Ole Smoky Moonshine Lands Major Distribution Deal - Now Available In 49 States
By Michael Hepworth
Moonshine has now been legal for about 4 ½ years and of the handful of companies selling it right now, Ole Smoky out of Gatlinburg, Tennessee seems to have the upper hand. About 750,000 cases are now being shipped annually in the USA, and the international market is about to open up as the perception of what moonshine is, becomes clearer. To simplify, it is essentially unaged whisky with the prime ingredient being Tennessee corn and the higher quality Indiana corn. The new deal with Southern Wine & Spirits takes their product into eleven new states which according to CEO John Cochran took about four months of intense negotiations to secure—California being the biggest market for Moonshine.
Ole Smokey currently has thirteen different flavors of moonshine, and they are all available in the Mason jar instead of the traditional bottle—no doubt a throwback to the old bootlegging days. In fact there are still literally hundreds of illegal stills in the woods of Tennessee, a situation according to Cochran that is unlikely to change as long as people are unable to, or do not want to pay the taxes. The minimum investment to get the right equipment and facility would be at least $500,000 hence the continued presence of illegal stills.
The signature product from Ole Smoky is Original Moonshine (100 proof), White Lightning (100 proof), Lightning Line (80 proof), Strawberry Lightning, Lemon Drop Lightning and Hunch Punch Lightning. The remainder of the portfolio consists of 40 proof and tends to be fruit based drinks, a lot sweeter than the higher proof versions.
Business has been so brisk that Ole Smoky has opened up a 20,000 square feet bottling plant in Gatlinburg, and in the next few months will be opening a 6,000 square foot retail outlet not far away in Pigeon Forge. This town also happens to be the location of Dollywood, the entertainment complex owned by Dolly Parton. I was not clear whether or not the moonshine tastings at the retail outlet are free to the public just like they are at the distillery, but I would not be surprised.
Moonshine is a versatile spirit, and with over 1,000 recipes on the website to choose from, the consumer has a vast array of choices. All of the recipes come from families who have been making Moonshine in the Tennessee mountains for a hundred years or more.
Moonshine has now been legal for about 4 ½ years and of the handful of companies selling it right now, Ole Smoky out of Gatlinburg, Tennessee seems to have the upper hand. About 750,000 cases are now being shipped annually in the USA, and the international market is about to open up as the perception of what moonshine is, becomes clearer. To simplify, it is essentially unaged whisky with the prime ingredient being Tennessee corn and the higher quality Indiana corn. The new deal with Southern Wine & Spirits takes their product into eleven new states which according to CEO John Cochran took about four months of intense negotiations to secure—California being the biggest market for Moonshine.
Ole Smokey currently has thirteen different flavors of moonshine, and they are all available in the Mason jar instead of the traditional bottle—no doubt a throwback to the old bootlegging days. In fact there are still literally hundreds of illegal stills in the woods of Tennessee, a situation according to Cochran that is unlikely to change as long as people are unable to, or do not want to pay the taxes. The minimum investment to get the right equipment and facility would be at least $500,000 hence the continued presence of illegal stills.
The signature product from Ole Smoky is Original Moonshine (100 proof), White Lightning (100 proof), Lightning Line (80 proof), Strawberry Lightning, Lemon Drop Lightning and Hunch Punch Lightning. The remainder of the portfolio consists of 40 proof and tends to be fruit based drinks, a lot sweeter than the higher proof versions.
Business has been so brisk that Ole Smoky has opened up a 20,000 square feet bottling plant in Gatlinburg, and in the next few months will be opening a 6,000 square foot retail outlet not far away in Pigeon Forge. This town also happens to be the location of Dollywood, the entertainment complex owned by Dolly Parton. I was not clear whether or not the moonshine tastings at the retail outlet are free to the public just like they are at the distillery, but I would not be surprised.
Moonshine is a versatile spirit, and with over 1,000 recipes on the website to choose from, the consumer has a vast array of choices. All of the recipes come from families who have been making Moonshine in the Tennessee mountains for a hundred years or more.
Front Porch Peach Tea
GLASS INGREDIENTS
2 parts Ole Smoky® Peach Moonshine™ 1 part Sweet Tea 1 part Lemonade Garnish: Sliced peaches or mint
PREPARATION
Mix ingredients well in glass over ice
Shine responsibly®
www.olesmoky.com
GLASS INGREDIENTS
PREPARATION
Mix ingredients well in glass over ice
Shine responsibly®
www.olesmoky.com
