Pete Barger is the Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Southern Distilling Company, a family-owned craft distillery and one of the leading bulk and contract spirits producers in the United States. Founded in 2013 with his wife Vienna in Statesville, North Carolina, Southern Distilling has grown into a nationally respected operation supplying bulk whiskey, custom distillation, and private-label solutions to more than 140 brands worldwide.

With deep expertise spanning bulk production, aging programs, pricing, and route-to-market strategy, Pete brings a rare, real-world perspective on how bulk spirits are produced, positioned, and sold at scale—making him an invaluable voice and a must-learn-from expert on this panel.