Longleaf Distilling Co. sits in downtown Macon at 664 2nd Street, occupying a restored historic building that adds character to Georgia’s middle region craft spirits scene. Founded by husband-and-wife team David and Jennifer Manley in 2016, this operation represents Georgia’s growing craft distilling movement with a focus on small-batch bourbon and rye whiskey. The Manleys brought backgrounds in business and hospitality to their distilling venture, transforming their passion for quality spirits into a hands-on operation where they’re often found working alongside visitors during tours and tastings. The journey to opening wasn’t quick—David spent years perfecting recipes and navigating Georgia’s distilling regulations before they could welcome their first visitors in late 2017. The couple chose Macon specifically for its central Georgia location and the historic downtown building that now houses their operation. Their 250-gallon copper still, custom-built for their specifications, allows them to maintain the small-batch approach they believe produces better spirits. Jennifer handles much of the business operations while David focuses on production, though both are deeply involved in every aspect from grain selection to bottling. Visitors find a genuine craft operation where you can see the entire process and often meet the people who made your bottle. The tasting room maintains an intimate atmosphere where conversations with other whiskey enthusiasts happen naturally, and the Manleys or their small team share stories about specific batches and production techniques. You’re not getting a corporate experience here—this is a working distillery where the founders are still grinding it out daily, and that authenticity shows in both their spirits and their approach to hosting visitors.