John Emerald Distilling Company sits on Railroad Avenue in Opelika, Alabama, housed in a restored early 1900s building that once served the bustling railroad town. Founded by Jimmy Sharp, a former petroleum engineer who traded oil wells for copper stills, the distillery opened in 2014 as Alabama’s first legal distillery since Prohibition ended. Sharp spent years navigating state regulations and convincing local officials that craft distilling could work in Alabama, eventually succeeding in changing laws that made his dream possible. The operation produces bourbon, rye whiskey, vodka, and gin using a combination of traditional methods and modern equipment, including custom copper stills that Sharp helped design based on his engineering background. What started as one man’s vision has grown into a full production facility with a tasting room that draws visitors from across the Southeast. The brick building maintains its industrial character while housing gleaming stills and aging barrels, creating an atmosphere that honors both Opelika’s railroad heritage and Alabama’s emerging craft spirits scene. You’ll find Sharp and his small team personally involved in every aspect of production, from mashing grains to bottling spirits, maintaining the hands-on approach that defined the distillery’s early days.