The Chattanooga Whiskey Story
Chattanooga Whiskey was founded in 2011 by Chattanooga-native Tim Piersant, whose mission was to bring "Whiskey to the People". Inspired by the city’s rich distilling history, Piersant and his team challenged the laws and won the right to distill whiskey in Chattanooga for the first time in 100 years - ushering in a new era of Tennessee craft distilling. By 2015, Chattanooga Whiskey opened their first distillery in downtown Chattanooga, becoming the only standalone Experimental Distillery in the country. There the company spent two years - and 100 barrels - developing their one-of-a-kind Tennessee High Malt whiskey style. Distilled, aged and bottled in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Chattanooga Whiskey is now produced at two distilleries. The company's Experimental Distillery on Market St. serves as their hub of innovation and creativity, and is home to their renowned & prolific Experimental Single Batch Series. Meanwhile, the company's Riverfront Distillery is the production home to Chattanooga Whiskey’s signature expressions, Chattanooga Whiskey 91, Cask 111 and 99 Rye, as well as their Bottled in Bond Vintage Series, Barrel Finishing Series, and the Founder's Anniversary Blend.
1816
John Ross establishes a trading post on the banks of the Tennessee River – what is now the corner of Market Street and Riverfront Parkway. The location becomes known locally as "Ross’s Landing".
1860s-1900s
Chattanooga becomes a North American distilling hub, with over 30 distilleries and 98 liquor dealers coming into establishment.
1915
City Police Commissioner and a local distiller are caught smuggling whiskey out of the state, in coffins. This notorious event is one of the last mentions of distilling in Chattanooga, pre prohibition.
1920-1933
The National Prohibition Act (aka The Volstead Act), begins.
1937-2009
Tennessee repeals in-state prohibition. Permits only 3 counties to resume spirit distillation: Lincoln, Moore and Coffee.
2011
Tim Piersant and Joe Ledbetter begin researching Chattanooga's rich distilling history. After discovering whiskey prohibition has "remained the law of the land", the duo formulate a plan to bring whiskey back to Hamilton County.
NOV, 2011
"Chattanooga Whiskey Co." is founded; announce their intentions to help change century-old Chattanooga distilling laws.
JAN, 2012
Chattanooga Whiskey approaches Lawrenceburg Distillers of Indiana (LDI) as a contract producer; begin by purchasing 20 barrels of an award winning high-rye bourbon recipe.
APR, 2012
Chattanooga Whiskey releases their first whiskey expression: "1816"; paying homage to the date of Chattanooga's founding settlement.
NOV, 2012
Tim and Joe continue their lobbying efforts - presenting a pro-economic case to a crowded Hamilton County commission chamber. Commission votes 7-0 to adopt a non-binding resolution to the Tennessee General Assembly, requesting the state law be amended.
SEP, 2014
Chattanooga Whiskey begins construction of their first distillery, a 100-gallon Experimental Distillery located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga.
DEC, 2014
Chattanooga Whiskey hires former R&D brewer, Grant McCracken as their Founding Head Distiller.
NOV, 2015
Chattanooga Whiskey “100” is released - the first [unaged] whiskey produced in Chattanooga in just over 100 years.
AUG, 2017
The Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Single Batch Series launches. Batch 001: “Tennessee High Malt” is the first aged whiskey sold in Chattanooga in 102 years.
AUG, 2019
"BEHOLD, The Only Tennessee High Malt Whiskey". After more than 2 years of scaling their "Barrel 91" recipe, Chattanooga Whiskey introduces "91" and "Cask 111" - the company's new signature expressions.
JUN, 2021
Bottled in Bond Vintage Series debuts - a single season vintage release, crafted from multiple Tennessee High Maltmash bills.
APR, 2022
Founder's 10th Anniversary Blend is released - a blend of 3 straight whiskeys finished in 3 separate solera barrels - each one symbolic of the past, present & future.
PRESENT DAY
Today, Chattanooga Whiskey continues to push the boundaries of craft whiskey - exploring hundreds of different specialty malts, yeasts, barrels, and finishing casks.
1839
The community of Ross’s Landing incorporates as the city of "Chattanooga" – a Muscogee word meaning "rock rising to a point" – describing Lookout Mountain.
1909
Prohibition in Tennessee begins, a full 10 years prior to the national prohibition. Production of whiskey is prohibited.
1915
Tennessee prohibition laws become increasingly strict, and Chattanooga’s remaining distilleries are forced to shut down.
1917
The “Bone Dry Bill” brings full prohibition to Tennessee, eliminating possession and distribution loopholes.
2009
Following "The Great Recession", Tennessee lawmakers vote 57-26 in favor of expanding spirits production to 41 additional Tennessee counties. This expansion does not include Hamilton County (Chattanooga, TN).
OCT, 2011
It started with a question. On October 14, 2011 “Would you Drink Chattanooga Whiskey?” appears on the company's newly created social media account. The community response is overwhelmingly positive.
AUG, 2012
The company's "Vote Whiskey" campaign is launched in the local Times Free Press newspaper, aiming to further galvanize public support to change century-old distilling laws.
JAN, 2013
House Bill 102 (Senate Bill 129), nicknamed “The Whiskey Bill”, is drafted and sponsored by Joe Carr, R-Lascassas.
MAR, 2013
The “Whiskey Bill” is nearly derailed after a disguised lobbying group attempts to amend HB 102, thereby making the legislation inoperable.
MAY, 2013
HB 102, “The Whiskey Bill”, passes with 57 House members in favor and 31 opposed. Bill Haslam signs into law on May 16, 2013.
MAR, 2015
Whiskey production begins at the company's Experimental Distillery. This historic location becomes the only standalone experimental distillery in the country.
JUL, 2016
Chattanooga Whiskey begins construction on a 46,000 sq ft. Riverfront Distillery - a production facility with enough capacity to produce 50-60 barrels/week.
MAR, 2017
The Riverfront Distillery is commissioned, and begins scaling a number of recipes selected from their Experimental Distillery's wide library of mash bills.
SEP, 2018
The "Road to Tennessee High Malt" begins - a month-by-month countdown release of 10 Experimental single barrels, chosen from the first 100 produced at the Experimental Distillery. This countdown culminates with the reveal of "Barrel 91", the company's future signature recipe.
JUL, 2020
Tennessee Rye Malt is released - Chattanooga Whiskey's malt-forward approach to Rye.
MAR, 2023
Chattanooga Whiskey wins “Icons of Whisky - Craft Producer of the Year” (both America & Global) at Whisky Magazine's 2023 World Whiskies Awards.
