North Carolina distillery Southern Distilling Company has added a new rye whiskey to its lineup, releasing a bottled-in-bond expression that meets strict federal standards for authentication and quality.
The Southern Star Bottled-In-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey arrives at 100 proof and carries a suggested retail price of $49.95.
The Statesville-based distillery unveiled the four-year-aged whiskey this week, marking its entry into the bottled-in-bond rye category. The release follows requirements set by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which mandates specific production standards, including single-season distillation at one distillery and aging for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse.
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READ THE STORYSouthern Star Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Production Details
The new rye whiskey features a mash bill of 51% rye, 39% corn, and 10% malted barley. Southern Distilling Company produces the whiskey entirely in-house at its North Carolina facility, from distillation through bottling.
“This is a whiskey built with intention and purpose,” said Pete Barger, co-founder and CEO of Southern Distilling Company. “We leaned into the complexity of rye grain while honoring the legacy of bottled-in-bond—delivering a whiskey that’s unapologetically bold, yet remarkably smooth.”
The whiskey has a golden mahogany color with amber highlights. Tasting notes describe aromas of earthy spice, toasted oak, and caramel, along with vanilla bean, dried fruit, and herbal notes of mint and clove. The flavor profile features peppercorn spice followed by brown sugar sweetness.
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Where to Find Southern Star Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye
Southern Star Bottled-In-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey is currently available at Southern Distilling Company’s Tasting Room located at 211 Jennings Road in Statesville, North Carolina. The whiskey will also be distributed to North Carolina ABC stores throughout the state.
The bottled-in-bond designation requires whiskeys to be bottled at exactly 100 proof, which equals 50% alcohol by volume. This standard, along with the four-year aging requirement and single-distillery production rule, aims to guarantee consistency and quality for consumers.
Southern Distilling Company operates as an independent distillery in North Carolina, producing various whiskey expressions. The company maintains its own distilling and bottling operations at the Statesville facility.
The new rye whiskey joins Southern Distilling’s existing portfolio of spirits. The company has not announced production volumes or distribution plans beyond North Carolina for the bottled-in-bond rye release.
Rye whiskey requires a minimum of 51% rye grain in its mash bill according to federal regulations. The higher rye content typically produces spicier flavor profiles compared to bourbon, which must contain at least 51% corn.
