East Tennessee

Chattanooga Area

Chattanooga is a beautiful city that is set along the Tennessee River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Chattanooga is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream locale with rock climbing, hiking and white water rafting action abound.

Check out some of the things to do in Chattanooga like the Tennessee Aquarium and Ruby Falls, in addition to sampling Chattanooga whiskey. Plan to spend some time at neighboring Trail distilleries. Chattanooga Whiskey Co. (formerly Tennessee Stillhouse) is a micro-whiskey distillery and tasting room. Their Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery is the first distillery to craft Chattanooga whiskey in over 100 years. Gate 11 Distillery is a micro-distillery, cocktail bar and live music venue near downtown Chattanooga.

Spend the afternoon shopping downtown or head to North Shore, a hip, yet historical district just north of the river. For those with a slight sweet tooth, you’ll want to check out the MoonPie General Store – a perfect stop for Tennessee souvenirs for friends and family members back home!

Knoxville Area

Spend a week or weekend in Knoxville, a city where outdoor adventure, art and culture blend for an unforgettable trip, located approximately 180 miles east near Nashville. Things to do in Knoxville include a visit to the Knoxville Zoo which is the Red Panda Capital of the World, going up to the observation deck of the Sunsphere, and free things to do in Knoxville like the Knoxville Museum of Art.

Once the sun goes down, settle in near Market Square or Gay Street for a lively evening filled with live music every weekend in Knoxville, diverse cuisine from classic Southern dishes to Pan-Latin small plates, top performances by Broadway touring groups and comedians, and a good dose of Southern hospitality.

Make time to stop by the tasting room at Knox Whiskey Works near the heart of all the action in downtown Knoxville. You can sample all of their spirits and learn the process of each one, enjoy four house-made cocktails as part of the Cocktail Tasting Flight and enjoy classic cocktails like a Tennessee Mule or the Jackson Ave Gimlet. Take a tour of the small-batch, local distillery to see the process and the more than 300-gallon stainless steel and copper pot still up close. The tour includes a tasting flight of 13 spirits.

Sevierville Area

Keep heading east toward Sevierville by way of Thunder Road, a historic route that got its nickname as part of an undercover operation to nab moonshiners illegally producing that “good old mountain dew” during prohibition. Stop by Old Tennessee Distilling Co., a distillery that pays homage to the legendary route and the whiskey runners’ spirit that inspired its namesake.

Continue south, then take a short detour to Tennessee Legend Distillery in Sevierville. From flavorful Tennessee whiskies to smooth, classic White Lightning Moonshine, this distillery captures the legendary recipes of the mountains with its distinct flavors.

Enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains in Sevierville, Dolly Parton’s hometown. Located in the foothills of America’s visited national park, Sevierville is within a day’s drive of over half the nation’s population. This popular mountain town is known for its high-end outlet shopping at Tanger, exciting attractions like Forbidden Caverns and Tennessee Museum of Aviation as well as Sevierville distillery tours. Try ziplining (there are more than 14 courses in the area), indulge in classic southern cooking at roadside dives and spend time exploring historic downtown Sevierville – you can even snap a picture with Dolly Parton’s statue.

Your next stop is Hartford, TN for a taste of Bootleggers Distillery’s whiskey, which may just be the smallest batch distillery in the nation with its small-batch products brewed in 25-gallon stills.

Pigeon Forge Area

About 6 miles south of Sevierville is the city of Pigeon Forge. Home to Dollywood, one of the top things to do in Tennessee, dinner shows of non-stop action and a wealth of family-friendly things to do that adults and kids will enjoy.

The town is the perfect blend of fun things to do in Pigeon Forge and craft spirit artistry. Be sure to check out the Old Forge Distillery in The Old Mill area of town. These connoisseurs of great whiskey grind their own grains and use old-fashioned methods of distilling to craft some truly remarkable spirits. Embrace the culture and heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains area by trying some of the locally crafted moonshine. If you’re brave enough, try some of their 1830 Original Unaged Corn varietal. It’s distilled with pure, local Smoky Mountain spring water which yields a slightly sweeter, smooth and well-balanced finish.

After a few samples, visit one of the top restaurants in Pigeon Forge, the historic Old Mill Restaurant, where an 1830s-era gristmill still grinds the grains used for the biscuits served on your table today. Stroll and shop at the boutiques and art studios on the banks of the Little Pigeon River.

From Old Forge Distillery, make your way to The Mountain Mile where you’ll find Junction 35 Spirits, Tennessee’s first distillery and restaurant. Enjoy a flight of either Junction 35 moonshines, a mix of moonshines, vodka and flavored Tennessee whiskey, a whiskey flight that includes a wheated bourbon, rye and flavored whiskey or the premium flight which includes four top-shelf spirits, tequilas and limited-release whiskey. Once you buy a bottle or two of your favorite spirits, grab a table at the restaurant for juicy burgers, smoked wings, barbecue, salads, sandwiches and southern dishes like shrimp & grits and honey bourbon barbecue-glazed chicken.

Continue your Pigeon Forge vacation at The Island in Pigeon Forge, a popular destination with many choices for entertainment, dining, shopping and lodging. Right along the entrance of the Island is the 6,000-square foot Ole Smoky Distillery, that includes an onsite still and a tasting bar, with live bluegrass music performed on the outdoor stage daily.

Less than a mile from Ole Smoky Distillery is the new Drop Zone Distilling, founded by veteran U.S. Paratrooper SSGT. Rod Parton. He strives to preserve the traditions and recreate the unadulterated taste of hand-crafted moonshine made famous in Pittman Center, Tennessee by his grandfather and great grandfather in the 1930s. Parton took the corn-based moonshine and the rye moonshine, barreled them and created a family-based whiskey. Try the various whiskeys like the Bourbon Whiskey, Rye Whiskey and the 80-proof Mountain Rye. Sip the award-winning spirits like the Camo Salted Caramel Whiskey, Legacy 110 proof moonshine, and the Granny’s Apple Pie Moonshine.

Gatlinburg Area

Gatlinburg is about 8 miles south near Pigeon Forge. A popular mountain town, Gatlinburg is full of things to do with kids, but also has its fair share of adult-friendly activities. From taking in the views of Kuwohi (formerly Clingmans Dome) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, shopping, ziplining and mountain views at Anakeesta, walking the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America at Gatlinburg SkyPark and sampling moonshine and Tennessee whiskey at distilleries, there’s no shortage of things to do in Gatlinburg. Take a stroll along the main parkway to soak in the quirky sights and sounds of downtown Gatlinburg from mountain coasters to themed mini golf courses. Right along the main drag is Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery “The Holler”, America’s most visited distillery and the place where you can get a popular Gatlinburg moonshine tasting of a variety of flavors as well as a sample of whiskies. Get the full experience by booking a behind-the-scenes tour of Ole Smoky Distillery’s first location followed by a sampling of 13 moonshine tastings and whiskey. Try the Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey barrel-aged for 4 years and full of rich flavors and subtle hints of smoke, char and caramel. The whiskies come in various flavors like cold brew, dark chocolate and cookie dough and many more.

417 feet from Ole Smoky in downtown Gatlinburg is Sugarlands Distilling Company. Enjoy the Sugarlands moonshine sampling flight which features 12 flavors that change daily so no tasting experience is the same. You’ll sample a mix of moonshines and Sippin’ Creams. Moonshine flavors include butterscotch, blueberry muffin, sweet tea, sour blue raspberry and maple bacon. Grab a jar of Mark & Digger’s Mountain Legacy Corn Whiskey, 120-proof spirits distilled by the famous distillers of the television series “Moonshiners.” Sippin’ Cream flavors include butter pecan, chocolate coffee and banana pudding. Sugarlands also produces Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey, which has won multiple prestigious spirits awards.

Townsend Area

Escape the crowds and tuck into the peaceful side of the Great Smoky Mountains in Townsend. While only 22 miles west of Gatlinburg, Townsend, Tennessee makes you feel like you’re a million miles away. You’ll find a natural playground here from River Rat tubing along the Little River to exploring under the earth in Tuckaleechee Caverns and watching the stars twinkle above while sitting around a campfire at Little Arrow Resort.

Your tastebuds can play with flavors, too, when you visit Company Distilling, located right next door to the entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Discover an elevated taste of distilled Tennessee spirits. Take a tour of Company Distilling’s original location and then enjoy a tasting of their signature whiskies such as the Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished with maple wood, the Cask Strength straight bourbon whiskey, Straight Tennessee Whiskey finished with apple wood and the Straight Rye Whiskey finished with cherry wood. Add a pour of the exclusive Single Barrel Whiskeys for a personalized tasting. You can even add artisanal chocolates from The Chocolate B’ar for a unique culinary and distillery tasting experience. With handcrafted cocktails and cold beers served in the Riverside Beer Garden (open March-November), a full food menu in the distillery and a heated outdoor patio, Company Distilling is the ideal place to gather around.

Tri Cities Area

End your journey in the picturesque Appalachian Mountains where you’re surrounded by mountains, music and moonshine. Enjoy the many things to do in Bristol, Tennessee. Check the NASCAR schedule at Bristol Motor Speedway to experience the Last Great Colosseum. Enjoy live music and performances at Paramount Bristol, an historic landmark theater on State Street in downtown Bristol, and nearby hiking trails that lead you to incredible mountain vistas.

Experience the craft spirits of the region at Tennessee Hills Distillery, the largest privately owned Brewstillery in North America. Opt for the behind-the-scenes tour and tasting to discover the blend of tradition and innovation when crafting spirits. Then, taste the results with a guided tasting of the spirits full of bold flavors, character and smooth finishes. Buy a few bottles for Tennessee souvenirs like the award-winning Tennessee Bourbon with a Madeira Cask Finish, the Fifty One Straight Bourbon Whiskey aged 5 years, and the Rye Straight Whiskey with a bold, peppery taste. Chill out on the outdoor patio and tap your feet to roaring live music. When hunger strikes, savor the award-winning barbecue at their Smokestillery.

About 34 miles south of Tennessee Hills Distillery is the Tennessee Hills Brewstillery in Johnson City where you can taste small-batch brews, cocktails and live music on the weekends. Watch the brewers hard at work developing new beers through the glass. It’s the perfect hangout spot in downtown Johnson City after mountain biking on the Tweetsie Trail, hiking up to the summit of Buffalo Mountain or shopping at the local boutiques.

It’s only right that your final stop on the East Tennessee leg of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail ends in Tennessee’s oldest town, Jonesborough. The small mountain town was founded in 1779, seven years before Tennessee was granted statehood. This history and the stories of the people who called these mountains home are told on the International Storytelling Center stage throughout the year. So, it’s only fitting that Tennessee Hills Distillery Salt House is a 180-year-old building where they serve their craft spirits to the town of Jonesborough. The Civil War-era landmark is full of its own history and now blends its today with Tennessee Hills’ tomorrow as distillers work to craft the next innovative spirits in their copper stills. Step inside the working distillery to hear the Salt House’s stories, enjoy craft spirits in the tasting room and cocktails at the bar.