Macon Magazine

February/March 2026 | maconmagazine.com 71 W hen owners Will Robinson and David Thompson opened Longleaf Distilling Co. in Downtown Macon in April 2023, they hoped to create a successful independent distillery that would produce high- quality spirits patrons would enjoy and that the city could be proud of. In less than three years, their original hopes have been surpassed. Far surpassed. In that short time, Longleaf Distilling's 664 Second St. location has become a thriving distillery and gathering spot where locals and tourists alike enjoy homemade Longleaf spirits and creative cocktails in its own tasting room, cocktail bar, and bottle shop — plus take a mixology class or tour distillery operations. As far as producing high-quality spirits, Longleaf has accomplished something unheard of in the industry: the young brand has already won prestigious awards for not just one, but many of its products. Remarkably, it began this winning tradition within its first year in competition with the world's best-known liquor manufacturers. In 2024, Longleaf received Double Gold awards for both its Navy Strength Southland American Gin and its Alba Thistle Liqueur. In 2025, it was awarded Double Gold for its Heirloom American Whiskey and Cask Strength Heirloom American Whiskey in addition to Gold Medals for other Longleaf spirits. The Double Gold awards came from what's considered the most prestigious spirits judging body in the world: the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, where entrants large and small from dozens of countries vie for recognition. In those two years, Longleaf's winning spirits received high scores of 97 and 99 at the SFWSC. "It's one of the most respected spirits competitions globally for a variety of reasons," Robinson said. "One reason is that judging is done by 75 judges, all leaders in the industry — from bartenders to distillers — who really know what they're talking about. To receive a Double Gold rating, all judges have to agree and give scores of at least 90. Another reason is that judging is done in blind tests, so it's not a pay-to-play situation where the bigger distilleries end up with an edge." Longleaf products have won other awards, like from the Beverage Testing Institute and the Georgia Trustees Wine and Spirits Competition. Not bad for Macon's first-ever licensed distillery. It's also the only such distillery in Central Georgia or for miles around it, from Atlanta to Savanah to Tifton. Robinson is the creative force behind the distilling of Longleaf's core spirits, seasonal creations, and related products. He said inspiration comes from many sources. For instance, products in the Heirloom line, like Heirloom American Whiskey and Cask Strength Heirloom American Whiskey, are based on recipes Georgia farmers would have used when making whiskey and other liquors out of their unsold, leftover grains. Other spirits are based on traditional recipes, and formulas hailing from other parts of the world. Some are based more purely on Robinson's years of imagination, trials and errors — or on a near-ancient Italian manuscript of spirits recipes Robinson discovered. "There are so many factors that go into distilling and creating recipes," Robinson said. "We always have in mind what local favorites are, but we also like introducing new twists." Longleaf's core spirits include varieties of vodkas, gins, whiskies, bourbons, and ryes. Some are designed to be locally loved. It's High Tea, tea- flavored vodka, is an obvious nod to the Southern love of sweet tea, while Pinkest Party, a cherry blossom flavored vodka, is an obvious Macon- centric spirit only available seasonally in Longleaf's

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