Independent Distilling Company: A Local Spirits Destination in Atlanta’s Backyard

If you’re interested in craft spirits in the Atlanta area, Independent Distilling Company is one of the small, local distilleries helping define the region’s flavor. Tucked just outside Atlanta in Decatur, Georgia, it’s close enough to count as part of the city’s drinking and dining landscape, especially if you live in-town or are staying near Eastside neighborhoods.

This guide walks through what Independent Distilling Company is, what you can expect if you visit, and how it fits into Atlanta’s distilleries and urban wineries scene.

Where Independent Distilling Company Fits in Atlanta’s Food & Drink Scene

Independent Distilling Company is a craft distillery known for small-batch rum, whiskey, and related spirits. While it is not a full-service restaurant, it typically offers:

• A tasting room experience
• Cocktails made with its own spirits
• Bottle sales for off-site consumption, as allowed under Georgia law

For Atlanta residents, it’s often grouped with other distilleries and urban wineries that function as hybrid spaces: part production facility, part bar-style tasting room, and part bottle shop. If you enjoy checking out breweries in West Midtown, the BeltLine, or Decatur, a distillery visit like this is a natural next step.

Location, Access, and Contact Basics

Independent Distilling Company is based in Decatur, GA, which is immediately east of the City of Atlanta and easily reachable by car from neighborhoods like Inman Park, Kirkwood, East Atlanta, Old Fourth Ward, and Midtown.

Typical ways Atlantans get there include:

• Driving: Most visitors come by car or rideshare.
• MARTA + short rideshare: You can ride MARTA to the Decatur station and use a short rideshare or walk, depending on your starting point and comfort with the area.

If you’re planning a visit, it’s a good idea to:

• Check current hours, as tasting room times can change.
• Confirm whether tours or special events are scheduled that day.

Because tasting rooms and hours can shift over time, many Atlantans rely on:

• The distillery’s own posted information
• Social media updates
• A quick phone call before heading over

What to Expect from the Tasting Room Experience

Independent Distilling Company is generally more laid-back and intimate than a large bar in Downtown or Buckhead. The experience usually feels closer to visiting a brewery taproom, but focused on spirits.

Common elements you may find include:

1. Tasting Flights

You can often sample a selection of house-made spirits, such as:

• Rum
• Bourbon or whiskey expressions
• Limited releases or specialty barrels, depending on what’s available

This is useful if you’re trying to understand the differences between styles, or comparing local spirits to the bigger national brands you see in Atlanta liquor stores.

2. Cocktails Featuring House Spirits

Instead of a full restaurant menu, you’re more likely to find a curated cocktail menu built around the distillery’s own products. Drinks might emphasize:

• Classic cocktails (for example, rum-based or whiskey-based standards)
• Seasonal twists using local ingredients
• Simple, spirit-forward serves to highlight flavor

Food is not the main focus, so Atlanta visitors frequently:

• Eat nearby in Downtown Decatur, which has many restaurants
• Pair a distillery visit with dinner before or after

3. Tours and Production Insight

Many guests are drawn by the chance to see how spirits are made on a small scale. A typical distillery tour in the Atlanta area often includes:

• A look at the still and fermentation tanks
• An overview of sourcing grains, molasses, or other base ingredients
• A straightforward explanation of mashing, distilling, aging, and bottling

This can be especially appealing if you’re already familiar with Atlanta’s craft beer scene and want to see how distilling compares.

Independent Distilling Company in the Context of Atlanta Laws

Because Independent Distilling Company operates in Georgia and serves Atlanta-area residents, it must follow state and local alcohol regulations that affect what you can do as a visitor.

A few points Atlanta consumers often find helpful:

• On-site consumption: You can usually enjoy cocktails and tastings on the premises, similar to a bar or brewery.
• Bottle purchases: Distilleries in Georgia may sell sealed bottles for off-site consumption, with certain quantity limits and rules that can evolve over time.
• Age requirements: As with all alcohol in Georgia, you must be 21 or older to drink, and staff will typically check IDs.

For regulatory questions, many Atlanta residents look to:

• The Georgia Department of Revenue – Alcohol & Tobacco Division, headquartered in Atlanta at 1800 Century Blvd NE, for statewide rules affecting distilleries.
• The City of Decatur and City of Atlanta licensing departments, which handle local business and pouring permits (relevant mainly if you’re comparing how different places around the metro area are allowed to operate).

Who Enjoys Visiting Independent Distilling Company?

From an Atlanta perspective, Independent Distilling Company tends to appeal to:

• Local spirits enthusiasts – people interested in tasting small-batch rum or whiskey made close to home.
• Neighborhood explorers – Atlantans who like spending weekends checking out Eastside spots, Decatur restaurants, and nearby breweries.
• Out-of-town visitors – guests staying in Atlanta who want something more personal and local than a national-chain bar.
• Home bartenders – residents building a home bar who want to stock a few bottles from nearby distilleries.

Because the space is more focused on craft spirits than nightlife, it often feels relaxed compared with busier bar districts like Buckhead or Edgewood.

Planning Your Visit from Around Atlanta

Here’s a simplified planning checklist if you’re considering a visit from within the Atlanta metro:

How It Compares to Other Atlanta Distilleries and Urban Wineries

Independent Distilling Company is part of a small but growing cluster of Atlanta-area producers that operate as:

• Distilleries (focused on spirits like rum, vodka, gin, bourbon, or whiskey)
• Urban wineries (producing or serving wine in city settings rather than rural vineyards)

While each producer has its own style, visitors commonly compare them on:

• Atmosphere: Some feel like cozy tasting bars, others like industrial warehouses.
• Product focus: Certain places center on whiskey, others on gin, rum, or wine.
• Food access: A few have food partners or food trucks; others rely on nearby restaurants or are strictly tasting spaces.

Independent Distilling Company generally leans toward:

• A production-first identity, where the distillery process is a key part of the experience
• A tasting room that lets you try the lineup in a manageable, approachable way
• A Decatur-area location that pairs well with a broader day or evening in that part of the metro

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Visit

For Atlanta locals and visitors alike, a few practical suggestions can help:

• Pair it with a neighborhood outing: Combine the distillery visit with dining or shopping in Downtown Decatur or nearby Atlanta neighborhoods.
• Ask questions during tastings: Staff at smaller distilleries are often closely involved with production and can explain flavor differences and techniques.
• Consider transportation early: If you plan to try several cocktails or a full tasting flight, many Atlantans prefer using rideshare services instead of driving.
• Check for special events: Some distilleries periodically host release parties, themed cocktail nights, or collaborations with local vendors, which can add variety to the experience.

For anyone exploring Atlanta’s craft drink scene, Independent Distilling Company offers a way to taste locally made spirits, see a small distillery in action, and add a distinct stop to a Decatur or Eastside Atlanta itinerary.