Ole Smoky Distillery opened its doors on July 4, 2010, riding the wave of Tennessee's first-ever change in state law that legalized distillation of spirits. This wasn't just a business opportunity—it was a **cultural moment**. The distillery became the first federally licensed distillery in the entire history of East Tennessee, breaking a century-old legal ceiling that had kept Appalachian moonshining in the shadows. The operation is rooted in absolute authenticity. Ole Smoky's base recipe comes from a 100-year-old Smoky Mountains family formula—the real deal, perfected with help from Dave Pickerell, who spent over 15 years as Master Distiller for Maker's Mark. Unlike tourist-trap theme parks, Ole Smoky taps genuine regional heritage. When you're drinking their Original Moonshine, you're drinking something that echoes actual Appalachian distilling tradition, now made legal and available. What happened next was staggering. From 2020–2022, Ole Smoky Distillery was the **most-visited distillery in the entire world**. We're talking more than 5.7 million visitors annually. The Barrelhouse location alone welcomed 1.1 million guests in 2021—a number that exceeds visitor counts for entire nations' iconic attractions. To put it in perspective: Ole Smoky entertains more than twice as many guests as all 134 of Scotland's whiskey distilleries combined.
- Most Visited Distillery in the World: (2020–2022, ~5.7 million annual visitors) — more guests than Scotland's entire whiskey industry
- The Barrelhouse in Gatlinburg alone: cleared 1.1 million visitors in 2021 — a single location that outpaces most tourist attractions globally
- First federally licensed distillery in East Tennessee: (2010) — broke centuries of illegal Appalachian moonshining tradition
- 100-year-old family recipe: — perfected by Dave Pickerell (former Maker's Mark Master Distiller for 15+ years)
- Four locations in Tennessee: The Holler (Gatlinburg), The Barrelhouse (Gatlinburg), The Barn (Pigeon Forge), 6th & Peabody (Nashville)
- 25+ moonshine flavors and 17+ whiskey flavors: — available in all 50 states and 20+ countries
- University of Tennessee Athletics Partnership: (2024) — named exclusive moonshine of the Vols
- Tourism monster: — often cited as one of the most-visited commercial attractions in America, competing with theme parks and historical sites