By David Schick, contributor

The locally-owned Independent Distilling Company will soon be opening its new tasting room to the public.

“Even though we’ve been distilling for a few years now, we feel like this is very much the beginning for us,” Michael Anderson, president for IDC, said.

IDC invited Decaturish to preview the cozy-yet-homy venue, which also included an opportunity to sample its products and tour the distillery.

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The ability to have a tasting room for Georgia alcohol production companies has been an “evolving” process, said Tommy Williams, co-owner of IDC. For the most part, Williams said, state regulations over local alcohol companies keep “moving in the right direction.”

And IDC’s tasting room is proof of that (92 proof if you’re drinking the whiskey).

“This place has worked out well for us,” Williams added.

Among the distillery’s three main products are the Hellbender Bourbon Whiskey, Hellbender Corn Whiskey—both made with local grains and distilled inside a traditional copper pot—and the Independent Rum.

“Hellbender Bourbon is the first bourbon distilled inside the perimeter since prohibition,” Casey Teague, whiskey specialist, said.

Williams said IDC distills all of its products with mostly local ingredients. “From beginning to end,” he added, IDC will buy local ingredients whenever possible with the goal of “farm to bottle” in mind.

Another hope of IDC is to see malt houses come online in Georgia. Currently, that is one ingredient IDC has shipped in from out of state.

“The day I can use Georgia malts, and I know the brewer? We’re excited about that. That’s a big deal,” he said.

As IDC expands, Williams said he doesn’t see IDC moving away from using locally-grown products, from grains to corn, at all. “Georgia is very much an agricultural state,” he said, noting that there’s a lot of history in distilling and brewing in Georgia. He wants to see that history revived.

“We hope we see other distillers,” he said, adding that IDC’s doors are open to any potential entrepreneurs thinking about getting into the distilling industry. “That’s going to create awareness,” he said—awareness of Georgia’s growing alcohol industry and its potential economic impact.

IDC’s building sits next door to the Blue Tarp Brewing Company and a hop, skip and a jump away from Three Taverns Craft Brewery. Williams called the area “alcohol alley,” and said, “Everything you need to know about the alcohol industry is here.”

The grand opening for IDC’s tasting room—located at 731 E College Ave—will be on Saturday, Feb. 20, from 1-6 p.m. For more information visit http://www.independentdistilling.com/

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