6 Distilleries To Visit In Columbia, TN

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The history surrounding distilleries in Tennessee dates back to the late 18th century when rye production and demand increased exponentially. By the mid-1880s, distilling became one of the largest industries in the state, but when Prohibition hit in 1909, every distillery was shuttered. Even when Prohibition ended in 1933, the industry stalled as laws made it more difficult for distillers to produce their craft. It wasn’t until 2009 when a new law gave counties distilling permits that the area saw a rebirth. Younger generations reopened distilleries, and now the area around Columbia has six distilleries you must visit. View our inventory of New Chevrolets, or If you have any questions, give us a call at 931-548-1370 today!

Corsair Distillery

Childhood friends Darek Bell and Andrew Webber began home-brewing wine and beer in Bell’s garage, and – after some initial hurdles – they decided that making whiskey would be easier. The idea stuck, so the two began studying spirits and distilleries. They opened Corsair Distillery in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 2008, they opened a new location in Nashville which became the city’s first craft distillery since Prohibition. A second Nashville spot opened in 2016, and today you can purchase craft spirits and beers on site.

Head to the Nashville headquarters at 601 Merrit Ave. for an hour-long tour and tasting. The 30-minute tour includes a look at the custom-made 800-gallon pot still, fermentation vessels, and bottling line. You will learn how the distillery makes grain-to-glass whiskey. Tickets for adults aged 21 and over who are drinking cost $20, and $7 for non-drinkers. Children 12 and under can enter free.

At its first Nashville location at 1200 Clinton St., you can take a tour of the Brewstillery. The 30-minute tour gives you a look at the prohibition-style pot still, mash cooker, and small-batch craft brewery. You learn how it combines craft beer and craft whiskey. Adults 21 and over who are drinking will pay $14, while non-drinkers can enter for $7. Children 12 and under are free to enter. Tour capacity for both locations is eight people, and you can make reservations online.

H Clark Distillery

Opening its doors in 2014, H Clark Distillery became the first legal distillery in Williamson County in more than a century. It crafts its spirits in the same building that local farmers from previous generations used to house grains before shipping them via the railroad. It creates hand-crafted bourbon, gin, and whiskey, one batch at a time. The distillery offers tastings and tours every day of the week, and they begin at the top of the hour. Tours are free, while tastings cost $15 per person.

Leiper’s Fork Distillery

This distillery opened in Franklin in the summer of 2016 and aims to resurrect the history and heritage of small-batch whiskey production in Williamson County. It creates high-end premium whiskey by using local ingredients and pure limestone-filtered water, making it an artisan distillery. Its retail and tasting rooms are housed in a historic log cabin constructed in 1829, with the large wood-burning fireplaces completely restored and renovated. The distillery offers tours every day of the week, but they’re limited to 10 people for each session. The tours start every half-hour.

Nashville Craft Distillery

Found in downtown Nashville, the Nashville Craft Distillery opened in 2016 when former DNA laboratory director Bruce Boeko used his science experience to focus on producing gin, whiskey, and other spirits. Its handcrafted spirits are made from scratch in house. Stop in Friday through Sunday for a tour, which is led by distillers and culminates with tastings. Each tour is limited to six people, lasts 45 minutes, and costs $20 plus tax. 

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery

Located in Nashville, Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery dates back to the 1800s when John Philip Nelson brought his family to America from northern Germany. An intense storm caused many of the ship’s passengers to fall overboard, including John Philip, but the rest of his family made it safely to New York. Before the start of the Civil War, the family moved to Nashville to seek a fresh start, and Charles, the oldest son, opened a grocery store selling whiskey, coffee, and meat. The demand for whiskey surpassed his supply, so he sold the grocery business and focused on whiskey.

Charles purchased the distillery that made his whiskey in Greenbrier and expanded production. After he passed in 1891, his wife, Louisa, took over operations, making her the only woman during that time to operate a distillery. When Prohibition hit in 1909, Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery closed its doors. It wasn’t until 2006 when brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson traveled with their father Bill to Greenbrier to learn more about their family when they stumbled on the old warehouse founded by their great-great-great-grandfather. They reopened the distillery in 2009, exactly 100 years after it shut.

Today, you can head to the distillery and participate in a Tasting Experience. During this 40 to 45-minute interactive and guided demonstration, you learn about the past, present, and future of the distillery. You receive a cocktail made from one of the distillery’s most popular spirits along with four other seasonal offerings. Up to 10 people can participate in this tasting, which is available seven days a week at the top of each hour. Tastings are $12 for adults 21 and older, while military and first responders with ID can enter for $9.

Prichard’s Distillery

Based out of Kelso, Prichard’s Distillery dates back five generations when Benjamin Prichard passed his stills, tubs, and utensils from his whiskey-making days to his son Enoch. The family has kept the hand-crafted tradition in its bourbon, whiskey, rum, and other liqueurs. What sets the liqueurs apart from others is the crooked-neck bottles, which are made out of amber glass to protect the spirits from deteriorating by light. Free tours and tastings are available Monday through Saturday, or you can take a virtual tour.

The area surrounding Columbia is rich in history when it comes to whiskey and distilleries. There are so many distilleries to stop in at and take a tour and tastings. What do you think of this list of the top six distilleries created by Stan McNabb Chevrolet of Columbia? Did we get you excited? Do you have any more distilleries to mention? If yes, please drop us a line so we can make sure to add it to our list.