You can generally get to taste moonshine in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, for about $5 per person. The highly sought-after drink is a staple in the Smoky Mountains, and you can even get to taste some for free or for a small fee at local distilleries and nearby tasting rooms.
The history of making moonshine and selling it is filled with lots of shady business and law evading tactics. Because of this, moonshine gets its mysterious and cool reputation that most people want to be part of.
Read more to get to know some distilleries and tasting rooms that offer free or low-cost moonshine for guests to taste. Get to know Tennessee’s first legal moonshine distillery that sells moonshine. Our list consists of the best available options, but you may be able to get free moonshine from other smaller and less-known distilleries in Gatlinburg.
Moonshine Tasting in Gatlinburg
1. Ole Smoky Moonshine
- Address: 903 Parkway, Suite 128, Gatlinburg, TN (The Holler), 650 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN (The Barrelhouse)
- Website: Ole Smoky
- Telephone Number: 865-436-6995
- Price for tasting: $5 per person for standard tastings in Gatlinburg; tour prices vary by experience
Tennessee’s first legal moonshine distillery, Ole Smoky Distillery is not only a moonshine tasting place but also offers distillery tours where you can get behind the scenes at select Ole Smoky locations. The distillery specializes in crafting whiskies, moonshines, and canned cocktails. There are multiple Ole Smoky locations, including two in Gatlinburg and another in Pigeon Forge at The Island (The Barn).
Moonshine products from Ole Smoky include the Strawberry, which is fruity despite its 32.5% ABV and 65 Proof. This drink tastes fruity Strawberry giving it a smooth and sweet flavor that makes you want to savor every drop.
The Original Moonshine is one of their products which is made with the same renegade attitude of its forefathers. The one-hundred-year-old recipe gives up a white and bright whiskey. This 100 Proof and 50% ABV beverage is guaranteed to fire up your night with its unflavored taste.
Visit the Ole Smoky Distillery to taste the moonshine samples for as little as $5. They also offer tours, with prices and experiences that can vary by location and date. Keep in mind that some guided tours have age restrictions, and only those above 21 years of age can get to taste the moonshine and other alcoholic beverage samples.
2. Sugarlands Distilling Company
- Address: 805 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738
- Website: Sugarlands
- Telephone Number: 865-325-1355
- Price for tasting: $5 per person
Sugarlands Distilling Co. is the distillery that works with stars from Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners. Their partnership helps in creating innovative recipes that are upbeat and fun. The sampling at Sugarlands is unique, with several items that you won’t find in other popular moonshine distillers in Gatlinburg.
The live music in the distillery creates an inviting and exciting atmosphere filled with country music’s best hits. Do not be surprised if you run into country music favorites like Cole Swindell.
Sugarlands is the home to award-winning moonshine, rye, and whiskeys. Its lineup has included Mark & Digger’s Rye Apple Moonshine, Jim Tom Hedrick’s Unaged Rye, Silver Cloud Tennessee Sour Mash Moonshine, and other seasonal, collaboration, and limited-edition releases.
Sugarlands offers tastings at the downtown distillery, and tours or other bookable experiences may be available separately. All you need to do is pay the current tasting fee to sample the spirits. In Gatlinburg, tastings are typically $5 per person, and the distillery has offered a $5 voucher that is redeemable with qualifying in-store purchases.
3. Tennessee Shine Company
- Address: 519 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN
- Website: Tennessee Shine Co.
- Telephone Number: 865-325-1468
- Price for tasting: $5 per person in Gatlinburg; tasting policies may vary at other Tennessee Shine locations
Moonshine tasting at Tennessee Shine Co. is available at its Gatlinburg location, and the company also operates nearby Smoky Mountain locations. Hours and tour availability can vary by location and season, so check the current location page before planning around a tour. Whiskey and wine tasting may also be available.
The self-guided tour, where available, takes you through the Moonshine making process, a few historical facts about the moonshine activities, the prohibition of Moonshine by the United States, and much more. You can also get to learn other fun facts like how the moonshine ties to NASCAR.
Available moonshine products come from family recipes that ensure you get high-proof moonshine in Gatlinburg. Some of the products include the Moonshine Cherries, including maraschino cherries soaked in 100-proof original moonshine. The perfectly infused cherries are guaranteed to create an explosion of heat in your mouth.
There is also a sizeable collection of shine wine that may be available in the wine tastings. Some of them include the Cherokee hollow white, Rocky Flat Red, Pigeon Forge Blush, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cove Creek White Wine, Pretty In Pink Wine, and Wears Valley Red Wine, though the lineup can rotate.
4. Smith Creek Moonshine
- Address: The Village Shops, Gatlinburg, TN
- Website: Smith Creek Moonshine
- Price for tasting: Low-cost tastings; check the Gatlinburg tasting bar for the current fee
Smith Creek Moonshine is another easy Gatlinburg stop, especially if you are already walking around The Village Shops. The tasting bar focuses on flavored moonshine, with sweet, spicy, fruit-forward, and dessert-style jars that make it a good fit for visitors who want to compare more than one brand without leaving downtown Gatlinburg.
Like the other Gatlinburg spirits stops, tasting policies can be affected by the city’s sampling rules, so plan on bringing a valid ID and checking the current fee before you sample.
Some Honorable Mentions Moonshine near Gatlinburg
5. Old Forge Distillery
- Address: 170 Old Mill Ave, Pigeon Forge, TN
- Website: Old Forge
- Telephone Number: 865-774-4126
- Price for tasting: Complimentary moonshine tastings; premium spirits or specialty samples may cost extra
The Old Forge Distillery offers free moonshine tastings. This lets you sample a good portion of its moonshine lineup. In case you want to sample other products like the Blended Bourbon Whiskey or the Harvest Gin, then you may be required to pay a small fee. However, there are no specialized tours for this distillery, but you are welcome to ask the staff members any questions you may have.
Keep in mind that the moonshine and other product tastings are for adults over 21 years old. You can come with your children, provided you accompany them at all times and keep them away from tasting any alcoholic beverages.
Available spirits include moonshine & moonshine cherries, cream liqueurs, rock & rye, bourbon whiskey, vodka, rum, and gin. Moonshine products include the 1830 Original Moonshine, with flavors like French toast, coffee, bananas foster, and chocolate.
One of the highest-rated drinks is the Backwoods Cut Moonshine, which has an alcohol content of 130+ Proof and 65% ABV. It is an alcohol with a hint of honey and vanilla. You may taste garden herbs, sweet corn, and baking spice hints.
Related Read: Is Pigeon Forge a Dry County?
6. Old Tennessee Distilling Company
- Address: 3605 Outdoor Sportsman Place, Kodak, TN
- Website: Old Tennessee
- Telephone Number: 865-401-2574
- Price for tasting: Free; check current hours before visiting
This is the furthest moonshine tasting location from Gatlinburg. It is worth a try if you do not mind the longer drive to Kodak from Gatlinburg. The tasting room has traditionally offered free tastings, but check the current policy and hours before making the drive.
Old Tennessee Distillery makes a variety of alcoholic beverages ranging from rum, rye, gin, vodka, whiskey, and moonshine. Moonshine drinks include the 60 Proof, 30% ABV Dumplin Creek Watermelon Falls and the 100 Proof, 50% ABV Dumplin Creek Frost that received the 2016 Gold Seattle International Spirits Award.
The distillery uses the Dumplin Creek Frost to make margaritas like Frost Margarita with one oz. of Dumplin Creek Frost, lime juice, raspberry syrup, and Tale of the Dragon Triple Sec. Another seasonal moonshine variety has been the Pumpkin Patch, which comes with natural flavors and 30% ABV, 60 Proof.
Final Thoughts
One thing to note when going for moonshine tasting is that Gatlinburg distilleries adopted a $5 spirits-sampling fee after discussions with the City of Gatlinburg. However, many of these locations we have mentioned above give you the option to get a $5 voucher that can be redeemed in their stores. Therefore, if you use the voucher, it is fair to say that you are technically getting free moonshine tasting in some Gatlinburg moonshine distilleries.
Read More:
Gatlinburg Moonshine Tasting: FAQs
How much is moonshine tasting in Gatlinburg?
In late 2016, the City of Gatlinburg announced that local moonshine and whiskey distilleries would begin charging a $5 sampling fee. Many Gatlinburg spots still advertise a tasting fee around that amount, and some provide a voucher to redeem in their stores.
According to the City of Gatlinburg, “The City of Gatlinburg is pleased with the decision by local moonshine and whiskey distilleries to charge a fee for sampling their spirits. The conversation with distilleries stemmed from concern over maintaining the reputation and image of Gatlinburg as a family-friendly environment for tourists. The voluntary decision to charge for samples is a step in the right direction to maintain Gatlinburg as a family-friendly vacation destination.”
Is Gatlinburg known for moonshine?
Gatlinburg is the Gateway to the Smoky Mountains. The mountains were known for decades to harbor moonshiners who made the illegal beverage in secret due to the strict laws which used to exist back in the day. Today, moonshine can be made by any licensed distillery, which has led to many distilleries in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains in general profiting off the rich moonshine history.
Also Read: Is Moonshiners TV Show Real or Fake?
How many moonshine distilleries are in Gatlinburg?
Gatlinburg has several moonshine tasting stops. The best-known options include Ole Smoky Distillery, Sugarlands Distilling Company, Tennessee Shine Company, and Smith Creek Moonshine. Nearby options that may be worth looking into include the Old Forge Distillery in Pigeon Forge and the Old Tennessee Distillery in Kodak.
Is moonshine illegal in the Smoky Mountains?
Tennessee State laws were changed in 2009 to allow moonshine distilleries to obtain licenses for making legal moonshine. Moonshine is illegal in the Smoky Mountains in case you make it without a license from the state. There are various moonshine tasting places in the Smoky Mountains where you can legally purchase and drink moonshine.