Macon Magazine

February/March 2026 | maconmagazine.com 73 project to help restore the longleaf pine population, which was decimated through logging for building materials, tar production, the reduction of natural burns, and the expansion of farmland. Only 3 percent of historic forests remain. We thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool if for every bottle we sold, we planted a longleaf pine?'" Longleaf took on the project, and, according to Robinson, in conjunction with the Longleaf Alliance and Mercer University, 85,000 longleaf pines were planted in February 2025 on land Mercer will use as a teaching forest. Also helped through the renewal are a host of lost native species and animal life that suffered due to the lack of a sustainable longleaf ecosystem. Visit Longleaf Distilling Co. on 664 Second Street Wednesday-Sunday and share your favorite cocktail on socials with @maconmagazine. "There's a story behind it," he said. "When the British Navy was sailing back and forth to the Caribbean, they stored gin next to their gunpowder. The gin's proof, its alcohol strength, was made high so that if it spilled on the gunpowder, the gunpowder would still light. They kept proofing the gin up and up, until they got what's essentially known as Navy strength. So, they loaded gin up when they left Britain, then rum on the way home." Obviously, there's more information and more stories to tell on the tour and sampling of some of Longleaf's large variety of spirits. Similarly, there is more to Longleaf's own story and unique mission. "We came up with the name Longleaf, as in longleaf pine trees, to reflect our area, community, and our resurging downtown," Robinson said. "Being part of our community is something we're intentionally dedicated to. As we thought about the name Longleaf, we knew we had to take on a

• Cover