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 around every bottle. What started as a hobby quickly became an obsession, leading us to hand-select more than 350+ barrels between 2016 and 2020.
The real turning point came in 2020, on a Sunday in Louisville, KY. After hours of tasting, we crossed paths with a barrel broker and in a moment of bourbon-fueled inspiration we decided to make the jump and create a brand of our own: Shortbarrel. Our first bottles hit Georgia shelves in early 2021 and we never looked back.
Since then, we’ve grown from the local favorite to regional name. We’re proud to be available in Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Texas, and Tennessee. We also provide online shipping to 47 states across the country.
In 2023, we acquired Old Fourth Distillery, 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.
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.