Southern Grace Distilleries at Whiskey Prison

About the Distillery

Southern Grace Distilleries runs Whiskey Prison, a distillery housed in a former prison building in North Carolina. The place combines professional fermentation expertise with practical distillery experience and has a clear focus on American whiskey and bourbon. The distillery's profile includes both production and strong visitor facilities: guided tours, a bar, and a shop, all part of the visitor experience. The staff blend formal qualifications with local ties.

History

Whiskey Prison stands out for its location in a former prison building, which greatly shapes the site’s identity. Thomas Thacker is listed as co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, while Sebastian Correa serves as Master Distiller and Production Manager and holds a BS in Fermentation Science from Appalachian State University. Several staff members have local roots; Virginia Harper has family ties to the prison dating back to the 1940s. In 2018 Marty Koenning moved from volunteer to full-time distiller, and since 2020 Keith Whitener has led the tours. These specific people and dates illustrate a development where technical leadership and visitor activities have become central elements of the operation.

Raw Materials and Production

Production is led by a Master Distiller with formal education in fermentation, and the team includes a dedicated Fermentation Specialist as well as distillers with many years of practical experience. Sebastian Correa serves as Master Distiller and Production Manager and holds a BS in Fermentation Science. Taylor McDade is employed as Fermentation Specialist and combines military background and technical training with work on American whiskey and bourbon. Marty Koenning works as a distiller after moving to a full-time position in 2018. The interplay between technical knowledge and practical experience means that production work is driven by fermentation experts while the distillery prioritizes outreach through tours and tastings in the bar.

Visit the Distillery

The distillery offers guided tours, and the visitor operations are organized by a Director of Tourism and Operations. The tours are led by certified tour guides, and staff also serve as bartenders and shop managers. There is a shop and bar facilities on site, where guests can participate in tastings and gain insight into the production through the guides who have led the tours since 2020.

Philosophy and Craft

Southern Grace combines formal fermentation expertise and practical distillery experience with a deliberate use of a historic location. The distillery team includes a Master Distiller and fermentation specialists, and bourbon as well as American whiskey are identified as central product areas. Guest experiences and local roots are evident choices in how the company presents its production.