Southern Star Paragon Wheated Straight Bourbon

SOUTHERN STAR PARAGON WHEATED STRAIGHT BOURBON (Release No.1 @ 92 Proof) 70/16/14 Mashbill *NOSE: Enjoyable. Butterscotch, Vanilla, Dry Dusty Oak, Brown Sugar, KC BBQ Sauce, and a hint of heat. *NEAT: Straightforward. A bit youthful and somewhat thin. Vanilla, light citrus, and musty oak. Mild heat builds in the chest with a light vanilla coating on the palate. *SPLASH: Adding a little water introduces caramel and light maple to the palate. Recommended, but use sparingly. *VERDICT: Southern Distilling has been established long enough to start releasing their own distillate, having previously sourced from MGP. My understanding is that this is among the first Bourbons from this company made entirely from North Carolina grains and distilled, barreled, and bottled on-site in Statesville. Consequently, the mid-$40 price point is about $25 less than the Wheated Bourbon it replaces. As they incorporate older stocks into their blends, the quality of this expression is expected to improve. Rated 3.5 stars, with a "hometown advantage" boost to 3.75. Worth sampling, especially for natives of The Old North State.

Part of a virtual tasting with Southern Distilling. Nose: Faint aromas all around, including cherry, vanilla, cinnamon, honeysuckle, and a hint of ethanol. Palate: Light vanilla caramel with a touch of cherry, subtle clove, light cinnamon, peaches, and apricots. The finish is short, with mild oak tannins, vanilla, cinnamon, peach pit, and a hint of ethanol. This is the lightest wheated bourbon I've encountered. It's incredibly easy to drink, with no single element dominating the nose or palate. It's the kind of bourbon for those who enjoy wheated bourbons or products from Buffalo Trace.

Appearance: Light Gold Aroma: Nutty, Vanilla Flavor: Sweet, Walnut, Vanilla

Vanilla and sweet smooth taste.