Southern Distilling Company has unveiled Southern Star Paragon Bourbon Finished in Zinfandel Casks, a limited-edition release bottled at 116.1 proof and priced at $49.95. The expression will be available exclusively at the distillery’s Statesville, North Carolina, tasting room on February 21, 2026.
The new bourbon is the latest addition to Southern Distilling Company’s Paragon Collection. It spent more than a year finishing in used Zinfandel wine casks sourced from a boutique California winery.
“It started with a conversation and a bit of curiosity between friends,” said Pete Barger, co-founder and CEO of Southern Distilling Company. “We worked with a boutique California winery to source casks and what we received was well beyond what we imagined. The wines that lived in these barrels were almost port-like with a deep complexity. We knew we had to go all in!”
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Official tasting notes from the brand describe a rich burgundy hue, with aromas of baking spice, vanilla bean, and soft warm oak. The palate offers a viscous mouthfeel with tannic, earthy spice and cherry candy, followed by dried fruit and chocolate. The finish is characterized by strong oak and sweet campfire.
The distillery is also offering a limited gift bundle at $79.95. The package pairs the new whiskey with wine-inspired artisan chocolate truffles and a bar of handmade whiskey chocolate.
“Zinfandel-finished bourbon isn’t something you see every day,” said Barger. “From the start, this release was about innovation and pushing boundaries, bringing bourbon together with a wine profile that refuses to be subtle. Driven by curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to try something rare, the result exceeded our expectations and proved that the boldest barrels often tell the best stories.”
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READ THE STORYWine cask finishes have become an increasingly popular technique across the American whiskey category, with producers experimenting with port, sherry, and various red wine barrels to add complexity. Zinfandel cask finishing remains comparatively uncommon, positioning the release as a distinctive entry in the growing cask-finished bourbon segment.
Southern Distilling Company, based in Statesville, North Carolina, has built its reputation on its line of award-winning bourbons and rye whiskeys. The distillery operates both its own brands and contract distilling services, making it one of the larger independent distilling operations in the southeastern United States.
The Southern Star Paragon Bourbon Finished in Zinfandel Casks is available only at the distillery’s tasting room at 211 Jennings Road, Statesville, NC 28625.
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