Southern Star Paragon Single Barrel Cask Strength Wheated Straight Bourbon

Southern Star Paragon Cask Strength Single Barrel (Selected by Loco Jo's) Barrel #0090 @ 109.4 Proof "Southport Select" *NOSE: Tobacco, Brown Sugar, Baked Sweet Potato, Vanilla Bean, Clove, Old Oak, Dry Wheat. Kind of a Soapy/Grassy Funk on the empty glass. *NEAT: Thick and Coating. LOTS of Cinnamon, Brown Sugar, that Vegetal Sweet Potato, Cheap Vanilla Fudge Swirl Ice Cream, and Dry Oak on the Back End.Medium Length Finish Coats the palate with Tingly Cinnamon and Dry Oak followed by a growing Warming Glow deep in the chest. *SPLASH: Gets even better. The Clove from the Nose shows up on the Palate. Cinnamon is still present, but less dominant. Even more of that Cheap Vanilla Fudge Swirl Ice Cream and some Medicinal Cherry Coating. *VERDICT: This is really good, especially at Cask Strength. As Wheaters go, this is less Maker's (thin/sweet/grassy) and a little more Larceny (vegetal/cinnamon/spicy). That being said, I find it much better than Larceny. So happy that I can recommend, without reservation, a NC Bourbon that rivals some of KY's Big Boys.

Part of a virtual tasting with Southern Distilling Barrel No. 109 113.6 proof Nose - Chalky Big League Chew cherry/grape, caramel, toffee, cinnamon stick, vanilla frosting, toasted oak tannins, and medium ethanol. Palate - Rainier cherries, overripe peaches, caramel, vanilla frosting, clove, and oak. Finish is medium-long with dry cinnamon, vanilla bean, butterscotch, and light ethanol. This is really good stuff for an NC bourbon. I'm impressed. These barrel picks aren't common, but if you see one I recommend picking one up. Easily one of the best NC whiskey products I've tried.

Stopped at the distillery since I was driving by! Picked up a bottle of their White (wasnt a fan tbh) and a bottle of Paragon Cask Strength. Barrel # 00110 to be precise, and glad i did. Sweet and fresh to the smell, smooth on the toung with a nice warmth going down. Neat as it should be. I will keep this one for special evenings, would be perfect with a good cigar.

Wow! After the results from the 2022 NY spirits competition I had to give it a try and man I’m glad I did. One of the best cask strength wheaters I’ve tasted. More to come after a few more pours, but I’m excited about this one, especially since it’s fairly local to me. Don’t sweat that you can’t find a Weller 107, just grab this instead!

Thabk you so much @brandymcnamara ! Fruity and woody. Burning from the proof tamed with just a few drops of water. @Kyle-Metes-Randolph

NEBC 2025 pick: 4.5/5 2025 Distillery Release: 4.25/5