Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery
4.7(6.3K)google
4.4(398)yelp
Wine TastingYouth-FriendlyDate SpotIndoorOutdoorLocal LifeMust-SeeLocal FavoriteLive Demonstration
Overview
Known affectionately as 'The Holler', Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery in Gatlinburg is America's most visited distillery, serving as a flagship pioneer in bringing illegal moonshine recipes into the modern market. The high-energy facility fills the air with the sweet aroma of fermenting corn mash, allowing guests to watch the complete craft distillation process firsthand. For a nominal fee, visitors can sample a comprehensive and creative flight of moonshines ranging from high-proof white lightnin' to smooth fruit-infused flavors, accompanied by passionate live southern music.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM – 11:00PM
Tue10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Suggested Duration1-1.5 hours
Best TimeThis world-famous birthplace of legal Tennessee moonshine (The Holler) is best experienced on weekend evenings between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM. This timing pairs their legendary, high-energy $5 sample spirit bar counter flights with live, foot-stomping local Bluegrass bands performing right on the outdoor courtyard stage.
Getting TherePerfectly nestled inside the heart of the Gatlinburg Parkway walking grid at 903 Parkway. Parking in the paid open-air flats off River Road is highly advised to bypass main road lockups. For public transit, hop on any color-coded Gatlinburg Trolley line and step off right at the central pavilion entrance.
Travel Tips
- Gatlinburg hosts two distinctly separate Ole Smoky operational facilities that visitors frequently confuse: 'The Holler' (distilling traditional moonshine) and 'The Barrelhouse' (focused on aged whiskey variants). Retail vouchers, tour bookings, and specialty inventory are strictly non-transferable between locations; verify your digital receipt's exact address.
- The $5 moonshine sampling counters require absolute compliance with identity screening; physical IDs demonstrating an age of 21 or older are scanned (passports required for foreign nationals). Purchased jars must remain factory-sealed inside municipal limits; cracking a jar on the Parkway violates city open container statutes and draws heavy fines.
- The central outdoor staging plaza at 'The Holler' features frequent bluegrass live performances. On weekend afternoons, this courtyard hits severe density caps where security closes incoming boundary gates; to claim a clear sightline near the bandstand, position yourself in the plaza 45 minutes prior to set times.
Reviews
Positive
- The nation's most famous moonshine distillery, its iconic 'The Holler' storefront delivers high visual impact with massive stills and walls of jars.
- A tasting costs just a few dollars, serving a dozen imaginative flavors alongside live bluegrass music performances that maximize interactive fun.
- The indoor crowd management and group splitting run smoothly, with incredibly humorous and energetic staff, plus tasting fees convert to store vouchers for superb value.
- Perfectly nestled in the core pedestrian strip of Gatlinburg, it is surrounded by shops, making public transit or walking access exceptionally convenient.
Heads up
- As a hyper-popular commercial spot, weekend and evening visitor density is insanely high, crowding tasting bars and offering zero natural serenity.
- Loud cheers and live music drive indoor noise decibels very high, giving tourists who dislike noisy, club-like party environments a major headache.
- The distillery provides no dedicated spots, forcing self-driving tourists to walk or pay heavily at downtown public lots, capping convenience.
- All flavor descriptions and bartender interaction are exclusively in English, running fast with local jokes that build a communication barrier for foreign guests.