On the sunny, warm afternoon of June 13, I was invited to attend a festive event at Southern Distilling, the largest distillery in North Carolina, located in Statesville.
There was a classic “cruise-in” car show on the grounds, live music, food, signature cocktails, tastings, and tours of the distillery. The event centered on the rollout of the race car that distillery owners Pete and Vienna Barger have entered into the 2024 Great Race.
The Great Race is an annual interstate race, and the 2024 race starts on June 22 and runs through June 30. The course starts in Owensboro, Kentucky and finishes in Gardiner, Maine. The 2,300-mile, nine-day antique car rally will feature 120 cars. Drivers will race through 19 cities across 11 states, including Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine.
Southern Distilling’s signature brand is the Southern Star line. The line is generally high-rye bourbons which are double distilled, first through the massive column still and then through the copper doubler. The results are some of the finest bourbons on the market. I asked Pete why so many of the Southern Star offerings are either rye-forward or wheated mashbills. He said, “Because I distill what I like.” No surprise that he’s a rye fan. Fair enough.
With the number of people I saw flocking to the tastings and the cocktail bars on that day, I might conclude that Pete’s having a formidable impact. Especially with helping consumers fall in love with his rye bourbons–something he makes all too easy to do with the Southern Star brand.Th
“Pete is a huge car guy, and this brings together his family and passion for cars – so we added ‘bourbon to that’ and we now sponsor the Great Race,” writes Jay Finnigan, Executive Vice President and Director of Sales and Marketing. “Pete also hand-selected two barrels of our brand new Private Selection High Rye Bourbons and we will be releasing a ‘Great Race Selection’ on Thursday at the distillery… It’s fantastic bourbon, with a unique mash bill of 60/30/10.” Indeed it is.
When I finished the tasting at the distillery, I came away with an understanding that the many Southern Star expressions are all business. Everything the distillery makes is of the very highest quality from start to finish; the result of their commitment to perfection, and it shows.
The Great Race Limited Edition Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon is limited to 184 bottles and my sample clocks in at 106.1 proof. Not surprisingly, it is a beautiful and attractive dark amber with a robust body. Its flavor notes are many and complex; what we come to expect in a high quality rye-forward spirit. The rye spice, vanilla, cereal, and leather are all there, as well as an undertone of delicious malty goodness. The higher proof is barely noticeable as it drinks as clean and smooth as any 90 proof with no rough edges. It all makes me wonder what manner of distillery wizardry Pete has going on there in Statesville to achieve this masterful creation. They clearly know exactly what they are doing, and doing it well. Sooner or later, I’ll get the full story on this.
Pete Barger secured his spot in the Great Race for the first time in 2023 with his 1967 Pontiac Bonneville convertible Tri-Power. He finished in fifth, which is admirable. “Just finishing the race is an accomplishment,” he notes; and he’s right. These are all classic cars driven by owners, not professional race teams. The Bargers will run the same car this year, too although I suspect they may finish better in 2024…Vienna is driving the car this time!
For more information
…about Southern Distilling, visit http://southerndistillingcompany.com/
…about the Great Race and route details, visit http://www.greatrace.com/2024-route
