Sweet Home Spirits
About the Distillery
Sweet Home Spirits is located in Leeds, Alabama, and positions itself as a small, locally rooted distillery producing corn-dominated American whiskeys, bourbons, vodka, and special flavored releases. The brand combines small batches, use of local ingredients, and technical filtration to create both clean whiskeys and seasonal specialties.
History
Sweet Home Spirits was founded by Austin Wade Creel and Carl Baldone with the aim of giving Alabama its own whiskey identity. Austin built his capital through several ventures up to 2019, when he stepped away from these projects to focus on spirits and community efforts. In the mid-2020s the distillery introduced its first commercial range, and in 2026 the company marked the USA's 250th anniversary with a commemorative decanter and release event.
Raw Materials and Production
Production rests on corn-dominated mashbills, where sweet corn often constitutes the main component (for example 75% in Sweet Home Whiskey). Rye and malted barley are used for spice and structure, while wheat is included in the wheated bourbon program. Distillation and filtration techniques are important for the brand: vodka is distilled ten times and filtered three times to achieve a very smooth profile. Some products are distilled or filled externally (e.g., MGP for the wheated program). The range also includes infusions (cinnamon) and small-batch moonshine sweetened with local honey.
Maturation and Barrel Types
Maturation happens primarily in oak barrels with American White Oak as the prevailing type. Finishing methods are experimented with, e.g., charring with pecan wood chips after extraction from American White Oak barrels. Cask-strength releases are often unfiltered, and some batches have been aged at external facilities in North Carolina as part of their maturation process.
Whiskies
The portfolio spans from core releases such as Sweet Home Whiskey to more experimental bottle releases: Alabama-style Divided with pecan finish, cask-strength bourbons and cinnamon infusions. In addition, the distillery offers commemorative decanters, limited runs such as limoncello, and a 100% corn vodka distilled and filtered in multiple steps. The products are marketed regionally in the southern states.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Alcohol | Age | Cask and Style | Tasting Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Home Whiskey | American Whiskey | 45 % | American White Oak; finish: pecan wood chip char finish after extraction from American White Oak barrels | A whiskey in an American style with a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley with pronounced spicy elements and a short finish.; Nose: Clove and vanilla; Palate: Maple syrup, spice, earth and a hint of smoke; Aftertaste: Short and snappy finish | Current; Core range; Available in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida per contact information and product pages | |
| Sweet Home Divided – Alabama-Style Whiskey | American Whiskey (Alabama-style) | 42 % | American White Oak; finish: pecan wood chip char finish after extraction from American White Oak barrels | Austin Creel's interpretation of an Alabama-style whiskey, made with corn from Hamilton, AL and finished via pecan charring for a pronounced front note.; Nose: Charred pecans with hints of maple syrup, spice, earth and smoke | Current; Available in retail after product launch | |
| Sweet Home United Whiskey | American Whiskey (Commemorative decanter); 250 Year Commemorative | Commemorative decanter created with red, white and blue corn to mark USA's 250th anniversary; a portion of proceeds goes to Still Serving Veterans.; Nose: Cereal Sweet Corn and Rich Vanilla; Finish: Strong Finish | Limited; Special commemorative release | |||
| Cask Strength Bourbon | Bourbon (Cask Strength) | 60 % | French Oak | Full-bodied cask-strength bourbon with notes of dark chocolate and espresso balanced by toffee and caramel weight.; Nose: Toasted oak, vanilla and caramel with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and dried fruit; Palate: Dark chocolate, espresso, toffee and butterscotch; Finish: Long, warm finish with peppery spice and French Oak tannins | Current; Available in producer's lineup | |
| Cask Strength 8-Year Wheated Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon (Cask Strength); Specialty Barrel program | 61 % | 8 Year | Special edition in the barrel-program; distilled and filled 2017 at MGP, aged partially in North Carolina for 4 years and unfiltered at high proof.; Nose: Smoke and dried fig; Palate: Bourbon maple syrup with barrel char and soft grassy sweetness; Finish: Soft coated mouthfeel with high-proof warmth, not dry | Limited; Special release in the Specialty Barrel program | |
| Campfire Cinnamon Whiskey | Flavoured Whiskey | 35 % | Cinnamon-infused whiskey made by letting real cinnamon sticks steep in Sweet Home Whiskey; no sugar added.; Nose: Rich cinnamon; Palate: Earthy spice from rye; Finish: Cinnamon in the finish with little or no burning warmth | Current; Seasonal / special release | ||
| 115 Fireside Cinnamon Bourbon | Cask Strength Cinnamon Infused Bourbon | 57.5 % | Cask-strength cinnamon-infused bourbon bottled at full proof without added sugar.; Finish: Powerful cinnamon warmth at full proof | Limited; Special release |
Styles and Flavor Profiles of the Whiskies
Three throughlines run through the range: sweet, cereal-like corn and vanilla; spicy rye character; and pronounced cinnamon notes in several infusions. The heavier cask-strength releases add darker notes such as maple syrup, toffee and dark chocolate, as well as references to oak tannins.
Visiting the Distillery
The distillery's tasting room in Leeds is open Friday and Saturday with set hours and other weekdays by appointment. From April 2026, cocktails, bottle shop, and guided tours are offered by booking. Private events can be booked all week by phone or email. The standard experience is $30 per person with a minimum of 10 participants or a $300 bar tab, and includes a tour, a cocktail and a tasting flight.
The listed hours are Friday: 2pm–8pm; Saturday: 12pm–8pm; Sunday: Closed; Monday–Thursday: By appointment only.
Philosophy and Craft
Sweet Home Spirits aims to define an Alabama-specific spirits tradition by using local ingredients, small batches, and advanced distillation and filtration techniques to produce smooth, flawless spirits. The company combines commercial ambitions with a desire to support local community and educational initiatives.