Miles MacQuarrie at Leon's Full Service (AJC Staff)

This month, Imbibe Magazine released its Southern issue featuring “The 100 Best Places to Drink in the South.” Georgia had a strong showing on the list. Here are our local watering holes that were recognized (those not in Atlanta noted):

Best Whisky Offerings:

• Local Three

Best Classic Cocktails:

• H. Harper Station
• The Sound Table

Best Contemporary Cocktails:

• JCT
• Leon’s Full Service
• Restaurant Eugene
• Sauced

Off the Beaten Path:

• One Flew South (Atlanta Airport)
• Sagehouse Coffee & Tea (Griffin)

Best Hotel Bars:

• Drinkshop

Best Bar Food:

• Holeman & Finch Public House
• Ormsby’s
• Five & Ten (Athens)

Best Wine List:

• Miller Union
• Muss & Turner’s
• Elizabeth on 37th (Savannah)

Best Suds:

• The Brick Store Pub
• Porter Beer Bar
• Young Augustine’s
• The Distillery (Savannah)
• Trappeze Pub (Athens)

Best Places to Get Caffeinated:

• Dancing Goats Espresso Bar
• Octane

Southern Breweries:

• Sweetwater Brewing
• Terrapin Beer Company (Athens)

Mint Julep:

• Elizabeth on 37th (Savannah)

The full list of 100 places recognized can be found in the March issue of Imbibe Magazine (or see a sneak peek on their website). The issue is a great read with an article on all things bourbon (history, styles, glossary, gear and guide to visiting distilleries), Southern cocktail and bar snack recipes (including one from Virginia Willis for pickled okra) and even an article by John Kessler on our Southern soda culture. Two Atlantans, Kelli Thorne from Empire State South and Tim Faulkner from Sauced and H&F Bottle Shop, also contributed cocktail recipes. I picked up a copy today and had trouble putting it down long enough to compile this list.

Are your favorites on the list?

–by Jenny Turknett, Food & More blog

– Jenny Turknett writes about Southern and Neighborhood Fare for the AJC Dining Team. She also publishes her own blog, Going Low Carb.