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“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough” – Clearly Mark Twain had the same appreciation for the Southern tipple, even if he probably didn’t take a Tennessee Whiskey Trail tour to go with it.
Now I’m not one for whiskey, it’s not my drink of choice. But when in Rome Nashville, it’s hard to leave without giving it a whirl.
Keep reading to see what a non-whiskey lovers’ experience of a Nashville whiskey tour is really like.
What Is The Tennessee Whiskey Trail?
First things first, what the heck is the Tennessee Whiskey Trail? Well, in order to better promote Tennessee whiskey, over 30 of the state’s finest distillers got together to create a fun guide to their smooth product that visitors can follow.
The distilleries created a passport which you can either download digitally, or pick up at any of the distillery locations. Each place you visit, enjoy a tour and taste some whiskey, and cross it off your list. You get a free gift if you visit them all!
While the Tennessee Whiskey Trail might sound hardcore, and only for whiskey enthusiasts, what about if you’re a newbie like me? Don’t worry, you can still use their website, and take their promoted tours, to get a better understanding of what makes Tennessee whiskey so special.
What’s So Good About Tennessee Whiskey?
I’m not going to lie, before visiting the distilleries in Nashville, whiskey was just whiskey to me. Even after a tour, I’m still no connoisseur, but thankfully the Tennessee Whiskey Trail tours do break it down to the science for easier understanding.
You see, it partly comes down to the ingredients, or rather the dominant ingredients. Rye whiskey is (unsurprisingly) made with a heftier percentage of rye. Bourbon and Tennessee whiskey are made with much higher percentages of corn. The rest is made up of smaller amounts of barley malt, rye and/or wheat.
The major makings of Tennessee whiskey, though? It has to be made in the state of Tennessee. And they use a process called the Lincoln County Process where the raw whiskey is filtered through maple charcoal chips.
I’m told, and I want to say I was able to tell, that this makes Tennessee whiskey a bit smoother to drink than bourbon. However in the end, it probably all comes down to preference.
How Many Distilleries Are There In Nashville?
There are only a handful of distilleries in Nashville itself, conveniently located in the downtown area. Hit up Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, Nashville Barrel Co. or Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery.
Once you get just outside of Nashville, and easily reached from the city, there are a number of additional distilleries. Franklin Tennessee is a fantastic day trip from Nashville and you’ve got two great distilleries around it: Lieper’s Fork Distillery and Stable Reserve Distillery.
If you’re only spending two or three days in Nashville, it might be easier to stick to the distilleries in the city. However, if you’re staying a little longer, consider taking a Tennessee Whiskey Trail Tour out to some of the surrounding areas for more great whiskey tasting.
All in all, the Tennessee Whiskey Trail has over 30 different distilleries throughout the state. Including a small one you might have heard of, named Jack Daniel’s. A tour to Jack Daniel’s Distillery is a totally doable day trip from Nashville.
Booking A Tennessee Whiskey Trail Tour
Throughout the state there are a number of Tennessee Whiskey Trail locations you can visit. However Nashville is the best one if you want to take a whiskey tour. These include pick up and drop off from downtown locations in Nashville.
You can book a tour to Jack Daniel’s Distillery, which includes free time the town of Lynchburg where the distillery is. Or you can book a Tennessee Whiskey Trail tour that visits a few different distilleries a bit closer to Nashville.
Of course, you can make your own way to any of the distilleries, however a tour has a few benefits:
- You get to try more than one distillery, if they are spread out further than you can walk;
- No need for one of you to be a designated driver;
- There will be a well informed tour guide to fill in some history and fun facts along the way.
HOW MUCH DOES A NASHVILLE WHISKEY TOUR COST?
Well, the good news is that if you head on down to one of the Nashville distilleries in the city on foot then it’s fairly budget friendly. Once there you can keep it super cheap by just enjoying a drink on site in the tasting roo,
But I would recommend you take advantage of the tours many distilleries have on offer. Most are around $20-25 per person, and usually last around 30-60 minutes.
TOP TRAVEL TIP: Want a really unique whiskey tour experience? The Nashville Barrel Co. do a “blend your own whiskey” experience. You get to choose your own flavors and “make” your own whiskey – and get a bottle to take home.
For a fully guided Nashville whiskey tour by bus, there are a couple of options:
- Jack Daniel’s Distillery Tour – Costs around $200pp and includes a guided tour, tastings, transportation from Nashville and free time in Lynchburg.
- Whiskey Trail Tour – Costs around $180-200 and includes visits to 2 or 3 different distilleries closer to Nashville, tours and tastings as well as round trip transportation from downtown Nashville.
Experiencing A Nashville Whiskey Tour
While I would have loved to have gone as far as Lynchburg to see the G.O.A.T. of all Tennessee whiskey locations, Jack Daniel’s, I instead stuck closer to Nashville.
LIEPER’S FORK DISTILLERY, FRANKLIN
Since I was staying around Franklin, TN for a good portion of my trip to Tennessee, I took part in a tour at nearby Lieper’s Fork Distillery. The tour cost $36 and included a tasting session in the bar and a continuation of the tour out in the whiskey production facility.
SEE THE WHISKEY MAKING PROCESS UP CLOSE
FUN WHISKEY FACT: Did you know that all whiskey is CLEAR in color until it goes into the barrel? It’s the barrel that gives it the color, as well as the time spent in there soaking up the flavors from the real oak barrel.
This is why the first place you need to go is the whiskey production facility. Take it right back to the beginning and see how the whiskey is made. Understanding the process will help you understand what you’re tasting when you get to that part of the tour.
In the production facility – essentially a giant open air barn – is where the magic happens. See the raw ingredients that go into the distilling process of making whiskey. Get up close to the huge vats where the grains do their best work – with some interesting smells to go with it.
That’s right, it’s encouraged to touch, taste and smell as directed by your tour guide. Let’s just say that the finished product would hopefully be more appealing.
TOP TIP: The production facility at Lieper’s Fork was quite stuffy and uncomfortable on a hot Tennessee summer day. There’s little air flow, so bring a bottle of water and hydrate. I’m sure it’s not the only distillery like this.
TENNESSEE WHISKEY VS. BOURBON VS. RYE
I already covered some of the chief differences between the main types of whiskey in the USA. However, it’s in the production facility that your Tennessee Whiskey Trail tour guide will go over them in more detail.
No major spoilers here, but you’re going to be looking at two main things when it comes to understanding Tennessee whiskey: ingredients and process.
On our tour we saw the ingredient ratios they use, however it should be noted that not all Tennessee whiskeys use the same percentages. There is a minimum amount of corn needed to be classed as Tennessee whiskey but the actual ratios differ from distillery to distillery.
MATURING AND BARRELLING
In Tennessee, whiskey goes through the Lincoln County Process of being filtered over maple charcoal chips. There are also specific barrels they use, and all of these seemingly small things add up to making some unique Tennessee whiskey.
On our tour we got to see some of the barrels they use, how the clear whiskey is barrelled and left to mature.
The special oak barrels used here create the beautiful color of the whiskey, and influence the taste too. The whiskey often stays in barrels for up to 5 years.
FUN WHISKEY FACT: Did you know that barrels lose up to 5% of their liquid each year? That means the longer you leave it to age, the less there is. That’s one of the big reasons why whiskey costs more the longer you age it.
WHISKEY TRAIL TOUR TASTING ROOM
The moment everyone is waiting for – seeing how simple grains and water turn into such a popular drink. Some distilleries will have a basic tasting room, others will have a beautiful bar where you can do your tastings. Luckily, Lieper’s Fork was the latter.
I felt like I’d stepped back in time 100 years (give or take a few years for prohibition). Inside the cozy bar were large wooden tables, propped up using the main product to hand – barrels. Everyone was given a three glass tasting tray. Sample sizes and amounts may vary from distillery to distillery.
As a non-whiskey drinker I was not sure I would like what I was going to try. My main goal – don’t smell it before I taste it. As luck would have it, our guide had some really helpful tips for tasting whiskey and figuring out your preferences.
- Don’t breathe in as you’re tasting, breathe out instead – if you breathe in, all you’re going to get is the alcohol fumes rather than the flavor of the whiskey;
- Try the whiskey neat, and with a drop or two of water added – see how it changes the way you taste it;
- On the rocks or neat – everyone likes their whiskey their own way, don’t be afraid to go with the one that works for you.
On my Tennessee Whiskey Trail tour at Lieper’s Fork we tried a white whiskey, a bourbon and a Tennessee whiskey. You may try different whisky types on different tours. And some distilleries may get more creative with the flavorings – maple, oak, honey or cognac to name a few.
Is A Tennessee Whiskey Trail Tour Worth It?
Even if you’re not a whiskey fan, or even maybe a big drinker, taking a Tennessee Whiskey Trail tour is a great way to try something new. I love understanding the how, the process behind something. Even if I don’t like the end product, I still find it interesting.
Sure, the price may be a little high if you really don’t think you’ll get a lot out of it. In which case I’d suggest you start small and head on over to one of the distilleries in Nashville, maybe do a couple of tastings. Or book one of the smaller distillery tours versus committing to the full day excursion.
If you like whiskey, or spirits, this will be a great tour for you. The only problem you might have is narrowing down which distillery to visit first.
There are a lot of options throughout Tennessee but I did find the majority seem concentrated around Nashville. For that reason you might not find as many options in other major TN cities such as Memphis or Knoxville.
As a complete newbie to whiskey I’m really glad I took the tour. Even though my opinion of whiskey hasn’t really changed drastically, and I doubt I would ever opt for a whiskey over other drinks, I did enjoy the tasting.
If you’re on the fence, I recommend taking one of these tours. How will you know if you don’t try it? It may end up your new favorite drink.
If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. How do you feel about whiskey? Would you take a Tennessee Whiskey Trail tour when visiting Nashville?
I’m fascinated by this whiskey tour. I learned a lot about Scottish and Irish whiskey on my travels but I’m not sure I’ve even tried Tennessee whiskey or bourbon. These American whiskeys use a different recipe and process than the Scots and Irish.
I wasn’t a whiskey fan until I discovered so many different flavours. Now, it’s rare that I don’t have at least one good bottle in my cabinet. I would definitely take the tour when visiting the area.
Lyn | http://www.ramblynjazz.com
I’d definitely want to take a tour on the Tennessee whiskey trail. I’ve tasted lots of whisky and whiskeys over the years but, have to be honest, I know very little about Tennessee whiskeys or bourbon. I learned a lot reading about the ingredients and production processes here. But of course, the proof is in the tasting – and it looks as though the tours are fascinating and fun. And I particularly love the idea of the blend your own, that would be completely brilliant and we’d also end up with a fantastic souvenir in a bottle…
I am not a whiskey drinker and I have never been on a whiskey tour. I think I’d really enjoy it to learn about the process and to see inside the distilleries. Your photos of the barrels, tasting rooms, glasses etc give a great insight into the experience.
Thanks for sharing the costs and it seems that there are options for most peoples budget. I enjoyed reading this post as it’s something I probably wouldn’t have considered doing in Nashville but after reading this, I certainly would !
I did this in my 20’s and as you can imagine I don’t quite remember all of it so I think I’d like to do it again in my 30’s. I’ve learned there’s an art to whiskey and bourbon (and not just how you take shots, which you shouldn’t do anyway), so it’d be intriguing to re-learn it! I love all your photos of the distilleries.
I did a whiskey tour in Scotland and found it interesting to learn about the process of such a n iconic drink. Like you, I am not a big drinker and I would not do the entire trail but I am open to testing one of the distilleries and learn more about the local processes and produces. It is a fine craft and the drinks do look good afterwards and make for a fine gift for someone special. Even doing the trail with a passport and stamping them would be fun for someone who’s into whiskey making. Tennessee is after all, a well-known area for whiskey so I can see why this is a top thing to do when in the area.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
Really enjoyed reading about your experience on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail! Your descriptions bring the tour to life, and it sounds like a fantastic way to explore Nashville’s rich whiskey culture. This sounds like an experience worth keeping in mind!
Bidish | Milesofmylife
I’m so jealous!! I’ve been to Nashville twice and still have not done this! This looks like so much fun. One thing i’ll point out as well is that a lot of the counties in Tennessee, including where Jack Daniels is made are “dry” counties, meaning no alcohol sales. So, i’ve heard with the Jack Daniels tour, I guess you can sample the alcohol but you can’t buy it there? Maybe it’s changed? Not sure. I too am not a huge connoisseur of whiskey, but I enjoy scotch and bourbon. I’ve done distillery tours before and it’s always fascinating to learn about everyone’s process, so I would definitely try this! I think these tours also make you appreciate the work that goes into this even more.
I just went to Lieper’s Fork in July! It’s so cute! And their whiskey is great (if a little on the pricey side). I love doing distillery tours, they’re always a great idea!
I’m not a whiskey fan, and I’m not seeing me turning to be one either, but I admit that I might not like it because I’m not familiar with it.
So it’s very likely that taking a tour like this could educate me on how to drink whiskey and how to learn to appreciate it properly.
Who knows, maybe one day, when I visit Tennessee, I’ll do this trail to enjoy the distilleries!