Southern Star Double Rye Whiskey
44% ABV (88 proof) | 750mL | Blend of two straight rye whiskeys | Charred American oak — Southern Star Double Rye is the rye flagship of Southern Distilling Company, Statesville, North Carolina: two straight rye whiskeys married after, per the brand, "countless hours and failed trials" to land on one perfectly balanced bottle. Founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife team Pete and Vienna Barger on 20 acres of historic farmland off I-77 — Statesville was the late-1800s "liquor capital of the world" — the distillery is a grain-to-glass operation now distributed in 20 states. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
The two-rye blend drinks layered rather than loud: rye spice and honeyed grain on the nose, a palate of cinnamon bark, clove, and caramel, and a clean, warmly spicy finish. Among rye whiskeys, the Double Rye is a Platinum winner at the 2021 Ascot Awards — a Southern craft rye that punches well above its proof. Try it in a Sazerac or a rye Old Fashioned.
Tasting notes
Nose: rye spice, honeyed grain, oak. Palate: cinnamon bark, clove, caramel. Finish: clean and warmly spicy. (Per brand and retailer tasting notes.)
Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor
- 44% ABV (88 proof) — 750mL
- Blend of two straight rye whiskeys, matured in charred American oak
- Distilled by Southern Distilling Company, Statesville, North Carolina (founded 2013)
- Platinum — Ascot Awards 2021
- Part of the Southern Star line (Paragon wheated bourbon, Double Shot)
- Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor
How to serve it
Neat, on a big rock, or in a rye-forward cocktail — Sazerac, Manhattan, or Old Fashioned.
Frequently asked questions
What does "Double Rye" mean?
It's a blend of two different straight rye whiskeys, married for balance.
Where is Southern Star Double Rye made?
Southern Distilling Company in Statesville, North Carolina, founded in 2013 by Pete and Vienna Barger.
Is it sweet or spicy?
Both — honeyed caramel notes from the oak plus a classic cinnamon-and-clove rye spice.
What awards has it won?
Platinum at the Ascot Awards 2021.