SPEAKeasy Spirits Has a Lot of Big News

Jenny and Jeff Pennington started up SPEAKeasy Spirits in West Nashville back in 2011, primarily as a way to offer marketing and logistics services to other distillers. But they always had it in the front of their minds that they wanted to create their own spirits products. Starting out with Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Cream, they entered the wholesale side of the liquor business, adding products over the years until they really hit it big with Pickers Vodka. Quietly, their vodka brand has achieved impressive growth around the country, including becoming the house vodka at the iconic Flora-Bama in Orange Beach on the state line. If you’ve ever visited that massive bar, you’ll realize what a big deal that placement is.

Still, while vodka pays the bills, Jeff Pennington knew he wanted to make brown liquor. For the past three years, he and his staff have been distilling three different mash bills using primarily Tennessee grains grown by family farmers to create a Tennessee whiskey, a bourbon and their first release of aged spirits, Davidson Reserve Rye. Now that they are officially in the whiskey business, the Penningtons have decided to create a new entity for all their distilled products under the family name.

Pennington Distilling Co. will be responsible for the production and distribution of Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Cream, Pickers Vodka, Walton’s Vodka, Pennington’s Flavored Rye, Crafted Cordials as well as the new whiskey products. If you’ve toured the facility at 900 44th Avenue North, they’ve actually been offering tastes of the whiskey products, even before they have been released. Again, this is a pretty big deal and something almost never available to civilians that aren’t part of the industry.

Speaking of the the facility, the Penningtons have big plans to expand their building now that they have acquired the land next store to their original location. Opening in 2018, the new Pennington Distilling Company will be constructed out of shipping containers to exude the industrial vibe of the neighborhood. Stacked high, the containers will act as walls to enclose large tasting rooms, private events spaces, multiple bars that will serve cocktails and craft beers and a retail area selling souvenirs and spirits. A rooftop deck will offer impressive views of downtown.

After waiting so long for their rye to mature so that they could release it, the Penningtons are in the mood to celebrate. They will be throwing a big bash on October 17 that they are calling the “Hardest Harvest” party in recognition of their work to create Davidson Reserve Rye. Keep an eye on this space for further details, but you’ll want to mark your calendar to hold that date free to celebrate.

Although the Davidson Reserve Rye won’t be officially released until after the big party, you can sample it at the distillery as part of their regular tours. They have also offered tastes to members of the media, and I can tell you that it will be a welcome addition to the rye canon.

The 100% rye isn’t quite as sharp and spicy as many of the ryes you might find on liquor store shelves, many of which come from the same mega-distillery in Indiana before being private labeled by other distilleries. Pennington intentionally takes an extra day or so to distill their rye, allowing the fruity candy flavors to come through to balance the sharp cinnamon nutmeg notes that are characteristic of rye. A gentle honey and apple finish make Davidson Reserve Rye smooth enough to sip neat while also providing a fine palate for creating cocktails.

When this product does finally hit store shelves, grab a bottle and try it out. Let us know in the comments what you think.