History

South Mountain Distilling Company is located in Rutherford College, NC and represents a family whiskey heritage from the region around the South Mountains. According to the website, the South Mountains and the family's home have been part of life since the mid-1700s; in 1828 gold was discovered in the area, and the ancestors developed ways to generate income through whiskey, fruit-blended brandies, and moonshine during and after the gold rush. Water from the South Mountains was analyzed in 1855 by State Chemist W. H. Taylor and found to have a high content of iron bicarbonate, which, in his assessment, could be beneficial and drew visitors to Connelly Springs.

The Smith family plays a central role: Don Smith, owner and CEO, grew up with stories of his grandparents and great-grandfather and mother as part of a mountain community. In 1998 a friendship with David Doc Friedenberg — known as Doctor of Moonshine — turned into a partnership that produced South Mountain Distilling Company. Doc died in 2018, but the story and craftsmanship live on.

A central landmark in production is Ole Bessie #4, a 200-gallon custom-built still, that uses a three-plate column to reproduce triple distillation and preserve the full flavor profile through the process. This equipment illustrates the heritage and the artisanal approach that characterizes SMD.

The distillery describes its Prohibition-era spirit tradition and its focus on heritage through products such as Cherry Bounce, Purple Jesus, and JB Rader’s Moonshine, as well as special whiskey lines. There is also a social aspect: a portion of the proceeds goes to veteran organizations through JB Rader’s Veteran Collection.

Production / Manufacturing

South Mountain Distilling highlights a grain-to-glass approach and offers a range of services: small-batch distilling, custom blending, import/export, marketing and distribution. They use family recipes and historical methods, including Ole Bessie #4 and a triple-distillation approach to preserve full flavor nuances. Among the equipment and methods described are: a 200-gallon still, a 10-inch column and 10 bubble caps.

Whiskey products in the portfolio include: - Dignified Single Malt Whiskey — 90 proof, 6 years old, with barley and peat-smoked barley, yielding an earthy and smoky note and a bouquet of nuanced flavors. - Sinister Whiskey — 100 proof, made from 100% locally sourced corn and aged in oak barrels with hints of toasted oak. - The Original Cherry Bounce Whiskey — 750 ml, 45% ABV, aged for 2 years and infused with honey and natural cherries. - JB Rader’s Veteran Collection — JB’s NEW Veteran’s Choice Whiskey, 100 proof.

The distillery’s portfolio also includes moonshine and other products, but the whiskey portion is specified above.

Visit / Experiences

The distillery offers tours and tasting experiences: Walk-ins are welcome for tastings, and online booking is available via their booking pages. Tasting hours are 10:00–16:00 on weekdays; Saturdays 12:00–17:00; Sundays 13:00–18:00.

• Tour & Tasting Experience — 45 minutes, $15.
• Tasting Experience — 15 minutes, $10.

Address: 1027 Malcolm Blvd, Rutherford College, NC 28671. Contact: info@southmountaindistillery.com; (828) 368-0681.

Philosophy

From Grain to Glass and Everything In Between. We craft dreams by turning dreams into reality. One bottle at a time. We focus on craftsmanship, family heritage, and Prohibition-era spirit traditions, and strive to convey the region's history through our products and experiences.