Gin · Tennessee
Gin Distilleries in Tennessee
Tour 4 gin distilleries in Tennessee. Each offers visits, tastings or experiences you can book directly — including Knox Whiskey Works, Corsair Distillery, H Clark Distillery.
4distilleries
About gin distilleries in Tennessee
Gin might not be the first thing you associate with Tennessee, but the state's craft distillers have quietly made it one of the most rewarding spirits to seek out here. Much of that comes down to the experimental streak running through Tennessee's modern distilling scene. Where whiskey is bound by tradition and, in the case of Tennessee whiskey, by law, gin gives makers a blank canvas, and they have used it to play with regional and unusual botanicals. Nashville's Corsair Distillery is the standard-bearer, a small-batch operation celebrated for its inventive approach and willing to chase ideas that more conservative producers would never attempt. Alongside it, multi-category craft distilleries such as Old Dominick Distillery in Memphis, Knox Whiskey Works in Knoxville and H Clark Distillery fold gin into portfolios otherwise known for whiskey, which means a gin tasting here often comes with a fascinating spread of other spirits. The result is a small but characterful gin scene where you are as likely to find a classic juniper-forward London-style as something built around an unexpected botanical. For visitors, it is a chance to taste the experimental side of Tennessee distilling at its most expressive.
What makes Tennessee gin distinctive
Tennessee gin is defined less by a regional house style than by the spirit of experimentation behind it. The state's craft distilleries grew up alongside a culture of innovation, and gin became a natural outlet for that energy. Corsair Distillery embodies the approach: a Nashville artisan operation known for inventive, small-batch releases and a willingness to work with regional and offbeat botanicals, it has earned a strong reputation for pushing boundaries across its whole range. Because gin is so much faster to make than aged whiskey, it also lets distillers iterate quickly and showcase their creativity between barrel releases. Multi-spirit producers like Old Dominick Distillery, Knox Whiskey Works and H Clark Distillery treat gin as part of a broader grain-to-glass story, so their juniper spirits often share a still and a sensibility with their whiskeys. The upshot is variety: expect everything from balanced, classic juniper-led gins to more adventurous, botanically expressive bottlings depending on where you visit.
What to expect from a gin tasting
A gin tasting in Tennessee usually sits within a wider distillery experience, since most of these producers are whiskey makers too. A typical visit walks you through the still house, often with a chance to see or smell the botanical basket or vapour basket used to flavour the spirit, before a guided tasting. At Corsair Distillery's Nashville sites, including its taproom at Marathon Village, the atmosphere leans relaxed and cocktail-friendly, so you may be able to try the gin both neat and in a mixed serve. At Old Dominick Distillery, Knox Whiskey Works and H Clark Distillery, gin tends to appear as one stop in a flight that also covers whiskey and other spirits, which is ideal for understanding how a single distillery's character carries across categories. Ask your host which botanicals feature and whether anything regional or unusual has gone into the blend; the answer is often the most interesting part of the pour.
Planning your visit
Tennessee's gin producers are concentrated in the state's cities, which makes them easy to fold into a broader trip. Nashville is the gin capital thanks to Corsair Distillery, whose Wedgewood-Houston and Marathon Village locations are both worth a look and pair well with the city's wider food and drink scene. Memphis offers Old Dominick Distillery, Knoxville has Knox Whiskey Works, and H Clark Distillery adds another option for those exploring the area around Nashville. Because gin tends to be part of multi-spirit tasting menus, a single visit usually delivers good variety, so you may not need to chase many stops to get a full picture. Check tour and tasting times in advance and book where possible, especially at weekends and at the busier Nashville venues. And as with any spirits tasting, arrange a rideshare, designated driver or guided tour rather than driving between distilleries.
Frequently asked
- Is Tennessee actually known for gin?
- It is better known for whiskey, but its craft distillers have built a small and characterful gin scene. The experimental culture behind Tennessee's modern distilleries, embodied by Nashville's Corsair Distillery, has made gin a natural showcase for creativity, and several whiskey producers make notable gins alongside their core ranges.
- Which distillery is best for gin in Tennessee?
- Corsair Distillery in Nashville is the standout, an artisan operation celebrated for inventive, small-batch spirits and adventurous botanicals. For gin within a broader whiskey-led range, Old Dominick Distillery in Memphis, Knox Whiskey Works in Knoxville and H Clark Distillery are all worth visiting.
- Will I be able to taste gin on its own, or only in cocktails?
- Both are usually possible. Most distilleries pour their gin neat as part of a guided flight, and cocktail-friendly venues such as Corsair Distillery's taproom at Marathon Village also serve mixed drinks, so you can experience the gin in more than one form.
- What styles of gin will I find?
- Expect a spread, from balanced, classic juniper-forward gins to more experimental, botanically expressive bottlings. Tennessee gin is defined more by its makers' inventiveness than by a single regional style, so the character varies meaningfully from one distillery to the next.
- Can I combine a gin tasting with whiskey on the same visit?
- Easily. Most of Tennessee's gin producers are primarily whiskey makers, so gin typically appears within a flight that also covers bourbon, Tennessee whiskey or other spirits. Distilleries like Old Dominick Distillery, Knox Whiskey Works and H Clark Distillery are good examples of this multi-category approach.
- Where are the gin distilleries located?
- Mostly in the cities. Nashville leads with Corsair Distillery, which has two locations, while Memphis has Old Dominick Distillery and Knoxville has Knox Whiskey Works. H Clark Distillery offers another option in the wider Nashville area, making the scene easy to fold into a city-based trip.