Brian Nagele
There’s no denying that the craft cocktail movement has swept across the nation, and Atlanta has seen a recent surge in craft distilleries available in the city.
In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a neighborhood that doesn’t have at least one artisan distillery tucked away in an industrial warehouse near downtown or on the outskirts of the city limits.
These local booze makers pride themselves on their craft and produce some pretty amazing spirits as a result – and I think it’s worth your time to check out all these spots.
Whether you’re looking for some local favorites or want to try something new. Here are some of my favorite distilleries in Atlanta to choose from!
ASW Whiskey Exchange
750 White St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
Phone: 404-590-2279
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Visitors can tour several ASW Whiskey Exchange distilleries, which offer tours and tastings alongside independent spirits makers.
Visitors can choose from numerous varieties of whiskey outside the bourbons ASW is known for, including rye, vodka, gin and scotch.
There are also several small-batch organic spirit brands available at ASW Whiskey Exchange.
If you aren’t interested in drinking things neat, they have an extensive cocktail list and boozy slushes available for order, which are available seasonally!
Tastings are available on request during tour hours or by appointment at a discounted rate. Tours take about an hour, with samples given after each stop during the trip through their production facilities.
Old Fourth Distillery
487 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
Phone: 844-653-3687
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If you haven’t visited Old Fourth Distillery, it’s time. In fact, if you live in and around Atlanta, it’s worth a drive into Grant Park.
On their website, they describe themselves as distilling modern spirit by taking cues from history.
Old Fourth Distillery takes focuses on bourbon, vodka and gin (with seasonal releases), their famous Lawn Dart (ginger and lemon) liqueur, and a variety of small-batch fruit spirits (such as strawberry or apple brandy).
With each option being offered for sale at retail locations and bars throughout metro Atlanta, there are plenty of reasons to make Old Fourth your new go-to stop for cocktails with friends.
Tours are available by reservation only and last about 40 minutes.
Goza Tequila
1372 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: 678-834-9691
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If you’re looking for a Blanco, reposado, Anejo, or extra Anejo (and who isn’t?), head to Goza Tequila, Georgia’s only distillery making agave-based spirits.
This innovative operation has been producing tequila with an eco-friendly approach since 2010, using non-GMO agave plants and organic fertilizer in place of chemicals and pesticides in its growing process.
The company, which prides itself on producing the best damn tequila in Georgia, is currently offering tasting flights at select times and locations around Atlanta but does not offer any tours of its facilities.
Luckily, even if you aren’t local, Goza offers shipping options for their entire lineup across the United States!
Lazy Guy Distillery
2950 Moon Station Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30144
Phone: 770-485-0081
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One of Atlanta’s newest distilleries has made a name for its craft whiskey, even as a first-generation distillery. Lazy Guy Distillery is hands-making some of the best spirits around.
Their products use regionally grown grains for traditional crafting methods and pure ingredients for clean tastes.
They’ve also won a handful of awards since 2016 for perfecting their craft!
Lazy Guy doesn’t offer traditional tours, but they do offer a Whiskey 101 class that will take you through their entire lineup, with their head honcho himself telling you all about their spirits and how they’re made.
Distillery of Modern Art
2197 Irvindale Way, Chamblee, GA 30341
Phone: 404-482-2663
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Located in Little Five Points, this local whiskey distillery is known for its unique style of craft spirits and the way it mixes art into every step of your experience while here in Atlanta.
They hand-pick local artists to show and include them in various in-house events.
For example, Modern Art Wednesdays held each month allow for a different local artist to come into DOWA and create their art on-site!
You can then see that work in person when taking a tour of DOWA in the storage areas, where everything goes after it’s finished maturing.
If you can’t make it on a Wednesday, tours are available most weekends at 1 pm.
Hope Springs Distillery
4839 Railroad Avenue Suites D & E, Lilburn, GA 30047
Phone: 770-861-6397
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Hope Springs Distillery was started after the founding couple spent nearly 20 years brewing beer, wine, and mead together.
They felt like the jump to distilling was a natural next step and started in on the next phase of their life by expanding to vodka, gin, and even distilling, the only absinthe made inside Georgia’s borders.
They don’t offer tours but have tasting room hours on weekends. They suggest checking in with them through their Facebook page to ensure someone is there to let you inside.
Though, as the tasting room isn’t fully open. Make sure to grab a bottle of your favorite while you’re there!
Independent Distilling Company
731 E College Ave Suite D, Decatur, GA 30030
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Independent Distilling Company was founded in 2014 and focuses solely on small-batch productions to ensure the quality of every bottle they produce.
They currently make their Hellbender corn whiskey and Independent spiced rum on their grounds.
IDC offers a full cocktail menu inside their distillery, with options to take full bottles home so you can mix your own from the comfort of your kitchen.
If you don’t want a complete cocktail kit, they also have a list of their favorite cocktail recipes posted on their website so that you can pair the flavors of their spirits without wondering how something might mix!
It’s easy to see why distilling has acquired its popularity across the United States. Being able to mix and match flavors, guarantee quality on a more local level, and even produce small-batch specialties is appealing to both distillers and fans of spirits alike.
If you’re in Atlanta and you’re not in the mood for liquor, be sure to check out these amazing beer gardens instead!
Did we leave a distillery out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!
