Tennessee Collective returns with 120-proof blend

Eleven Tennessee distilleries, including Jack Daniel Distillery, are contributing barrels to the 2026 whiskey release

11:41 a.m. Aug. 25, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Come September, a little bit of Tennessee whiskey country – from Lynchburg to Memphis and plenty of places in between – will wind up in the same bottle.

The Tennessee Whiskey Trail will release the second edition of its Tennessee Collective on Sept. 1, bringing together whiskey from 11 distilleries across the state for a limited, cask-strength American whiskey blend.

Among them is Jack Daniel Distillery, joining a lineup that stretches across Tennessee’s whiskey landscape.

The project follows a sold-out inaugural release in 2025 and is designed to do something the whiskey business does particularly well in Tennessee: put a bunch of distillers around a barrel, let everybody bring something to the table and see what happens when it all comes together.

“The Tennessee Whiskey Trail is thrilled to continue the Tennessee Collective, bringing together a new group of distilleries to showcase our state’s exceptional craft spirits,” said Charity Toombs, executive director of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail.

“After the success of last year's inaugural release, we're excited to continue making the Tennessee Collective an annual tradition that showcases the strength of our distilling community and gives whiskey enthusiasts something new to discover each year.”

Eleven barrels, one Tennessee blend

This year’s Collective was created at Old Glory Distilling Co. under the direction of owner and distiller Matt Cunningham.

Representatives from the participating distilleries gathered there for a ceremonial barrel dumping, swapping details about mash bills, barrel selections and tasting notes before the individual whiskeys were blended into a single expression.

“It was a pleasure to host the other 10 participants for this experience,” Cunningham said. “Coming together like this is a reminder that while each distillery has its own unique story and style, we're all working toward the same goal: elevating Tennessee spirits and showcasing what makes our industry so special.”

And in a state where distilleries can be competitors on the shelf and neighbors everywhere else, Cunningham said the finished whiskey reflects what each producer brought to the gathering.

“Everybody brings something different to the table, and blended together it makes for something better than any of us are able to do alone,” he said.

The participating distilleries are:

• Big Machine Distillery
• Gate 11 Distillery
• Jack Daniel Distillery
• Leiper’s Fork Distillery
• Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
• Old Dominick Distillery
• Old Glory Distilling Co.
• Peg Leg Porker Spirits
• Short Mountain Distillery
• Sugarlands Distilling Company
• Tennessee Legend Distillery

Each contributed one hand-selected barrel.

Bottled at 120 proof

Every barrel used in the 2026 Tennessee Collective was aged at least four years, according to the Tennessee Whiskey Trail.

The finished whiskey is bottled at 120 proof.

Tasting notes describe oak, nuttiness, and a touch of mint up front, followed by vanilla, tobacco, and spice, with spiced honey lingering through the finish.

Each bottle also carries an individual Proof-It neck label that allows buyers to digitally claim the bottle and learn more about the blend and the distillery where it was purchased. Buyers can also enter a tasting-notes contest for a chance to win tickets to the 2027 Grains & Grits Festival.

Beginning Sept. 1, participating distilleries will sell a limited number of bottles through their tasting rooms or bottle shops for $79.99. Availability will vary by location.

Building on a sold-out first pour

The Tennessee Whiskey Trail introduced the Collective in September 2025, featuring whiskey from 12 distilleries.

The first batch sold out and later collected several spirits-industry honors, including Double Platinum at the ASCOT Awards and gold medals at the SIP Awards, Barleycorn Awards and London Spirits Competition.

The lineup of contributing distilleries has changed this year, and so has the whiskey inside the barrels.

That is part of the point. The Tennessee Collective is not meant to be reproduced exactly year after year. It is a snapshot of Tennessee whiskey-making at a particular moment – different distilleries, different barrels, and different flavors sharing the same glass.

Come Sept. 1, that snapshot gets poured.