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Ole Smoky Distillery, best known as the Gatlinburg, Tennessee moonshine-maker and tourist destination, has announced the nation-wide distribution of its Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The distillery is already well-known outside of Tennessee, and is the most prominent of the legal moonshine brands. Now it is staking out a place in the bourbon market with this four year old, Tennessee-made bourbon.
“The American Whiskey category is continuing to grow, and as one of the fastest growing spirits companies in the country, Ole Smoky is excited to offer consumers a straight whiskey from a distillery they know and trust,” says Robert Hall, CEO of Ole Smoky Distillery. “We’re pleased to offer consumers, who may have first tasted a flavored whiskey in one of our distilleries, an accessibly priced, high-quality Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey option from Ole Smoky.”
This product release follows the launch of James Ownby Reserve, the premium whiskey brand commemorating the remarkable history and spirit of James Ownby, the 5th generation great-grandfather of Ole Smoky Distillery’s Founder, Joe Baker. The 94-proof whiskey is aged in American virgin charred oak barrels and filtered utilizing the Lincoln County Process, passing through sugar maple charcoal before aging. Enjoyed neat or on the rocks, James Ownby Reserve Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey is available in select markets and at Ole Smoky’s four distillery locations.
Ole Smoky is an oddity, because it is labeled a bourbon, despite being able to qualify as a Tennessee Whiskey. The only real distinctions between the two categories are that a Tennessee Whiskey must 1) undergo the Lincoln County Process and 2) be made in Tennessee. The Ole Smoky Bourbon checks both boxes, but the company prefers to label it a bourbon.
Ole Smoky first launched its moonshine products in 2010, shortly after Tennessee legalized the distillation of moonshine in 2009, followed by the launch of their whiskey products in 2016. Ole Smoky’s whiskey line is a testament to the brand’s commitment to quality and creativity, with each flavor adding a unique twist to the classic whiskey profile, making it an excellent choice for both cocktail enthusiasts and those who prefer to sip their whiskey straight. As the first legal moonshine in East Tennessee, the brand makes a wide range of moonshines and whiskeys in four distillery locations across the state and hosted more than 5 million visitors in 2023 alone.
