Photos Cameron Flaisch
NESTLED DEEP IN the heart of Atlanta’s historic Fourth Ward district lies a little-known distillery waiting to make a big splash with their innovative spirits. The Old Fourth Distillery, located at 487 Edgewood Ave. in Atlanta, seeks to renew the time-honored tradition of distilling and bottling fine liquors.
Atlanta once served as home to a booming distillery industry, but the temperance movement quashed them all including the historic R.M. Rose Distillery. After more than 100 years, Old Fourth Distillery has become the first to produce an original spirit, or any spirit for that matter, in Atlanta since the repeal of prohibition.
After 15 years of selling tech and wrangling real estate, brothers and business partners Craig and Jeff Moore developed an unexpected idea. Want-ing to branch out from their current endeavors, the entrepreneurial duo decided to forge boldly ahead with a plan to bring the art of making liquor back to Atlanta.
Settling on an 1100-square-foot building on Edgewood Avenue, and assembling an A-team of friends to help out, the process of experimenting with recipes for Atlanta’s first home brewed spirit since 1906 began in earnest.
Woefully lacking in experience, they turned to Gabe Pilato, a former sommelier, for help and advice in perfecting their first recipe. After lots of experimentation the team settled on a locally sourced, handcrafted vodka.
“We worked on fermentations while we were getting the facility up and running for couple of years,” Craig says, “and fermented just about anything we could get our hands on including fruits, grains, sugar, etc. We landed on cane sugar because it creates a uniquely flavored vodka and produces very little waste.”
Officially opening their doors in 2014 they released their first run of O4D Vodka to a rousing success, selling 3000 cases in 2015 and 5000 in 2016.
Exceptionally smooth and easy drinking, Old Fourth’s vodka is carefully crafted using regionally sourced turbinado sugar cane, giving it a distinctly sweet finish. “We chose a Louisiana supplier for our cane sugar because they are a family farm and were able to give us consistent quality,” says Moore.
Old Fourth has also developed a unique spin on the ever-mysterious spirit that is Gin, though this run definitely didn’t come from a bathtub. The tantalizing aromas of juniper and citrus will fill your head with fanciful thoughts of speakeasies and pinstriped suits. The Old Fourth gin recipe is distilled from Italian wheat and includes a wide array of floral flavor, like grapefruit, pink peppercorn and coriander which absolutely pop against its dry finish.
Old Fourth Distillery is now in their third year, and are continuing to add new flavors to their repertoire. Lawn Dart, a tasty twist on their handcrafted vodka, is a Lemon and Ginger vapor infused liqueur. With the same sweet finish as the vodka, and a hint of vapor-infused citrus and ginger, Lawn Dart is dangerously delicious and a fun addition to your summer cocktail cabinet. They have also taken a foray into the world of whiskey, with run of bourbon resting quietly in its barrels awaiting its 2019 release date.
Every iota of the bottling and production process is done by hand, and it is easy to tell when you taste the finished product. Old Fourth truly is handcrafting fine spirits in Atlanta again, and they make it easy for you to take part in something historic. Volunteers can sign up to help on bottling day for a chance to get an exclusive behind the scenes look at what it’s like to make craft spirits, and currently tours of the distillery are offered on weekends, which include a tasting of course. If you’re interested in signing up for a bottling day, taking a tour, or just want to find some Old Fourth liquors near you, head to O4d. com to find a product locator, tour schedule and volunteer sign-up, and even some of the Old Fourth team’s personal favorite cocktail recipes.
The Moore brothers have no intention of slowing down; the aim is to create an entirely new space for their operations and branch out from just distilling spirits to hosting events and tastings as well. The current facility is an awesome attraction, with a décor Jeff and Craig sourced from their real estate background.
Historic R.M. Rose jugs honor the distilleries’ roots, and church pews, marble counters and retired chalkboards from an abandoned Atlanta school, and even old doors have all found new life as the up-cycled interior of Old Fourth’s Edgewood home.
The small footprint of the current facility does leave something to be desired, however. The recently purchased 15,000 square foot facility located on Decatur St. represents a massive upgrade for the team, “We are hoping to take advantage of the new laws and create a public tasting room, bar, event space as well as expanded manufacturing,” says Craig. They aim to be more than just a distillery, but a destination as well. With plans to rent the space for events as well as host their own, Old Fourth is sure to be on the top of Atlanta’s list of attractions before you can pop the cork on a bottle of their craft spirits.
The Moore brothers have no intention of slowing down; the aim is to create an entirely new space for their operations and branch out from just distilling spirits to hosting events and tastings as well. The current facility is an awesome attraction, with a décor Jeff and Craig sourced from their real estate background.
Historic R.M. Rose jugs honor the distilleries’ roots, and church pews, marble counters and retired chalkboards from an abandoned Atlanta school, and even old doors have all found new life as the up-cycled interior of Old Fourth’s Edgewood home.
The small footprint of the current facility does leave something to be desired, however. The recently purchased 15,000 square foot facility located on Decatur St. represents a massive upgrade for the team, “We are hoping to take advantage of the new laws and create a public tasting room, bar, event space as well as expanded manufacturing,” says Craig. They aim to be more than just a distillery, but a destination as well. With plans to rent the space for events as well as host their own, Old Fourth is sure to be on the top of Atlanta’s list of attractions before you can pop the cork on a bottle of their craft spirits.
Visit Old Fourth Distillery on Facebook, or visit in person at 487 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta. Tours of the distillery are offered by reservation and can be booked online as mentioned above, or call ahead at 844-653-3687.
