Visiting Tennessee is like traveling to the origin of American whiskey and bourbon. Next to Kentucky, it is famous for its distillery trail. The craft distillery scene in Tennessee dates back well over 100 years. Some of the best distilleries still make craft spirits with the same methods developed generations ago. This is the ultimate craft spirit guide to the best distilleries in Tennessee. 

Jack Daniel’s Distillery

The most famous and oldest distillery in Tennessee is the Jack Daniel’s Distillery. It’s considered one of the best distilleries in Tennessee and, perhaps, the world. It’s rumored that it is the Tennessee spring water that is what makes the whiskey so unique. It’s most famous for its Old No. 7 whiskey. However, the distillery also makes other craft spirits. This includes Gentleman Jack, Single Barrel, Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire, and Tennessee Apple. The company has also branched out recently into making canned cocktails. Visiting the distillery is an entire experience. There are distillery tours, Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House and Restaurant, and the Lynchburg Hardware General Store. If you want to take an official tour, there are several distillery tours. 

• The Flight of Jack Daniel’s 
• The Dry County 
• Bonded Tour 

Old Smoky Distillery

The Old Smoky Distillery is famous for making legal moonshine. This is because the now legally distillery uses the same methods passed down from one family member to the next for over 100 years. They make over 30 flavors of moonshine, plus a continual seasonal rotation. They also distill whiskey and make canned cocktails. There are four locations in Tennessee that you can visit. However, not all of them offer distillery tours. Take the distillery tour at The Holler in Gatlinburg, TN, to see where it began and behind the distilling scenes. Samples are free, but if you want a tasting experience, it is $5. The Barn in Pigeon Forge, TN, The Barrel House in Gatlinburg, TN, and 6th & Peabody in Nashville, TN, are retail spaces that offer samples and tasting experiences. Each location regularly hosts concerts and other events. 

Nashville Barrel Company

While the Nashville Barrel Company is one of the newer distilleries, it is quickly becoming one of the best distilleries in Tennessee. The distillery makes rye whiskey, bourbon, and rum. You can choose from four tasting experiences when visiting the Nashville Barrel Company. Try a flight for $25, attend the Premium Tasting for $50, the Friends of NBC Experience for $60, or the Straight From the Barrel Experience with a bottle for $150. They also offer a “pick your barrel” experience. You’ll try up to four barrels in a guided tasting experience. Then pick a barrel that will become yours. When it’s ready, they will bottle, package, and send you the entire barrel’s worth of craft spirit. 

Old Dominick Distillery

While Old Dominick Distillery is relatively new on the craft distillery scene in Tennessee, it has a deep history. Inspiration for the distillery points to a found bottle of Old Dominick Toddy from the late 1800s. Today, the distillery crafts Tennessee whiskey, gin, vodka, bourbon, and toddies. It is the only distillery on the Tennessee Distillery Trail in western Tennessee. You can visit and take a distillery tour, sip a cocktail at the bar, hang out on the rooftop, or shop in the souvenir store. 

Sugarlands Distilling Co.

Opening in 2014, the Sugarlands Distilling Co. is located in downtown Gatlinburg.  In 2021, it opened a second production facility valued at $20 million. This iconic distillery has made a name for itself by partnering with well-known names. For example, the New Orleans Saints football team, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, the Red Sox baseball team, and country singer Cole Swindell all have partnered with Sugarlands to make a special edition moonshine. In addition to moonshine, the distillery makes whiskey, rum, and canned cocktails. In addition to tastings and distillery tours, there are several craft spirit workshops that you can attend. 

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery and many other distilleries in Tennessee, the Green Brier history is rich, long, and family-centric. Learn about it firsthand by going on a distillery tour. You could also gear up for a premium experience. These include an elevated tasting experience, craft cocktail making, and mixology classes. You can also explore a shop for gifts and limited-edition craft spirits. Green Brier focuses their efforts on distilling whiskey and bourbon. 

Tennessee Legend

You will find more than whiskey at Tennessee Legend. Their full line of craft spirits includes whiskey, moonshine, cream liqueur, gin, rum, agave spirit, and vodka. There are four locations in Tennessee. However, you will need to visit the Nashville location if you want a glimpse at the distilling operations. No distillery tours are offered, but you can peek through the production window and see the goings on. 

Big Machine Distillery

The Big Machine Distillery’s claim to fame is ultra-filtered premium vodka. It has the only Platinum Filtration system in the world. The system distills and filters the vodka 25 times, creating a pure and clean drinking experience. The distillery also crafts moonshine, rum, bourbon, gin, and whiskey. A unique craft spirit offering is the spiked coolers, which are bag vodka cocktails. Book a distillery tour and see the operations for yourself at the Nashville location. There are also Berry Hill and Lynnville locations that offer tastings and food.

Nashville Craft Distillery

Science is the focus at the Nashville Craft Distillery. Every craft spirit is made by hand and in small batches. They create gin, whiskey, sorghum spirits, whiskey, bourbon, and honey liqueur. You can book a distillery tour and get a behind-the-scenes look at distilling operations. There’s also a brilliant tasting room where you can sample craft spirits, sip cocktails, and purchase bottles. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many distilleries are in Tennessee?

According to the Tennessee Distillers Guild, 26 distilleries are a part of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. However, there are many more distilleries that are in Tennessee that are independent of the trail. 

What is the oldest distillery in Tennessee?

The oldest distillery in Tennessee is the Jack Daniel’s Distillery. Jasper Newton Daniel, known as Jack, established the distillery in 1866. 

How far is Bourbon Trail from Nashville?

The Bourbon Trail is located in Kentucky, about a 2.5-hour drive from Nashville, TN. 

Travel along the Tennessee Whiskey Trail with Distillery Nearby and discover the rich distilling history of this state.