomplish with them: building a blend where each component has a purpose without allowing any single finish to take over. That makes the blending process itself the story and potentially the reason this release stands out in an increasingly crowded finished-whiskey market.
The impressive part here isn’t simply the 50-plus-cask number. Shortbarrel is using those individual finishing components alongside four different mash bills to build the final whiskey, giving Clinton Dugan considerably more variables to work with than a typical finished whiskey. Whether that complexity ultimately translates into a better pour is something I’ll reserve judgment on until I’ve spent time with the bottle, but the methodology is genuinely interesting.
That also gives Cigar Batch #4 a stronger identity than simply being another whiskey marketed toward cigar drinkers. Shortbarrel is treating the cigar as inspiration for the whiskey’s progression rather than relying on the pairing alone, which fits the company’s broader emphasis on blending and secondary maturation.
About Shortbarrel
Founded by friends Adam Dorfman, Clinton Dugan, and Patrick Lemmond, Shortbarrel began as a passion project among Atlanta bourbon enthusiasts. Between 2016 and 2020, the trio built a reputation by selecting more than 350 private barrels, developing a palate for identifying exceptional whiskey and learning firsthand what makes a memorable pour. What started as weekend barrel picks eventually evolved into a whiskey brand of their own after a chance meeting in Louisville inspired them to take the leap from enthusiasts to blenders.
Shortbarrel officially launched in 2021 with a focus on thoughtfully blended American whiskey that emphasizes flavor, texture, and drinkability. The company has grown rapidly from its Georgia roots, expanding distribution across multiple states while maintaining a philosophy built around transparency, quality sourcing, and creating whiskeys that keep drinkers coming back for another sip. The name itself comes from the rare “short barrel” phenomenon, where a barrel loses more than half its contents to evaporation, often concentrating flavor and creating remarkable depth.
Today, Shortbarrel’s influence extends beyond independent bottling. In 2023, the company acquired Atlanta’s historic Old Fourth Distillery, helping preserve one of Georgia’s most important modern whiskey brands while investing in the future of Southern spirits. Whether through innovative blends, single barrels, or revitalizing local distilling, Shortbarrel continues to build on the friendships, curiosity, and passion that inspired the company from the very beginning.
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