This is the second time I’ve visited Southern Distilling. The first was two or three years ago. At that time they were selling sourced products while waiting for their distillate to age. Now they are ready to release their straight bourbon, Paragon. I had an opportunity to taste some and can barely wait for the release which should be in June 2021.

While at the distillery I was able to meet with the owned and master distiller, Pete Barger, and his wife Vienna. Pete’s background is in process engineering and you can tell. The distillery looks more like a nuclear power plant than a moonshiner’s setup! There are gauges, flow controls, and computers everywhere. Pete is determined to produce a consistent product by eliminating as many variables in the production process as possible.

Currently, Southern Distilling has one 16″ Vendome continuous column still with doubler. However, they have a second one sitting waiting for delivery. With two they will be able to produce enough product to meet their own expected needs plus those for whom they contract distill.

Southern distilling has big plans for the future. They are constructing a 20,000 barrel rickhouse on their campus. Adding more grain storage, and a centrifuge to remove liquid from the leftover mash, thus making it ready to feed cattle