Whether you call it moonshine, white lightning, or cool water, Sugarlands Distilling in Gatlinburg, Tennessee produces a variety of spirits to suit many tastes. Makers of Heritage Tennessee Whiskey, small-batch whisky, and a wide range of moonshines, Sugarlands offers flavorful expressions such as Jim Tom Hendrick’s Unaged Rye, Silver Cloud Tennessee Sour Mash, Tickle’s Dynamite Cinnamon, Appalachian Apple Pie, Southern Sweet Tea, Electric Orange, and Dark Chocolate Coffee Cream. The distillery creates a welcoming experience for visitors with complimentary daily tours as well as premium, ticketed options that include guided tastings.
For a focused experience, the Blended Sampling Tour ($15 per person) features a 30-minute private walkthrough of the still house to learn how moonshine is produced, followed by a mixology session led by an expert TasteMaker who demonstrates five ways to blend and mix the distillery’s spirits into refined cocktails. This tour is well suited to visitors who want both behind-the-scenes insight and practical cocktail tips.
The Distiller Workshop Tour ($40 per person) adds a hands-on element, inviting guests to participate in a practical distilling session and giving them the chance to fill and take home their own jar of moonshine. For a deeper immersion, the Distiller for the Day Workshop ($250 per person) provides a full-day experience with head distiller Greg Eidam. Participants work through the entire process—grinding corn, mixing mash, distilling, and proofing the final spirit—and leave with a jar of their own batch.
In addition to tours and workshops, Sugarlands hosts live music on the Sugarlands Spirit Stage, creating a lively atmosphere that pairs well with spirit sampling. Visitors who want to extend their adventure into the surrounding wilderness can arrange guided outings with Smoky Mountain Guides, including the Moonshining in the Mountains motor tour, half-day hikes, backcountry excursions, or overnight camping trips. These outings combine regional history with outdoor exploration for a memorable complement to a distillery visit.
Whether you’re curious about the craft of distillation, interested in hands-on learning, or simply looking for a unique tasting and entertainment experience in Gatlinburg, Sugarlands Distilling offers a range of tours and events to match different interests and budgets.