Complete your Smoky Mountain getaway with a taste of the famous Smoky Mountain moonshine! The distilleries here draw in millions of visitors every year with tastings of their signature and seasonal shine. The City of Gatlinburg has asked all distilleries to begin charging a fee of $5.00 per person to sample spirits. As their way of saying thanks, you can receive a $5 voucher at most locations, redeemable with any in-store purchase when you participate in the sampling. To help you make the most of your trip, here are the top 3 distilleries with the best moonshine in Gatlinburg!
1. Sugarlands Distilling Co.
Enjoy the #1 distilling experience in the country at Sugarlands Distilling Co. When you visit, you can sample their delicious shine and purchase your favorite spirits, mountain merchandise, and apparel! This distillery also offers workshops and behind-the-scenes tours of their stillhouse, where you can observe how their famous shine is produced. If you’re looking to get creative with your moonshine, visit their Recipes page for some new ideas! You can partake in a full, seasonal sampling and taste the latest award-winning spirits, led by an expert TasteMaker. Your samples will even come with tasting notes and cocktail ideas!
2. Ole Smoky Moonshine
The Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery, “The Holler,” is the most visited in America, and it’s no wonder! This location offers a true moonshine experience and produces all of their signature flavors. While you’re here, you can take in the entire moonshine process from beginning to end. Their distillers are very friendly and would be happy to answer any questions about the history or lore behind moonshining in East Tennessee. Afterward, you can treat yourself to $5 samplings of homegrown shine. Be sure to try their world-famous Apple Pie moonshine when you visit! It is made with pure apple juice, ground cinnamon, and other spices, and even comes in your choice of 70 or 40 proof. Purchase all your favorites to enjoy later, and be sure to visit their Recipes page for exciting mixtures to try at home!
3. Doc Collier Moonshine
Come on down and taste some of the best moonshine in Gatlinburg at Doc Collier Moonshine! It is named after a local distiller, William “Doc” Collier, who gained recognition for his shine recipe many decades ago. Today, you can stop by to sample any of Doc’s flavors and see some of the equipment that they have used for generations to make their moonshine. Doc’s simple recipe for good shine included corn, sugar, and fresh mountain spring water. They have partnered with their friends down the road, who deliver gallons of this water to their distillery for use in the fermentation and blending processes. They also have a gift shop, full of handpicked items that are sure to make you smile as you look back on your experience.
More Places for Smoky Mountain Moonshine
Your visit to the Smoky Mountains won’t be complete without sampling some of the famous shine. We’ve told you our top 3 favorite places to find moonshine in Gatlinburg, but the truth is these are just some of the many distilleries! You can also visit the Old Forge Distillery in Pigeon Forge, or Tennessee Legend Distillery in Sevierville. And, if you loved Ole Smoky Moonshine in Gatlinburg, stop by the location at The Island in Pigeon Forge or Ole Smoky Barrelhouse in Gatlinburg! You’ll have plenty of options for where to taste some Smoky Mountain moonshine during your vacation.
Now that you know where to get all the best moonshine in Gatlinburg, it’s time to start planning your trip! Browse our selection of Gatlinburg vacation rentals today, and find the perfect one for you. We look forward to seeing you at Chalet Village!