By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | A new $2 million hand-crafted distillery is about to begin off Town Creek Road near Dahlonega. Stillhouse Creek Distillery has as president Diane Kelly of Dahlonega, the only woman who is head of a distillery in Georgia.
On November 4, the distillery will mark its opening at the plant at 2 p.m. Dave Pickerell, a master distiller previously with Maker’s Mark bourbon, will be present. He is consulting with Stillhouse Creek in the new venture. While on site, Pickerell will operate the distilling equipment, including its new 500 gallon copper still and components, which was made in Louisville, Ky. Pickerell will also run tests on the Stillhouse Creek local corn and red wheat used in the bourbon-making process, and check out aspects all through the process.
Ms. Kelly says of his visit: “Dave has been with us every step of the way, from our relationship with federal authorities, to our Georgia-based distributors. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the table.”
Ms. Kelly, 52, is a native of Atlanta, was raised in Roanoke, Va., and is a graduate of Virginia Tech. Previously, she was in marketing. Her distiller, Jeff Oden, who also lives in Dahlonega, was previously a financial technical consultant, who tired of being “on the road” in his work.
Oden remembers: “Diane and I wanted to do something different, and four years ago, when out one night, we had an ‘Ah ha’ moment, thinking ‘Why not a distillery?’”
They looked more into it, liked what they saw, and began their research, eventually joining the American Distillery Institute. “We recognized we had different skill sets, she with people-skills and marketing, and me with a technical background.” Oden, 62, is a native of Atlanta, and graduate of Kennesaw State College, “In music,” he laughs.
Soon recognizing their initial challenge was financial, the firm obtained a SBA loan, though their plans were stalled with problems raising a building. Eventually they contacted a local builder, Precision Metal Buildings of Cleveland, and eight weeks later had their 7,200 square foot facility. Among its features is a cozy parlor with living room furniture and office, plus patio event space. They foresee eventually having weddings and corporate events for up to 150 people at their distillery in its tranquil setting.
The distillery plans four products, a gin and three different agings of bourbon. Oden says: “We will concentrate on our Oro gin, infused with local juniper and lavender, 80 proof, in order to get a revenue stream, since there’s no aging of gin.” An un-aged 92 proof bourbon, White Gold, will also be produced for immediate sale.
The other two bourbons will have different aging: Their premium Gold Rush 1829 bourbon (all named for when gold was discovered in Lumpkin County), will have a minimum of two years of aging in new wooden barrels. Gold Dust, a straight bourbon, will be aged less than two years. Both will also be 92 proof.
Stillhouse’s longer range plans include producing a brandy, using grapes from local viticulturists.
The company plans a multi-faceted marketing campaign, aimed first at Georgia. They anticipate having their first batch for sale in January. Their first goal is to produce a thousand cases of spirits…half their anticipated annual capacity.
Kelly says: “Our biggest problems are developing our market, and surviving the first two years, until we can get our premium bourbon on the shelves. The demand for bourbon outstrips the market. We won’t make compromises, but will produce spirits in a high quality tradition here in Lumpkin County.”
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