ABOUT HOUSE OF APPLEJAY
THE MODERN ART OF LIQUEUR
European heritage. Southern Appalachian character. A modern American vision.
House of Applejay is an independent, women-owned, liqueur-first distillery in East Ellijay, Georgia, creating modern American liqueurs and spirits in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
Founded in 2022 by the mother-and-daughter team of Caroline Porsiel and Sabine Porsiel, House of Applejay combines an appreciation for European liqueur traditions with a distinctly modern American approach to flavor, balance, and craft. It is also proud to be the first distillery established in East Ellijay.
A NEW WAY OF THINKING ABOUT LIQUEUR
House of Applejay was founded on a simple belief: exceptional cocktails begin with exceptional liqueurs.
Through the Liquistry Manifesto, founder, distiller, and liqueurist Caroline Porsiel defined House of Applejay’s original philosophy for modern American liqueurs: using natural ingredients to build cocktail balance directly into the liqueur itself.
Liquistry places liqueurs at the center of modern cocktails. Rather than treating liqueur as an afterthought or simple sweetener, each bottle is crafted to bring flavor, structure, depth, and versatility to the glass.
Great cocktails begin in the bottle.
Our spirits and liqueurs are bear-crafted in small batches without artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Every recipe reflects a thoughtful balance of natural ingredients, traditional liqueur-making knowledge, and modern mixology.
ROOTED IN THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS
The mountains surrounding East Ellijay are more than the setting for House of Applejay. They are part of our identity.
Our signature fruit liqueur, Applejay from Ellijay, celebrates Ellijay’s connection to Georgia apple country. Its layered apple character brings together sweet, tart, and gently bitter notes, creating a distinctive liqueur connected to the orchards and landscape of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
The House of Applejay collection also includes Winter Cherry Mountain Cherry Liqueur, Cranberry Mountain Liqueur, Mt. Wildcat Old-Style Juniper Liqueur, Mt. Frozen Knob Vodka, and Mt. Grassy Knob Sweet Grass Vodka.
Our mountain-named spirits reference real Southern Appalachian peaks. Their coordinates appear on the bottles, creating a lasting connection between each spirit and the landscape that inspired it. Every product in the House of Applejay collection has earned a medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the New York World Spirits Competition, or both—independent recognition of the quality, craftsmanship, and distinctive flavor found throughout the collection.
THE BEAR BEHIND THE BRAND
The black bear has become a defining symbol of House of Applejay and its connection to the Southern Appalachians. It represents curiosity, independence, strength, and an unmistakable sense of place.
From our bear-crafted spirits and Bear Barrel Patio to our resident weather-predicting bear, Hibernation Hank, the bear brings warmth, personality, and a touch of Appalachian humor to the House of Applejay experience.
HOUSE OF APPLEJAY
Bear-Crafted. Naturally Distinctive.
Distillery tours must be reserved in advance online. House of Applejay is exclusively a 21+ facility.
MORE THAN A DISTILLERY
House of Applejay is also a place to discover the history, craft, culture, and modern role of liqueurs and distilled spirits.
Guests aged 21 and older are invited to visit our East Ellijay tasting room, explore our spirits through tastings, enjoy handcrafted cocktails, relax on the Bear Barrel Patio, and learn more through our pre-booked history and distillery tours.
Every visit offers an opportunity to experience liqueur differently—not simply as a sweet addition to a cocktail, but as a carefully crafted spirit with its own character, purpose, and sense of place.
House of Applejay continues to explore what modern American liqueur can become while remaining rooted in natural ingredients, independent craftsmanship, European heritage, and the Southern Appalachian community we call home.
