Southern Grace Distilleries — Attraction in North Carolina

Saw their website stating they were operating out of an old prison. We just had to stop by to see the place and explore the history behind Southern Grace Distillery. Well... it really is a former state prison, complete with chain link fence and razor wire! Proprietors say this helps protect their product. Enjoyed hearing the history behind this business enterprise. Had a tasting conducted by Master Distiller, Sebastian Correa. A graduate of ASU, BS in Fermentation Science. He is easy to talk to and happy to share his knowledge of the whiskeys and bourbons made on site. He shared how the barrels, made in Virginia, add different "notes" to the whiskeys, bourbons, and the Naranja; distinct flavors are derived from whether the aging barrels were toasted or charred. Tasted the new "limited" release "Naranja" orange wine (bourbon whiskey finished in a vino de narnja cask barrel with orange peels). Highly recommend both the Naranja AND stopping by...

The tour starts interesting but gets long after a while. The balance between prison history and whiskey making is well-balanced but some of the extra info seemed unnecessary. We were patient because we were very excited to drink the whiskey but ended up being very disappointed in the tasting. Two mixed cocktails and a clear whiskey and a brown whiskey. The pours were tiny.. probably 1/8 oz each. So if you skip the sweet options and just want to try whiskey you don't even get to try enough to feel warm inside. Would be worth it for $5 but let's be honest, for $15 we want to have a shot or two worth at the end. Would not go back or recommend to anyone who is interested in the whiskey more...

We had an incredible time on our distillery tour, thanks to our amazing guide, Zak! From the moment we arrived, his energy was infectious—friendly, enthusiastic, and he is clearly passionate about what he does. Zak struck the perfect balance between entertaining and informative, sharing detailed knowledge about the distillation process, the history of the distillery, the history of the prison, and the unique flavors of each spirit we tasted.

He made everyone feel welcome, answered all our questions with ease, and added a personal touch that really elevated the experience. If you're thinking about taking the tour, I highly recommend it. We will for sure be...