Southern Star Standard High-Rye Bourbon Review

 

We are all familiar with the infamous word Prohibition. Before it reared its ugly head, the “Liquor Capital of the World” was in Statesville, North Carolina. It was due to several factors, including a good climate, but primarily due to its prime railroad location. It was the central hub for sending whiskey to the West.

 

Statesville actually went dry before Prohibition – it was in 1903. The Watts Act outlawed distilling and sales of alcohol in unincorporated areas.

 

Over 100 years later, Pete and Vienna Bargas revived distilling in the area. Founded in 2016, Southern Distilling Co. is home to a 36,000 square foot distillery that houses three stills. Hey Baby is a pot still used for experimentation and small-scale production. Little Sister is described as “steampunk,” and a massive column still, the distillery’s original, is called Sweet Mother. Those stills are busy; Southern Distilling Co. currently has 85,000 barrels aging in its rickhouses.

 

The funny thing is, Pete and Vienna were unaware of Statesville’s history. They stumbled upon it accidentally when Steve Hill, the curator of the Statesville Historical Collection, showed them some artifacts demonstrating Statesville’s distilling roots dating back to the 1750s. From there, Pete and Vienna scoured for more information; they were hooked on the knowledge and history.

 

“If there’s one thing you should know about us, it’s that we give a damn about our products, our people, and our process. That’s why we work with local farmers to source local ingredients, take the time to perfectly blend classic traditions with new innovation, and that’s why we do it all right here in Statesville.” – Southern Distilling Co.

 

Pete is the Master Distiller. One of their core whiskeys is Southern Star Standard, a High-Rye Straight Bourbon, and that’s the subject of today’s review. This #DrinkCurious opportunity was made possible by Southern Distilling Co., who provided me a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.  

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Southern Distilling Company
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 60% corn, 34% rye, 6% malted barley
• Cooperage: Undisclosed new, charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 45% ABV (90°)
• Price per 750mL: $39.99

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. The liquid was a bright topaz color; it formed a thick rim with medium-spaced, bold tears.

 

Nose: After allowing about 10 minutes for the Bourbon to breathe, I brought my glass beneath my nose and began sniffing. I found notes of brown sugar, very mild oak, vanilla, dried apricots, and new leather. When I inhaled the vapor through my mouth, I experienced ripe plums.

 

Palate: Once the Bourbon passed my lips, I discovered a rich, creamy texture. I tasted brown sugar and vanilla on the front of my palate. The middle included leather and cocoa at mid-palate. Flavors of oak and clove were on the back.   

 

Finish: Clocking in at 1:20, the finish seemed to bring the Bourbon to life. It slowly ramped up to feature notes of clove, black pepper, oak spice, and caramel before falling off a cliff. I’d classify this as a medium duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: There are three notable aspects of Southern Star Standard: its nose, mouthfeel, and the finish. It smelled enticing; I loved the creaminess on my tongue, and it didn't cease being a wallflower until I swallowed. The quandary is a lack of complexity in the palate. I struggled to find some of these notes while it was in my mouth.

 

While this does meet the unofficial standard of “high rye,” Southern Star Standard doesn’t act that way. Based upon the name, one could expect some impactful spice. Try as I might, the spiciness never materialized. I’m curious how Southern Star Standard would taste with about ten more proof points; perhaps that would allow the spice to shine.

 

Regardless of that, it is clear that a lot of care and attention went into the distillation and maturation of this Bourbon. And, $40.00 isn’t bad at all for a 90° craft Bourbon. In its current form, Southern Star Standard earns my Bar rating. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.