Distillery Celebrates Five-Time Best of Georgia Win

Georgia’s oldest operating distillery is officially on a winning streak. 13th Colony Distilleries has been voted Best of Georgia for the fifth consecutive year, earning the title once again through overwhelming public support and cementing its place as one of the state’s most beloved craft distilleries.

“Winning for the fifth time is something truly special,” said Maxwell Darby, president of 13th Colony Distilleries. “It affirms the passion, consistency, and pride our team puts into every bottle. We’re honored that Georgians continue to choose us year after year.”

Family-owned and operated, 13th Colony has spent 16 years crafting award-winning spirits in the ideal South Georgia climate, an environment with big temperature swings and perfect humidity that creates rich, flavorful whiskey. Each barrel is tasted by the master distiller and selected by flavor, not just time, to achieve the signature balance that fans have come to expect.

Among its most popular offerings, Southern Bourbon is a 95-proof, smooth sipper with a slightly sweet finish. Southern Rye Whiskey, also 95-proof, features a unique French Oak Spiral Finish that delivers a rich, distinctive profile. Southern Vodka and Southern Gin offer clean, highly filtered flavor profiles that remain affordable and approachable. The distillery recently made its limited-edition 113 Bourbon with Maple Wood Spirals an everyday option, responding to fans’ interest in a straight bourbon whiskey with a hint of sweetness on the finish, gained by immersing a spiral-cut Maple wood piece in the barrel as the whiskey ages. 

The bourbon community continues to rally around 13th Colony, not only for its spirits but also for its immersive distillery experiences. This year’s launch of the Barrel Thief Tour & Tasting invites guests to pull whiskey straight from the barrel, while the Bottle Your Own Tour & Tasting lets visitors sample cask strength bourbon and rye, choose their favorite, then fill, cork, and hand-label their own bottle.

The Best of Georgia awards are presented annually by the Georgia Business Journal and determined entirely by public vote, making this fifth win a meaningful reflection of the distillery’s loyal fans and community support.