A Tribute To One Of Our Founders

When friends came together in 2009 to try their hand at crafting spirits as holiday gifts, it was the beginning of an adventure fueled by curiosity and the joy of doing something meaningful with people you love. Among that original group of founders was Alton Lee Darby, a visionary whose energy, business instinct, and unmistakable warmth helped shape the spirit and soul of 13th Colony Distilleries. Sadly, Alton passed away on December 3, 2025, after a year-long fight with cancer. The world lost an amazing soul. We’re proud Alton’s sense of fun, possibility and human connection lives on, woven into our distillery’s DNA.

Alton Darby: Living Life In Full Color

A beloved husband, father, son, nephew, cousin, uncle, friend and business partner, Alton lived life in full color. He was known for his quick wit, sharp mind, and the way he could make anyone feel like an old friend within minutes. Whether he was telling a story or diving headfirst into a new idea, Alton radiated an energy that drew people in. His entrepreneurial spirit fueled ventures across real estate, agriculture, and – most memorably for us – this distillery he helped bring to life.

He believed deeply in people, in possibility, and in doing things the right way. That belief became one of the distillery’s founding principles: that great spirits begin with great intention. Alton and his fellow founders shared the notion that if they could craft whiskey good enough for friends, they ought to craft it for the friends they hadn’t met yet. That idea continues to guide every barrel we age and every bottle that carries our name.

A Love Affair With Georgia

Alton’s appreciation for life was expansive, rooted deeply in the places and people of Georgia. He loved his farm in Leslie, Georgia – just a few miles from our distillery – and he was passionate about the University of Georgia, where he earned his degree and went on to ensure support for future generations through the Darby Family/Victory Scholarship for rural, first-generation students. Throughout his life, Alton was known for two simple and sincere phrases: “What can I do for you?” & “Can I share something with you?”

Today, as Georgia’s oldest operating distillery since Prohibition, we carry forward the spirit Alton embodied – one of friendship, craft, humility, and joy. We honor him with every bottle aged to taste, not time; with every visitor welcomed as a friend; and with every moment spent slowing down to savor something exceptional. Alton often said he had an amazing life. We’re grateful that part of that life helped build this place we love.