Top 10 Distilleries in Tennessee
Tennessee whiskey is legally distinct from bourbon under both federal and state law. The Tennessee Whiskey Act of 2013 requires that Tennessee whiskey be made from at least 51% corn, filtered through sugar maple charcoal before barrelling (the Lincoln County Process), matured in new charred American oak barrels, and produced in Tennessee. The charcoal mellowing is what most clearly separates it from bourbon in the glass.
1. Jack Daniel's, Lynchburg
Jack Daniel's in Lynchburg is the world's best-selling American whiskey and the iconic Tennessee distillery. The Lincoln County Process here uses ten feet of sugar maple charcoal in each mellowing vat, dripping new-make through for several days before barrelling. The Cave Spring Hollow water source, the limestone-filtered iron-free spring used since the 1860s, runs continuously through the distillery property. Old No. 7, Gentleman Jack, Single Barrel, and the Heritage Barrel range are core expressions.
2. George Dickel, Tullahoma
George Dickel in Tullahoma is the second major Tennessee whiskey distillery and uses a variation on the Lincoln County Process — chilling the spirit before charcoal filtration to slow the run and increase contact time. The result, the distillery argues, is a smoother, more mellow whiskey. Master distiller Nicole Austin, since 2018, has pushed Dickel into bottled-in-bond and single barrel territory, garnering critical acclaim from collectors who had previously written off the brand.
3. Uncle Nearest, Shelbyville
Uncle Nearest, founded 2017 in Shelbyville, honours Nathan "Nearest" Green — the formerly enslaved master distiller who taught Jack Daniel the trade and is increasingly recognised as the original Tennessee distillation pioneer. Founder Fawn Weaver built the brand into one of the fastest-growing premium American whiskey labels of the 2020s. The 1856 and 1884 expressions are the flagships, with extensive single-barrel programs.
4. Nelson's Green Brier, Nashville
Nelson's Green Brier, revived in 2014 by brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson, brings back a pre-Prohibition Nashville distillery brand their great-great-grandfather founded in 1860. The Belle Meade Bourbon line is sourced and finished; the Green Brier Tennessee whiskey is now distilled in-house at the Marathon Motor Works campus in Nashville.
5. Corsair, Nashville
Corsair Artisan Distillery in Nashville is one of the most prolific experimental craft distilleries in the United States. The portfolio includes Triple Smoke (a malted whiskey using peat, cherrywood, and beechwood-smoked malts), Quinoa Whiskey, and a wide range of gin, absinthe, and other spirits. Founder Darek Bell's research into alternative grains and smoke profiles has made the distillery influential well beyond Tennessee.
6. Chattanooga Whiskey, Chattanooga
Chattanooga Whiskey returned legal distillation to Chattanooga in 2015 after a decade of advocacy to overturn Hamilton County's prohibition-era restrictions. The high-malt mash bill (typically 25% specialty malts in addition to corn and rye) gives Chattanooga whiskey a distinctively different profile from Lynchburg-style Tennessee whiskey. The 91 Cask and Tennessee High Malt ranges are widely available.
7. Prichard's, Kelso
Prichard's in Kelso has the unusual distinction of being the only Tennessee distillery exempt from the Lincoln County Process requirement, thanks to a grandfather provision. Founder Phil Prichard makes a traditional Tennessee whiskey without charcoal mellowing along with a celebrated Sweet Lucy bourbon, rum, and a hazelnut liqueur. The pre-2013 grandfathering means Prichard's is the closest contemporary approximation of historical pre-Lincoln-County Tennessee whiskey style.
8. Tenn South, Lynnville
Tenn South Distillery in Lynnville is a small-batch operation producing Clayton James Tennessee Whiskey, Big Machine Vodka, and All Purpose moonshine. The visitor-focused operation includes a still-house viewing window, a tasting room, and tours that emphasise the small-scale rural Tennessee distillery experience.
9. Old Glory, Clarksville
Old Glory Distilling Co. in Clarksville is a Middle Tennessee small-batch distillery producing Smooth Shine moonshine, Tennessee Bourbon, and Tennessee Whiskey. The visitor centre includes a substantial bar and restaurant, making it a destination distillery rather than a pure production facility.
10. Sugarlands, Gatlinburg
Sugarlands Distilling Co. in Gatlinburg is among the most-visited distilleries in the United States by sheer foot traffic, thanks to its location on the Smoky Mountains tourist corridor. The portfolio leans heavily into moonshine and flavoured spirits — Sugarlands Shine in dozens of variants — but the Roaming Man and Roaming Tennessee Straight Rye lines have built credibility with whiskey collectors as well.
Tennessee in the broader American whiskey landscape
Tennessee produces a vast share of American whiskey by volume, almost entirely through Jack Daniel's. The smaller distilleries above, plus dozens of newer craft producers across the state, are building parallel reputations that emphasise the Lincoln County Process as a defining feature rather than a marketing line. The map shows the geographic spread — from the deep-south Lynchburg-Tullahoma corridor to the urban Nashville scene to the eastern Smokies.
Keep exploring
Browse all the distilleries above and many more on the interactive map.