Southern Star Single Barrel High Rye Straight Bourbon

Barrel #00031 NOSE: Rye Spice, Brown Sugar, Marshmallow, Oak, Hay, Faint Mustiness. Later Pours also brought a touch of Orange Peel. NEAT: Initial impression is Eggnog & Nutmeg (A note I LOVE). There's also Charred Sugars, Hay with a Hint of Mustiness, Oak Tannins, Autumn Spices (Cinnamon, Anise, Cardamom). Spice level is just right, finishing with a Gentle Warmth in the chest. A Coating Aftertaste reminiscent of Crafty Root Beer or Sarsaparilla. SPLASH: Added Rye Bread notes to the Nose. Increases sweetness slightly, but at the cost of some complexity found neat. VERDICT: I pass the distillery often and finally had a moment to stop in. They've been established long enough now that they are releasing their own aged distillate alongside the MGP they sourced when they first started. Following my experience with recent MGP products (Young, Overly Corny, and Overpriced) I specifically sought out something that was their own. I examined the bottle and saw "Produced and Bottled by Southern Distilling Company", so I believed I was safe. I took it home and looked again and I cannot believe I missed it. Right there it was..."Distilled in Indiana". Not what I was aiming for, but wow, what a pleasant shock. They opened in 2013 and the MGP they sourced was still of good quality, and it's now around 7-8 years old too. Just right. I strongly recommend this if it can be found in your region. Just so you know, I've since discovered that they indicate their own distillate by including the word "Paragon" in the names.

Drinking it straight: tastes like marshmallow, vanilla, and molasses. Really great.