ABOUT US
The Tennessee Distillers Guild is a membership organization consisting of 40+ distilleries across the state ranging from internationally-recognized brands to local, craft distilleries. The members work together to promote, grow, advocate for the distilling industry.
ABOUT US
OUR TEAM
Charity Toombs
Executive Director
Kim Mitchell
Events Director
Matt Russell
Lobbyist
Rob Pinson
Attorney
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jessie Blalock
President, Old Forge Distillery
Chris Fletcher
Vice President, Jack Daniel Distillery
Kent Merritt
Treasurer, Old Tennessee Distilling
Meghan Bridges
Secretary, Old Dominick Distillery
Adam Warren
Ole Smoky Distillery
Bill Lee
Gate 11 Distillery
Stanton Webster
PostModern Spirits
Greg Eidam
Board Member, Surgarlands Distilling Co.
Brent McLean
Chattanooga Whiskey
OUR HISTORY
RESURRECTION OF TENNESSEE DISTILLING INDUSTRY
In 1810 America housed over 14,000 registered distilleries making 25.5 million gallons of whiskey. At that time, Tennessee had hundreds of distilleries with over 30 in Chattanooga alone. By 1866 distilling was Tennessee’s largest manufacturing industry. That ended abruptly in 1909 when Tennessee passed a law to prohibit manufacturing alcohol, which was ten years before nationwide prohibition went into effect. Although federal prohibition was repealed in 1933 and Tennessee’s in 1937, from then to 2009, only three counties allowed distilling: Moore County (Jack Daniels), Coffee County (George Dickel) and Lincoln County (Prichards). In 2009 former State Senator Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) and former State Representative Joe Carr (R-Lascassas) passed a bill to allow distilling in 41 additional counties. Later legislation increased that to number to at least 75 counties having the option to distill in some portion of its border. These legislative efforts paved the way for the burgeoning distilling industry thriving today in Tennessee.
THE TENNESSEE DISTILLERS GUILD FORMATION
The Tennessee Distillers Guild was officially formed on February 28, 2014 with 13 members. The Guild created effective bylaws to reflect one distillery, one vote and established and elected their first board of directors. The Guild’s three main goals were to responsibly promote Tennessee spirits, advocate for the industry at the local, state, and federal level, and create a network for distillers to connect with and support each other. Other key features of the Guild include an associate member program to establish partnerships and generate revenue as well as a Code of Conduct to protect the Guild’s reputation and ensure all distilleries operate in an honest, legal, and ethical manner.