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The Details

Southern Star

Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Single Barrel

Selected by the Carolina Panthers

Cask Strength Wheated

Aged 5.2 Years

Barrel 2167-63 / Bottle 38 of 200

Distilled, Aged and Bottled by Southern Distilling Company

Statesville, North Carolina

54.9% Alc/Vol / 109.8 Proof

Mashbill: 70% Corn / 16% Wheat / 14% Malted Barley

Price: $100


Poured Neat in a Glencairn


Appearance: Tawny


Nose: Fresh Baked Cinnamon Roll (Brown Sugar, Fresh Doughy Dough, Vanilla Icing, Cinnamon and a touch of Nutmeg


Palate: Molasses, Brown Sugar, Sweet Cream Frosting, Burnt Caramel


Finish: Warm Lingering and Viscous mouthfeel with a Nutmeg Spice


Overall: Southern Star. Carolina Panthers. Whiskey. North Carolina. Football. Partnership. 6 Single Barrels. What else can I add here? Oh, DELICIOUS!


You’ve seen me post one of my favorite Wheated Bourbons, Paragon, many times prior, and while each Single Barrel I’ve had has been amazing, there’s just something extra special about this very limited release. This has to be my new favorite barrel ever released from Southern Star. A Wheated bourbon with a mash bill of 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley and aged 5.2 Years with a proof of 109.8, this Single Barrel Selection is everything I look for. Every box has been checked. With a flavor profile like this, it's one for all the competitions, trust me.


Press Release: STATESVILLE, N.C. Proudly made in North Carolina, Southern Star bourbon is building on its partnership with the Carolina Panthers with a limited release whiskey commemorating the team's 2003 NFC Championship season. Six unique single barrels of Southern Star Paragon were carefully selected and bottled with commemorative labeling that celebrates the team's achievements. Fewer than 1,000 bottles will be offered beginning Oct. 20, exclusively available in the Carolinas and debuting with a special event at Southern Distilling Company that day.


"As a longtime Panthers fan, I'm thrilled to celebrate the 20* anniversary of our team's first NFC championship," said Southern Distilling co-founder and CEO Pete Barger. "I grew up here, and it's where my wife Vienna and I have raised our family and started our business. We're proud to have grown tremendously and earned national recognition, and it's a privilege to celebrate our success alongside the Panthers in this way. I can't wait for us to share this release honoring the 2003 team

- and I'll be keeping a bottle on hand to raise a glass to future success, too!"


All bottles will feature a specially designed Carolina Panthers label unlike anything previously released in conjunction with the NFL. Each bottle will be numbered by hand, with the first 150 bottles on sale at Southern Distilling Company in Statesville, N.C., beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct.

20, with a Panthers Legend on-site to autograph bottles.


With so few bottles available, fans are encouraged to pick up a bottle before they sell out, either at the distillery or at select North Carolina ABC stores and South Carolina retailers.

Barger, who grew up in the Carolinas rooting for the Panthers, led the barrel pick process of identifying six exceptional barrels of Paragon bourbon, each an exemplar of the distillery's signature whiskey. While each barrel will have unique characteristics thanks to the aging process, Paragon Single Barrels are sweet with fruity florals and ripe apple notes on the nose; the palate bursts with vanilla, honey, subtle hints of walnuts and a rich texture. - End


Check out what Southern Distilling has to offer and book a tour HERE


A big shout out to the team at Southern Distilling for such an incredible bottle. As always, all of my reviews are completely unbiased and honest...the way it should be!


Library Rating: 8.9 / 10

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The Details

Bhakta 1928

Blended Straight Rye Whiskey, Calvados and Armagnac

Blended & Bottled by Balthazar Rex

Shoreham, Vermont

50% Alc/Vol / 100 Proof

Mashbill: Various - Blended (60% Straight Rye Whiskey, 30% Calvados, 10% Armagnac)

Fortified with Ancient French Spirits from 1973, 1962, 1941 and 1928

Price: $100


Poured Neat in a Copita Nosing Glass


Appearance: Amber


Nose: Dark Fruits including Plum and Fig, Honey, Sprig of Mint


Palate: Spiced Creme Brulee, Bread Pudding, Raisins, Dark Berry Jam


Finish: Warm, Lingering and Viscous with Baking Spices


Overall: It doesn't get much more 20's than this bottle. Yes, I'm talking about the Roaring 1920's. There's a great reasoning behind this design that showcases not just another blend, but some ancient French spirits. The oldest vintage is over 95 years old, 5% of the blend is over 50 years old and 30% of the blend is over 30 years old. Did you catch all that? Oh, did I mention Armagnac from 1928? Yes, please!


The marriage of this blend is beautiful and impressive. I found myself sitting back and dissecting this more with every sip. At the end of the day, it's hard not to appreciate the age of some of the spirits involved here. Literally sipping history. Obviously, with the components mentioned, I immediately picked up those dark fruit tones and such a great coating. The 100 Proof is really a sweet-spot to me and this works very well. All I need now is a light bodied cigar from the humidor to keep the mood just right!


Thank you to the team at Bhakta Spirits for allowing me to try this delicious release and provide my unbiased feedback.


If you are interested in this particular release from Bhakta Spirits, click HERE - The release currently includes a pair of Bhakta Spirits Glencairns while supplies last.


Library Rating: 8.8 / 10


Ratings & Awards:

2023 Beverage Tasting Institute Platinum - 96 Points

2023 USA Spirits Ratings - 94 Points

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The Details

15 Stars

A Select Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys

Sherry Cask Finished

Aged 10 Years (Blend of 13 Year and 10 Year)

Bottle 1924

Distilled in Kentucky and Indiana

Non Chill Filtered (NCF)

Bottled by 15 Stars in Bardstown, Kentucky

57.5% Alc/Vol / 115 Proof

Mashbill: Various - Blended

Price: $180


Poured Neat in a Glencairn


Appearance: Mahogany


Nose: Milk Chocolate, Cherry, Burnt Butter, Flakey Pastry


Palate: Cherry Pie, Cocoa, Buttered Croissant, Baking Spices, Slight Tobacco, Pistachios


Finish: Warm, Long and Viscous with a Cherry Chocolate Spice


Overall: Let me start by saying this might already be in my top-5 for bourbon this year. After sipping and sipping on two consecutive days, I finally pinpointed the flavor I was searching out: Spumoni Ice Cream! When I ordered Spumoni in Italy, it was served with a small flakey pastry as a compliment. Well, wouldn't you believe it, that was the first memory sparked by this pour. 🤌🏽


The levels of flavor and complexity dance around the palate like the Italian Tarantella. But beware, because of these incredible flavors, you may not realize this is a 115 Proof offering. I tried my hardest to let this sit in my Glen for 5 to 10 minutes prior to sipping, but it was a lost cause once those cherry and chocolate notes started to fill the Library. A beautiful all-around pour that I can't wait to share with Bourbon and Wine enthusiasts alike.


Thank you once again to the great folks at 15 Stars for providing this sample with no strings attached. The mail-calls have been quite impressive and I'm completely humbled.


If you are interested in this particular release out of 15 Stars, click HERE - Available at 3pm ET Tuesday 9.26.23


Library Rating: 8.9 / 10


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