FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
East Ellijay distiller brings national spirits heritage, an $887 million trade deficit, and a proposed American Brandy & Rum Trail into the spotlight.
October 20, 2026, EAST ELLIJAY, GA — Caroline Porsiel, founder and owner of House Of Applejay, Inc., operating as Applejay Distillery & Winery in East Ellijay, Georgia, was featured on FOX 5 Atlanta on October 20, 2026, discussing a national initiative she launched to advance recognition of American Brandy and American Rum.
FOX 5 reporter Chris Rosenthal reported live on the proposed American Brandy & Rum Trail, connecting a small Georgia distillery with an initiative that reaches across the United States.
The FOX 5 segment, titled "Ellijay distillery proposes national brandy and rum trail," highlights the concept of creating a nationwide trail with participating destinations in Georgia and beyond.
From East Ellijay to a National Industry Initiative
Porsiel founded House Of Applejay in 2022, establishing a small-batch distillery specializing in American liqueurs in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
As a distiller and liqueurist, she has built an award-winning spirits portfolio while expanding her work into American distilling history, industry education, and national advocacy.
Her latest initiative, the AMBRu Campaign, addresses the historical and economic importance of American Brandy and American Rum.
"America has an $887 million trade deficit in brandy and rum," Porsiel said. "I started the AMBRu initiative to change that — by giving American Brandy and American Rum the recognition they deserve."
A National Vision Rooted in American History
The AMBRu Campaign proposes greater recognition of American Brandy and American Rum as distinctive American spirits, supported by a national heritage trail connecting producers, historic sites, museums, and communities.
Porsiel presented the initiative to industry professionals at the Miami Rum Summit in August 2026 and brought the proposal to congressional offices during the DISCUS Congressional Fly-In in Washington, D.C., on September 24.
The proposed trail envisions more than 500 destinations nationwide. A beta map was launched in September at https://ambru.org/map/.
Bringing Attention to Georgia's Independent Distilling Industry
For House Of Applejay, the FOX 5 coverage represents another milestone in the distillery's growing public profile.
The woman-owned business has earned recognition in international spirits competitions, including a Double Gold medal for Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Its founder's work on AMBRu extends beyond the company's own products, addressing broader questions about American spirits heritage, domestic production, and opportunities for tourism.
"American Brandy and American Rum are part of our history," Porsiel said. "My goal is to help restore these two historic spirits to their rightful place in our national identity."
Watch the FOX 5 Atlanta Coverage
FOX 5 Atlanta featured the proposed national trail on October 20, 2026.
Watch the report:
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/video/fmc-swv6xtp9oynfu9yd
Learn more about the national initiative at https://ambru.org.
About House Of Applejay
Founded in 2022 by Caroline Porsiel, House Of Applejay, Inc. is an independent, woman-owned distillery in East Ellijay, Georgia, operating as Applejay Distillery & Winery.
The company specializes in small-batch American liqueurs and spirits, including internationally recognized Winter Cherry Mountain, Applejay from Ellijay, and Mt Wildcat Old-Style Juniper Liqueur.
House Of Applejay welcomes visitors to its East Ellijay tasting room for spirits tastings, cocktails, and distillery experiences.
Website: https://houseofapplejay.com
AMBRu Campaign: https://ambru.org
Media Contact
Caroline Porsiel
Co-Founder, AMBRu Campaign
Creator & Architect, American Brandy & Rum Trail Initiative
House Of Applejay, Inc.
East Ellijay, Georgia
