Distillery Supports GA’s Protected Tortoise

13th Colony Distilleries is launching an initiative in support of the gopher tortoise, Georgia’s state reptile and a keystone species essential to the region’s ecosystem. Kicking off the effort on Gopher Tortoise Day, the distillery will donate 100% of proceeds from on-site sales on April 10 and 11 to conservation efforts through the Georgia Conservancy. 

Native to the sandy soils of the Southeast, the gopher tortoise plays a critical role in maintaining biodiversity. Its burrows become shelter for hundreds of other animals, from frogs to insects to small animals, creating a ripple effect that supports the broader ecological community. For 13th Colony, a distillery rooted in South Georgia, the connection is both local and philosophical.

“At 13th Colony, everything we do is shaped by where we come from,” said Maxwell Darby, president of 13th Colony Distilleries. “The gopher tortoise is a Georgia original, just like we are. It’s steady, it takes its time, and it supports everything around it. That idea of patience and purpose is something we’ve always believed in.”

That belief is reflected in the brand’s marketing campaign, which includes a similar tortoise and distant relative to the gopher tortoise in advertising and apparel to playfully bring to life the distillery’s tagline, “Worth Drinking Slow.” The imagery, originally created to reinforce the brand’s philosophy of slowing down and savoring the moment, now takes on added meaning through the distillery’s conservation efforts.

“Our brand has always celebrated taking your time, whether that’s aging whiskey or enjoying it with friends,” Darby said. “Supporting the gopher tortoise felt like a natural extension of that mindset. It’s about protecting something that represents patience, balance and the kind of pace we believe in.”

Guests visiting the Americus distillery on April 10th – Gopher Tortoise Day – and 11th will have the opportunity to contribute directly through their purchases in the distillery’s Tasting Room and Merch Store, with all proceeds benefiting programs that help protect and preserve gopher tortoise habitats across Georgia.

For more information about 13th Colony Distilleries, visit 13thcolonydistilleries.com. To learn more about gopher tortoise conservation efforts, visit georgiaconservancy.org/gophertortoise.