Tennessee Whiskey Trail unveils 12-barrel blend

12:10 p.m. Oct. 1, 2025

Tennessee Collective

Photo courtesy of Tennessee Whiskey Trail

The whiskey was blended at Sugarlands Distilling Company in Gatlinburg, where master distiller Greg Eidam oversaw the process.

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

A dozen distilleries across Tennessee have joined forces to create a one-of-a-kind whiskey release, marking the first collective bottling in the history of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail.

The new release, called the Tennessee Collective, combines 12 hand-selected barrels – each from a different distillery – into a special blend that organizers say highlights the craftsmanship and camaraderie of the state’s spirits industry. About 2,000 bottles will be available.

“This project illustrates the collaborative spirit of Tennessee distilling,” said Charity Toombs, executive director of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. “The camaraderie between distillers and the skillfulness of these 12 representatives have created a product that proudly appeals to whiskey enthusiasts.”

The whiskey was blended at Sugarlands Distilling Company in Gatlinburg, where master distiller Greg Eidam oversaw the process. Eidam, who also produces Sugarlands’ award-winning Roaming Man Rye, said working with 12 different barrels presented a unique challenge.

“Blending whiskeys is an art form that requires attention to nuance, notes, and characteristics,” Eidam said. “Each distillery selected its barrel for its unique flavor, and together we created a collaboration that reflects the diversity of Tennessee spirits.”

Participating distilleries include:

  • Big Machine Distillery
  • Company Distilling
  • Jack Daniel Distillery
  • Leiper’s Fork Distillery
  • Lost State Distillery
  • Nashville Barrel Co.
  • Old Forge Distillery
  • Old Glory Distilling Co.
  • Ole Smoky Distillery
  • Sugarlands Distilling Company
  • Tennessee Hills Distillery
  • Tennessee Legend Distillery

Each barrel was aged for at least four years and met the bottling industry’s standards. The final product, bottled at cask strength, will be sold exclusively through pre-orders at tnwhiskeytrail.com/tn-collective starting Wednesday, Oct. 1. Bottles are priced at $79 for 750 mL, with a limit of two per person.

Buyers must pick up their bottles in person on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 1–3 p.m. at the Townsend Visitors Center in Blount County. Any unclaimed bottles will be refunded.

The release is supported by industry partners, including NimbleJack, PGP Glass, Thoroughbred Spirits Group, Belmark Inc., Pacific Packaging, and Aware/Proof It Technologies.