Southern Star, the line of bourbons and rye whiskeys from North Carolina-based Southern Distilling Company and the official craft bourbon of the Carolina Panthers, is kicking off the football franchise’s 30th season with a special barrel release. 

Available in a commemorative bottle, this limited edition is a small batch Paragon Cognac finish of Southern Star Cask Strength Paragon Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

To celebrate three decades of Carolina Panthers and the anniversary release, Southern Distilling Company will offer Panthers fans the first opportunity to purchase the limited series commemorative bottle at a release party in the distillery’s Tasting Room on Saturday, Sept. 7. Doors open at 10 a.m. and Panthers Legends will be on hand to sign autographs from 1-3 p.m. During the release party, in addition to interacting with the Panthers Legends, fans can taste the new release and experience Southern Star signature cocktails.

With only 3,000 bottles produced, this release will be exclusively available at Southern Distilling Company’s Tasting Room while supplies last and throughout the Carolinas at North Carolina ABC liquor stores and select South Carolina retailers.

“Fall means football season in the Carolinas,” Pete Barger, co-founder and CEO of Southern Distilling Company, said. “As the Official Craft Bourbon of the Carolina Panthers, we are grateful to continue to expand our partnership with the team and celebrate three decades of Panthers football, over a decade of heritage distilling in North Carolina, and our second exclusive Panthers expression.”

This release is a one-time offering of a nine-barrel blend of six-year-aged, award-winning Paragon Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey, hand-selected by Barger and finished using virgin oak Cognac staves. Cognac aged in French oak barrels for a minimum of two years, takes on the flavors and aromas of the wood, developing a rich, complex profile that can include notes of vanilla, caramel, and spice which matches perfectly and adds more complexity to the Paragon Bourbon. 

The 30 Seasons bottle is the second edition of a five-year collector’s series, with releases becoming available annually each fall. To honor the Panthers’ 30 seasons in the NFL, this limited edition bottle features a special decorative neck hanger with an eight-page commemorative guide. The guide includes highlights from past games, historical photos, and the 2024 Panthers schedule.

“The limited-edition release and all the events we have planned in partnership with Southern Distilling Company will offer Carolina Panthers fans a unique and memorable way to commemorate our 30th season this year,” Dan O’Neill, vice president of corporate partnerships at the Carolina Panthers, said. “Both organizations are proud to call the Carolinas home, and we’re excited to celebrate this milestone year together with our fans.”

Read more: Southern Distilling Leads the Way in North Carolina

We're celebrating 30 years of @Panthers football with a special cognac finish on our Southern Star Paragon Wheated Bourbon! https://t.co/hduNeRJVpF pic.twitter.com/vh7EgBB476

— Southern Distilling Company (@SoDistilling) August 29, 2024

About Southern Distilling Company

Family-owned and operated by Pete and Vienna Barger, Southern Distilling Company is reigniting North Carolina’s distilling tradition while embracing the innovative future of America’s craft spirits industry. Headquartered in storied Statesville, N.C. – once labeled the “liquor capital of the world” in the 1800s – Southern Distilling Company has grown to become one of the country’s largest privately owned distilleries since being founded in 2013. For more information, visit SouthernDistillingCompany.com.