Ga Mountains Guide

North GA Distilleries and Spirits

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If you are looking for something fun with an opportunity to sample a strong drink, then make plans to visit one of the unique distilleries in the North Georgia mountains!

Grandaddy Mimm’s Distillery and Gift Shop

Grandaddy Mimm’s Distillery and Gift Shop

Take a distillery tour or stay in the tasting room to sample a flight of your choice of drinks. Or, choose to attend an event and help raise money for a good cause! There are many ways to enjoy a trip to a Georgia mountain distillery.

 

Map of Distilleries in North GA

This interactive map can help you locate the North Georgia distilleries that are located closest to you. Use the legend to display other area attractions.

 

North Georgia Distilleries

Learn more about Appalachia and the history of moonshine, xxx, white lightning, firewater, or whatever you call America’s original “rebel spirit” before your trip with highly-rated moonshine books.

Moonshine: A Celebration of America's Original Rebel Spirit

 

Big Creek Distilling Co – Dahlonega

Big Creek Distilling Co Dahlonega GA

Tasting Room bar at Big Creek Distilling Co Dahlonega GA

The Big Creek distillery has three main selections: Small Batch Wheated Bourbon, Georgia Seasonal Gin, and Gold Rush Moonshine. Conveniently, you may purchase a tasting flight that includes a sample of each, or you can select from craft cocktails made with house spirits.

The bar area has an upscale vibe, and the room features garage-door-style walls that open up to the outdoors on nice days. Live music and food trucks on weekends. The Big Creek Distilling Co is open 5 days a week (closed on Monday and Tuesday).

 

Blue Ridge Distillery – Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge Distillery in Blue Ridge, GA

Blue Ridge Distillery in Blue Ridge, GA

This local distillery in downtown Blue Ridge offers tastings of moonshine, rum, and brandy. Open daily for your convenience.

  • Call: +1 (706) 633-7767
  • Address: 116 West Main St. Unit 1D, Blue Ridge, GA
  • Facebook: Blue Ridge Distillery has 600+ followers

 

Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery – Dawsonville

Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery in North GA

Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery in North GA

Guests must be 21 or older (with ID) to receive alcoholic beverages, but anyone under 21 can accompany adults on the tour and in the distillery. A basic tour is affordable and includes a shot glass to keep. Those who are more curious can upgrade to the Premium Tour and learn more about the production of handcrafted spirits.

Choose from the less strong drinks like Georgia Mountain Apple Pie (60 Proof) to the very strong drinks like White Lightning (109 Proof). Limit 1 free souvenir bottle per person per calendar day (must be over 21 years of age).

The Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery is closed Monday – Thursday. Hours may change for busy seasons.

 

Grandaddy Mimm’s Distillery – Blairsville

Grandaddy Mimms Moonshine Distillery Copper Kettles

Grandaddy Mimms Moonshine Distillery Copper Kettles

Grandaddy Mimm’s is Georgia’s first legal moonshine distillery. However, the roots of this local distillery stretch back even farther than their legal status! Visit the distillery and museum in Blairsville for a distillery tour or to sample a flight of Grandaddy Mimm’s products!

Distillery tours are $5 / person for a 20-minute tour that teaches about the history of moonshine, the story behind the company, and the intricate details of the distillation process. Tastings are also $5 / person and include a taste of up to five products NEAT.

Plus, no matter how strong you like your drinks, Grandaddy Mimms has the perfect option!

  • Very strong: 140 Proof Mule Kickin’ High Octane and 100 Proof Authentic Corn
  • Average strength: 96 Proof Authentic Blueberry Moonshine, 96 Proof Authentic Peach Moonshine, and 80 Proof Authentic Apple Moonshine
  • Less strong: 40 Proof Wild Cherry Cobbler, 40 Proof Fresh Peach Cobbler, 40 Proof Blueberry Cobbler, and 40 Proof Apple Brown Betty

The distillery is closed on Sundays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Grandaddy Mimm’s is also a concert venue, hosting concerts and songwriter’s nights. Check online for event information.

 

House of Applejay – Ellijay

More info is coming soon on this East Ellijay distiller!

 

Moonrise Distillery – Clayton

Moonrise Distillery Georgia Mountains

Moonrise Distillery Georgia Mountains

Established in 2012, Moonrise Distillery is located in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains as you enter the city of Clayton, Georgia. Georgia Bourbon and Rye Whiskey are handcrafted using locally sourced grains and deep well mountain spring water with traditional methods and equipment.

Enjoy souvenir tours, tastings, and craft cocktails that highlight the personality and presence of the spirits. Spend a few hours at the distillery and see how we use traditional methods and equipment to craft the best products possible. Take advantage of the large front porch and the event lawn, or see a band on the event stage.

Join and enjoy special events, access to unique Ambassador product offerings and information, special discounts, and the opportunity to help spread the word about Moonrise. Your name will be put on a special barrel, and you get to sample and nurture it throughout its aging process. Once it’s ready, you will visit Moonrise, bottle the batch, and take home a few personalized bottles.

The initial cost of $275 and annual renewal of $200/year entitles you to $5 discounts on bottle purchases, $2 discounts on cocktails, a 10% merchandise discount, a Glencairn whiskey glass to take home, and access to Ambassador-only products and merchandise releases.

Tastings and tours are free for Ambassadors as they enjoy using an Ambassador glass during their visit.

Moonrise Distillery is closed on Wednesdays. Tours last 30 minutes each, and the last starts at 4:00 pm daily. Live music each Sunday from 2:00 – 5:00 pm. This highly-rated distillery is popular with both locals and tourists!

 

Old Know Bev Co – Clayton

Old Know Bev Co is a “distillery of botanical spirits” in downtown Clayton. It is open Thursday through Sunday and serves unique cocktails and mocktails. View the cocktail and mocktail menu online and watch for special events on social media.

 

RM Rose Company Distillery – Mount Airy

RM Rose Copper Pot Distilled Spirits

RM Rose Copper Pot Distilled Spirits

The RM Rose Company Distillery is a small distillery in a new location in Mount Airy. The RM Rose Company Distillery is open six days a week for your convenience (closed on Sundays)! Hours may change seasonally.

 

Sharptop Distilling Co – Jasper

Sharptop Distilling Co on Main Street in Jasper GA

Sharptop Distilling Co on Main Street in Jasper GA

In downtown Jasper on Main Street, Sharptop Distilling Company features spirits made from ingredients and products sourced locally in North Georgia. Sample the spirits and enjoy a drink from their menu of craft cocktails. Enjoy live music during Acoustic Thursdays and other special events.

 

White Path Creek Distillery – Ellijay

White Path Creek Distillery Mason Jars

White Path Creek Distillery Mason jars at tasting area

This new local distillery offers daily tastings of their locally crafted moonshine, rum, and brandy.

***

Closed Distilleries

  • Roadside Distilling in Blairsville has been closed since 2024
  • Z. Brown Distillery in Dahlonega (owned by Grammy-winner Zac Brown) closed in November 2018

***

What are your favorite North Georgia distilleries? Visit these articles to learn about other types of locally produced alcoholic beverages:

Cheers!

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21 Responses

  1. Leahrae says:
    January 6, 2022 at 11:56 am

    My oldest son is into visiting places just like this and I do not live far.  I think this would be a great road trip for the next time he visits me.  I will have to check your website for accommodations as well.  Do you know if this is a popular area?  Would it be advisable to book a hotel a few months in advance?  We would be going next fall.

    Reply
    • Alyce says:
      January 6, 2022 at 12:01 pm

      Hello Leahrae! North Georgia is a great place to visit in the fall to see all the colorful leaves and enjoy fall activities like apple picking, harvest festivals, and the Helen Oktoberfest. Fall is also North Georgia’s peak season so it is wise to book lodging in advance to get the best deals and best selection!

      Reply
  2. wes says:
    November 15, 2019 at 2:31 pm

    Hi,

    I thought this post was great, the pictures are very visual. I like my spirits but I do not know anything about whiskey. Going to a distillery would be a great learning experience. And the prices are very reasonable along with the good music and other attractions, this is a great weekend trip to do. It doesn’t look family-friendly so I know to leave the kids at home.  

    Reply
    • Alyce says:
      November 15, 2019 at 4:31 pm

      Hi Wes, These are fun types of experiences where you get to learn about something and then immediately sample the product to bring the lesson together!

      Reply
  3. Kara says:
    November 15, 2019 at 2:06 pm

    I worked at a local vodka distillery near my home for almost 4 years so I have an extreme appreciation for spirits and the way they are made. On top of the fact they make all these amazing flavors that I would love to try, they also have this paired with such beautiful atmosphere I can’t imagine how it could get any better than this.

    Their tours are the perfect length and such a cheap cost! This is so reasonable, I will definitely have to plan a trip here sometime soon. I have my eyes on the Peach Cobbler 🙂 

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Alyce says:
      November 15, 2019 at 4:26 pm

      Very nice – that is a lot of relevant experience!! I’m also interested in the fruity moonshine flavors available as they look super refreshing!

      Reply
  4. Stacy says:
    November 2, 2019 at 3:56 am

    My hubbie and I are huge fans of the Appalachian mountains.  We live in a small town in rural PA right off the Appalachian trail.  The scenery is beautiful to experience.  I love your guide to moonshine.  We have friends who have gotten into making their own at home who I know would be intrigued by taking a tour of one of your recommendations to see professionals create their products.  Of the four you recommend which one is your favorite?  Cheers from the Northern Appalachian Trail!

    Reply
    • Alyce says:
      November 2, 2019 at 1:29 pm

      Hi Stacy and the Northern Appalachian Trail!  If all of the distilleries look equally as interesting, I’d recommend checking out Grandaddy Mimm’s Distillery. They have a wide variety of drinks that range from a strength of 40 proof and go up to 140 proof! They also have a lot of different flavors which may appeal to more people in your group. I hope you enjoy these Georgia mountain distilleries!

      Reply
  5. Gomer says:
    November 2, 2019 at 3:50 am

    Although based on the picture shown, that picture of the distillery where you can see on the background some wooden panels, this can’t be a home-based business but rather a full-blown manufacturer of alcoholic drink in Georgia. As a pharmacist myself, I don’t usually take a drink from home-based businesses as there’s a chance they’ll miss the monitoring and prevention of producing Methanol instead of Ethanol. But this one from Georgia seems more professional than those home-based gin manufacturers in the Philippines. I’d like to make a visit, take a tour of the facility, and test it myself how does a Georgian Corn Whiskey taste like. 

    Reply
    • Alyce says:
      November 2, 2019 at 1:24 pm

      Hi Gomer, No need for concern — these distillers are licensed so you should feel comfortable knowing they are held to product quality regulations. 

      Reply
  6. Kim says:
    July 17, 2019 at 6:06 pm

    I liked the posts on distilleries.  You did a great job of providing a lot of information in very organized and informative way.  You gave me information about all of the various distilleries, what they showcase a little bit about them, pricing and contact information without it being jumbled and overwhelming.  I have really only been to Atlanta and Savannah GA, though, I drove through it to go to college.  I never actually thought about visiting distilleries or the history they have in GA.  Thank you for that.

    Reply
  7. Ibrahim says:
    July 17, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    Omg!  I grew up in a household without alcohol and I only recently started drinking in social settings.  My problem is because I didn’t grow up with it, I never know what to get. I prefer liquor over beer though, I just don’t like the taste of beer.  

    I don’t like the taste of liquor either, but it get’s you drunk faster!  You might make fun of me for this, but one of my favorite drinks is Mike’s hard lemonade.  I know, I know, I can feel you rolling your eyes through the screen.  I don’t mind drinking as long as I don’t have that strong alcohol taste.  Do you have anything you can recommend for someone like me?

     

    Reply
    • Alyce says:
      July 17, 2019 at 6:21 pm

      Haha, you’re cracking me up! Don’t apologize for what you like or don’t like. I noticed that Grandaddy Mimms Moonshine has a page of recipes that look pretty tasty… They also have a lot of different fruit-based flavors so you might just find a new favorite there. 

      Cheers! 

      Alyce

      Reply
  8. Jackson kenny says:
    July 17, 2019 at 5:56 pm

    Great post you have here…It’s nice to see that there are such great distilleries in Georgia. I plan to visit sometime soon and maybe I’ll be at the mountains to go on one of this tours. The tours are really cheap, makes me ask if the liquor is good but I’ll check it out anyway… Great post

    Reply
    • Alyce says:
      July 17, 2019 at 6:23 pm

      Hi Jackson, the cheap (or free) tours are great because it’s an easy way to get familiar with the drinks without the commitment to spend so much money on a full bottle of booze. It’s always nice to have the opportunity to “try before you buy”. 

      Cheers!

      Reply
  9. Scott Hinkle says:
    July 17, 2019 at 5:55 pm

    Thanks for this interesting post!

    I thought moonshine was still illegal LOL.  I didn’t realize that legal forms of moonshine existed.

    I’m not sure when I’ll next be in Georgia (it was much more often when I lived in Florida) but I’ll be sure to visit a couple of these when I am.

    Of the options listed here, what would be your top two? Just in case I have to pick the best ones.

    Thank you,

    Scott

    Reply
    • Alyce says:
      July 17, 2019 at 6:26 pm

      Hi Scott, I do believe that the backyard stills remain illegal, but as long as you get a license it’s all good. 

      I’d recommend the RM Rose Company Distillery just because it’s free, so you really have nothing to lose by checking it out. The others are also good bets, so I’d recommend trying out the one that you’re closest to, as the 3 are fairly spread out among the Ga mountains.

      Cheers!

      Reply

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