Craft Spirits · Georgia
Craft Spirits Distilleries in Georgia
Tour 6 craft spirits distilleries in Georgia. Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Thirteenth Colony Distillery, Ghost Coast Distillery, Big Creek Distilling Co..
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About craft spirits distilleries in Georgia
Georgia's craft-distilling scene has grown quickly, and its breadth is what makes it fun to explore. While bourbon often grabs the headlines, the state's small-batch distillers also turn out corn and rye whiskey, vodka, gin, rum and more, frequently under one roof. Touring them offers a snapshot of a young, ambitious industry finding its voice across both metro Atlanta and the wider state. The names tell the story: 13th Colony (also listed as Thirteenth Colony) ranks among Georgia's oldest operating distilleries and makes an ever-growing list of spirits alongside its bourbon; ASW-adjacent newcomers and independents like Ghost Coast Distillery in Savannah, Independent Distilling Company, Big Creek Distilling Co. and Moonrise Distillery each bring their own slant. What ties them together is a hands-on, small-batch ethic, where the person pouring your flight often helped make the spirit. From corn whiskey to vodka and gin, a Georgia craft-spirits tour is a relaxed, generous way to taste a regional scene that has come a long way in a short time and continues to expand its range.
What makes Georgia craft spirits special
Georgia's craft distillers share a small-batch, hands-on approach and a willingness to range widely across categories. Where Kentucky leans almost entirely on whiskey, Georgia producers tend to run broad portfolios: 13th Colony, for instance, pairs its bourbon with corn whiskey, rye, vodka and gin, and that spirit of experimentation runs through the scene. The state's warm climate also shapes its aged spirits, pushing whiskey in and out of the barrel quickly and lending depth to relatively young expressions. Geography adds variety too, from the urban distilleries of Atlanta to Savannah's Ghost Coast and producers further afield. The relative youth of the industry is part of the appeal: many of these distilleries opened in the past decade or so, which means visitors get to taste a regional style still being defined, often straight from the people defining it.
What to expect from a craft-spirits tasting
Because Georgia's craft distillers make so many categories, tastings here are wonderfully varied. A single flight might move from a clean vodka or botanical gin through corn whiskey and on to bourbon or rye, giving you a clear sense of the producer's full range. Guides typically explain the journey from grain to glass, covering fermentation, distillation and ageing, and are candid about what is made on site. At producers like 13th Colony you can sample across a deep portfolio, while urban spots such as Ghost Coast and Independent Distilling pair tastings with a lively tasting-room atmosphere. Sessions are generally small, informal and welcoming to beginners, and many rooms double as cocktail bars so you can try the spirits both neat and mixed. It's an easy, low-pressure way to learn and to find a bottle worth taking home.
Planning your visit
Georgia's craft distilleries cluster in and around Atlanta but reach down to Savannah and beyond, so plan a route around one area. Metro Atlanta offers the densest grouping, with Independent Distilling and others making an easy day out, while Savannah's Ghost Coast suits a coastal trip and 13th Colony rewards a longer drive into south Georgia. Check tour days and times before you travel, as some distilleries open only on selected days or take bookings, especially at busy weekends. Bring ID, and sort out a designated driver or rideshare so everyone can taste freely. If you want to take something special home, ask about limited, single-barrel or distillery-only releases, which are often the most distinctive bottles on the shelf.
Frequently asked
- What are craft spirits in Georgia?
- Craft spirits are made by small, independent Georgia distilleries in limited batches, with close control over fermentation, distillation and ageing. They include bourbon and other whiskeys as well as vodka, gin and rum, often produced by the same maker.
- Which Georgia distilleries are best for craft spirits?
- 13th Colony (Thirteenth Colony) offers a deep portfolio and is one of the state's oldest operating distilleries. Ghost Coast Distillery in Savannah, Independent Distilling Company, Big Creek Distilling Co. and Moonrise Distillery are also strong stops for craft spirits beyond bourbon.
- What kinds of spirits do Georgia craft distilleries make?
- Beyond bourbon, Georgia's craft distillers produce corn whiskey, rye, vodka, gin and rum. Many run broad portfolios, so a single visit can take in several categories, as at 13th Colony, which makes bourbon alongside corn whiskey, rye, vodka and gin.
- What is a Georgia craft-spirits tasting like?
- Tastings are varied and informal. A flight might move from vodka or gin through corn whiskey to bourbon or rye, with guides explaining how each is made. Sessions are usually small and beginner-friendly, and many tasting rooms also serve cocktails.
- Where are Georgia's craft distilleries located?
- They cluster in and around metro Atlanta, with Independent Distilling and others making an easy day out, but also reach to Savannah, home of Ghost Coast Distillery, and further south to 13th Colony. Plan a route around one area at a time.
- Should I book a Georgia craft-spirits tour in advance?
- Yes, where possible. Some distilleries open only on certain days or take bookings, particularly at weekends. Check hours before travelling, bring ID, and arrange a designated driver or rideshare so everyone can sample the range.