Before 2010, making moonshine in Tennessee was illegal. The Smoky Mountains had been producing it anyway for over 200 years — quietly, in the hollers and creek beds, keeping a tradition alive that Prohibition had pushed underground and stubbornness had kept going long after.
Then Ole Smoky changed everything.
Ole Smoky became Tennessee's first legal moonshine distillery in 2010, bringing a centuries-old craft out of the woods and onto the Parkway — and the result was the most-visited distillery in America. If you're staying in a Gatlinburg cabin and haven't visited yet, here's everything you need to know.
Why Ole Smoky Is America's Most Visited Distillery
Ole Smoky welcomed a combined total of millions of visitors to all of their Tennessee locations — numbers that consistently outpace famous distilleries in Scotland, Kentucky, and across the country. That kind of pull doesn't happen by accident.
The secret is that Ole Smoky isn't just a place to buy moonshine. It's an experience — part history lesson, part live music venue, part working distillery you can walk through, part tasting room where samples flow freely. The atmosphere of these classic distilleries really brings together that old timey, Southern whiskey experience in a way that feels genuinely rooted in Appalachian tradition rather than manufactured for tourists.
The Three Ole Smoky Locations in the Smokies
Ole Smoky now has three locations spread across the Smoky Mountains, each with its own distinct personality. If you're serious about the experience, all three are worth a visit.
🏚️ The Holler — Gatlinburg (The Original)
📍 903 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN | 🕐 Daily 10 AM–11 PM | 📞 (865) 436-6995
The Holler is where it all started — the original home of Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine. Rustic charm and traditional moonshine distilling methods transport you to the Prohibition era the moment you walk in.
This is the flagship experience, and it earns that title. Book yourself and your family a guided tour behind the stills to see how moonshine is made. The distillers take the time to visit with you and answer any questions about the history and lore of moonshining in East Tennessee. After you see, smell, and hear about the process, they offer tastings of award-winning moonshine and whiskey.
While you're tasting, a live bluegrass band plays — daily, not just on weekends. You can cheers a glass of moonshine with your dog, because where else can you sample some of the tastiest moonshines and whiskies this side of the Tennessee River while listening to a live bluegrass band?
The Popcorn Sutton story: One of the most talked-about highlights of the Holler tour is the history of Popcorn Sutton — the legendary East Tennessee moonshiner who became an outlaw folk hero before his death in 2009. Ole Smoky sells his moonshine recipe, and a percentage of the proceeds goes to his widow. It's the kind of genuine, local history that gives the whole experience real weight.
Tasting tip: Tastings include 12 drinks, and if you make a purchase in the store, you get $5 off — making the tasting essentially free with any bottle purchase.
🥃 The Barrelhouse — Gatlinburg (Whiskey Focus)
📍 650 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN | 🕐 Daily 10 AM–11 PM | 📞 (865) 325-1111
The Barrelhouse is Ole Smoky's distillery with the greatest focus on whiskey. It's conveniently located just down the road from The Holler on the Parkway in Gatlinburg.
At The Barrelhouse you can sample a variety of fan-favorite whiskey flavors at a tasting, along with a few unique moonshine flavors too. The aged whiskeys here are the grown-up counterpart to the Holler's moonshine-forward lineup — think barrel-aged Tennessee whiskey made the traditional way, at a price that doesn't require a second mortgage. Kids and dogs are always welcome, but you'll have to do the tasting for them.
Tastings are available daily with no reservation required.
Must try: The mango habanero whiskey — reviewers consistently call it a standout for anyone who can handle the heat — and the barrel-aged Tennessee whiskey, which delivers premium quality without the premium price tag.
🎸 The Barn — Pigeon Forge (at The Island)
📍 The Island, Pigeon Forge, TN
The Barn is Ole Smoky's lively Pigeon Forge location at The Island. Kick back in the rocking chairs to enjoy live music while you visit. Stop in for a moonshine tasting and check out the newest merch while you're at it.
This is the most casual of the three locations — less focus on the distillery experience and more on the laid-back social atmosphere. If you're already spending an afternoon at The Island anyway, the Barn makes for an easy and enjoyable stop.
What to Expect at a Tasting
First-timers sometimes aren't sure what to expect from an Ole Smoky tasting. Here's how it works:
You'll be guided through a selection of moonshine and whiskey samples — typically around 10–12 pours — ranging from classic high-proof corn whiskey to creative flavored varieties. The staff walks you through each one, explaining the flavor profile, the proof, and often the story behind it.
Current flavor highlights to look for:
- Apple Pie Moonshine — Ole Smoky's most iconic flavor; smooth, warmly spiced, and dangerously drinkable at 100 proof for the Birthday Edition
- Blackberry Moonshine — fruity and approachable; a great entry point for first-timers
- Peach Moonshine — a Tennessee classic; bright, sweet, and unmistakably Southern
- Mountain Java — moonshine meets coffee; a cult favorite among regulars
- Mango Habanero Whiskey — the most talked-about newcomer; sweet heat that builds slowly
- Moonshine Pickles — yes, pickles. Brined in Ole Smoky moonshine. Impossibly good on a charcuterie board.
The purchase trick: If you make a purchase in the store, you get $5 off your tasting fee — effectively making your samples free with any bottle buy. Pick up a jar or two and drink for free.
Tours at The Holler
Guided tours are available daily at The Holler in Gatlinburg with no reservation required. The tour takes you behind the stills to watch moonshine being made in real time, learn about the distillation process, and hear the history of moonshining in Appalachia from people who genuinely love the subject.
The tour includes the history of Popcorn Sutton, the famous moonshiner, and the tradition and slang of mountain moonshining — making it as much a cultural experience as a distillery walkthrough.
Tours are family-friendly and move at a relaxed pace. Allow 30–45 minutes for the full experience.
Practical Tips for Visiting Ole Smoky
Visit both Gatlinburg locations. The Holler and The Barrelhouse are distinct experiences — one moonshine-forward with live music and tours, the other whiskey-focused and more intimate. They're close enough on the Parkway to do both in a single afternoon.
Go on a weeknight. The Holler in particular gets busy on summer and fall weekends — the live music draws a crowd. Weeknight visits are more relaxed and the staff have more time for you.
Bring your dog. Ole Smoky is explicitly dog-friendly at all three locations. If you're traveling with a pet, this is one of the few Parkway attractions that genuinely welcomes them. Check out our pet-friendly cabin rentals if you're bringing the whole family — four-legged members included.
Buy a jar to remember it. The moonshine comes in those iconic glass mason jars — they make a legitimately great souvenir and a conversation piece at home.
Check the event calendar. Beyond the daily bluegrass lineup, Ole Smoky hosts special events throughout the year — artist appearances, seasonal releases, and holiday celebrations. Check their website before your visit.
The Moonshine Legacy of the Smoky Mountains
Ole Smoky's success is rooted in something real. The Smoky Mountains have a centuries-long history with moonshine — born from Scots-Irish immigrants who brought distilling traditions from the old country, shaped by the geography of remote hollows and mountain streams, and hardened by Prohibition into a genuine outlaw culture.
Ole Smoky became Tennessee's first legal moonshine distillery in 2010, turning what was once an illegal craft into a celebrated heritage attraction. The Popcorn Sutton story — the outlaw moonshiner who became a folk legend and whose recipe Ole Smoky now bottles with proceeds going to his family — threads that history directly into every jar on the shelf.
When you visit Ole Smoky, you're not just buying a bottle of flavored spirits. You're participating in something that Appalachian families kept alive for generations, often at great personal risk. That context makes the whole experience land differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ole Smoky Distillery free to visit? Yes — entry to all Ole Smoky locations is free. Tastings have a small fee, but any purchase in the store comes with $5 off the tasting fee, making tastings effectively free when you buy a bottle.
Do I need a reservation for tours or tastings? No. Tastings are available daily with no reservation required at The Barrelhouse. Tours at The Holler are also walk-in friendly — just show up.
Can kids visit Ole Smoky? Yes — kids and dogs are always welcome at Ole Smoky locations. The tours and history are appropriate and interesting for older children, and younger kids are welcome to come along. Only the tastings themselves are 21+ of course.
What is Ole Smoky's most popular flavor? Apple Pie Moonshine is consistently the best-seller and the gateway flavor for most first-time visitors. The Birthday Edition at 100 proof is particularly popular. For whiskey drinkers, the barrel-aged Tennessee whiskey at The Barrelhouse draws consistently strong reviews.
Are Ole Smoky's Gatlinburg locations near each other? Yes — The Holler and The Barrelhouse are both on the Parkway in Gatlinburg, within easy walking distance of each other. Most visitors do both in the same afternoon.
End the Evening Right
After an afternoon exploring Ole Smoky, you've earned a quiet evening on the porch. Colonial Properties has Gatlinburg cabin rentals ranging from cozy 1-bedroom retreats for couples to large group lodges — many just minutes from the Parkway, with hot tubs, mountain views, and fireplaces that pair perfectly with a jar of Apple Pie Moonshine.
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