{"title":"John Emerald Distilling","description":"\u003ch3\u003eCrafting the 1st Alabama Whiskey in over 100 years.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Emerald Distilling is a small batch craft distillery located in beautiful downtown Opelika, Alabama.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt took a hundred years for Alabama to see a revival in quality, homegrown whiskey. In 2015, released the first \u003cem\u003elegally\u003c\/em\u003e distilled whiskey in the state since Prohibition (which came to Alabama five years ahead of most everywhere else).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFounded by father-son team John and Jimmy Sharp in 2014, JED is named after Jimmy’s grandfather. After brewing beer at home for years as a hobby, the duo thought about doing it professionally. “We actually always enjoyed whiskey more, but we didn’t think we could do that legally in Alabama,” Jimmy says. When they found out they could, and noted the number craft breweries already popping up around Alabama, they decided to found their distillery, which makes John’s Alabama Single Malt Whiskey, Gene’s Spiced Rum (made with Alabama-farmed sugar cane) and Hugh Wesley’s Gin (made with juniper berries that grow wild in area woods).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"rtecenter\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0572\/2338\/1151\/files\/john_emerald_pic_480x480.jpg?v=1673130043\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSharp is excited by the new laws that allow distilleries to conduct both on- and off-premise sales and believes it will lead to an expansion of the industry. “It means a smaller distillery can become a viable as business,” he says. “I think we can expect several more super micro distilleries to open up in the next few years.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Sharp and his son, Jimmy, own and operate the small-batch distillery in a former cotton warehouse in downtown Opelika. They make and distribute single malt whiskey, gin, vodka and two kinds of rum, and they rely on many Alabama-grown ingredients to make these spirits unique to our state.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"rtecenter\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0572\/2338\/1151\/files\/JEDFeature_480x480.jpg?v=1673130065\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn and Jimmy left a lucrative specialty plaster business (creating interior decorative plaster for Louis Vuitton stores all over the world) to open the 8,000-square-foot distillery. They wanted an occupation that kept them closer to home after the birth of Jimmy’s daughter, Lily, now 4. Neither father nor grandfather wanted to miss a moment of her growing up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sharps were homebrewers who briefly considered opening a brewery before turning their attention to spirits. John said they learned the art of distilling by going to school:  whiskey school in Breckinridge, Colorado, rum school in Loveland, Colorado, a technical distilling course at the Seibel Institute in Chicago, and Jimmy had an internship at Springbank Distillers in Campbeltown, Scotland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"rtecenter\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0572\/2338\/1151\/files\/JEDandthestills_480x480.jpg?v=1673130083\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMuscadine brandy was the first thing they made, and it’s available only in the facility’s tasting room (recently named one of the top 60 bars in the South). Spirits here are served in craft cocktails or neat in a $10 tasting flight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe company is named after John Emerald Sharp (John’s father and Jimmy’s grandfather). The products are named after other Sharp relatives, each spirit honoring people, places and traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most recent offering, the award-winning John’s Alabama Single Malt Whiskey, is made with malted Irish barley smoked with peach and pecan wood. This new-style whiskey is made like a Scotch and aged like a bourbon in barrels fashioned from charred American white oak from the Ozarks so it reflects the Sharp family’s Scottish and American roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Sharps are working with Auburn University and growers around the state to produce barley. “We want to bring more local base products into the production,” John said. Jimmy added:  “We’re either currently or evolving towards having it be ground-to-glass from Alabama.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"rtecenter\"\u003e\u003ciframe height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/2EU1RHHQoTc?rel=0\u0026amp;showinfo=0\u0026amp;start=4\" width=\"560\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"rtecenter\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"john-emerald-johns-alabama-single-malt-whiskey","title":"John Emerald John's Alabama Single Malt Whiskey","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Emerald John's Alabama Single Malt Whiskey \u003c\/strong\u003eis a unique expression from the heart of Opelika, \u003cstrong\u003eAlabama\u003c\/strong\u003e. Crafted using \u003cstrong\u003e100% malted barley\u003c\/strong\u003e, this whiskey embraces its Southern roots by incorporating a smoking process with locally sourced \u003cstrong\u003epeach \u003c\/strong\u003eand \u003cstrong\u003epecan wood\u003c\/strong\u003e. The climate-controlled aging in small, five-gallon barrels allows the whiskey to develop its signature character, preserving its rich essence in each batch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the palate, this \u003cstrong\u003esingle\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003emalt \u003c\/strong\u003eoffers an inviting medley of \u003cstrong\u003ecaramel \u003c\/strong\u003eand \u003cstrong\u003evanilla\u003c\/strong\u003e, underscored by gentle notes of \u003cstrong\u003eoak\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003esoft smoke\u003c\/strong\u003e. The whiskey's rich \u003cstrong\u003eamber\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ehue\u003c\/strong\u003e mirrors its warm, smooth finish, providing a well-balanced drinking experience. The subtle smokiness is a nod to the Southern tradition, adding depth without overwhelming the sweetness of the caramel and vanilla.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBest enjoyed \u003cstrong\u003eneat \u003c\/strong\u003eor with a \u003cstrong\u003esplash of water\u003c\/strong\u003e, this Alabama single malt stands as a testament to the innovative spirit of Southern distilling. Its carefully curated balance of flavors and its \u003cstrong\u003esmall\u003c\/strong\u003e-\u003cstrong\u003ebatch \u003c\/strong\u003ecraftsmanship make it a distinct addition to any whiskey collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"John Emerald","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43755907219609,"sku":"852732005019","price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0613\/7177\/7177\/files\/John-Emerald-John-s-Alabama-Single-Malt-Whiskey-Vi-0.png?v=1758462076"},{"product_id":"john-emerald-purveyors-series-double-wood-rye-whiskey","title":"John Emerald Purveyor's Series Double Wood Rye Whiskey","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Emerald Distilling Company\u003c\/strong\u003e presents its exquisite\u003cstrong\u003e Purveyor's Series Double Wood Rye Whiskey\u003c\/strong\u003e, a distinguished offering sure to captivate aficionados worldwide. 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Whether \u003cstrong\u003esavored\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eneat\u003c\/strong\u003e or in a sophisticated \u003cstrong\u003ecocktail\u003c\/strong\u003e, John Emerald Purveyor's Series Double Wood Rye Whiskey promises to elevate any occasion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExpertly crafted from the finest selection of grains and aged to perfection, this whiskey embodies the epitome of craftsmanship and quality. With a precise balance of flavors and a nod to tradition, it offers a glimpse into the artistry of American whiskey-making. 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