Barrels at Nelson's Green Brier Distillery in Nashville
Photo Credit: Tennessee Whiskey Trail

Sip and See Tennessee on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail

Experience Southern hospitality, history and great whiskey.

Tennessee has always had a rich heritage in making whiskey across the state. Before the Prohibition era that started in 1910 for Tennessee, there were upward of 300 registered distilleries across the state. However, only two distilleries reopened their doors in the century after Prohibition was lifted – Jack Daniel and George Dickel.

It wasn't until 2009, when laws were changed that allowed new craft distilleries to begin rebuilding Tennessee’s great whiskey heritage. Now, the Tennessee Distillers Guild has formed to help unite distilleries across the state in what is known as the Tennessee Whiskey Trail with 26 registered distilleries.

Take a little drive along the trail to visit some of these distilleries around Middle Tennessee.

Photo Credit: Danielle Atkins
Corsair's Hydra on top of a barrel at Corsair in Nashville, Tennessee
Stop 1 of 7

Corsair Distillery

Begin your adventure hard and fast with a visit to Corsair Distillery at their location on Merritt Avenue, Nashville. Their second location is at Marathon Village. With a variety of whiskeys in the 120-proof range, this is a great start to your trip. Corsair is constantly experimenting with new whiskeys that quickly age in smaller barrels. Snag an exclusive bottle where only 150 of its kind were made. They've also started experimenting with high gravity beer (only at the Marathon Village location), and make some of the best cocktails in Nashville.

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Photo Credit: Josh Ness
A variety of spirits from Tenn South Distillery
Stop 2 of 7

Big Machine Distillery

Head out of Nashville into Middle Tennessee’s rolling hills to your second stop, Tenn South Distillery in Lynnville for a tour. It’s easy to see how passionate the founders are of making the finest products, which is evident in every step of the process. Taste the difference their process as when by sampling the Clayton James Whiskey and their Platinum Filtered Vodka.

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Photo Credit: Josh Ness
Bottles of Jack Daniel's whiskey on display
Stop 3 of 7

Jack Daniel Distillery

Going from the least number of employees to the most in the whiskey business is quite the jump on the trail, but Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg is a pilgrimage to any whiskey connoisseur. The tour involves an hour and a half of going through their history as a distillery and how they restarted once Prohibition ended. You can choose from several experiences including The Dry County Tour which is an hour-10-minute tour filled with distillery stories, the hour-and-a-half tour which includes a tasting of five Jack products at historic Barrelhouse 1-14, and The Angel’s Share which includes a tour and tasting of whiskey from individual barrels.

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Photo Credit: Josh Ness
An order of ribs from Barrel House BBQ in Lynchburg
Stop 4 of 7

Barrel House BBQ

Before you leave Lynchburg, be sure to stop by Barrelhouse BBQ for home-smoked barbecue, sausage, and the famous Grilled Cheese Crack Jack - a grilled cheese made with pepper jack cheese and topped with pulled pork and Habanero sauce. Walk off your meal with a meander around downtown Lynchburg that’s filled with shops, sweets and keepsakes.

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Photo Credit: Josh Ness
Bottles of whisky from The Cascade Hollow Distilling Co.
Stop 5 of 7

The Cascade Hollow Distilling Co.

After lunch, make your way to Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. in Tullahoma, where the tour may be one of your favorites. Located in the beautiful property of Cascade Hollow, the distillery will remind you of what southern charm feels like (and tastes like!). Feel the passion from how welcoming and friendly the tour guide is to the last drop of samples you can have after the tour.

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Photo Credit: Josh Ness
Tasting bar at Short Mountain Distillery in Woodbury TN
Stop 6 of 7

Short Mountain Distillery

Your next stop on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail should be Short Mountain Distillery in Woodbury. Usually known for their moonshine varieties, they’re making small batch whiskey, bought by the barrel. The tour ends in the Short Mountain Distillery Cafe, where you can buy a few bites and drinks to be enjoyed on the porch overlooking their rolling hills of farmland.

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Photo Credit: Josh Ness
Award-winning Belle Meade Bourbon from Nelson's Green Brier Distillery
Stop 7 of 7

Nelson's Green Brier Distillery

Round off your tour with a visit to Nelson’s Greenbrier Distillery in Nashville. You’ll notice the rich history of Green Brier, of how a 100-year-old distillery was re-established by Charles Nelson's grandsons, Andy and Charlie. It’s a cool story! The descendants learned about their heritage on a trip to a butcher in Greenbrier, Tennessee when they saw the original warehouse their grandparents built. Nothing gets you like a good story when it comes to whiskey, and Green Brier might have the best one in town.

Plan your own Tennessee Whiskey Trail itinerary and then share your experience by tagging your photos with #madeintn and #tnwhiskeytrail.

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