Southern charm, Italian soul
Every bottle of Papa's Grappa begins with one man. Brian Battle's grandfather, Papa. An ironworker who came from Sicily to Alabama carrying generations of family tradition with him.
The bottle carries his name
Everyone in the family called him Papa. He never sold a drop, never put a label on a bottle, and never called himself a distiller. He simply made grappa the way his family in Sicily had always made it, and gave it to the people at his table.
Every bottle we fill today carries his name, because the recipe inside it is his.
Where the grappa was made
Behind his home, beside a quiet creek, Papa made the family's grappa. As a child, Brian stood beside him, handing over ingredients, absorbing every moment.
One thing Papa always added was honey, believing it took the fire off and made the spirit smoother.
The recipe was almost lost
Eventually, Papa was arrested for making spirits and served eight years in prison, leaving Brian's grandmother to raise eight children on her own.
When he came home, the family wanted nothing to do with spirits. The recipe was tucked away, almost lost.
But for Brian, it was never about moonshining. It was about family, heritage, and the grandfather he loved.
Three things, nothing else
Real honey
Papa believed honey took the fire off the spirit. We still add it for the same reason, and it is the first thing people notice in the glass.
Cabernet Sauvignon pomace
Grappa starts where wine ends, with the skins and seeds left after pressing. Ours come from Cabernet Sauvignon, which gives the spirit its fruit.
Small batch
Made in small runs by the people whose name is on the bottle, so every batch gets tasted before it leaves the distillery.
The recipe comes back
Years later, Brian brought that recipe, ingredient by ingredient, to the Moonshiners Master Distiller competition. Competing on the grappa episode, Brian won.
It was confirmation that his grandfather's recipe deserved to live on. Four judged awards later, the bottle speaks for itself.
WinnerMoonshiners: Master Distiller
Double GoldSIP Awards · 2026
SilverLas Vegas · 2025
PlatinumMiami · 2025
Southern charm,
Italian soul
Today, Papa's Grappa is a legal, professional tribute to Papa's legacy. Made with real natural honey flavor and wildflower honey, it's crafted with the same belief that guided Papa decades ago: smooth, welcoming, and meant to be shared.
Alabama roots, Italian heritage, Florida craftsmanship in every pour. It's more than a spirit; it's a legacy kept alive.