John Emerald

John Emerald Distilling Company is a family-run small batch craft distillery from Opelika, Alabama that has been operational since 2014. It is the first legal distillery that opened in the state since the end of the Prohibition era, a year short of a hundred years later. It all started when John and his son Jimmy Sharp, both homebrewers, started looking into opening a brewery. Finding the market to be oversaturated, they turned to craft distilling instead and started rigorous training and education. They came upon an old cotton warehouse in Opelika, a small and business-friendly town where the mayor welcomed them with open arms.The distillery now operates on 8 thousand square feet and has a tasting room that is open for visitors. They produce several spirits using their 350-gallon hybrid pot, each product named after one of Johns and Jimmys ancestors their (grand) father John Emerald Sharp, a successful businessman, being the distillerys namesake. The spirits include award-winning gin, vodka, rum, and single malt. At the very core of their lineup is the John Emerald Alabama Single Malt Whiskey, the only one to share the name with the distillery itself. The style is between bourbon and Scotch whisky, or as they like to call it American single malt. A part of the 100 percent malted barley grain recipe is smoked with peach and pecan wood, and Alabama wine barrel staves are added for a touch of smoke and added complexity. The spirit then matures in Missouri Ozark charred oak barrels in a room that simulates the changing of seasons with variable temperature.Get your bottle today!

John Emerald Distilling Company is a family-run small-batch craft distillery from Opelika, Alabama that has been operational since 2014. It is the first legal distillery that opened in the state since the end of the Prohibition era, a year short of a hundred years later. It all started when John and his son Jimmy Sharp, both homebrewers, started looking into opening a brewery. Finding the market to be oversaturated, they turned to craft distilling instead and started rigorous training and education. They came upon an old cotton warehouse in Opelika, a small and business-friendly town where the mayor welcomed them with open arms.The distillery now operates on 8 thousand square feet and has a tasting room that is open for visitors. They produce several spirits using their 350-gallon hybrid pot, each product named after one of Johns and Jimmys ancestors their (grand) father John Emerald Sharp, a successful businessman, being the distillerys namesake. The spirits include award-winning gin, vodka, rum, and a single malt. The latter John Emerald Alabama Single Malt Whiskey is at the very core of their lineup and is the only one to share the name with the distillery itself. Then theres Hugh Wesleys Gin, Elizabeth Vodka, Spurgeons Barrel Aged Rum, and Genes Spiced Rum.This expression in John Emeralds Purveyors Series Double Wood is a bourbon whiskey that is aged in new American oak barrels. But theres a twist, the barrels are filled with wood chips. In this case, toasted American white oak chips are used. The unique way of finishing the whiskey ensures that an extraordinary amount of liquid comes into contact with the wood, imparting the nicely-balanced sweet bourbon with an extra layer of oakiness.Grab your bottle today!

John Emerald Distilling Company is a family-run small-batch craft distillery from Opelika, Alabama that has been operational since 2014. It is the first legal distillery that opened in the state since the end of the Prohibition era, a year short of a hundred years later. It all started when John and his son Jimmy Sharp, both homebrewers, started looking into opening a brewery. Finding the market to be oversaturated, they turned to craft distilling instead and started rigorous training and education. They came upon an old cotton warehouse in Opelika, a small and business-friendly town where the mayor welcomed them with open arms.The distillery now operates on 8 thousand square feet and has a tasting room that is open for visitors. They produce several spirits using their 350-gallon hybrid pot, each product named after one of Johns and Jimmys ancestors their (grand) father John Emerald Sharp, a successful businessman, being the distillerys namesake. The spirits include award-winning gin, vodka, rum, and a single malt. The latter John Emerald Alabama Single Malt Whiskey is at the very core of their lineup and is the only one to share the name with the distillery itself. Then theres Hugh Wesleys Gin, Elizabeth Vodka, Spurgeons Barrel Aged Rum, and Genes Spiced Rum.The John Emerald Purveyors Series Double Wood is a rye whiskey that is aged in new American oak barrels. But theres a twist, the barrels are filled with pecan wood chips. This unique method of finishing the whiskey ensures that an extraordinary amount of liquid comes into contact with the wood, imparting the sweet and spicy rye with additional nutty pecan notes. The unique rye whiskey is bottled at 86 proof.Get your bottle today!