Tennessee-based whiskeys have been making a bunch of news lately. While Kentucky still dominates the industry, folks are beginning to look a little farther south for innovative products, and we're lucky to have new products and distilleries springing up all over.
First off, Prichard's Distillery, based out of Kelso, Tenn., has announced that they plan to open a second manufacturing facility at the Fontanel in Nashville. For 15 years, Prichard's has developed a large portfolio of spirits out of their distillery just north of the Alabama border, but now they see the opportunity to bring their show to the big city. Phil Prichard is the patriarch of the current brand, but five generations ago his ancestors were known for making some of the finest whiskey in Davidson County.
Now Prichard's will be building a new distillery to the 136-acre property at the Fontanel Mansion off Whites Creek Pike. Hopefully by next spring, visitors will be able to watch Prichard's small batches of rum and whiskey being made using classic copper-pot-still techniques. I've reviewed several of their products here on Bites, and I look forward to seeing them a little closer to home.
Meanwhile, the Nelson brothers of Green Brier Distillery, the impetus behind Belle Meade Bourbon, made the news recently when they were named as runners-up in the Food and Drink division of Garden & Gun magazine's third-annual "Made in the South" awards.
