13th Colony Distillery announces it has partnered with Heidelberg Distributing Company to distribute its Southern Bourbon Whiskey and Southern Rye Whiskey in Kentucky starting in September. 13th Colony is the only Georgia bourbon to be distributed in the state of Kentucky, well known as the birthplace of bourbon. Featured in The Bourbon Flight’s Distilleries Across America Series, this distillery honors tradition.
Established in Americus in 2009, 13th Colony Distillery is a family-owned and operated distillery, sourcing local and regional materials whenever possible, including corn from their local farm and water from the southeast’s oldest aquifer. Georgia’s oldest operating distillery since Prohibition, 13th Colony, produces award-winning bourbon and rye.
“We are honored and humbled to expand into Kentucky, known as the Bourbon Capital of the World,” said Maxwell Darby, president of 13th Colony. “We respect Kentucky’s amazing whiskey offerings and look forward to introducing our unique Georgia flavor profile.”
South Georgia is a unique and ideal climate for aging, the strongest cask strength and most flavorful whiskey, with 20-plus-degree temperature swings and an average 72% humidity year-round. These temperature swings cause the barrel’s expansion and contraction, pulling out intense flavor.
13th Colony Southern Bourbon Whiskey has won multiple Double-Gold awards. It boasts a smooth, well-rounded flavor with a slightly sweet finish. With a mash bill of predominantly Georgia corn (70%) mixed with rye (21%) and a dash of malted barley (9%), 13th Colony Southern Bourbon is aged between four and six years. At 95 proof, this unique bottle is a perfect daily sipper.
13th Colony Southern Rye Whiskey is a Platinum Award-Winner featuring a rich, distinctive taste, drawing its character from the barrel’s unique toasted French Oak spiral finish. Known for aging some of the world’s finest wine, French Oak features a tighter grain with a silkier texture than its American counterpart. This 95-proof rye is derived from a mash bill high in rye (95%) and aged over four years.
“The demand for our award-winning bourbon and rye is growing,” said Darby. “We have seen sales double in 2023 and are excited to continue to grow and expand into new markets.”
13th Colony’s Master Distiller, Graham Arthur, is a Coast Guard veteran and trained as a classical chef, graduating from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Graham worked in notable restaurants in Atlanta and Charleston and is truly an artist of flavor.
In addition to bourbon and rye, 13th Colony also produces Platinum Award-winning Southern Vodka, featuring a clean and sophisticated taste, handcrafted in small batches and Southern Gin, a citrus-forward contemporary gin with a crisp clean taste.
