The Smoky Mountains are known for the beautiful national park, exciting attractions, and delicious food. Another thing they are known for is being a place where you can try moonshine! While it may not come from a still on the mountainside, you’ll find plenty of distilleries in the area that make their own spirits, and you can taste them for free! Here are the top 5 distilleries near Pigeon Forge and Sevierville you should visit for moonshine tastings:
1. Tennessee Shine Co
Tennessee Shine Co is one of the newer distilleries to come to the area. They have several locations throughout the Smokies, including one in Pigeon Forge, but one location you’ll definitely want to see is the Sevierville one. At this distillery, you’ll find a moonshine history tour with real stills, information about bootlegging, and much more! Plus, once you make your way through the museum, you can taste some of the signature moonshine flavors Tennessee Shine Co is known for! They include Moonpie, Keylime Cream, and Blue Houdini.
2. Ole Smoky Moonshine
Nicknamed “The Holler,” the Ole Smoky Moonshine distillery in Gatlinburg is a must visit when you are vacationing in the Smokies. They have all different types of samples that you are welcome to try for a small fee, as long as you are over the age of 21 of course. There is a limit of 7 samples per person, but the good news is that reservations are not required. The flavors they offer in the sampling are regularly rotated, so the experience is different every time! They also offer a guided tour where you can get a behind-the-scenes look to how the moonshine is made and enjoy 13 different flavors of their best sellers! The Holler location is in Gatlinburg, but you can also visit The Barn in Pigeon Forge.
3. Tennessee Legend Distillery
For a small town feel, you should visit Tennessee Legend Distillery. hey are known for a cozy atmosphere, and you might just learn something new about the Smoky Mountains while you’re stopping by this distillery near Pigeon Forge. They make their moonshine without lots of added sugar to stay true to its signature flavor. Some flavors include apple pie, peach, and lemonade. Of course, like many of the other distilleries in the area, Tennessee Legend also makes and sells whiskey, cream liquor, vodka, and rum in original flavors and unique flavors.
4. Junction 35 Spirits
Another one of the popular distilleries in the area you’ll want to visit for tastings is Junction 35 Spirits. The samples change daily, so you will find a variety of flavors to try, even if you go back more than once! Some of the popular flavors of moonshine include Original, Sour Gummy Worm, Margarita, and Bomb Pop. In addition to moonshine, you can taste flavored vodkas, barrel-aged gin, straight whiskey, and flavored whiskey. This Pigeon Forge distillery also has a bar and a restaurant that serves cocktails made with their signature spirits, and you won’t want to miss out on trying one!
5. Old Forge Distillery
Old Forge Distillery is a great place to go when you want to taste moonshine and other liquors on your vacation. You can see how they make all of their spirits along the tour, and you can learn more about the distilling process as well. If you’re wanting to try moonshine, Old Forge has moonshine cherries, a variety of unflavored moonshines, and plenty of unique flavors to please any palette. Some of the flavors you might want to try while you’re at this Pigeon Forge distilley include Oatmeal Cookie, Elderflower, Caramel, Coffee, and Bananas Foster. You’ll also find cream liquors, ryes, whiskey, rum, vodka, and gin at this distillery near Pigeon Forge.
Going moonshine tasting is one of the most popular and fun activities you can do when you visit the Smoky Mountains! These are just some of many Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and Pigeon Forge distilleries you can choose from. You’ll find plenty of distilleries near Pigeon Forge that have all kinds of liquors you’ll want to try, and you might just bring some home to remember your trip! Since you already have an idea of what you want to do when you’re in town, you just need to finish planning your trip! Look through our Sevierville hotel rooms, and book one for your next vacation today!
