Here’s a honey of a deal: Southern Distilling Company is about to launch a limited release Southern Star Bourbon finished in honey-drenched barrels for more than a year.
The Statesville, North Carolina distillery describes the offering this way, “A tribute to craftsmanship that spans generations, this spirit is elegant enough for a special occasion, while also being delicious for a daily indulgence. A meticulous blend of local grains and a final year maturing in a wildflower honey-saturated barrel create a spectacular depth of flavor with hints of toffee, fruit, walnut, and a delicate sweetness that balances warm, peppery spice.”
Southern Star Bourbon Finished in Honey Barrels
ABV: 53.4%
Tasting notes (from the distillery):
- Color + Appearance: Rich amber color with a warm glow.
- Nose + Aroma: Sweet and butterscotchy with a hint of black pepper.
- Palate: Toasted Werther’s Original, delicate honey with a rich, creamy texture.
Availability: Exclusively available for purchase at Southern Distilling Company’s Statesville, North Carolina Tasting Room beginning December 14, while supplies last.
SRP: $59.95 / 375 ml
“A few years back, a local honey producer asked us for a barrel to age some of his honey in, to infuse it with the flavor of whiskey. After the honey had aged, they sent the barrel back and the inside was still coated with honey. Of course, we couldn’t let it go to waste. We filled the barrel with one of our select bourbons that had already been aging several years and put it in the rickhouse for another 12 months. When we finally tasted it, we were floored. It’s a limited release, so you’ll want to get your hands on a bottle.”
Pete Barger, co-founder and CEO of Southern Distilling Company.
About Southern Distilling Company
Southern Distilling Company has reignited North Carolina’s distilling tradition while embracing the innovation of America’s craft spirits industry. The 20-acre distillery campus is proudly located in Statesville, North Carolina, a city with a big role in bourbon’s history. Before Prohibition, Statesville was known as the “Liquor Capital of the World.” It is now home to a state-of-the-art 36,000 square-foot distillery where days are spent distilling the highest quality bourbons and ryes and watching over more than 65,000 barrels patiently aging in the rickhouses. Southern Distilling Company has grown to become one of the country’s largest privately owned distilleries since being co-founded by Pete and Vienna Barger in 2013. It offers a diverse range of standard and custom new fill whiskeys, extensive aged barrel inventory, warehouse barrel storage, private label production, and co-packing for more than 140 brands globally. Southern Distilling Company supports sustainability and regenerative agriculture processes and sources quality grains from farms within 20 miles of its facility. It also produces Southern Star bourbons and rye whiskeys—its own line of award-winning artisan spirits. The distillery, located along Interstate 77 near the I-40 interchange is open for tours, tastings, cocktails, and bottle sales. It also hosts public events and experiences throughout the year. For more information, visit SouthernDistillingCompany.com.