Sugarlands Distilling Company
Brief Overview of the Distillery
Sugarlands Distilling Company is located in a 'barn-house' building in downtown Gatlinburg near the Great Smoky Mountains. The distillery began in 2014 with five moonshine flavors and has since expanded to a portfolio of over 20 spirit products. The public is invited to tastings, cocktails at the back porch bar, and behind-the-scenes tours in the stillhouse, providing direct and open access to the production.
History
The history begins when Sugarlands opened its downtown distillery in March 2014 and introduced five different moonshine flavors. The early years were characterized by rapid product expansion; the portfolio gradually grew to also include vodka, rum, whiskey, sippin’ creams and ready-to-drink cocktails. In 2017 the distillery's back porch cocktail bar opened to present moonshine-based drinks in a bar setting. At the same time, the company has kept its doors open to the public with daily tastings and tours, which has made the production a central part of the visitor experience.
Ingredients and Production
Special production characteristics include High Rock Vodka described as sugar maple-filtered and 7x distilled. The operation is a public-facing 'barn-house' distillery located in downtown Gatlinburg near the Great Smoky Mountains, and it started as a moonshine-focused site with five variants at opening and has maintained the visibility of production through tastings and tours.
Whiskeys
The portfolio includes more than 20 products and ranges from Sugarlands Shine moonshine to High Rock Vodka to Roaming Man Whiskey, Broken Antler Flavored Whiskey, and Appalachian Sippin’ Creams. The range includes both unaged moonshines, distilled spirit types, as well as ready-to-drink cocktails and cream liqueurs, providing a broad selection for tastings and use in cocktails.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarlands Shine | Moonshine | The core product referred to as Sugarlands Shine; moonshine was the main product at the distillery's opening. | Core range |
| High Rock Vodka | Vodka | High Rock Vodka is described on the site as sugar maple-filtered and 7x distilled. | |
| Roaming Man Whiskey | Whiskey | Roaming Man Whiskey presented with the slogan 'To Roam Is To Discover'. | |
| Broken Antler Flavored Whiskey | Flavoured whiskey | Broken Antler Flavored Whiskey marketed with the tagline 'Get Bucked'. | |
| Appalachian Sippin' Cream | Cream liqueur | Appalachian Sippin’ Creams listed as sippin' cream in the product overview. |
General flavor profile
Visit the Distillery
The public can visit the distillery every day of the week from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. for tastings, cocktails, and behind-the-scenes tours. The destination is only closed on Christmas Day and markets itself as family- and dog-friendly, while only people over 21 may consume alcohol. The back porch bar serves the distillery's cocktail selection during daytime and evening hours.
The stated opening hours are 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Monday–Sunday; closed on Christmas Day (open 364 days a year).
Philosophy and Craft
Sugarlands combines a focus on its core product Sugarlands Shine with a visitor-oriented approach: production is made visible through tastings and tours, and the experience is complemented by a cocktail bar. Emphasis is placed on responsible enjoyment by requiring 21+ to drink.