VIDEO OF THE DAY

Colt Ford "Waste Some Time" Offiicial Music Video

Georgia Distilling Company 121 Blandy Way Milledgeville, GA 31061

Images and content 2009-2011 All rights reserved

Who we are

The Story
Shawn Hall
Bill Mauldin

How it all began What began as an off-the cuff comment among friends, has matured into the realization of an age-old dream.... Legally making spirits in Georgia. Just a few short months ago, two friends from Jackson, Georgia came together with the goal of crafting exceptional distilled spirits for everyone to drink and enjoy. Each of the two friends brought a unique experience and talent to the effort, and each holds a family heritage of putting corn in a jar, literally. Now we must say that Middle Georgia possesses some of the best ideals for making quality handcrafted spirits; perfect climate, purest of natural springs, locally grown fruits and grains, and an ideal market for finished products. Thats why we have such a deep history of illicit moonshining operations, and such a love for NASCAR events. But nowadays we don't have to hide from the law to make our shine. We can produce it right hear at home in a new facility and not on the creek bank. We have replaced the old Fords and Chevys with trucks for hauling, and the law no longer attacks our stills with the ax. Yes indeed, things are looking bright here in Georgia's old capitol of Milledgeville.

The Story

Carrying on a family tradition!

Georgia has a rich history in making whiskey.

What began as an off-the cuff comment among friends, has matured into the realization of an age-old dream.... Legally making spirits in Georgia. Just a few short months ago, two friends from Jackson, Georgia came together with the goal of crafting exceptional distilled spirits for everyone to drink and enjoy. Each of the two friends brought a unique experience and talent to the effort, and each holds a family heritage of putting corn in a jar, literally

Now we must say that Middle Georgia possesses some of the best ideals for making quality handcrafted spirits; perfect climate, purest of natural springs, locally grown fruits and grains, and an ideal market for finished products. Thats why we have such a deep history of illicit moonshining operations, and such a love for NASCAR events.

But nowadays we don't have to hide from the law to make our shine. We can produce it right hear at home in a state of the art facility, and not on the creek bank. We have replaced the old Fords and Chevys with tractor-trailers for hauling, and the law no longer attacks our stills with the ax. Yes indeed, things are looking bright here in Haddock, Georgia.

Shawn Hall

Shawn Hall Co-Founder - Distiller

The legend of Bear Creek Growing up I would hear stories of how my grandfather and his brothers made and sold moonshine in the panhandle. The panhandle was the stretch of land in North West Spaulding country that butted up against Clayton and Henry counties, near Hampton Ga. My Grandfather got caught early into the operation and when asked by the Sheriff of Spauldin County why he did what he did, he responded, as many others did in that day, that he did it to provide for his family. The Sheriff asked him if he would stop running shine if he found him an "honest" job, he agreed and "paw paw" went to work at Highland Mill in Griffin and never returned to making or running shine (So the story goes). Well, this seems a fine place for the story to end but it was my granddad that quit and not his brothers. Over the next couple of decades, as I am told from many people around the area, the "Hall Boys" made the finest and purest shine in those parts. They never succumed to shortcuts of using car radiators as cooling coils(Worms) or dropping car batteries into the mash to speed fermintation. They prided themselves with making the finest Whiskey in the area. From sources outside our family, I am told we Halls made shine the right way. My great uncles were no strangers to the revenuers and were caught and served time more than once, but that was just an occupational hazard to them and that never seemed to slow them down. I heard a story of a young man fetching a cow that was bought by his father and upon chasing the cow in the field past a tree, found himself face to face with a shotgun, a smile and a kind voice letting him know that "thats far enough". I have heard tales of another great uncle learning to fly so that he could increase his range of bootlegging. Could all this be true? Well, if you are ever in the North West part of Spaulding county,somewhere around Hall Road, be sure to stop on the Bear Creek bridge and take a long look down the creek. Be real quiet and and you just might hear the moan of the fire under the stills from long ago and be sure to stop by where Great Uncle Jay's store was and think of what the days gone past were like. Back when times were less hectic, but no less difficult. Please know that the people in the panhandle still live simple, good lives so try not to disturb them. Take pictures at your own risk and leave Great Uncle Jay's "Airport" sign alone, I just wish I knew why he put that runway in his cow pasture."

Bill Mauldin

Bill Mauldin Co-Founder - Distiller

Stories from the WiregrassMy story is a bit different in that I come from a lineage of both sides of the law. My forebears grew up in South Georgia, a part we call the Wiregrass, in the days of the Great Depression. Since the family had lots of land, a good supply of corn and cane, yet no money, this lineage of my family decided to turn these commodities into liquid money by making and running shine. Hey, tough times call for tough answers, and their little enterprise helped them weather the Depression pretty well. And, of course, having all that shine around kept everyone in "good spirits". Now those days are long gone, and my family no longer plys this illegal trade, but they can still tell you a story or two about the way things used to be, and how many politicians their shine helped to get elected to office. My father was the opposite side of the coin going to work for local law enforcement and helping fight the shining and bootlegging of the "Dixie Mafia" in the 70's and 80's. Judging from pictures of the time, I'm not sure whether he was copying his clothes and hair style from Burt Reynolds, or whether Burt copyed my Dad. And then here we come, full circle once again with the grandson and son making alcohol in the Peach State, but not having to hide from the Revenooers in the process.

Products
Ready for a Goodtime?After a year of hard work getting permits and licensed by the Federal, State, and Local government, we have finally launched our first two products into the market. Goodtime Moonshine and Goodtime Vodka are both premium products using age old techniques and recipes, and handcrafted using Georgia grains and water to craft superb spirits with you in mind. Whether you're on the lake or in the woods, relaxing at a local restaurant or bar, or relaxing in the comfort of your home, you are bound to find a Goodtime in every bottle.. we guarantee it!