Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

Travel the Distilleries of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

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It’s hard to remember a time when every corner of Tennessee didn’t have a distillery to call its own. In the early 21st century, in fact, Jack Daniel’s and George Dickel were two of only three manufacturers allowed to legally operate beneath onerous, post-Prohibition era restrictions on the production of alcohol—and now there’s a full-blown Tennessee Whiskey Trail. Voter referendums were required in each county on the question of whether a distillery could manufacture distilled spirits; a high barrier of entry that deterred just about everyone from small-batch production.

Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

This post was last updated in September 2021.

In 2009, that all changed. What began as a grassroots effort of a few distillers and a handful of lawyers ended up on the desk of State Senator Bill Ketron, who helped usher various versions of a final compromise bill through the legislative chambers for a signature by Gov. Phil Bredesen on June 25, 2009.

Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

“Senate Bill 1955 lifted the manufacture referendum requirement in counties that already voted in the affirmative to allow liquor by the drink and retail package sales. If you were ok with drinking, you were ok with making,” Heath Clark, also a lawyer, explained to me. “This more lenient approach meant 70 percent of the population of Tennessee would live in counties eligible to host distilleries, but it also preserved choice by not requiring dry counties to host distilleries.”

Then, the boom started: Tennessee went from three distilleries to more than 30 in a handful of years. In 2014, Billy Kaufman, owner of Short Mountain Distillery, quietly assembled distillers old and new to form the Tennessee Distillers Guild as a way to responsibly advocate for the industry.

Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

Tennessee’s heritage has long been rooted in its distillery culture. There is just no denying that the land itself seems to lend a helping hand in the production of what the Scots-Irish call the “water of life,” with robust soil for the growing of grains used in the fermented mash beer that makes up the base of most liquor and a strong undercurrent of pure, limestone-filtered water flowing through the bedrock of the state in easily accessible farmland, springs and rivers.

In many ways, with the global demand for high quality spirits surging to all time highs, the Volunteer State was in a perfect position to capitalize on its history and make a move into the market. Which it did, big league-style.

Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

Introducing the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

The Tennessee Distillers Guild officially debuted with more than 20 members in 2014 and quickly organized a collective to link the participating members along an officially sanctioned trail. The Tennessee Whiskey Trail rolled out in 2017 is already seeing explosive growth and interest among whiskey connoisseurs, tourists and the media.

While many of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail distillers are creating alternative products instead of whiskey—such as rum, gin and moonshine—the members are all united in the common purpose of using ancient fermentation and brewing techniques to tease out high-proof products.

Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

“This Trail puts an international spotlight on Tennessee and its whiskey culture,” said Kris Tatum, president of the Tennessee Distillers Guild and manager of Old Forge Distillery. “We hope to see people come from all over the world to get a taste of this once-in-a-lifetime Tennessee whiskey experience.”

To travel the trail in its entirety, you’ll need to allot a good two weeks as it spans 25 stops and 600 miles, many on winding roads through the twisting highlands and plateaus of Middle and East Tennessee, home of the Great Smoky Mountains.

We opted to tackle the trail at a slower pace over the course of six weeks, condensing each trip into three, easily digestible chunks that should take less than four days each and could include Civil War history, the local food scene, and some of the greatest music in Tennessee from icons like Cash, Presley and Parton.

Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

Completing the Tennessee Whiskey Trail is a highly coveted prize for booze connoisseurs, and only two people have completed it in its entirety as of publication (update: we became #3 and 4!). There are so many variants on the magic of fermentation found in the hills here, and it’s an absolutely fascinating journey to see up close and personal what these folks are producing in their labs. 

Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

We’re doing it right: visiting every stop, going on a tour, watching the production process, taking the time to talk to the brains behind the stills. Southerners have a demonstrably different way of doing things, but the desire to be authentic, generous and individual links them all.

How the Tennessee Whiskey Trail Works

Many of the destinations are small operations with minimal staff while others are full-blown, multi-million dollar affairs; each one has its distinct character. You might meet the guy (or gal) that actually makes the liquor or a seasonal hire that is an expert in all of the offerings. In all cases, there has to be an educational requirement to comply with the still quirky Tennessee laws governing legal operations. Prepare for at least an hour on-site at each location.

Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

Some of the manufacturers serve drinks made with their products while many others simply provide thimble-sized samples (albeit upward of 20 in a go). Please drink responsibly and have a designated driver if you’re planning on exploring the entire menu of options in a condensed fashion.

We can tell you firsthand that several of these Tennessee Whiskey Trail elixirs could be used to power a small rocket ship while some of the flavored moonshine versions are barely 40 proof, or about as strong as an aperitif. A large majority of facilities are open and serve alcohol seven days a week, a rarity in the South, while some of the smaller (or newer) operations only open their doors to the public from Thursday through Sunday, so plan ahead and do your research.

Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail
Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

All of the distilleries will have a couple essential items for the start of any Tennessee tour: a printed map guide and passport book. Technically, you can collect stamps in the passport without sampling the product but what’s the fun in that?

Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

The distilleries also will hand out an official Tennessee Whiskey Trail poker chip. Collect one from every distillery and you can get your very own poker set delivered right to your door. Who doesn’t love a good prize at the end of the whiskey-filled rainbow?

 
 
 

Join in On the Whiskey Trail Fun!

Every November, East Tennessee’s premier whiskey festival Grains & Grits occupies downtown Townsend during peak foliage season. This one-day event features every single distillery in the guild and a whole lot of locally sourced food; it also marks the official launch of the East Tennessee side of the trail. What does that mean? Food, fun, music, and lots of whiskey and spirits. In fact, you’ll find the following distilleries present:

 

 

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Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail
Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail
Travel the Tennessee Whiskey Trail
COMMENTS
  • October 9, 2017

    I can’t think of a better way to spend a day in TN! This looks like a once in a lifetime, custom made trip.

    • October 16, 2017

      You won the Instagram giveaway, so I hope you’re still game for a Smoky Mountain weekend! =)

  • October 9, 2017
    Jodie Rector

    I love the Smokies in the fall & I love supporting TN & Whiskey!

  • October 9, 2017
    Andrea

    We’re not too far from Eastern TN, but have yet to visit any of these distilleries. This event sounds like a great way to sample several!

  • October 9, 2017
    Gloria Ciecka

    This sounds like a great reason to explore more of TN. Also would appreciate the chance to try even more fine whiskey, please.

  • October 9, 2017
    Joanne J

    First, who WOULDNT want to travel with you two?? I’ve been following you for some time and living vicariously – for now. Travel is what I love to do most!

    Second, whiskey (bourbon, really) is my drink of choice and I’d love to learn more about Tennessee whiskey. I’m a sucker for some Dickel rye during the week, but I’d like to know more about some smaller distilleries in the state. I just travelled to Louisville (from Charlotte) and stopped at some impressive bourbon distilleries. The smell was indescribably heavenly!

    Lastly, Tennessee, particularly Nashville, is one of my favorite destinations. I love North Carolina, but Tennessee is gradually pulling at me.

  • October 10, 2017
    Susan Olt

    Sounds like the perfect fall getaway to try the TN Whiskey Trail!

  • October 10, 2017

    Love this! And I had a blast at Grits and Grains last year! I would def go again if it was closer 🙂

  • October 10, 2017

    This is not really for me because I’m not a fan of whiskey. However, the idea of having a passport and getting stamps at the different distilleries is making the collector in me shudder with excitement 🙂 Haha, I would follow this trail if only to collect stamps!

  • October 10, 2017
    Christine

    Whiskey and the Smokies are two of my favorite things!

    • October 16, 2017

      Well, it’s your lucky day as you’re the winner of one of the pair of tickets, Christine! =)

      • October 18, 2017
        Christine

        Aaahhhhh so exciting!!! Time to scope out hotels!

  • October 10, 2017
    Charles Bridges

    Thanks. Love it!

  • October 10, 2017
    V

    Sounds like a great time! I’d love to use the tickets to check out the festival and George Dickel Distillery!

    • October 16, 2017

      Meet me at the Dickel tent then, V, as you just won a pair of tickets!

  • October 10, 2017

    Wow! I’m a whiskey lover myself and I’m so jealous right now with you. The idea of getting to explore such an amazing distillery makes me excited. Anyways, goodluck on your travels and hoping to see more of your adventures soon!

  • October 11, 2017

    What a great event!

    I have to say it, Tennessee has a lot going for it, and a whisky trail sounds just fabulous. Yee Haa!

    p.s. I haven’t seen your “share” buttons for a while, was that a strategic move or..!

    • October 12, 2017

      I’m going through a major SEO overhaul (started in August, will probably go through next year) and one of the tips was to take that off for page load time. Do you find it annoying? I do still have my custom Pin buttons in there, but I’m seeing if not having a social shares plugin speeds up my site (since I have so many large images to load on each post).

  • October 13, 2017

    Ah! I see. It’s certainly faster that’s true however, I now only feel obliged to share your article on Twitter, and only if it really “stands out” so to speak!

    I hate to say this but I’m as lazy as the next person, and going back up the page is a bit of a hassle, but I do it anyway ‘cos you’re nice!

  • October 13, 2017

    I love how the uprising of booze is so many states is tied to changes in legislation, especially recent changes to prohibition-era legislation. In Virginia, we only had a few craft brewers for years and years and then, about five years ago, one of brewers decided to change things, laws got changed and now we have ALL THE BEER and it’s magical and wonderful and I love it.

  • October 14, 2017
    Misty

    I love the Smokies! It would be a lot more fun than watching the Vols lose another game!

    • November 26, 2017

      Ha, right? I think my days of spending Saturdays in Neyland Stadium are behind me =(

  • October 14, 2017
    Terry Branam

    I heard do much about this last year after the event,that I would love to be able to attend this year. It sounded like so much fun.

  • October 14, 2017
    Amanda Roper

    Would love to be able to attend this event. Townsend is one of our favorite vacation spots!

  • October 15, 2017
    Rachelle

    This sounds like an amazing experience to learn about the history and advancement made by the industry in the great state of TN. My dad shared some TN moonshine stories with me from when he grew up in middle TN. What joy it would be to send he and my mom back to TN for this premier event.

  • October 15, 2017

    Would love to visit Sugar land Distillery. Absolutely love their moonshines!

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