Old Forge Distillery, a unique Tennessee mountain distillery crafting innovative small batch spirits with local flavors, has just opened in Pigeon Forge, TN. The Distillery, named after an Iron Forge that once sat on the land, is located a short distance from the historic Old Mill providing easy access to freshly ground grain.
For its first release, Head Distiller Keener Shanton is incorporating pure mountain spring water and locally-sourced, freshly ground corn into 1830 Original, a hand-forged 100-proof moonshine.
There are three mash bill recipe releases in the initial roll out including corn, rye, and malted barley.
“We have many innovative products in the works like beer-washed whiskey and our Tennessee Roots line – cocktail culture spirits using locally foraged mountain plants like sassafras and ginger root,” Shanton tells BourbonBlog.com.
1830 Original will be available for sale at Old Mill Square in Pigeon Forge and select stores in Knoxville and Sevierville, TN. The Distillery will continue to experiment with different grains and flavors in future releases as its product line expands.
Shanton will work closely with the businesses in the Old Mill Square sourcing fresh ingredients from The Old Mill Candy Kitchen and freshly ground grain from the Old Mill. Special moonshine jugs crafted at the Pigeon River Pottery will be sold alongside spirits.
“First came the Iron Forge, which Pigeon Forge is named after; then the Old Mill, now a fixture on the National Register of Historic Places; and most recently the Old Forge Distillery, to carry on the spirit of handcrafted quality,” says Distillery Manager Kris Tatum. “We’re fortunate to have such a rich history to draw from and so many great resources nearby at the Old Mill Square.”
Visit Old Forge Distillery
Visitors can stop by the Distillery which is housed in a 100-year-old barn constructed of Tennessee timber and equipped with a small batch copper column still, and enjoy samples of the hand-forged spirits at a tasting bar Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm.
Distillery Address:
170 Old Mill Ave
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
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