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I Visited a Moonshine Distillery and Never Felt Prouder to Be an American

In Gatlinburg, Tennessee, they're doing more than distilling legal moonshine; they're preserving a history that's rooted in the hills.

In Gatlinburg, Tennessee, you meet family you never knew you had, whether they're tourists in these Great Smoky Mountains or they're Tastemakers at Sugarlands Distilling Co.  And your family does one thing well: moonshine. A legal moonshine distillery is a fairly new idea; Sugarlands Distilling Co. opened its doors in March 2014 and ever since, they have had visitors with a curiosity for mountain 'likker'.

So what does it mean to visit a moonshine distillery? It means that your family is serving up generous pours of some seriously tasty spirits in a barn-style distillery on the main road of downtown Gatlinburg, where directions are given based on the stoplight number. And everyone is invited.

The Distillery Process

Shannon Ratliff

Sugarlands Distilling prides their transparency more than anything, something Reede tells me on the tour of the distillery. There are no magic tricks behind the door covered in a green grass mural, and if you want to take a tour, you can see it all in action for yourself. Reede told me on the tour,

"This is a very traditional set-up on how a still would've been found back in the day. There's a few upgrades, but we still use an Austrian stone-on-stone burr mill. This was actually handmade for us from Austria, so there's a stone in here...so the two products we make that we use this still for are our Silver Cloud and our Unaged Rye."

Everything happens here, in this smaller room offset from the tasting bars and the retail store. As the manager of the tasting room, there's an infectious excitement in Reede's voice, something that reminds me that making moonshine is unlike anything else in this country because it is actually an integral part of it. Moonshiners became legends here in these mountain hills, hiding stills deep in the countryside to make a little extra to put some food on the table for their families.

Reede knows this, and when he points to something, he connects it back to this past. Sugarlands isn't running from this history like so many in this country do; Sugarlands is preserving it. Here's how they're doing just that.

The Tasting + the Tastemakers

Not everyone who visits is lucky enough to get a tour from Reede himself, but they have an even better option in Connie. Take a tour with him when you visit Sugarlands; to call this experience authentic would be to sell it short. He's not a distillery tour guide, he's a man who knows that moonshine is a part of American history, and that's what he's educating his groups on.

Once you tour with Connie, you'll want to head over and grab a tasting tour led by one of the many charismatic Tastemakers on staff. I heard quite a few samplings in my time at Sugarlands, and every Tastemaker has a different flair that sets them apart. My tour was led by Abby, a fun and personable woman with long strawberry blonde hair who swings it when she's dancing during the tastings, who makes you just feel glad to be there, instantly at home. So what is it like to be on a tasting tour?

The Tasting

Abby starts you out strong, wants to get you cozy and warm enough to start interacting. As she tells me, it takes about six pours to get everyone around the bar laughing like family. But once the ice is broken and the first groups start to express just how tasty this moonshine is, that's when Abby hits her stride.

The varieties they offer change depending on the day of the week you take a tasting. One day, Old Fashioned Lemonade could be on the menu, and the next could be Blueberry Muffin Moonshine. You could try Tickle's Dynamite Cinnamon once, and come back to find they're pouring up Peanut Butter and Jelly. That's why it's worth the $5 ticket to taste at Sugarlands every day you're in Gatlinburg; after all, the moonshine is partly why you're here.

In my tasting group, there were 12 participants from all regions of the country. However, once Abby started the tasting, it was like we were all old friends, laughing as she led us through the varieties one at a time. Here are two of my favorite varieties from the tasting.

Jim Tom's Signature Unaged Rye Moonshine

"Jim Tom Hedrick's Unaged Rye maintains an earthy balance between spicy rye and toasted grains with hints of black pepper. Distilled in Gatlinburg, this award-winning moonshine packs a potent enough punch to keep you sippin'."

Mark Rogers American Peach Moonshine

"Mark Rogers' American Peach boasts the natural taste of ripe summer peaches. When sipped, this sweet and velvety spirit will deliver a traditional warmth of moonshine."

The last pour of the tasting, the last "Sips Up!" Abby shouts is dedicated to the first responders, the servicemen and women, and the ones on the front lines in this country who protect us and keep it safe every single day. The group shouts, "USA!" in unison and toasts to any veterans or first responders at the table, of which there are always one or two men or women. It's this tradition, this proud acknowledgment of sacrifice, that makes this moonshine worth drinking.

At the end of the tour, you can take your $5 wristbands and use them for $5 off a jar of 'shine or liquor, any flavor you want. If you're with a group, you can combine your bands for an even better deal.

Pick up the cocktail wristbands after your tour to head over to the cocktail bar in Sugarlands, where Cole from Waco, Texas, has worked to craft some cocktails that take the fear out of moonshine, even though there's nothing to be afraid of at all.

The Mint Hot Chocolate was a stand-out, made with Peppermint Moonshine and Dark Chocolate Coffee Sippin' Cream.

The Blueberry Mojito was a close second, and was probably the tastiest way to use Blueberry Muffin Moonshine I could imagine.

Finally, the Maple Bacon Bloody Mary, made with Reede's own recipe for a Bloody Mary mix and the Maple Bacon Moonshine, was one of the best Bloodies I've had made with 'shine.

Overall, Sugarlands Distilling Co. isn't just your regular ol' distillery experience. From the reclaimed murals in the barn-style building to the Tastemakers who drive over an hour just to show up and open the doors every day, there is a part of a lost America that lives and breathes in these walls. It's an America that is proud of where it comes from, one that doesn't take itself too seriously; an America that will preserve these traditions for decades.

This isn't our only exploration into Sugarlands Distilling Co. Check out features from our sister sites, Wide Open Country and Wide Open Spaces , about the origin story of Sugarlands' award-winning, exceptional Roaming Man Whiskey; and what moonshine means to America, from Mark & Digger of Discovery Channel's "Moonshiners" and part of Sugarlands' own Moonshine Legends liquor series.

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Sugarlands opened its downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee, distillery in March 2014 to introduce visitors to the craft of authentic Tennessee moonshine. Since then, we have added award-winning Roaming Man Straight Rye Whiskey, Appalachian Sippin’ Creams, and High Rock Vodka to our offerings. Sugarlands has become the most highly rated distillery in the world according to Tripadvisor, and we welcome over one million visitors per year. We offer tastings, behind-the-scenes tours, and award-winning cocktails in our Gatlinburg distillery.

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7 Best Smoky Mountain Moonshine Distillery Tasting & Tours In Tennessee

Getting a taste of Smoky Mountain moonshine for yourself is a fantastic way to celebrate a visit to the Smokies.

Tennessee is known for its moonshine history, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains region. This history is somewhat shady and mysterious, which is why so many people are attracted to drinking this spirit.

Specifically, you can go to moonshine tasting Gatlinburg distilleries and others in the region. Keep reading to learn the history of moonshine in the Great Smoky Mountains, how this spirit is made, and the best places where you can taste moonshine and tour distilling facilities.

Best Moonshine Gatlinburg Tours & Tastings

A few great moonshine tasting Gatlinburg distilleries can teach you about the colorful lore and process behind their spirits. You can’t go wrong by stopping at one of them … or all of them!

Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery

Possibly the most widely known of the Gatlinburg moonshine distilleries, Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery was established in 2010.

As the first federally licensed distillery in East Tennessee, it showcases the art of distilling authentic moonshine. The Ole Smoky Mountain moonshine distillery’s recipes and processes are passed-down secrets and traditions.

Moonshine Distillery Tours Near Me

If you’re looking for a “moonshine distillery near me” to tour when visiting the Smoky Mountains, don’t miss The Holler.

The Holler in Gatlinburg is Ole Smoky’s main production and touring facility. You can get a behind-the-scenes look at everything on a guided tour and enjoy a 13-sample tasting of excellent moonshine and whiskey.

If you don’t have time for a tour, you can stop in for samples of up to seven flavors of this Gatlinburg moonshine — such as apple pie, lemon drop, peach, and strawberry.

Ole Smoky has a few other locations as well. The Ole Smoky Whiskey Barrelhouse is in Gatlinburg, the Ole Smoky Barn is in Pigeon Forge, and 6th & Peabody is in Nashville. All of them offer moonshine samples.

Sugarlands Distilling Company

Another popular moonshine tasting Gatlinburg distillery is Sugarlands Distilling Co. , which is proud to be locally owned and community-minded.

The distillery opened downtown in 2014 and offers free guided tours of its facility to give you a look at what happens behind the scenes of moonshine production. Other tour and workshop options include the Blended Cocktail Tour, Meet the Distiller Workshop, and Distiller for the Day Workshop.

The Sugarlands distillery is open nearly every day, and you get to sample the award-winning spirits before you leave.

Moonshine tastings are led by an expert, and you’ll receive tasting notes and cocktail ideas. With every $5 tasting, you get a $5 voucher to redeem with an in-store purchase.

The Tennessee moonshine company store sells Sugarlands spirits, apparel, and mountain merchandise. On the Back Porch pavilion, it hosts evening concerts from time to time.

Tennessee Shine Company

With a location in Gatlinburg, the Tennessee Shine Co. focuses on bottling the best moonshine rather than the most moonshine.

This small-batch distilling company uses family recipes that have been passed down for generations. It makes a variety of unique flavors — Big Orange Dreamsicle, Nanner Puddin’, Choco Moo Shine, Blue Houdini, Pina Colada, and many more.

While you’re getting a taste of these flavorful spirits, you can enjoy a friendly, down-home atmosphere.

On top of that, the TN Shine Co. makes whiskey and wine. The distillery has several other locations as well — Pigeon Forge, Wear Valley, and Sevierville.

At the Sevierville location, you can join a moonshine tour that covers the history of this spirit and its connection to NASCAR. You’ll learn how the spirits are made and sample them too.

Nearby Moonshine Tasting Gatlinburg Distilleries

The Great Smoky Mountains has more than just the three Gatlinburg moonshine distilleries. Many others are spread around the region, and we’ve highlighted a few that we think you should visit for tastings.

Old Forge Distillery

In Pigeon Forge, Old Forge Distillery makes award-winning craft spirits. The quality grains that it uses come from The Old Mill, one of the oldest continuously operating gristmills in the United States.

The moonshine Pigeon Forge distillery stone grinds the grains like the generations before. In addition to mason jars of moonshine, it makes bourbon whiskey, cream liqueurs, gin, rum, vodka, moonshine cherries, and more.

You can even go to the Pigeon Forge distillery cocktail bar for a taste of seasonal and signature cocktails crafted by mixologists.

Tennessee Legend Distillery

More than just a shop for moonshine, Tennessee Legend Distillery was established in 2015. It has two locations in Sevierville — one on Newport Hwy and another on Winfield Dunn Pkwy.

Both of them allow you to taste the award-winning White Lightning Moonshine and Salted Caramel whiskey. The distillery makes cream liqueur and other straight spirits too.

Bootleggers Distillery

There’s a myth that bootleggers created a secret society that tracked down the best moonshine, distillation methods, and recipes. Over the generations, these components were refined, and Bootleggers Distillery in Hartford brings these secrets to the masses.

You can go for a moonshine tour and tasting any day of the week. If you want to make your own whiskey, the Build a Barrel program lets you do that with assistance from the distilling team.

Adventure Distilling Co.

Offering a unique moonshine experience, Adventure Distilling Co. in Cosby has a one-of-a-kind way of making quality liquor.

The still house is located in a small green building on family-owned land. JB’s 103 is its signature spirit, which is 103 proof clear corn liquor.

During tours and tastings, you could meet JB Rader, the legendary namesake of the signature moonshine.

The History of Great Smoky Mountains Tennessee Moonshine

Did you know that moonshine has been around for centuries? It originated in Ireland and Scotland, where distilling and drinking whiskey were traditions. When immigrants from those Celtic countries arrived in the Appalachian Mountains, they used corn to make whiskey.

Decades later, the federal government passed a whiskey tax of $2 per gallon, which was a 20-cent increase that many people in the mountains simply couldn’t afford. As a result, they stopped paying the tax and continued to distill the whiskey.

They became known as “moonshiners,” a word that’s derived from the fact that they secretly made illegal whiskey in the mountains at night. That’s when this particular type of whiskey earned the name moonshine.

In the Great Smoky Mountains, moonshine distillation became a vital source of extra revenue for many farmers. Transforming the surplus corn into whiskey made it more viable and easier to move, trade, and sell. The money that they made helped them pay bills, start new businesses, and provide for their families.

A favorite distilling spot on the Tennessee side of the Smokies was the Forbidden Caverns because it was a remote location with a reliable water supply. You can see an old moonshine still while touring the caverns, which are in Sevierville less than one hour from Gatlinburg.

Famous Moonshiners

One infamous moonshiner was Lewis Redmond, a North Carolina native who became a legend after killing a deputy while trying to avoid arrest in 1876.

He evaded the law and shared his moonshine profits with area residents until he was arrested in 1881. Eventually, he was pardoned and worked in a South Carolina government-operated distillery.

However, the most famous moonshiner of recent history was Marvin Sutton, nicknamed Popcorn. His popularity grew after he appeared in various documentaries and released an autobiography — “Me and My Likker.”

In 2007, the federal government busted him, but he passed away before serving the sentence.

Rumor: In the 1920s, mob boss Al Capone is believed to have hidden his illicit spirits in the Great Smoky Mountains before moving them to Chicago.

Modern Moonshine Distilleries

It wasn’t until 2009 that Tennessee passed a state law that allowed moonshine distilleries to open in Gatlinburg and across the state, making it legal to make moonshine in Tennessee.

Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery was the first in Gatlinburg. Since then, many wonderful moonshine Tennessee distilleries have popped up in the greater area, and tours have become popular.

The Process of Making Gatlinburg Moonshine

Traditionally, the term “moonshining” refers to making or smuggling illegal spirits under moonlight or at night. Now that it’s legal to make moonshine, Gatlinburg distilleries don’t have to operate in secret. Every distillery might use its own ingredients and processes, but the basics are nearly the same.

Essentially, moonshine consists of cornmeal, sugar, water, and yeast, and these ingredients go through two critically timed processes.

Fermentation is the first process, which involves using yeast to convert sugar into acids, alcohol, and gases. The resulting mixture is called the mash.

The second part of the moonshine making process is distillation, the fundamental steps for which include:

• Heat the mash to about 172 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Evaporate the alcohol, and collect the steam in a worm box (water-filled barrel or crate) through a pipe before it returns to its liquid form.
• Cool the alcohol vapor in the worm box, allowing it to condense back into a liquid.
• Filter the liquid from the worm box into a barrel or other container.

Initially, moonshine comes out of these processes as a clear liquid, which is when the flavor and alcohol are most potent.

The color changes after it ages for several months or years in charred oak barrels. In a lot of cases, distilleries add fruits — apples, cherries, peaches, strawberries — and other ingredients to produce a range of flavors of moonshine, which also change the color.

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Go Big or Go Home: Sugarlands Distilling Co. Builds 2nd Distillery Featuring the Largest Pot Still in the U.S.

• Posted on July 13, 2021
• By Distillery Trail

Can a moonshine distillery make it in a whiskey world? Sugarlands Distilling Co . in Gatlinburg, Tennessee thinks so and they have a track record to prove it. Sugarlands was founded in 2014 and they’ve been making a broad lineup of flavored moonshines ever since. Unlike bourbon, rye or Tennessee whiskey most moonshines don’t require aging. They can be distilled, bottled and sold in a short period of time. Bourbon, Rye and Tennessee whiskies generally require some time aging in a barrel before they are ready for bottling and consumption.

Sugarlands knew this early on and that’s why they started out with their many moonshine releases while their Tennessee rye whiskey was aging. Once their rye hit the two year mark they released it as Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey.

The distillery released its first rye whiskey in late 2016 and when it sold out within a few hours they knew they were on to something. They’ve been releasing a limited edition Roaming Man Rye Whiskey a couple times a year ever since. To help keep up with demand Sugarlands is building a second distillery about 45 minutes from Gatlinburg in Kodak, Tennessee.

Sugarlands Distilling Company Caps 4,500 Gallon Still, The Largest Pot Still in United States

The second Sugarlands distillery will focus on making whiskey. To that end the new distillery in Kodak includes a massive all copper pot still. The new equipment includes a 4,500 gallon copper pot still built by Vendome Copper & Brass Works , a 36” four tray column and dephlegmator, a charcoal mellowing tank as well as other equipment.

In recognition of the largest pot still in the United States Sugarlands offered a sneak-peek of its new distillery, barrel warehouse, and production center. Attendees gathered to see the copper “helmet” and lyne arm permanently bolted into place. Once completed the new Sugarlands’ Kodak facility will be one of the largest distilleries in Tennessee.

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The new Kodak facility will include a 32,364-square-foot distillery as well as a 26,500-square-foot barrel warehouse to age it’s whiskey. The total facility will feature 58,864 square feet of space to distill, bottle and age whiskey.

“Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey has won dozens of international awards, including ‘Best Whiskey’ from the American Craft Spirits Association in 2019 and the Double Gold from the San Francisco International Spirits Competition in 2021,” said Ned Vickers, President and Founder of Sugarlands Distilling Co.

“Featuring the largest copper pot still in the U.S. and set against the backdrop of stunning Kodak, Tennessee, we are looking forward to opening this new facility to our customers, partners and friends.”

Sugarlands Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey is pot-distilled and aged in premium barrels. Bottled twice a year, the whiskey has historically sold out within hours of release. The new distillery and barrelhouse will expand distribution of Roaming Man Whiskey nationwide over the coming years.

During the ceremony, Master Distiller Greg Eidam provided a guided tour through the new distillery, which is expected to open in late 2021 and will offer a retail component along with tasting and tour experiences in the coming years. Made possible with grant support from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the facility will use raw materials like Tennessee grown white corn, rye, and malted barley to make its Roaming Man whiskey.

“When we opened Sugarlands Distilling Company back in 2014, I had no idea what a ride we were in for,” said Master Distiller Greg Eidam.

“I feel like we grabbed ahold of a rocket ship and there is no telling how far it will take us. I am absolutely honored to be surrounded by this amazing team as we’ve grown Roaming Man into the nationally recognized and celebrated Tennessee Rye whiskey it is today.”

“At the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, we’re excited to support the distilling industry in Tennessee including Sugarlands Distilling Co. We are proud that the Ag Enterprise Fund was a part of their growth and expansion, and we are looking forward to seeing their continued success,” said Keith Harrison, Assistant Commissioner for the Business Development Division.

The project’s building contractors include Gunn Construction, J&F Mechanical, Morristown Automatic Sprinkler Co., and McGaha Electric Co. The process piping, tank and equipment installation is being performed by United Group Services, out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Funderburk Electrical Services, LLC is responsible for all process related electrical work. Ryan Steel, Inc. produced the structural steel for piping and equipment supports, as well as the mezzanine. And the magnificent copper pot still was hand built by the oldest still manufacturer in the U.S., Vendome Copper and Brass, out of Louisville, Kentucky.

Sugarlands will support Tennessee farms and employ more than 40 new production staff at the Kodak location, including distillers, blenders, bottlers, barrel warehousemen, maintenance, and programming personnel. The company currently employees more than 100 team members in Tennessee.

Sugarlands Distilling Company, located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a craft distillery producing award-winning moonshine, rum, cream liqueurs and rye whiskey. Their line of spirits is distributed in 40 states nationwide and made available for home delivery via Reserve Bar. More than one million people visit their distillery every year. It is TripAdvisor’s number 1 thing to do in Gatlinburg and the world’s most top-rated distillery experience.

Learn more about Sugarlands Distilling Company . View all Smoky Mountain Area Distilleries . View all Tennessee Distilleries .

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The Unveiling of Sugarlands 4,500 Gallon Pot Still

Posted by Mark & Digger on Friday, July 9, 2021

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Top 4 Things You Should Know About the Sugarlands Distilling Company

Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are known for having popular moonshine distilleries. You can taste a variety of moonshine flavors, and some distilleries even show you how they make their alcohol! One of these popular places is the Sugarlands Distilling Company in Gatlinburg. To help you learn more about it and why you should visit, we’ve put together the top 4 things you should know about it:

1. Variety of Moonshine Flavors

2. Have a Taste

Like many moonshine places in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Sugarlands Distilling Company allows visitors to taste a few of their flavors. In order to taste moonshine here, you must pay a $5 tasting fee, which is required by the City of Gatlinburg. Although, once you pay for your tasting, you’ll receive a $5 voucher to go towards a purchase in the store! A TasteMaker leads your tasting group, sharing information about the different flavors you’re trying. Everyone will have a blast, especially when you’re tasting with a group of people! One fun fact is that Sugarlands Distilling Company is a part of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail !

3. Tours and Workshops

4. Tons of Events

Sugarlands Distilling Company puts on a variety of events throughout the year. Some of the most popular events include live music on the back porch where you can enjoy a drink from the Cocktail Kitchen at Sugarlands. You never know who might be at the back porch, so you’ll definitely want to keep up with the calendar to see if one of your favorite bands will be there! Other events include a professional chef providing delicious food, silent auctions, and meeting other famous distillers.

Visiting Sugarlands Distilling Company is something you’ll definitely enjoy when you’re in Gatlinburg. It’s not just about the moonshine flavors; you get a whole experience with the TasteMakers and the atmosphere of the distillery. Wondering what other fun things you can do while you’re in town? Check out these great attractions throughout the Smokies you’ll love!

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Tour Sugarlands Distillery and Learn the Science of Moonshine

Once two strangers climbed on rocky top, Lookin’ for a moonshine still. Strangers ain’t come back from rocky top, Reckon they never will. Corn won’t grow at all on rocky top, Dirt’s too rocky by far. That’s why all the folks on rocky top Get their corn from a jar.

Moonshine is to East Tennessee as beer is to Milwaukee. You don’t have to drink it.  But you probably need to know about it. From songs to movies, ‘White Lightning” is woven into the fabric of Tennessee history.  If you are visiting the Gatlinburg Parkway with your kids, you have 2 options. You can ignore the moonshine sellers or you can pop in to Sugarlands Distillery and get a short science and history lesson.

Mom note – Plan to do this during the day. Sugarland Distillery is VERY popular with the 21 and up crowd (free samples!). We visited on a Friday night and while I wouldn’t say the crowd was raucous or threatening, there were a ton of people. Also, if you are just completely anti-alcohol, this post is not meant to change your mind. There’s plenty of family fun to be had in Gatlinburg. 

Take the Tour

Sugarlands Distillery is locally owned and has been open on the Gatlinburg Parkway for 2 years. The store is attached to the distillery and you can watch the process through the glass windows in the merchandise area or by taking a free tour. The tour is family friendly and is open to all ages. Our tour guide was just completely delightful. He entertained us with stories throughout the brief tour (it will take you 15 minutes at most) and he was super attentive to the kids in our group.

The tour allows you to see the process as white corn is turned into moonshine. The process has a few steps. First, the corn is ground into meal in a stone burr mill.

Then the corn is combined with sugar and yeast to create ‘sour mash’. In the words of our youngest tour companion, Tamzin, “It looks like oatmeal, but it smells like bread!”

This concoction bubbles away for 4-5 days and then is transferred to a copper pot still.

The mixture is distilled 6 times before it is ready to be mixed, flavored and jarred. The last part of the tour takes you through the area where the moonshine gets packaged.

Sugarlands Distillery is serious about their local credibility.  hey buy all their ingredients locally  They sell their by-products to a local farmer. And all their products are handmade, labeled and packaged to create local jobs.

If you are an adult who is interested in a more immersive moonshine experience, Sugarlands offers some premium private tours and workshops for a fee. You can find information on these tours at this link.

Tastings for Those 21 and Over

Sugarlands does offer tastings to their patrons age 21 & up. This is done at several “sippin’ stations” throughout the store.

Children aren’t even allowed to touch the tables where samples are poured so if your party includes little ones, make your way to the “Back Porch” where you can hear live music most days of the week  or shop for merchandise in the store. If you are looking for a unique, you will definitely find something at Sugarlands. They sell hats, glassware, clothing, candles and well…Moonshine!

Family Fun Facts

Sugarlands Distillery ( Map )

Regular Distillery Hours: Monday – Thursday  Noon – 10:30PM Friday & Saturday  10AM – 10:30PM Sunday Noon – 6:30PM

Cost : Free to tour

*Premium tours available for a fee

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The National Civil Rights Museum – Memphis,TN

Rachel Kline

Rachel is a Middle Tennessee native, born and raised in the Nashville area and having lived in Hendersonville, Murfreesboro, and Mount Juliet. She is mom to 3, step mom to 4 and Grandma to one (so far!)

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The Distillery

Tastings & Tours

TN Whiskey Trail

Tastemakers

Sugarlands Shine

Award-winning moonshine.

High Rock Vodka

Sugar maple filtered, 7x distilled.

Sugarlands SIPPIN' CREAM

Dessert in a jar.

ROAMING MAN WHISKEY

To roam is to discover.

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All recipes.

Moonshine Recipes

Vodka Recipes

Cordials Recipes

General Store

Mark Ramsey & Digger Manes

Mark Ramsey grew up exploring the woods of East Tenn. As a young man he was introduced to a local moonshine expert and quickly learned the trade through hand on experience. He and his distilling partner, Digger Manes, now carry that journeyman craftsmanship forward with their distinctly delicious recipes!

Digger Manes has been around the still most of his life. As a young man, he was introduced to a local moonshine legend in Cocke County, Tenn. After putting in his time as a still hand, Digger, along with his distilling partner Mark Ramsey, has mastered the craft of distillation. He is now a legend in his own right.

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805 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Distillery Phone:  (865) 325-1355

[email protected]

Open daily  10:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Closed Early Christmas Eve, Closed Christmas Day

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