House Of Applejay in the News

House Of Applejay was featured in Season 6 of Georgia Public Broadcasting’s television series A Fork in the Road.

The episode explores the sweeter side of Georgia, traveling from Savannah to the North Georgia mountains before visiting House Of Applejay in East Ellijay. Viewers are introduced to the distillery, its naturally distinctive spirits and liqueurs, and Caroline Porsiel’s vision for modern American liqueurs.

FOX 5 Atlanta broadcast live from House Of Applejay during the annual awakening of Hibernation Hank, East Ellijay’s black bear predictor of cocktail season.

The coverage introduced viewers across Georgia to this original House Of Applejay tradition, led by storyteller and “Bear Whisperer” David Zelski and supported by live music, local food, mountain cocktails, and a lively crowd determined to wake the bear.

House Of Applejay appeared in Season 12 of the nationally distributed travel series Travels with Darley.

The Ellijay episode explores the region’s orchards, vineyards, mountain communities, local attractions, and distinctive visitor experiences. During her visit to House Of Applejay, Darley Newman meets Caroline Porsiel and samples spirits and liqueurs made in East Ellijay.

House Of Applejay appears beginning at approximately 19 minutes and 4 seconds into the episode.

House Of Applejay has also been featured by WRCB Local 3 News, highlighting the distillery, its handcrafted products, and its growing role in Georgia's craft beverage community.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution featured House Of Applejay following its success at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The article introduces readers to Caroline and Sabine Porsiel, the development of House Of Applejay, its European-influenced liqueur traditions, natural ingredients, award-winning spirits, and visitor experience in East Ellijay.

It also explores how liqueur making differs from conventional distilling and why aroma, extraction, fruit selection, and balance are central to the craft.

Georgia Business Journal featured House Of Applejay in a profile exploring how the East Ellijay distillery combines all-natural liqueur making, Southern Appalachian identity, cultural history, and an educational visitor experience.

The article highlights founder and liqueurist Caroline Porsiel, House Of Applejay’s award-winning spirits, and its distinctive approach to placing liqueurs at the center of modern cocktails.

Georgia Business Journal featured House Of Applejay following its Best of Georgia recognition.

The article explores the distillery’s all-natural liqueurs and vodkas, Appalachian identity, guided tastings, history experiences, Bear Barrels, and commitment to bringing greater attention to the art of fine liqueur making in the United States.

House Of Applejay has been recognized for three consecutive years by readers participating in James Magazine’s annual Sippin’ Local poll.

2024 — #8 Best Distillery in Georgia

2025 — #4 Best Distillery in Georgia

2026 — #2 Best Distillery in Georgia

The steady rise from #8 to #2 reflects House Of Applejay’s growing statewide reputation and the continued support of its visitors, customers, and community.

Published by James Magazine, Caroline Porsiel’s article presents the vision behind the AMBRU Campaign and explains why Georgia can become a national leader in the revival of American brandy and rum.

The article explores American distilling history, agriculture, rural economic development, spirits tourism, exports, and the proposed American Brandy & Rum Trail.

The Times-Courier featured House Of Applejay founder and CEO Caroline Porsiel and her American Distilling Institute webinar, Before Bourbon: The History of American Brandy & Rum.

The webinar examines the important role brandy and rum played in America’s early distilling history and the need to preserve and strengthen the identity of these two historic American spirits.

The feature reflects Caroline’s growing role as a researcher, speaker, and advocate for American distilling history.

Mountain Winter Magazine featured House Of Applejay as part of its coverage of winter activities and experiences in Gilmer County and the North Georgia mountains.

The feature introduces readers to the independent East Ellijay distillery, its naturally crafted spirits and liqueurs, mountain-inspired products, tasting experience, and distinctive place within the region’s growing craft beverage community.

VoyageATL featured founder, distiller, and liqueurist Caroline Porsiel in an interview about the development of House Of Applejay.

The conversation explores Caroline’s journey from Germany to Georgia, the challenges of establishing East Ellijay’s first distillery, the meaning of the word “liqueurist,” House Of Applejay’s award-winning products, and the company’s connection to the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

House Of Applejay was featured in Good Grit Magazine, a regional lifestyle publication celebrating the people, places, food, and traditions of the American South.

In Most People Come for the Apples, writer Sal Coner explores why visitors return to Ellijay throughout the year. The article highlights House Of Applejay as one of North Georgia’s distinctive experiences and recommends a visit after exploring the region’s orchards and mountain scenery.

The feature introduces readers to House Of Applejay’s naturally crafted spirits and liqueurs while showcasing the growing food, beverage, and agritourism culture of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Available in Good Grit Magazine’s Experience the Good South edition.

In the first episode of The Stix & Stuff Podcast, host Tom Crawford visits House Of Applejay for a conversation about the women-owned East Ellijay distillery, its mother-and-daughter founding story, European liqueur-making heritage, Appalachian identity, and naturally crafted spirits.

Recorded during Hibernation Hank’s annual awakening, this episode brings together Caroline Porsiel and David Zelski to discuss House Of Applejay’s original Southern interpretation of Groundhog Day.

The conversation explores the story behind Hibernation Hank, the role of regional traditions in tourism, and how House Of Applejay combines history, humor, cocktails, and community experiences.

​Caroline Porsiel has served as a featured speaker for the American Distilling Institute, presenting on the history of American brandy and rum and introducing the AMBRU Campaign and the proposed American Brandy & Rum Trail.

• ADI Webinar: America’s First Spirits — Brandy & Rum Before Bourbon (April 2026)
• ADI Rum Summit, Miami Beach (August 2026)

As co-founder of the AMBRU Campaign, Caroline advocates for greater recognition of American brandy and American rum as foundational U.S. spirits, alongside broader efforts to support craft distilling, agriculture, and heritage tourism.