Stranahan's Distillery
When volunteer firefighter, Jess Graber, responded to neighbor’s barn fire down the road, he never imagined any good could come out of it. The barn that Jess made an effort to save belonged to Woody Creek local George Stranahan, a long-time brewery owner, and whiskey connoisseur. The two discovered a shared passion for the Colorado outdoors and a proper pour of fine whiskey.
From this relationship, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey was born. The two developed a recipe for a distinctively smooth and flavorful American Single Malt whiskey using their mountain surroundings to their advantage.
Author: Caroline Porsiel
Caroline Porsiel is a master distiller and liqueurist based in East Ellijay, Georgia. She founded House of Applejay, a fine spirits and liqueur distillery, in 2022 with her mother, Sabine, crafting award-winning products like Applejay from Ellijay, Mt. Frozen Knob Vodka, and Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. The distillery won a 2024 Best of Georgia Award and a 2025 Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. As a founding member of the AMBRU Campaign, launched in 2020, Porsiel advocates for the global recognition of American Brandy and Rum. She continues to drive innovation in the craft spirits industry from her active distillery in the heart of Georgia’s apple country.
