Tennessee's craft beverage scene has exploded like a shaken beer can at a summer barbecue, and honestly, we're not complaining. From moonshine stills tucked into mountain hollers to sleek urban breweries pumping out experimental IPAs, the Volunteer State offers enough liquid adventures to keep your designated driver very, very busy.
The heavy hitters you can't miss
Let's start with the obvious because sometimes the tourist traps are tourist traps for good reason.
Jack Daniel's keeps its crown
Look, you can't write about Tennessee distilleries without talking about Jack Daniel's in Lynchburg. As the world's oldest registered distillery (established 1866), this place practically invented the whiskey tour experience. The irony of it being in a dry county just adds to the charm.
Tours range from the basic Dry County Tour at $15 to the fancy Angel's Share experience where you'll taste single-barrel selections that make your wallet cry. The three-hour Taste of Lynchburg tour includes lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House, where Southern hospitality comes with a side of fried chicken. Pro tip: even during their October-November maintenance period, tours keep rolling because capitalism never sleeps.
Uncle Nearest earns every award
Down in Shelbyville, Uncle Nearest Distillery has racked up more hardware than a Home Depot, earning recognition as the "Most Awarded American Whiskey 2019-2022" with over 700 accolades. This isn't just marketing fluff either. The distillery honors Nathan "Nearest" Green, the first African American master distiller on record, who taught Jack Daniel himself how to make whiskey.
The 323-acre property offers everything from standard NGD Tours at $35 to exclusive Master Blender sessions with Victoria Eady Butler (Nearest's fifth-generation descendant) for $200. Their Barrel House BBQ II serves something called "grilled cheese on crack," which sounds both alarming and delicious. Oh, and they claim to have the world's longest bar at the Humble Baron, though after a few tastings, everything starts looking pretty long.
Gatlinburg's moonshine row delivers the goods
If you've ever wanted to feel like a bootlegger without the federal charges, Gatlinburg's your spot. Sugarlands Distilling Company on the Parkway showcases award-winning spirits including their Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey, which is harder to find than a parking spot downtown during leaf season.
Open daily from 10 AM to 10:30 PM, Sugarlands offers:
- Free behind-the-scenes tours
- Moonshine mixing classes ($15)
- Tastings of 12 flavors ($5)
- Purchase vouchers with tastings
- 15+ moonshine flavors total
Meanwhile, Ole Smoky Distillery holds the title of "America's most visited distillery", which either means they're doing something right or tourists will visit anything with free samples. Their products have won enough awards to wallpaper a small cabin, including Double Gold for their Peanut Butter Whiskey and a perfect 100-point Century distinction for Butter Pecan Cream.
The "Hooch Hop" between their three locations (The Holler, The Barrelhouse, and The Barn) rewards completionists with a free t-shirt, because nothing says "I day-drank responsibly" like branded apparel.
Nashville brings the craft revolution
Nashville's beverage scene mirrors its music industry: a mix of legendary establishments and scrappy newcomers all vying for your attention.
Historic sips in Marathon Village
Nelson's Green Brier Distillery in Marathon Village resurrects 1860s family recipes with a modern twist. Tours run $25 and happen on the hour and half-hour, featuring their Belle Meade Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey. The recently added restaurant (opened July 2023) means you can make a whole evening of it without having to Uber somewhere else for dinner.
Just down the street, Corsair Distillery has collected over 450 medals for their experimental approach to spirits. Their $18 tours include tastings of five selections chosen by your guide, who'll probably gush about their Triple Smoke Whiskey like it's their firstborn child. Open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 7 PM, this place embodies the "let's see what happens if we age gin in barrels" spirit of craft distilling.
Beer with a side of Nashville cool
Yazoo Brewing Company might be Nashville's original craft brewery (since 2003), but they haven't gotten lazy. Located 10 miles north in Madison, their 6.5-acre riverside facility rewards the drive with their Embrace the Funk sour series that has achieved legitimate cult status among beer nerds.
Key Yazoo features include:
- 30+ beers on tap
- Grillshack restaurant partnership
- Award-winning Hefeweizen
- Dog-friendly riverside patio
- Weekend brewery tours
For hop heads, Bearded Iris Brewing specializes in New England-style IPAs that'll make you question why you ever drank clear beer. Recently acquired by Memphis-based Wiseacre, they maintain their reputation for hazy goodness at their Germantown taproom where you can watch the magic happen through windows into the production area.
And then there's Diskin Cider, Nashville's first craft cidery, operating out of a converted semi-truck garage because of course they are. Open Thursday through Sunday, they host drag brunches and trivia nights in their 8,000-square-foot space, bridging the gap between wine snobs and beer geeks with offerings from semi-sweet to pineapple.
Memphis brings soul to your glass
Memphis does beverages like it does barbecue: with soul, tradition, and just enough innovation to keep things interesting.
Downtown distilling done right
Old Dominick Distillery downtown employs Tennessee's first female head distiller since Prohibition, Alex Castle, in their massive 50,000-square-foot historic complex. Daily tours run hourly from noon, showcasing their Huling Station Bourbon (114-proof cask strength) and the Memphis Toddy, recreated from an 1880s recipe at a gentler 60 proof.
Breweries worth crossing the river for
Wiseacre Brewing Company anchors Memphis's craft beer scene with two distinct locations. Their downtown HQ features Little Bettie Pizza, which earned a Food Network Triple D appearance. The GABF Bronze-winning Tiny Bomb Pilsner incorporates local wildflower honey, because apparently regular pilsners weren't Southern enough.
Memphis Made Brewing relocated to The Ravine in July 2024, bringing their Fireside Red Ale (Memphis's most popular local beer) to a shiny new 7,000-square-foot facility. Creative offerings like Lick Everything blackberry strong ale prove that beer names can be both suggestive and delicious.
The glorious weirdos worth finding
Sometimes the best experiences require a GPS and a sense of adventure.
Middle of nowhere, center of awesome
Calfkiller Brewing Company in Sparta attracts more tourists to White County than any other business, despite being located where cell service goes to die. This farm brewery features mature shade trees, fire pits, wandering chickens, and a converted hippie bus that probably has stories to tell.
Their hand-built brewing system produces beers with names like:
- Sergio's Ole Evil Ass Devil Bullshit Ale
- Scorned Hooker
- Other family-unfriendly monikers
Free Saturday tours showcase their "unparalleled drinkability paradoxically balanced by uncompromised complexity," which sounds like marketing speak but actually makes sense after a few samples. Open weekdays from 10 AM to 4 PM, because even rebellious brewers need weekends.
Moonshine meets farm life
Short Mountain Distillery in Woodbury operates on a 400-acre organic farm using Al Capone's actual Prohibition-era sugar shine recipe. Tours at 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM Friday through Sunday take the form of storytelling sessions under the porch rather than factory walks.
The resident distillery cats, Barley and Rye, oversee production while the on-site Rye and Revelry restaurant serves elevated Southern cuisine. Weekend cocktail classes at $20 teach you skills you'll definitely remember the next morning.
East Tennessee mountain magic
The Smoky Mountains provide more than just scenic backdrops for your Instagram posts.
Knoxville keeps it local
Knox Whiskey Works in Knoxville's Old City operates as a true "bushel to bottle" distillery, working directly with local farmers because middlemen are for quitters. Their $15 tours include tastings of 13 spirits, with the honey habanero Deals Gap Dragontail Whiskey emerging as the "why did I try this but also can I have more" favorite.
Crafty Bastard Brewery earns praise for having "more atmosphere and charm than all other breweries combined", which sounds like hyperbole until you visit their downtown HQ at 6 Emory Place. They age beers in whiskey and gin barrels from nearby distilleries, creating a boozy cultural exchange program. Their second location, Crafty West, pairs expanded production with Hole in the Wall Pizza, because beer without pizza is just adult soda.
Gateway to the Smokies suds
Gatlinburg Brewing Company operates in both Gatlinburg and Sevierville, serving beers with names like Don't Feed The Bears and Epipen Peanut Butter Stout. The Gatlinburg location's large windows overlook the Parkway, perfect for judging tourists while enjoying brick-oven pizza.
Planning your Tennessee beverage trail adventure
The Tennessee Whiskey Trail now includes 30 distillery brands across 40+ stops statewide, because apparently we needed more reasons to drink.
Special programs and seasonal sips
The "Carols & Barrels" holiday program runs from November 11, 2024 through January 5, 2025, bringing holiday pop-ups to 10 Middle Tennessee distilleries. Because nothing says "holiday spirit" like actual spirits.
Major 2025 festivals include:
- Music City Brewers Fest (August 23)
- Nashville Predators Craft Beer Festival (June 28)
- East Nashville Beer Fest (April 12)
- Tennessee Beer, Wine & Shine Festival
- Various brewery anniversary parties
Practical tips for not being that tourist
Weekend tours at popular destinations sell out faster than concert tickets, so book ahead. Tennessee Whiskey Tours offers multi-stop packages for those who prefer letting someone else drive, which is basically everyone after stop number two.
Family considerations matter too. Tennessee Brew Works and similar spots welcome kids with outdoor spaces and activities, while most distilleries maintain a strict 21+ policy for obvious reasons. Food availability varies wildly, with brewery-restaurant combos offering the most reliable sustenance for your alcohol absorption needs.
Transportation remains crucial unless you enjoy expensive conversations with law enforcement. Most tour companies offer curated itineraries that hit multiple stops without requiring you to remember where you parked. Digital passport programs through the Tennessee Whiskey Trail reward completionists with prizes, turning day drinking into an achievement-based activity.
Whether you're chasing the perfect bourbon, searching for that elusive hazy IPA, or just want to say you drank moonshine in a converted hippie bus, Tennessee's craft beverage scene delivers experiences worth the hangover. From the hallowed grounds of Jack Daniel's to the experimental chambers of urban breweries, each stop offers its own story, usually told by someone who's genuinely excited about fermentation.
Just remember to pace yourself. Tennessee's not going anywhere, and neither are these liquid landmarks. Well, except for that one brewery that might get bought by a bigger brewery, but that's a worry for another day. For now, grab a designated driver, download some maps, and prepare to discover why Tennessee's craft beverage scene has everyone raising their glasses and saying "y'all come back now, ya hear?"
