A Beginner’s Guide to the Amber Miles of the TN Whiskey Trail

The Tennessee Whiskey Trail 101 – A Beginner’s Guide to the Journey of a Lifetime

Southerners have earned their obsession with whiskey. Few other spirits are as magical or restorative to the Southern heart. Start with some grains of your choosing, combine with water and yeast, filter through charcoal for that classic Lincoln County smoothness, then heat it all up and pour it into a charred, white oak cask. No incantations or sorcery required, only time—time and then someone to share your whiskey with, the most vital ingredient of all.

In the South, whiskey is our campfire in the wilderness. Whiskey is our hospitality distilled into a bottle. It’s our amber fellowship, our 90-proof commonwealth with room for all mankind.

The search for good whiskey is, therefore, the search for good times and good company. That search begins on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail.

The Trail

From the bluesy streets of Memphis through the honky-tonks of Nashville, then on to the rolling mountain hollers of Chattanooga, the Tennessee Whiskey Trail invites ramblers and celebrants of every stripe to savor the craft whiskey and craft culture of the American South.  

While you could just fling a dart at a map of Tennessee and seek whiskey wherever it lands, the Whiskey Trail offers a curated guide for whiskey hotspots in West, Middle, and Eastern Tennessee.

Every stop along the Whiskey Trail is worthy of your sincere attention, but we’ll start here with a beginner’s guide, a simple “flight” for your tasting.

Jack Daniel Distillery

Beginning with Jack Daniel himself, this iconic distillery is the oldest of its kind registered in Tennessee. Now famous throughout the world, what more iconic stop can there be on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail?

After shutting down tours as part of their COVID protocol, the Jack Daniel’s Distillery is proudly hosting a modified version of their famous walkthroughs once again. Tours of the distillery and visitor center have resumed, and (depending on the circumstances) guests may also visit the Lynchburg Hardware & General Store, the Barrel Shop, and Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant. 

Established in 1866 and in business for the better part of 150 years, it takes a lot more than a pandemic to keep ol’ Jack Daniel down.

Nashville Craft Distillery

Boasting “real craft spirits made in Music City,” the Nashville Craft Distillery specializes in from-scratch spirits made in house. By focusing on local and regional ingredients, Nashville Craft incorporates the very tastes and aromas that make Tennessee the gorgeous, southern symbol that it is.

Enjoy tours and tastings at Nashville Craft, and don’t forget to buy a bottle for personal use before leaving. In addition to their popular bourbon whiskey, they also make sorghum spirits, gin, and honey spiced liqueurs. 

George Dickel Distillery

“Whisky,” even when spelled without an “e” is still a triumph—or so George Dickel must have thought when buying into the distillery business in 1878. George’s “whisky” quickly became a smash hit, notable for its smooth taste, mellow qualities, and robust flavor.

The old Cascade Hollow Distilling Company—where George Dickel is made—is now back open at limited capacity Friday through Sunday. Tours are still on hold, but tastings and the bottle shop are open to the public.

H. Clark Distillery 

Putting the “small” in “small batch” whiskey, the H. Clark Distillery values quality over quantity. Located in charming Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, the granary distillery was the first legal business of the kind in its county at its founding over a century ago.

H. Clark makes bourbon, black and tan, and rye whiskeys in addition to dry and heirloom gins. Today, tastings and tours are available by appointment. Visits are limited to 8 guests at a time, so choose your companions like H. Clark makes its spirits—quality first.

Chattanooga Whiskey

The barroom at Chattanooga Whiskey puts you in the spirit’s shoes. Guests can almost feel themselves becoming the whiskey in the barrel at this richly appointed wood-lined hotspot. 

As the first new distillery in Chattanooga in over a century, these young whippersnappers have had a lot to prove. But by building on a deep local tradition, Chattanooga Whiskey has earned its place among the big boys of yesteryear. 

Stop in for a taste of Tennessee high malt, the 1816 series, or the Experimental Series, and give these up-and-comers the fair shake they clearly deserve.

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery

With roots stretching back to just before the Civil War, Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery has an American story worthy of its whiskey. After his father died on the high seas while moving to America from Germany, Charles Nelson arrived penniless to start his new life. 

A chain of successful grocery stores led to a brand of whiskey to call his own and, shortly thereafter, lasting success. Now, armed with the same recipe from 1909, you can try the Original Tennessee Whiskey right at its source. With notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and apple, you won’t soon forget your first sip.

The Journey

Despite the old wisdom, the destination can be as important as the journey. On the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, you’ll find out what Southerners have known for centuries now—that sharing great whiskey with great friends is its own journey and its own destination.