Chattanooga Whiskey Company
| Industry | Whiskey |
|---|---|
| Founder | Joe Ledbetter and Tim Piersant |
| Headquarters | Indiana, USA |
Area served | USA |
| Brands | 1816 Reserve and 1816 Cask |
The Chattanooga Whiskey Company is a producer of whiskey. Currently, its whiskey is being manufactured at MGP/LDI of Indiana. However, the company plans to produce Tennessee whiskey and is expected to be the first whiskey company to begin distilling operations in Chattanooga, Tennessee since Prohibition.
History
In the late 1800s, Chattanooga, Tennessee had more than 30 distilleries and was the largest distilling center in the state. Then came Prohibition, and it was all shut down. It stayed that way until nearly 100 years later, when Joe Ledbetter and Tim Piersant founded the Chattanooga Whiskey Company.[1] In 2009, the Tennessee Legislature voted to change distillation laws in certain counties, but Hamilton County was not one of them.[2] Ledbetter and Piersant used social media to kick-off the campaign with the question on Facebook, “Would you drink Chattanooga Whiskey?”.[3] The men kept the topic in the public forum, hosting several events to encourage residents to "Vote Whiskey".[4] In November 2012, supporters went before the Hamilton County Commission.[5] In the end, the Commission approved a plan to send the measure to Nashville where lawmakers could vote on the future of distilling in Hamilton County.[6][7][8] Governor Bill Haslam signed the bill into law in the Spring of 2013.[9]
Present
The Chattanooga Whiskey products are currently being made at the MGP/LDI distillery in Indiana.
The company plans to begin distilling operations in the Spring of 2015 in downtown Chattanooga.[10][11][12]
There are two brand variations of Chattanooga-branded whiskey: 1816 Reserve and 1816 Cask. The 1816 date is the date of the establishment of the first trading post along the Tennessee River which became Chattanooga.[13] The Chattanooga Whiskey Company says its 1816 line is from a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. 1816 Reserve is 90 proof while the 1816 Cask is 113.6 proof. Early reviews state the whiskey is smooth, with plenty of flavor.[14][15]
The company has a 1913 four-cylinder White Depot Hack whiskey truck that has been restored to operating condition.[16]
References
- ↑ "TN Whiskey Trail Whiskey FriendsTN Whiskey Trail". Tennesseewhiskeytrail.com. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ↑ "Why Chattanooga Whiskey isn't made in Chattanooga". Nashville Business Journal. 10/09/2012. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "Whiskey distillers draw on Chattanooga's past". Times Free Press. 2011-12-08. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
- ↑ Morrison, Chloe' (2012-03-14). "Chattanooga Whiskey Company product coming to stores next month". Nooga.com.
- ↑ Harrison, Kate (2012-11-16). "Chattanooga Whiskey backers pack Hamilton County Courthouse". Chattanooga Times Free-Press.
- ↑ Hightower, Cliff (2012-11-22). "Chattanooga Whiskey Letter looking for signatures". Chattanooga Times Free-Press.
- ↑ "Group gathers signatures in support of whiskey". Knoxnews.com. 2013-03-30.
- ↑ Humphreys, Tom (2013-04-15). "Bill for Gatlinburg Moonshine, Chattanooga Whiskey Gets House OK". Knox News.
- ↑ Sher, Andy (2013-05-18). "Political Notebook: Gov. Haslam signs whiskey law". Chattanooga Times Free-Press.
- ↑ Smith, Ellis (2014-03-25). "Chattanooga Whiskey distillery opening delayed until 2015". Chattanooga Times Free-Press.
- ↑ Blevins, Andrew. "David, Goliath and Chattanooga Whiskey". Trend Magazine. Retrieved Summer 2013.
- ↑ "Sorry Cronkite, Chattanooga Might be the Cleanest City In America | Your Hub for Southern Culture". Thedailysouth.southernliving.com. 2014-06-27.
- ↑ "Chattanooga: History-Native Americans Displaced by Early Settlers". Local History & Genealogical Collections. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
- ↑ Jones, David (2012-07-18). "TN Spirits: Chattanooga Whiskey Company". Tikibaronline.
- ↑ Scism, Eric (2013-11-22). "Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Cask - Whiskey Review". Stogiesontherocks.com.
- ↑ "Chattanooga Whiskey Company 1913 White Depot Hack". YouTube. 2013-03-26. Retrieved 2014-07-17.