Darius Rucker’s Backstage Southern Whiskey Debuts

Darius Rucker is launching his own whiskey and bourbon brands, Backstage Southern Whiskey and Forbidden Bourbon. Rucker partnered with 843 to develop Backstage Southern Whiskey, and named the spirit after a long-standing tradition he’s had of collecting band mates, tour mates, and special guests together before each and every show to raise a glass of whiskey and toast to a great night’s show.

“That toast is a vital part of our nightly routine,” Rucker says. “It’s really about celebrating the opportunity to make music together. And Backstage Southern Whiskey is now a part of that important ritual that we can share with fans.”

Tagged with a label that looks like a backstage pass that reads “No curfew tonight – 11 a.m. bus call,” the new whiskey is being distributed by RNDC in Rucker’s home state of South Carolina, with distribution in Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee to follow. Forbidden Bourbon is currently being crafted at Castle & Key Distillery (formerly Old Taylor Distillery) in Frankfort, Kentucky, by award-winning Master Distiller Marianne Barnes.

“I am truly excited about the brands that we are building,” Rucker says. “The product and brand development process has been a lot of fun and I look forward to sharing these great spirits with everyone.”

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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