North Carolina Distillery Launches Highly Limited Bourbon to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Panthers’ 1st NFC Championship
Southern Star announced its first limited-release whiskey celebrating the Carolina Panthers’ 2003 season. (Photo: Southern Star)
North Carolina distillery Southern Star on Thursday announced the release of a limited-edition whiskey selected from six distinctive barrels of Southern Star Paragon. The release celebrates the Carolina Panthers’ 2003 season, during which the team won its first NFC Championship. Fewer than 1,000 bottles will be available for purchase starting Oct. 20.
“As a longtime Panthers fan, I’m thrilled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of our team’s first NFC championship,” Southern Distilling co-founder and CEO Pete Barger said in a news release. “I grew up here, and it’s where my wife Vienna and I have raised our family and started our business. We’re proud to have grown tremendously and earned national recognition, and it’s a privilege to celebrate our success alongside the Panthers in this way. I can’t wait for us to share this release honoring the 2003 team — and I’ll be keeping a bottle on hand to raise a glass to future success, too!”
The bottles have bespoke Carolina Panthers labels and are hand-numbered. The first 150 bottles will go on sale starting at 10 a.m.. CST on Friday, October 20.
Barger grew up supporting the Panthers and spearheaded the barrel-picking process at the distillery.
The Paragon single-barrel bourbon is distilled from a mashbill of 70% corn, 16% wheat and 14% malted barley. The whiskeys are offered at a cask strength ABVs that fluctuate by the barrel. The whiskey has a suggested retail price of $100.
The brand describes the Paragon Single Barrel Panthers Limited Edition as hosting aromas of sweet and fruity florals, with ripe apple notes. The palate bursts with vanilla, honey and hints of walnuts, according to the brand.
In September, Southern Distilling Company announced the launch of a partnership with the Carolina Panthers that would make the brand an official partner of the NFL team.
2003 was the year the underdog Panthers were known as the “Cardiac Cats” due to their come-from-behind wins that kept fans on the edge of their seats, according to Bleacher Report.
Some talented players joined the team that year, including Ricky Manning Jr., a cornerback from UCLA, and quarterback Jake Delhomme from the New Orleans Saints. The team persevered even after its coach, Sam Mills, was diagnosed with cancer. The team remained motivated finished the season atop the NFC South with an 11-5 record.
The Panthers advanced to their first Super Bowl after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 14-3 in the NFC Championship, where they lost 32-29 to the New England Patriots.
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