Old Fourth Distillery sits in an industrial area of Norcross, about 30 minutes northeast of Atlanta, where founders Brian Holcomb and Jeff Pennington turned their homebrewing passion into something stronger. The pair opened their doors in 2013 after navigating Georgia’s changing distillery laws, making them one of the earlier craft distilleries in the metro area. Their 6,000-square-foot facility houses copper stills and fermentation tanks where they focus on small-batch bourbon, rye, and white whiskey production. Holcomb brings an engineering background to the operation while Pennington handles much of the business side, though both stay hands-on with production. They named the distillery after the Fourth Ward of Atlanta, paying homage to the city’s historic distilling district that thrived before Prohibition wiped it out. The duo spent years perfecting their recipes and navigating regulatory hurdles before they could legally sell their spirits on-site. Visitors find a working distillery that doesn’t put on airs – you’re seeing actual production, not a show. The tasting room feels like an extension of the distillery floor, with concrete floors and industrial touches. They pour generous samples of their bourbon, rye, and seasonal offerings while explaining their grain-to-glass process. It’s the kind of place where you might catch the distillers themselves behind the bar, especially on weekends.