Shortbarrel was born in 2015 as a tight-knit group of bourbon enthusiasts in Atlanta and has evolved into one of the most exciting names in American whiskey. Adam Dorfman, Clinton Dugan and Patrick Lemmond are three friends bound by a passion for the hunt, the pour and the stories shared with every bottle. What started as a hobby quickly became an obsession, leading to hand-selecting more than 350+ barrels between 2016 - 2020.

The real turning point came in 2020, on a Sunday in Louisville, KY. After hours of tasting, they crossed paths with a barrel broker and in a moment of bourbon-fueled inspiration they decided to make the jump and create a brand of their own called Shortbarrel. The first bottles hit Georgia shelves in early 2021 and the brand never looked back.

Since then, Shortbarrel has grown from the local favorite to a regional name. We’re proud to be available in Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee. We also provide online shipping to 48 states across the country for those bourbon lovers outside our current distribution footprint.

In 2023, Shortbarrel acquired Old Fourth Distillery (O4D), Atlanta’s first distillery since Prohibition. We didn’t start it, but we’ve rebuilt it with a clear vision: to revive Georgia whiskey, elevate Southern spirits and honor local legacy every step of the way.

In October 2025, we opened our flagship kitchen, bar and retail shop in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, now sharing Atlanta-made spirits to the world’s busiest Terminal E across from Gate 28.

A shortbarrel is a barrel that has lost more than 50% of its contents to the angel’s share, leaving behind a whiskey incredibly deep in flavor – it makes an immediate impact on the first sip, then reveals layers of complexity all the way through the exceptionally long finish. While not every shortbarrel is a winner, through their experience picking barrels for others, the founders have prided themselves on finding those exceptional barrels that make you want to return again and again. 

The company was named Shortbarrel because that is the profile the founders strive to achieve with every bottle – a spirit so compelling, from the moment it touches your lips through to the long finish, that you can’t wait to have another sip to uncover the other flavors that lie within. We believe in thoughtful choices and creating products with care and purpose.

We’re not just here to bottle great bourbon. We’re here to build something real, from the friendships forged over barrel picks to the moments shared over a neat pour. At Shortbarrel, we show up, we pour generously and we always keep it interesting.