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Try This: Sip and tour through 150+ years of Tennessee Whiskey at Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery

We visited Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery to get the full tour of how their spirits are made, discover their role in Tennessee Whiskey’s rise to fame, and check out their recently renovated full service bar + restaurant.

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Photo 1: Wooden barrels stacked in a spacious distillery warehouse. Metal taps attached to some barrels. Photo 2: A hand holds a whiskey glass in focus, showing amber liquid inside. Blurred background of people at a tasting, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Photo 3:  A dining table with a rustic wood finish features a cocktail, soft pretzels with cheese dip, condiments, and a plate of fries with a sandwich. Photo 4: Sidewalk view of a gray brick distillery with a sign for "Distillery Tastings & Gift Shop." The sky is clear blue, creating an inviting atmosphere. Photo 5: Large stainless steel brewing tanks are lined up in a modern brewery, with informational signs in front. A person in a beige jacket observes the process.

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery was one of the largest + earliest distilleries in TN, largely responsible for bringing Tennessee Whiskey to fame.

Photos by NASHtoday

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery has been operating in Marathon Village since 2014, but did you know the distillery dates back to the 1800s?

We recently visited the distillery to learn about (and sip on) its nearly 200-year history.

The tour

Our day began in a room with a timeline of the distillery wrapped around the walls. Fun fact: after founder Charles Nelson’s death in 1891, his wife, Louisa, became one of the first women in TN to run a distillery.

The tour felt like a “past to present” experience as we moved from that space to active production areas.

The tasting

The tour continued with an expertly guided tasting including Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey, Classic Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, and Calvados Cask Finish.

We also got to bottle our own Christmas in July Rye straight from the barrel, made with Fat Bottom Brewing’s spiced Christmas ale.

The bar + restaurant

Nelson’s added a full-service bar and restaurant in July 2023. We finally got to visit, and dined on soft pretzels and poutine while we sipped craft cocktails overlooking the production floor.

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