Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine is a corn whiskey distillery in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Their downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee facility features two working copper stills. Visitors are able to see the distilling process up close while learning about the history of moonshine production in the Smoky Mountains.[1] $5 samples are offered.[2] A second distillery, dubbed The Barn, opened in fall 2014 in Pigeon Forge.[3] Ole Smoky opened a new facility called Mashville next to Yazoo Brewing Company in the heart of Nashville in the spring of 2019. From 2020 to 2022, the Ole Smoky Distillery was the most visited distillery in the world.[4][5][6]

History

When Tennessee state law changed to allow the distillation of spirits, Ole Smoky Distillery, LLC became the first federally licensed distillery in the history of East Tennessee.[7] The distillery opened the weekend of July 4, 2010. At opening, it was one of only four distilleries operating in the state. Jack Daniel's and George Dickel received their licenses before Prohibition,[8][9] and Benjamin Prichard's opened their Tennessee facility in 1997.[10]

In February 2022, Apax Partners, a global private equity firm, acquired a majority stake in Ole Smoky.[11][12]

Products

Currently, Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine nationally retails fifteen flavors of moonshine made using authentic East Tennessee recipes, jarred and shipped directly from the company's Gatlinburg distillery. Original Moonshine (100 proof), White Lightnin' (100 proof), Lightnin' Line (80 proof): Strawberry Lightnin', Lemon Drop Lightnin' and Hunch Punch Lightnin', and the 40 proof line including: Moonshine Cherries, Peach Moonshine, Apple Pie Moonshine, Blackberry Moonshine, Strawberry Moonshine, Lemon Drop Moonshine, Pineapple Moonshine, Watermelon Moonshine, Sweet Tea Moonshine and Charred Moonshine are available selectively in 49 states and Canada.[13] The distillery uses a 100-year-old family recipe, which was perfected with the help of Dave Pickerell, who served as the Master Distiller for Maker's Mark for over 15 years. The ingredients are locally sourced.

Ole Smoky Distillery also produces a peanut butter whiskey that received ten well-known spirits awards in November 2020.[14]

Media reaction

Media coverage of Ole Smoky's opening included a visit by the Today Show[15] and an appearance on Martha Stewart Living Radio. They continue to garner national media coverage in major press and consumer publications.[16]

References

  1. ↑ “The Hidden History of Moonshine In The Smoky Mountains”. Travel To Gatlinburg
  2. ↑ Cynthia Yeldell (June 9, 2010). "Ole Smoky Distillery to debut moonshine Business to open in Gatlinburg on July 2 with free tours, samples". knoxnews.com. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Moonshine store plans to open in Pigeon Forge". Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-23.
  4. ↑ Harris, Alivia (2020-02-04). "Ole Smoky Distilleries named most visited distillery in the world". WVLT. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  5. ↑ Hill, Paige (2022-01-25). "Ole Smoky Distilleries most visited in the world with over 5.7M guests in 2021". WVLT. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  6. ↑ "Ole Smoky Again Named the Most Visited Distillery in the World In 2022". Yahoo Finance. 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  7. ↑ "There's Moonshine in the Smokies · Gatlinburg Press RoomGatlinburg Press Site". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  8. ↑ "Jack Daniel's Distillery". Archived from the original on 2013-03-20. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  9. ↑ "Distillery Visit: George Dickel". Alcademics.
  10. ↑ "Prichard's Distillery History". Archived from the original on 2013-04-10. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  11. ↑ "Apax Acquires Ole Smoky Distillery". Mergers&Acquisitions. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  12. ↑ Brooker, Alice (2022-02-14). "Ole Smoky Distillery sells stake to Apax". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  13. ↑ "Ole Smoky Kicks it up a Notch with New 80 Proof Lightnin' Line". Ole Smoky Moonshine.
  14. ↑ Sadler, Megan (November 10, 2020). "Ole Smoky Distillery receives ten awards for peanut butter whiskey". WVLT-TV. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  15. ↑ Jenna Wolfe (January 23, 2011). "Moonshine goes mainstream with micro-distilleries". today.com. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  16. ↑ "Private Equity Dips into Moonshine - Private Equity Beat - WSJ". Archived from the original on 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2017-08-04.

35°42′39″N 83°31′10″W / 35.71087°N 83.51936°W / 35.71087; -83.51936

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