Distilleries of the North Georgia Mountains
One tasting room in Helen and legal distilleries in Dahlonega, Blairsville, Dawsonville and Clayton
The short answer
The distilleries
Hours for each are on the beer and spirits quick-reference page; call ahead for tour times.
| Distillery | Where | From Helen | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| R.M. Rose & Company | 8160 S. Main St., Suite A1, Helen | In town | Complimentary whiskey tastings, cocktail lounge, full bar. 770-744-5017. |
| Big Creek Distilling Co. | 2148 Town Creek Church Rd., Dahlonega | About 45 min | Tours, tastings and cocktails. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 404-458-7132. |
| Grandaddy Mimm's, The Co-op | 112 Wellborn St., Blairsville | About 50 min | Tours with tastings; reservations recommended. Closed Sunday. 706-781-1829. |
| Grandaddy Mimm's, The Garage | 415 Hwy 53 E., Suite 130, Dawsonville | About 1 hr | Same complex as the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. Open Wednesday to Sunday. |
| Moonrise Distillery | 31 Webb Rd., Clayton | About 1 hr | Speakeasy bar, tours and tasting flights. 844-994-4759. |
Weekly hours
The list above gives locations and drive times. This table has the weekly hours from each distillery's own site, which matter more here than at a winery because several are closed two days a week. Hours can change, so call before a long drive.
| Distillery | Hours |
|---|---|
| R.M. Rose & Company (Helen) | Not posted; call 770-744-5017 |
| Big Creek Distilling Co. (Dahlonega) | Wed and Thu 12 to 6:30 PM; Fri and Sat 12 to 8 PM; Sun 12:30 to 6:30 PM; closed Mon and Tue |
| Grandaddy Mimm's, The Co-op (Blairsville) | Mon to Thu 11 AM to 6 PM; Fri and Sat 11 AM to 8 PM; closed Sun |
| Grandaddy Mimm's, The Garage (Dawsonville) | Wed and Thu 3 to 9 PM; Fri and Sat 12 to 10 PM; Sun 1 to 7 PM |
| Moonrise Distillery (Clayton) | Mon to Thu 11 AM to 7 PM; Fri and Sat 11 AM to 9 PM; Sun 1 to 6 PM |
What each is about
R.M. Rose & Company
The company says it is the oldest registered distillery in Georgia with more than 150 years of history. Its lineup includes bourbons, corn whiskeys, flavored spirits and ready-to-drink options, plus 96 Rock Vodka and Bass Reeves Bourbon. The Helen tasting room has outdoor rocking chairs and slushies.
Grandaddy Mimm's
Moonshine in flavors such as blackberry and peach cobbler, plus Owltown Vodka, a 5-year barrel-aged whiskey and sorghum rum. The Dawsonville spot, The Garage, is open Wednesday through Sunday.
Big Creek Distilling
A family-owned distillery in Dahlonega with the tagline "Tastes Like Georgia." Spirits include bourbon, gin and moonshine. Walk-ins are welcome, and it's open Wednesday through Sunday.
Moonrise Distillery
A family-owned craft distillery in Clayton that makes vodka, gin, bourbon, rye, peach brandy and limoncello. The facility has a hidden 1920s-style speakeasy bar and an 80-foot covered front porch. Hours and tours.
Dawsonville and the moonshine story
Dawsonville is the center of the region's moonshine-to-racing story. The Georgia Racing Hall of Fame is at 415 Highway 53 East (706-216-7223), with exhibits on drivers such as Bill Elliott and racing simulators. It's about an hour from Helen (41 miles by road). The Mountain Moonshine Festival & Car Show, put on by KARE for Kids, runs Friday through Sunday, October 23 to 25, 2026, at the Hall of Fame and Main Street Park, with a car show, Friday moonshine run, Saturday parade at 10 AM, live music and the National Moonshiner's Hall of Fame induction. Admission is free; parking donations run $10 to $25. See the festival page for the schedule.
For the history behind it, including the Scots-Irish distillers, the post-Civil War tax and the tanker cars that led to stock car racing, read our moonshine heritage guide, which draws on the New Georgia Encyclopedia.
Build a day around it
Dawsonville day
Grandaddy Mimm's The Garage shares a complex with the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, and Amicalola Falls State Park (ParkPass $10 per vehicle) is nearby. Wednesday to Sunday only for the tasting room.
Dahlonega day
Big Creek pairs with the Dahlonega wineries, but it's closed Monday and Tuesday. About 45 minutes from Helen.
Blairsville and Clayton
These are the longest drives, about 50 minutes and an hour. Make them part of an overnight or a bigger loop rather than a single stop.
Easiest option
R.M. Rose & Company's tasting room is on South Main Street in Helen, so you can try whiskey without driving out of town.
Tips for the trip
Pick a designated driver, since Georgia's drinking age is 21 and these are long drives home. Combine Big Creek with Dahlonega's wineries, and see our beer and spirits quick list for hours.
Related Imagery from Around Helen
