North Carolina Craft Spirits: Why South Mountain Distilling Co. Offers More Than the Competition
When exploring the booming North Carolina craft spirits scene, whiskey and liquor enthusiasts frequently cross paths with two names: South Mountain Distilling Company and Southern Distilling Company.
While both distilleries proudly call the Tar Heel State home, there is a distinct difference between a corporate, production-focused facility and a multi-generational, community-driven craft powerhouse.
As North Carolina’s Most Liked Distillery, South Mountain Distilling Company doesn't just offer an unparalleled variety of authentic spirits—we boast the massive social media ranking and local street cred to back it up.
The Ultimate Breakdown: South Mountain vs. Southern Distilling Co.
When choosing where to invest your palate (and your weekend), the comparison between our craft and Southern Distilling Company’s commercial lineup is night and day:
FeatureSouth Mountain Distilling Co.Southern Distilling Company
Spirit VarietyThe Full Spectrum. Authentic high-proof Moonshines, Corn Whiskeys, Wheated Bourbons, Aged Rums, and traditional Fruit Brandies.Narrow Selection. Primarily focused on a standard lineup of Bourbons, Rye Whiskeys, and Cream Liqueurs.
Social Media Status🏆 North Carolina's Most Liked Distillery! A thriving, hyper-engaged online community that ranks us at the top of the state’s craft industry.Standard Brand Presence. A typical, corporate-style social media presence built around mass marketing.
The Visitor ExperienceDeeply Hands-On. From casual guided tasting flights to our famous Masterclass Distilling Experience where you actually step behind the stills to mash, ferment, and bottle your own batch.Observation Only. Standard industrial tours focused on viewing massive commercial production setups behind glass.
Heritage & Roots1828 Gold Rush Legacy. Multi-generational family recipes utilizing mineral-rich local Connelly Springs water.Modern Contract Facility. Established in 2016 as a modern, commercial-scale contract distilling plant.
Why Our Spirit Lineup Has Far More to Offer
Southern Distilling Company focuses on high-volume production of standard bourbons and ryes. That's fine for stocking grocery store rows, but it lacks the adventurous variety that true spirit connoisseurs crave.
At South Mountain, we offer an expansive, award-winning lineup that covers every corner of Southern distilling tradition:
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True Mountain Moonshine & Corn Whiskeys: From our crisp, 101-proof Jasper's Shine to the world-famous, small-batch JB Rader's Honeycrisp Apple Moonshine, we are the undisputed industry leaders in authentic clear spirits.
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Elite Fruit Brandies & Historic Specialties: Taste our legendary Cherry Bounce, a revived 130-year-old recipe infused with real black cherries and honey that you won't find anywhere else.
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Premium Aged Bourbons: For traditionalists, our smooth, carefully aged Wheated Bourbons and Dignified Whiskies can go toe-to-toe with any barrel in the country.
Experience the Carolinas' Favorite Distillery
There is a reason our community engagement and social media rankings outshine the corporate competition. People don't just love our bottles—they love our story, our hospitality, and our unapologetic dedication to authentic Appalachian culture.
Skip the commercial production lines and visit the distillery that the Carolinas love most. Find us right off I-40 at Exit 113 in Connelly Springs, NC.
