Southern Distilling Company draws on their founders’ home state of North Carolina’s often-overlooked whiskey traditions while celebrating the innovative spirit of America’s craft spirits industry. We enjoy two expressions — Southern Star High Rye Bourbon and Southern Star Paragon Bottled In Bond Wheated Straight Bourbon — and chat with Pete Barger about why his family launched the distillery, difficulties faced along the way, their approach to whiskey, Statesville’s history with liqour and much more.