DBF in the Media: Winters Media online

Posted on March 6, 2024 by Garrick Webster

Today we’re a-whoopin’ and a-hollerin’ with joy thanks to the fine folks at Winters Media, publishers of the The Paper and The Weekly, two local journals right here in Coweta County, Georgia. Last week, they featured Doc Brown Farm & Distillers in the News section of their site, with an article all about how we founded the distillery and the faith, family and fortitude principles that guide us.

A special thank-you to Katie Anderson who wrote the piece, which catches our vibe perfectly in a Georgia pecan shell. (Watch this space for more about nut-inspired spirits!) We’ve included the article below, as it appears on the Winters Media website.

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Faith, Family and Fortitude: Senoia’s Doc Brown Farm and Distillers

February 28, 2024

By KATIE ANDERSON, Out and About

It all started with a magazine on a beach.

Amy Brown, Paige Dockweiler, and Amy’s son Daniel Williams had just bought their Senoia farm. They were sitting on a beach at 30A, reading a Garden and Gun article about an heirloom grain, Jimmy Red Corn.

They decided to give growing the corn a try. Initially, they distilled two barrels of bourbon to share with family and friends. It was so good that they started Doc Brown Farm and Distillers in 2019. Fast forward to October 1, 2023, and their first bourbons were released: Effie Jewel and Uncle Bogue (now sold out.) They also created four flavors of bourbon creams: Butter Pecan, Salted Caramel, Coffee, and Peppermint Mocha.

The founders all come from farming families. Brown has a background in banking and now manages the farm full-time. Dockweiler and Williams have other jobs in healthcare and aviation respectively, but cherish their time spent playing in the dirt.

The farm operates from three foundation blocks – faith, family, and fortitude. Their love of family transferred to their labels, as well. Uncle Bogue was a great, great uncle, and Effie Jewel was a great aunt. Both stood out as examples of their family’s fortitude and tenacity. Effie Jewel Bourbon is dedicated to all women in the distilling industry. “Our desire and hope is that Effie Jewel inspires women to act on their dreams and find courage to sit at tables that maybe have been off limits in the past.

“I will say that we’ve had nothing but kindness and support from men and women alike and even though we are small and just a dot on the map of the bourbon world, we are thankful for those who have helped us get this far,” said Brown.

Their land has proven to be a good match with Jimmy Red Corn. It is non-gmo, produced without chemicals of any kind. This special variety of corn is making a comeback after almost becoming extinct, and is known for its sweet, rich, buttery flavor.

To control pests, the Doc Brown team built houses to attract bats, which help fight the ear worm and other damaging insects. They’ve also brought in bees, which made a difference in their yield and ear size. The farmers use old style methods like cover crops and rotation to take care of their soil.

This approach has brought them full circle with Garden and Gunmagazine, by winning a 2023 Garden and Gun Made in the South Award for their Butter Pecan Bourbon Cream.

“We have subscribed to Garden and Gun now for years and the inspiration for growing the Jimmy Red Corn came from an article published in G&G, so our goal was to ‘make it into G&G’ one day.

“When it was time to enter the ‘Best of the South’ we had the amazing support of Heather Daniel, who recommended us so off we go submitting the 1^st round of paperwork … a nd then we waited…and waited…then another email came in that stated we ‘made it into Best of the South’ but we had to keep our mouths closed – that was the longest month of my life sitting on a dream that had come true,” Brown stated.

“We are so grateful for everyone’s support and kindness. Our goal is always to produce products that everyone can enjoy knowing that good old fashioned farming techniques were used and that it’s made with a lot of love for this golden land we all share,” said Brown.

To purchase the award-winning, local bourbon, visit their website at docbrownfarm.com to order, or to find locations where their products are sold.

DBF in the Media: Read all about our Bold Journey

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Garrick Webster

We say, “Thank you!” to all the folks at the storytelling site Bold Journey, who have featured Amy Brown, co-founder of Doc Brown Farm & Distillers, and story of how we got started. Bold Journey is a website that often shares the perspectives of women who are strong in life and in business. Because part of our mission is to celebrate female leaders in the distilling industry, this was a welcome opportunity for us to show others that launching a bourbon brand according to your own values is totally achievable.

Y’all can read the article below, as it originally appeared on Bold Journey. Let us know what you think.

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Meet Amy Brown

February 27, 2024

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amy Brown a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Amy with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Early 1972 my Dad came home from his ‘day job’ as the Maytag Man for Sears and Roebuck and informed the family that we are becoming ‘Red Wiggler Worm Farmers’. Now, this was nothing new for my parents to have their full-time careers AND what I call ‘side hustles’.

Each and every day, after school, my siblings and I had to attend to the worm beds that were scattered all over the micro farm we grew up on. Oh we ‘hated it’ and thought our parents were making us work too hard…. but looking back in life’s rearview mirror I can see now my parents were, and still are in their mid 80’s, the wisest people I know.

You see, creating side hustles that the entire family can be involved in taught us so much that transfers into entrepreneurship and building a company from the ‘dirt up’. We learned responsibility is part of life and that being a dependable employee is often more valuable than being the smartest but lacking work ethic. We learned how to work together as a team and delegate certain aspects of the chores so that the work got completed faster thus giving us more play time. We learned that a higher education comes with a price tag. We learned that a good night’s sleep is the reward for a hard day’s work.

So, for this question, ‘where did I get my work ethic from’? The answer is unequivocally is my wonderful and wise parents, Rennis and Janice Brown.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Doc Brown Farm & Distillers is a family owned, family run business based in Senoia GA. Currently, we are Georgia’s ONLY Seed to Still farm and only a handful of such across this golden land we share. From planting the seed to bottling the end product, we do it all and take great joy in using old fashioned farming techniques. We grow Non- GMO Jimmy Red Corn and Non- GMO Abruzzi Rye that we distill into some of the best Bourbon and Bourbon Creams on the market. Our farm is at the heart of everything we do and we take great pride in growing grains that produce America’s only native spirit. Bourbon!!

Our Bourbon creams have won several awards including Best of the South for the prestigious magazine, Garden and Gun.

Soon we will release a new line of Whiskey’s called the Day Swigger. A quick easy sip of some fine whiskey grown on the farm we love.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Specifically speaking about the bourbon farm journey, I would say its a combination of a few things. Work Ethic as discussed earlier. Entrepreneurial DNA running thru my blood. And 32 years in the corporate world of banking where critical and strategic thinking was a must and used daily. So, when you combine an Indefatigable work ethic with strategic thinking sprinkled with a risk taking entrepreneurial spirit it makes for a fun and exciting journey.

I’m not big on giving advice as each person’s journey is different, but I would say to make sure you know your craft better than anyone on the market and put the time in that it takes to build a company from the ground up. Most folks have a distorted vision that owning your own company is a walk in the park and as we all know, this is not the case. Secondly, get connected with folks who are smarter, richer and more successful than you are and glean from then every ounce of knowledge you can. Those connections are vital to growth for any company wishing to succeed.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
In 1816 my 4th Great Grandparents left Ireland for the ‘promised land’ called the United States of America. They came with the clothes they could pack in their trunks and a bible.

Generation after generation, our faith in God has been handed down and the Bible is the one book I turn to every single morning to gain wisdom and direction for my day.

Of course from the Bible stems the golden rule – treating others as you would want to be treated. If each of us would embrace this one nugget from that wisdom filled book this world would be a much better place. So, on this farm, we believe that this is God’s earth and that it’s our duty to take care of it. We also believe we are here to follow Christ’s example and let love and kindness guide our steps.

Double D Ranch: Meet the boss ladies of bourbon

Posted on January 15, 2024 by Garrick Webster

Beautiful designer threads inspired by the Wild West. The finest Bourbon Cream Liqueur, made with our Jimmy Red Corn bourbon whiskey. That’s a match made in… Texas!

Over the weekend of January 12th to 14th, Paige and Amy were over in Fort Worth for a trunk show at the fashion retailer Double D Ranch, giving out samples of our Bourbon Cream and Effie Jewel Bourbon to visitors from all over the country. We had a blast and to cap everything off, the gals from Double D interviewed us for their blog.

It was our pleasure to meet bourbon-lovers from across Texas, and across the United States. We hope to see y’all again soon!

Below is their article in full, and we just want to add that we a big thank-you to everyone at Double D Ranch.

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Meeting the boss ladies of bourbon

We had a hoot trying out Doc Brown’s new Effie Jewel bourbon with y’all at Ft Worth this weekend! We were so inspired by Paige and Amy’s entrepreneurial story of how they’re taking over the male-dominated world of distilling, that we just had to ask them some more questions about it all…

Y’all call yourselves the boss ladies of bourbon, which we love! Have women in your family always been involved in the distilling industry?
No, it’s actually quite the opposite. We both grew up in small rural farming communities and church was a major part of our lives, and those sweet little baptist churches didn’t smile upon ‘drinking’ so our mothers and grandmothers were more ‘church lady’ish’ than whiskey aficionados.

As we entered the corp world in our different careers, it exposed us to really good food and good spirits. We both love a good glass of wine with dinner as much as we do a good Old Fashioned or pour of bourbon. Our faith is still a HUGE part of who we are and we’ve found that great balance of ‘loving Jesus and drinking a little bit’…

What inspired you to get started?
Reading a Garden and Gun article about growing NON-GMO corn prompted us to give it a whirl and grow it on our farm – this was a happy accident as we were only going to grow enough corn to put up two barrels for our family, let it sit and age and then give away bottles at special times in our lives, but our distiller had another thought as this corn distills like none other and the profiles are distinctly different. So, we had a family ‘meeting’ and decided we would become ‘Bourbon Farmers’ and grow our crops responsibly and sustainably and make some dang good bourbon… and here we are!!!

Why whiskey?
We chose whiskey, specifically bourbon, because it’s America’s only native spirit and in the whiskey world not a lot of folks use heritage grains and traditional farming methods. We call it Radically Traditional Bourbon and we three love whiskey so why not produce what you love.

What makes your spirit different?
The biggest difference is the corn. Jimmy Red Corn is not edible straight off the cob as it must be dehydrated to extract the flavor and high oil content. It’s those unique flavors and high oil content that distills this bourbon differently than a basic yellow or white GMO corn. You will get nutty and sweet notes from the corn and the oil provides a creamy rich mouthfeel on the finish.

Have you faced much criticism from men in the industry or has the response been welcoming?
No, not at all. We’ve been welcomed into this industry with such kindness by everyone, and we really lean on the knowledge and expertise of the men in our life, who are in the industry, to help guide us and navigate the unknown. From the retailers to the folks at the distribution center to our consultant and then to our fabulous Master Distiller, all have welcomed us!

What’s one thing most people don’t know about bourbon?
Bourbon is America’s only native spirit. May 4,1964 Congress resolved that bourbon is “a distinctive product of the United States” and no whiskey made outside of the US can be designated as Bourbon so, we are proud American Farmers making America’s Only Native Spirit – Bourbon!!

Bottles of Bourbon Cream Liqueur ready to serve, from Doc Brown Farm & Distillers

Favorite whiskey cocktail?
A really good Old Fashioned.

Favorite place to have a drink?
On the farm with our family and friends. Our house faces due west so from our rocking chairs we watch the most amazing sunsets over the cornfields, always with a pour of our bourbon, or a glass of wine, in hand…

Which famous body lady would you love to share a bottle of whiskey with?
Oh, Dolly Parton for sure. I’m not sure she even drinks whiskey but my goodness the good she has done on this earth with her success, her money and her influence.

If your Effie Jewel whiskey was a real woman, what DDR piece would she wear?
Effie Jewel was our great aunt who was full of energy. No obstacle stood in her way and she was hard working but wanted to be in style….so, her DDR pieces would be a combo of the following:

Earn Your Spurs Jacket – Lainey Wilson said it best, “if you are a dreamer you’d better be a doer”. Effie was a doer and earned her spurs, nothing was handed to her, nor is it us.

Saddle Up Buttercup Skirt – No whining in this biz!!

Bull By The Horns Top – We actually described Effie that way on our website!! She grabbed life and rode it with the best of them.

Truly Boots – She’d say hold true to your standards and values no matter what folks around you are doing.

Bourbon Cream – a true Georgia treat

Posted on January 31, 2023August 18, 2023 by Garrick Webster

In the fall of 2022 we released a hearty, true Jimmy Red Corn bourbon infused with real dairy cream. We crafted a spirit that’s authentic and purposeful, taking time to get the recipe just right. Great bourbon plus real cream – the perfect pair.

Here on the farm coffee is a must to get the day started and we love it with fresh, rich cream. To create our Coffee Bourbon Cream, we found a formula that beautifully blends rich dairy cream and a delightful hint of roasted coffee followed by the slightest heat from the bourbon.

Butter Pecan is a flavor that merges the nutty notes of Georgia pecans with rich creamy butter and a hint of vanilla. It’s best described as having sweet and roasted undertones with a finish warmed up by our beautiful bourbon.

Fresh, sweet and rich, our third Bourbon Cream is Peppermint Mocha. With a cool, minty beginning, it rewards you with its coffee and cream richness and has a beautiful warm finish thanks to that Jimmy Red Corn bourbon. All three Doc Brown Farm & Distillers Bourbon Creams can be purchased on our Buy & Ship Spirits page. And, y’all watch this space – we have a new flavor in the making.

Take a look at these beauties…

Doc Brown Farm & Distillers Bourbon Cream Liqueur Butter Pecan flavor.

Doc Brown Farm & Distillers Bourbon Cream Liqueur Coffee flavor.

DBF in the media: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Posted on January 10, 2023August 17, 2023 by Garrick Webster

A big thank-you goes out to Angela Hansberger and the editorial team at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for the feature article they published about Doc Brown Farm & Distillers on Sunday, January 8, 2023. It’s exciting and rewarding to see our names in print, and in the largest newspaper in the state on top of that.

Below you can read the article which provides an illuminating summary of what we’re doing here on the farm. (There’s just one update you need to be aware of – we are now working with a different distillery partner and not R.M. Rose.)

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Meet the bourbon farmers of Doc Brown’s

Georgia partners grow heirloom red corn that is turned into whiskey.

Amy Brown calls herself a bourbon farmer. For that to make sense, you only need to learn how Doc Brown’s Farm & Distillers came to produce a line of bourbon creams that local liquor stores can’t seem to keep on their shelves.

Born and raised in Buford, Brown bought a farm in Senoia in 2018 with her partner in life and business, Paige Dockweiler – the “Doc” in the company name. While Dockweiler grew up on a farm in Cordele that grew corn and soybeans, she, like Brown, never thought farming was her future. Both had been in the professional world for 30 years – Brown in banking, and Dockweiler in oncology nursing and hematology.

During a beach trip, Brown’s son, Daniel Williams, who is her other business partner, passed around an about Jimmy Red corn and Charleston’s High Wire Distilling. They all agreed it would be a fine idea to grow the rare heirloom corn, helping preserve not just the heritage of the Native Americans who first farmed it, but also of the bootleggers who made moonshine from the deep-red kernels.

Brown got in touch with Andy Sudderth, master distiller and CEO of R.M. Rose Distillery in Dillard. After a year of growing and milling, Doc Brown’s delivered heirloom gorn to Dudderth to distill. His response: “I think you’re onto something – how much can you grow?”

After extensive research, Brown discovered that there are not many people who grow corn, distill it and bottle whiskey. “Hardly any do it all in the same state,” she said. A business plan was born.

“And, here we are, going into our fourth year making whiskey, and having an absolute blast,” Brown said.

There are 13 barrels of Jimmy Red bourbon aging for release after May 2023, the four-year mark. New oak barrells are sourced from Gainesville Cooperage, the only cooperage in Georgia. While Doc Brown’s bourbon is aging, the company also makes bourbon creams. Each flavor – butter pecan, coffee and peppermint mocha – is made with bourbon that has been aged for two years.

Brown and Dockweiler grow the non-genetically modified organism corn on their 20-acre farm, as well as 100 acres they lease, using only organic methods. There are numerous bat houses around the property, both for pollination and fighting corn earworms. They also brought in beehives, and a beekeeper to manage them.

“Even though corn is wind-pollinated, we brought in bees to help with it,” Brown said. After doing that, their second crop yield increased by 30%, both in the size of the ears and the number of kernels. In addition to buying bees, they also planted pollinator shrubs to attract the bees and bats.

Once the corn matures from yellow to deep red, it is harvested and ground to a consistency somewhere between cornmeal and grits, to carry the rich, sweet flavor to the whiskey.

The corn is trucked to Dillard, to be distilled in a hand-made copper still. R.M. Rose Distitillery has “good water,” Brown said, adding that Sudderth “dug a deep well,” and the limestone-filtered water is from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and doesn’t need any treatment.

“That matters,” she said. “It’s the secret ingredient in Kentucky bourbon, the same limestone ridge.”

But, without good grains, Brown said, “you are not going to get quality bourbon.” Their bourbon’s mash bill is a secret, but it has a high mix of corn, as well as locally grown rye.

Their butter pecan bourbon cream, made with pecans grown by a local farmer, pays homage to Dockweiler’s family, who also grew the nuts, a Georgia favorite.

While you wait on Doc Brown’s straight bourbon, the three varieties of bourbon cream (39-proof, 750-millileter bottles for $34.99) are available at retailers in Georgia. Find out more at docbrownfarm.com.

Author: Garrick Webster