HELEN, Ga. — R.M. Rose & Company Distillery is bringing more than just spirits to downtown Helen this weekend — it’s bringing generations of North Georgia history.

The family-run distillery will open its new tasting room Saturday and operate daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to Jason Wood, at its new location at 8016 S Main St., Suite A1 in Helen.

For the Sudderth family, the opening represents the next chapter in a story that began decades ago in the woods of North Georgia.

The R.M. Rose & Co. Distillers sign is displayed outside the new tasting room in Helen. (Patrick Fargason/NowGeorgia.com)

A tradition passed down

Andy Sudderth learned the craft of moonshining from his father, George Sudderth, who made liquor in Gwinnett County, particularly in the Sugar Hill area.

Andy Sudderth discusses the distillery’s spirits inside the new R.M. Rose & Co. tasting room in Helen ahead of its opening weekend. (Patrick Fargason/NowGeorgia.com)

“He’s the one that got me started in moonshine,” Sudderth said. “I grew up around it — seeing stills in the woods and learning how it was done back in the day.”

After working as a carpenter and in metalwork, Sudderth said he felt called back to the family tradition.

“As I got older, I said we needed to get back to the old family tradition and start making moonshine,” he said. “That’s when we came out with our products, including Fire on the Mountain, and that’s where we really took off.”

George Sudderth, now in his late 80s, said he is proud to see what the business has become.

“Good — very good,” he said. “That wasn’t the plan when it started, but it’s great.”

Reviving a historic brand

A variety of flavored moonshines are displayed inside the R.M. Rose & Co. tasting room in Helen. (Patrick Fargason/NowGeorgia.com)

Sudderth launched the modern business in Dillard, drawn by its appeal as a destination for travelers.

At the same time, he revived the R.M. Rose name — a historic distillery brand that originated in Atlanta in 1867 and disappeared during Prohibition in 1917.

“About 100 years later, we brought it back,” Sudderth said.

The operation later moved its distilling to Mt. Airy, where production continues today, while the brand has grown through word of mouth and a loyal customer base across the Southeast.

Why Helen — and why now

Bottles of Forefathers 101 bourbon are displayed on shelves inside the R.M. Rose & Co. tasting room in Helen. (Patrick Fargason/NowGeorgia.com)

The move to Helen came after the distillery left its original Dillard location following a change in property ownership. From there, the family focused on production while searching for the right place to expand.

“It took almost two years just to find a spot,” Wood said. “Getting connected with property owners was a challenge, and even when we did, there weren’t any available locations at first.”

The eventual location — a former grocery store on Main Street — stood out immediately.

“When that opened up, we knew that was the spot,” Wood said. “For this part of town, it’s about as good as you’re going to get.”

Even after securing the space, it took another year to navigate permitting and licensing requirements.

“In Georgia, you can’t apply for liquor licenses until you have a location,” Wood said. “So we had to secure the building before we could even start that process.”

Helen itself played a major role in the decision.

“It’s the third most popular tourist destination in Georgia — Atlanta, Savannah and Helen,” Wood said. “We thought if we could bring something like this here, where you have the foot traffic plus people who already know the brand, it would be a good spot.”

A tradition passed down

Reviving a historic brand

Why Helen — and why now

A new generation steps in

Now Georgia

Message History

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