Craft Spirits · Tennessee
Craft Spirits Distilleries in Tennessee
Tour 11 craft spirits distilleries in Tennessee. Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery, Corsair Distillery, George Dickel (Cascade Hollow Distilling Co.).
11distilleries
Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery
Downtown Tennessee high-malt bourbon, daily tours
George Dickel (Cascade Hollow Distilling Co.)
Tennessee whisky in scenic Cascade Hollow
Jack Daniel's Distillery
Historic world-famous Tennessee whiskey in Lynchburg
Nearest Green Distillery (Uncle Nearest)
Sprawling estate honouring Nathan 'Nearest' Green
Nelson's Green Brier Distillery
Revived pre-Prohibition Tennessee whiskey in Nashville
Sugarlands Distilling Company
Top-rated Gatlinburg moonshine and rye tastings
About craft spirits distilleries in Tennessee
Tennessee is one of the most storied corners of the American spirits world, and its craft producers carry that lineage forward with real conviction. The state gave the world the Lincoln County Process, the signature step of mellowing freshly distilled whiskey through sugar-maple charcoal before it ever reaches a barrel, a technique refined in the 1800s and now woven into state law. Much of that heritage runs through Nathan "Nearest" Green, the formerly enslaved master distiller who taught a young Jack Daniel his craft and is honoured today at the Nearest Green Distillery (Uncle Nearest). Visiting Tennessee means tasting that history alongside a thoroughly modern wave of small makers.
The craft spirits scene here is unusually varied. In Nashville you'll find experimental, award-laden producers such as Corsair Distillery and the revived Nelson's Green Brier, while the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee hold Leiper's Fork Distillery and the long-running George Dickel (Cascade Hollow Distilling Co.). East Tennessee tells a different story: the 2009 loosening of the state's liquor laws unleashed Appalachia's moonshining traditions into legal daylight, giving rise to Smoky Mountain favourites like Ole Smoky Distillery and Sugarlands Distilling Company in Gatlinburg.
Tours range from polished heritage walks at Jack Daniel's to lively, flavour-packed moonshine tastings, urban tasting rooms at Knox Whiskey Works and Chattanooga Whiskey, and farm-to-bottle storytelling at Short Mountain. Whether you want bourbon-style depth or apple-pie moonshine, there's a tasting here for you.
What to expect on a tour
Tennessee distillery tours generally run from about 30 to 60 minutes and end with a guided tasting. At the larger heritage sites, such as Jack Daniel's near Lynchburg or George Dickel at Cascade Hollow, you'll typically see the cave or limestone spring water source, the rick yards where sugar-maple charcoal is burned, the mellowing vats and rows of barrelhouses, with guides explaining the Lincoln County Process in detail. Smaller craft producers like Corsair, Leiper's Fork, Knox Whiskey Works and Chattanooga Whiskey offer a more intimate, hands-on look at mash tuns, stills and barrels, often with the distillers themselves nearby.
The Smoky Mountain moonshine houses run a different kind of visit. At Ole Smoky and Sugarlands in Gatlinburg, tastings are the main event, with flights moving through a long line of flavoured corn whiskeys and moonshines, frequently set to live music. At Nearest Green Distillery you can expect both: a working craft distillery and an estate built around telling the story of Nathan Green and his lasting influence on Tennessee whiskey.
Getting there & around
Tennessee's distilleries cluster into three handy bases. Nashville is the natural starting point for Middle Tennessee, with Corsair and Nelson's Green Brier in or near the city and Leiper's Fork a short drive south. Lynchburg (Jack Daniel's), Shelbyville (Nearest Green) and Tullahoma (George Dickel) sit within roughly 90 minutes of Nashville and pair neatly over a day or two. East Tennessee centres on Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for Ole Smoky and Sugarlands, with Knoxville (Knox Whiskey Works) and Chattanooga (Chattanooga Whiskey) as urban anchors.
A car is by far the most practical way to link sites, since many sit in small towns and rural hollows. Note that several distillery towns, including Lynchburg's Moore County, have historically been dry, so on-site sales and sample sizes can be limited. If you plan to taste seriously, a designated driver or a booked tour service from Nashville is the sensible choice.
Frequently asked
- Do I need to book distillery tours in advance?
- For the bigger names such as Jack Daniel's, George Dickel and Nearest Green, booking ahead is strongly recommended, especially at weekends and in peak season, as guided tours run on set times and can sell out. Many moonshine tasting rooms in Gatlinburg, like Ole Smoky and Sugarlands, are walk-in friendly for tastings, though their distillery tours may still benefit from a reservation.
- How much do tours and tastings cost?
- Prices vary by distillery and experience. Basic tours with a tasting commonly fall in the modest-to-mid range, while in-depth or premium experiences at the heritage sites cost more. Some Smoky Mountain moonshine tastings are available for just a few dollars. Always check the distillery's current pricing when you book, as offerings and fees change.
- How many distilleries can I realistically visit in a day?
- Two to three is a comfortable, enjoyable pace if you want time for full tours and tastings, particularly when travelling between towns. In a cluster such as Gatlinburg's moonshine row, where tasting rooms sit close together, you could fit in more. Build in driving time across Middle and East Tennessee, as sites can be an hour or more apart.
- Can I drink at tastings and still drive?
- Tasting pours are small, but they add up quickly across a flight or multiple stops, and Tennessee enforces drink-driving limits strictly. The safest approach is a designated driver, a booked tour from Nashville, or spacing visits with food and water. Some distilleries can pour reduced or take-home samples if you ask.
- Are the distilleries family-friendly?
- Many welcome families to the property and the storytelling parts of the tour, and several have shops, restaurants or grounds that children enjoy. Tastings themselves are restricted to those of legal drinking age (21 in the United States), so policies on younger visitors vary by site. Check the individual distillery's rules before you go.
- When is the best time to visit?
- Spring and autumn bring the most comfortable weather and beautiful scenery, particularly in the Smoky Mountains around Gatlinburg, where autumn colour is a major draw. Summer is busy, especially in the tourist-heavy east, so book early and expect crowds. Visiting midweek anywhere in the state usually means quieter tours and easier parking.
- Are the distilleries accessible for visitors with mobility needs?
- Accessibility differs considerably. Modern visitor centres and tasting rooms tend to be well equipped, while some historic sites involve stairs, uneven ground, hills or cave areas that can be challenging. If you have specific mobility needs, contact the distillery ahead of your visit to confirm accessible routes and whether parts of the tour can be adapted.