Authentic moonshine from the mountains of East Tennessee has made its way to the Mountain State.
Through a partnership with Southern Wine & Spirits, Sugarlands Distilling Company’s moonshine is now offered statewide, making it available in package stores, bars and restaurants immediately.
“We’re thrilled to now offer our full line of Sugarlands Shine in West Virginia,” said Brent Thompson, director of strategy forSugarlands Distilling Company. “At our distillery, we’ve met several moonshine enthusiasts from West Virginia who are looking forward to purchasing Sugarlands Shine in their home state.”
Sugarlands Distilling Company currently offers seven different varieties of award-winning moonshine, including the ‘legal’ version of TV personality and legendary moonshiner Jim Tom Hedrick’s Un-aged rye. Other varieties include Silver Cloud Tennessee Sour Mash Moonshine, Appalachian Apple Pie, Blockader’s Blackberry, Butterscotch Gold, Old Fashioned Lemonade and Southern Sweet Tea.
“We believe in making spirits that are respectful of great moonshine heritage while also appealing to today’s modern palate,” said Thompson. “We’re proud to tout a deeply-rooted, authentic approach to the craft of moonshine distilling. Our flavors are enjoyable to drink, well-balanced, and true to their names.”
Sugarlands Distilling Company makes its moonshine by first grinding grains like corn and rye in an artisanal stone mill, into meal that is then mixed with pure Smoky Mountain water. From there, some varieties are moved to a giant cooker, and then transferred to a fermenter to simmer for a few days. Each batch of shine is distilled a total of six times, ensuring high quality and unmatched flavor.
For those who visit the Gatlinburg, TN-based distillery, the customer experience includes the story of the East Tennessee region’s own heritage, known in the early years as “The Sugarlands,” so named by the early settlers for the area’s predominance of sugar maple trees. In addition to the moonshine on the shelves, customers can try multiple shine flavors at the distillery’s “Sippin’ Posts,” as well as shopping for branded clothing and novelty items.
Locally, Sugarlands Distilling Company is also seeking people from West Virginia to sign up to participate in their Tastemaker Program. Limited spots are available per state with participants receiving the opportunity to share their stories of sipping Sugarlands Shine on social media and earning various merchandise offerings. Information on how to become a tastemaker, as well as recipes for moonshine cocktails, can be found on the company’s Web site.
Sugarlands Distilling Company officially opened its doors to the public in March. More information about Sugarlands Distilling Company, its story, recipes for moonshine cocktails and its varieties of moonshine can be found at www.sugarlandsdistilling.com.
About Sugarlands Distilling Company
Sugarlands Distilling Company is a producer of craft quality moonshine and whiskey and is also a popular attraction in downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Inside the distillery, guests can taste free samples of authentic Sugarlands Shine, take a behind-the-scenes tour of the production, and purchase a variety of moonshine flavors, mountain merchandise, and apparel. To enhance their experience, guests can enjoy live music, Appalachian storytelling, and book outdoor adventure tours in the Sugarlands, an area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park historically referred to as “moonshiners’ paradise.”
The company is East Tennessee-owned, with a focus on bettering the local community through a variety of events and charitable giving. Sugarlands Distilling Company’s phased strategic distribution strategy will be supported through a partnership with TAG USA, one of the most respected beverage marketing/sales organizations in the country.
