Chattanooga Whiskey Company: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Updated: 11 hours ago
Chattanooga Whiskey Company makes bourbon and a style it calls Tennessee High Malt in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Its early years are as much about changing local distilling law as about whiskey.
In this guide
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Chattanooga Whiskey at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Producer / distillery | Chattanooga Whiskey |
Country and region | Tennessee, United States |
Owner / background | Chattanooga Whiskey Company |
Historical context | Tim Piersant and Joe Ledbetter founded the company; its own history page says it was founded in 2011 and Forbes agrees. Wikipedia says the brand launched in April 2012 with 1816 Reserve and… |
Whisky identity | Chattanooga craft whiskey revival and riverside distillery site |
Visitor information | Check the official operator's website for currently available tours and visitor access. |
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Founders and the law
Tim Piersant and Joe Ledbetter founded the company; its own history page says it was founded in 2011 and Forbes agrees. Wikipedia says the brand launched in April 2012 with 1816 Reserve and 1816 Cask, both from a mash bill of 75 percent corn, 21 percent rye and 4 percent malted barley. The 1816 refers to the year a trading post was set up by the river where Chattanooga later grew.
At launch the whiskey was distilled by MGP of Indiana in Lawrenceburg and bottled in Nashville, because Hamilton County law then barred distilling there. Wikipedia notes this drew initial criticism. The founders ran a Vote Whiskey campaign, and House Bill 102, signed by Governor Bill Haslam on 16 May 2013, opened the way to legal distilling. Ledbetter announced his resignation in July 2014.
The distilleries
In March 2015 the company opened the first legal distillery in Chattanooga since Prohibition, a small experimental site on Market Street. The riverfront production facility began production in 2017, which Wikipedia says made it one of the largest craft whiskey producers in Tennessee. The first experimental release, Batch 001: Tennessee High Malt, followed in August 2017. A 2026 directory entry lists Piersant as founder and CEO.
Sources
Wikipedia, Chattanooga Whiskey Company (flagged for unreliable sources and excess detail)
Chattanooga Whiskey, History page, search summary
Forbes, How Chattanooga Whiskey Brought Bourbon Back To Chattanooga (November 2024), search summary
Gaps
A third-party directory dates the experimental distillery to 2015 while the company dates its founding to 2011, which is consistent but easy to confuse. We have not confirmed ownership changes, output figures or the current range. If you have more information about this distillery, or spot something we have got wrong, contact Whisky Clan and we will update this profile.
What makes Chattanooga Whiskey distinctive?
Chattanooga craft whiskey revival and riverside distillery site
Chattanooga Whiskey whisky bottle and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Chattanooga Whiskey 91 | NAS / edition varies | Check producer label | Chattanooga craft whiskey revival and riverside distillery site |
Chattanooga Whiskey 111 | NAS / edition varies | Check producer label | Chattanooga craft whiskey revival and riverside distillery site |
Bottles and editions listed above are documented expressions or historical associations, not live stock or guaranteed current distillery production. Confirm dates, strengths and provenance with the producer.
Explore related distilleries
Frequently asked questions about Chattanooga Whiskey
Where is Chattanooga Whiskey based?
Tennessee, United States.
Who owns or operates Chattanooga Whiskey?
Chattanooga Whiskey Company.
What is distinctive about Chattanooga Whiskey?
Chattanooga craft whiskey revival and riverside distillery site.
Which whiskies are documented?
Chattanooga Whiskey 91, Chattanooga Whiskey 111. Editions and market availability may differ.
Can you visit Chattanooga Whiskey?
Check the current official distillery website for tour and visitor arrangements.
Sources and editorial notes
Original research and source links have been preserved. Ownership, production, release schedules and visiting information may change.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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