Tasting Southern Star Whiskey with CEO Pete Barger
From the Distillery to Your Glass….
In the previous two posts I described our visit to Southern Distilling Co. in Statesville, North Carolina for their "Honey of a Holiday" event where they released their Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Honey Barrels. After that event, we had the pleasure of meeting the founders, Pete and Vienna, to learn more about the company. Then to top it all off, we had opportunity of experiencing a guided tasting with Pete himself.
The experience began with the newly released, at that time, Honey Finished Bourbon. Typically, if someone hears honey bourbon, he/she may think of artificial flavors, sugar, sweet, but that’s not the case here. It has the essence of honey with a familiar Paragon nose. It’s not honey injected or honey added, it’s honey finished. A bourbon with a honey flavor. According to Pete, that’s a huge difference. Then he transitioned to the Paragon for a comparison with the Honey Finished Bourbon.
High Rye Bourbon was after that with a 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley mash bill. This may sound like a familiar MGP mashbill, but it’s all Southern Distilling.
The Double Rye followed, a blend of straight rye whiskies. Pete explained the breakdown of this barely legal rye, 51% corn, 39% corn, and 10% malted barley. Once blended, it is then transferred to a freshly paragon dumped cask and let it finish. Their main objective was to curate an accessible rye that has enough of that rye spice, while also appealing to the traditional bourbon drinker.
Finally, we rounded off the tasting with the Double Shot Bourbon Cream—a treat that paired perfectly with Pete's storytelling of how he overheard someone say they would pour it over their Frosted Flakes when she is out of milk. If you like chocolate and/or chocolate milk, you’re going to love this one.
This tasting was not merely about enjoying great pours, it was about connecting with the heart and soul of Southern Star Distillery. Pete's guidance brought the spirits to life, turning an ordinary tasting into a journey of flavor, craftsmanship, and authenticity. As stated in previous posts, Southern Distilling Company is a must-visit destination for all, where tours and tastings are offered throughout the week. Plus, Pete has an amazing car collection that’s featured at the start of this video.
Remember, whiskey is to be enjoyed responsibly and in moderation. Take your time, sip slowly, and revel in the moment as you unlock the secrets hidden within each pour.
Click the image above to watch the full YouTube video!