Sugarlands Distilling Co. announced that it has teamed with the Knoxville Medal of Honor Celebration on multiple initiatives to celebrate and benefit Recipients of America’s most prestigious military decoration.
First, Sugarlands will release a limited-edition, military-inspired t-shirt with the words “Valor, Honor, Duty” emblazed across the chest.
The limited-edition, commemorative Sugarlands shirt is available at both its Gatlinburg distillery (805 Parkway) as well as online at ShopSugarlands.com beginning today through December 31, 2022.
Proceeds from the sales of each shirt directly benefit the Medal of Honor Foundation, whosemission is to provide a path of financial support to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
In addition to the shirt, Sugarlands announced it will release special edition bottles of its award-winning Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey in late 2022.
This special edition of Roaming Man will be dumped (released from its barrel) in September with Medal of Honor Recipients on hand. It will then be bottled and sold, with proceeds benefitting the Medal of Honor Foundation.
Details on how to purchase the special edition of Roaming Man will be available at a later date.
This fall, Knoxville will host the Medal of Honor Convention, an annual event that brings together many living Recipients of the Medal of Honor.
In conjunction with the convention, Sugarlands will host Recipients for a special private dinner with its Master Distiller Greg Eidam and other special guests at its facility in Kodak, Tennessee, just outside Knoxville. The Medal of Honor Convention takes place September 6-10, 2022.
“We have the utmost appreciation and respect for all the brave men and women who proudly serve our country in the armed forces,” says Ned Vickers, president and founder, Sugarlands Distilling Co. “It’s a tremendous privilege to support the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and we’re thrilled to welcome all living Recipients of the award to our Kodak distillery this fall.”
Sugarlands has a long history of proudly supporting the United States Armed Forces. Last fall, Sugarlands unveiled One-Two Punch, its first ready-to-drink (RTD) canned moonshine cocktail.
Proceeds from the sales of One-Two Punch benefit Folds of Honor, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members who have fallen or been disabled while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Through its Moonshare Program, Sugarlands has sponsored a different military and first-responder-focused non-profit organization each month with a grant, including the Gary Sinise Foundation, Operation Homefront, Lone Survivor Foundation, OSD Veteran Support Ecosystem and more.
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Does Moonshine Go Bad?
Does moonshine go bad? Running a large still means lots of shine, but how long can it be stored?
Discovering an unopened jar of moonshine in the back of your pantry can be quite a treat if you are in the mood for something tasty and thought you were all out of stock. But with this discovery usually comes a sense of worry. Just how long had it been back there anyway? Is the moonshine still good for drinking?
Most moonshiners will try to produce a surplus amount of spirits so they can gift these valuable liquids to friends and family for sampling or so they can store some for a rainy day.
Did it go bad in the time it was sitting there on the shelf?
Can moonshine expire?
The good news is that moonshine usually doesn’t expire. There are however a few factors that could impact the quality of your moonshine.
Moonshine is also known as clear unaged whiskey. There are two main types of moonshine. These beverages can either be standard or flavored. These two main moonshine types cannot be stored for the same amount of time.
Standard moonshine
This is a plain spirit. This moonshine is distilled until there isn’t any sugar left. It is the purest form of moonshine and it can last indefinitely as long as the bottle remains closed.
If standard moonshine is opened, the liquor can start to evaporate. On the up-side, the liquid that remains in the bottle still won’t be bad for you because it doesn’t go off. It simply changes in taste or evaporates entirely.
Some examples of plain moonshine spirits include rum, whiskey, brandy, gin, and vodka.
Flavored Moonshine
Moonshiners love to produce different flavors of spirits. A few good examples are apple pie moonshine, cherry pie moonshine, jalapeno peach moonshine, and key lime moonshine.
These moonshines have added sugars and flavorings that result in a different taste. Unopened, flavored moonshine won’t change much and it won’t go bad.
The fruits in unopened moonshine are preserved by the alcohol which prevents it from going off. These fruits can however become much more concentrated with alcohol and it is often best to discard the fruit.
7 Best Smoky Mountain Moonshine Distillery Tasting & Tours In Tennessee
Getting a taste of Smoky Mountain moonshine for yourself is a fantastic way to celebrate a visit to the Smokies.
Tennessee is known for its moonshine history, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains region. This history is somewhat shady and mysterious, which is why so many people are attracted to drinking this spirit.
Specifically, you can go to moonshine tasting Gatlinburg distilleries and others in the region. Keep reading to learn the history of moonshine in the Great Smoky Mountains, how this spirit is made, and the best places where you can taste moonshine and tour distilling facilities.
Best Moonshine Gatlinburg Tours & Tastings
A few great moonshine tasting Gatlinburg distilleries can teach you about the colorful lore and process behind their spirits. You can’t go wrong by stopping at one of them … or all of them!
Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery
Possibly the most widely known of the Gatlinburg moonshine distilleries, Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery was established in 2010.
As the first federally licensed distillery in East Tennessee, it showcases the art of distilling authentic moonshine. The Ole Smoky Mountain moonshine distillery’s recipes and processes are passed-down secrets and traditions.
Smoky Mountain Moonshine | photo via @barrelsandbrews
Moonshine Distillery Tours Near Me
If you’re looking for a “moonshine distillery near me” to tour when visiting the Smoky Mountains, don’t miss The Holler.
The Holler in Gatlinburg is Ole Smoky’s main production and touring facility. You can get a behind-the-scenes look at everything on a guided tour and enjoy a 13-sample tasting of excellent moonshine and whiskey.
If you don’t have time for a tour, you can stop in for samples of up to seven flavors of this Gatlinburg moonshine — such as apple pie, lemon drop, peach, and strawberry.
Ole Smoky has a few other locations as well. The Ole Smoky Whiskey Barrelhouse is in Gatlinburg, the Ole Smoky Barn is in Pigeon Forge, and 6th & Peabody is in Nashville. All of them offer moonshine samples.
Sugarlands Distilling Company
Another popular moonshine tasting Gatlinburg distillery is Sugarlands Distilling Co., which is proud to be locally owned and community-minded.
The distillery opened downtown in 2014 and offers free guided tours of its facility to give you a look at what happens behind the scenes of moonshine production. Other tour and workshop options include the Blended Cocktail Tour, Meet the Distiller Workshop, and Distiller for the Day Workshop.
The Sugarlands distillery is open nearly every day, and you get to sample the award-winning spirits before you leave.
Moonshine tastings are led by an expert, and you’ll receive tasting notes and cocktail ideas. With every $5 tasting, you get a $5 voucher to redeem with an in-store purchase.
The Tennessee moonshine company store sells Sugarlands spirits, apparel, and mountain merchandise. On the Back Porch pavilion, it hosts evening concerts from time to time.
Sugarlands Distlling Company | photo via @callmemochelle
Tennessee Shine Company
With a location in Gatlinburg, the Tennessee Shine Co. focuses on bottling the best moonshine rather than the most moonshine.
This small-batch distilling company uses family recipes that have been passed down for generations. It makes a variety of unique flavors — Big Orange Dreamsicle, Nanner Puddin’, Choco Moo Shine, Blue Houdini, Pina Colada, and many more.
While you’re getting a taste of these flavorful spirits, you can enjoy a friendly, down-home atmosphere.
On top of that, the TN Shine Co. makes whiskey and wine. The distillery has several other locations as well — Pigeon Forge, Wear Valley, and Sevierville.
At the Sevierville location, you can join a moonshine tour that covers the history of this spirit and its connection to NASCAR. You’ll learn how the spirits are made and sample them too.
Moonshine | photo via James DeMers
Nearby Moonshine Tasting Gatlinburg Distilleries
The Great Smoky Mountains has more than just the three Gatlinburg moonshine distilleries. Many others are spread around the region, and we’ve highlighted a few that we think you should visit for tastings.
Old Forge Distillery
In Pigeon Forge, Old Forge Distillery makes award-winning craft spirits. The quality grains that it uses come from The Old Mill, one of the oldest continuously operating gristmills in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tastings are FREE to all those over 21 years of age with valid photo ID.
Unfortunately, if you forget your ID and are over 21 (+) years of age we will not be able to serve you. State law requires that a customer present a valid photo ID prior to sampling or purchasing alcohol in the state of TN.
Of course! Anyone is welcome to visit with us and also tour our winery. We welcome families and friends of all ages – you simply must be 21 (+) years of age and present a valid photo ID to sample or purchase our products.
Our wines contain no gluten – however the yeast we use to ferment them comes from a source that does contain gluten so we cannot make the official claim that they are gluten free. All of our wines are vegan friendly!
Yes! See our shipping section on our website for more information or call our shipping department at 1-866-453-6334.
We all love our pets but the TN Department of Agriculture does not currently allow animals within our winery premises. We of course make an exception for service animals!
At this time we do not accept reservations but it’s always nice to know you are planning to join us! Feel free to call ahead if you are concerned about how busy we will be but we assure you that you’ll get up to a bar – even during peak season. Wait time typically never exceeds 15 minutes.
WINE TRAIL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Gatlinburg Wine Trail is self-guided, where you can travel at your own pace. You may taste 4 wines for free at any of the wineries, or try them all for a fee at each location! Make sure you pick up a passport at the first winery you decide to visit; get stamps at each stop and you will receive a free gift at your third and final stop along the trail!
There are no age restrictions to visit the winery (but there is to sample and participate in the trail, of course! Must be 21+).
No, even if you have a group.
Generally, we support a limited number of local charities but do consider others on a case by case basis. All charitable donation requests must be faxed to 865-428-4052 to the attention of Katie. Note: As the number of donation requests we receive is very high, you will only receive a message back if we decide to donate.
SHIPPING AND WINE CLUB FAQ
Yes! Wine Club members will still receive their discounts and special offers at both stores.
Not at this time. The only wineries who are participating in the Rocky Top Wine Club are Little Bear Winery and Sugarland Cellars.
Typically we ship out all shipments the same or next business day.
Unfortunately, we cannot ship out any shipment without first requiring an adult signature. FedEx will not pick up our packages unless the package states that an adult signature is required, as it is an alcohol product.
If you need to change your shipping address to your place of employment, we can do that.
We can also ship to a friend, family member, or neighbor (21+) who will be home and is willing to sign for and accept the package on your behalf.
Monthly 3 Pack Club — Your card will be charged on or around the 15th of each month.. Your order will be shipped out shortly after you’re charged for that club shipment.
You will be e-mailed a receipt with a tracking link in the bottom right box. You can track your shipment there. Please keep in mind your package requires an adult signature (21+).
If you need to change your shipping address please let us know.
Winemaker’s Select Club — Your card will be charged on the first business day of the month. We ship these out the second Wednesday of the month.
Once you receive your e-mailed receipt, you can track the package by clicking the link in the bottom right box. Please keep in mind your package requires an adult signature (21+).
If you need to change your shipping address please let us know.
Quarterly Case Club — Your card will be charged on the first business day of the month. Your package will be heading your way two days later.
Once you receive your e-mailed receipt, you can track the package by clicking the link in the bottom right box. Please keep in mind your package requires an adult signature (21+).
If you need to change your shipping address please let us know.
If you need to change your shipping address to your place of employment, we can do that. We can also ship to a friend, family member, or neighbor (21+) who will be home and is willing to sign for and accept the package on your behalf.
