Chattanooga Whiskey Wins Best Craft Producer Award
Chattanooga Whiskey has secured the Best American Craft Producer title at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky, announced February 12 at Louisville's Brown Hotel. This marks the Tennessee distillery's second such distinction in four years, following their dual American and World honors in 2023. The recognition underscores a distillery whose experimental approach has revitalized a century-dormant distilling tradition in Chattanooga while maintaining the exacting standards expected of world-class spirits producers.
Recognition for Prolific Innovation
The American round of the World Whiskies Awards draws together the nation's most accomplished distilling houses, making this distinction particularly noteworthy. Chattanooga Whiskey's win qualifies the distillery for the global Best Craft Producer title, to be announced at the March ceremony in London. Over the preceding twelve months, the operation released twenty-two distinct whiskeys and spirits—a prolific output that demonstrates both technical capability and creative vision. Among these releases: an authentically-crafted pre-Prohibition bourbon honoring historical whiskey styles, collaborative single barrel expressions produced alongside New Riff Distillery, and the unconventional Intergalactic Comet Crusher bourbon liqueur. This breadth reflects a distillery comfortable working across traditional and avant-garde territory, serving both purists and adventurous drinkers.
The Chattanooga Distilling Renaissance
The distillery's achievements carry particular significance given Tennessee's distilling history. Founded in 2011, Chattanooga Whiskey's initial mission involved changing state law to permit distilling within city limits for the first time in a century. That legislative victory in 2013 established the foundation for what has become a dual-facility operation: the Experimental Distillery, opened in 2015, produces small-batch releases in quantities of twenty barrels or fewer, while the 2017 Riverfront Distillery handles production of signature expressions including Chattanooga Whiskey 91, Cask 111, and 99 Rye. Grant McCracken, founding distiller, notes the competitive elevation of American whiskey since their 2023 win, emphasizing the team's commitment to raising their own standards in response. Founder and CEO Tim Piersant credits the hometown support system that made the initial legal change possible, positioning this recognition as shared with the community that enabled the distillery's existence.
Tennessee High Malt Heritage
Chattanooga Whiskey's house style—Tennessee High Malt—distinguishes their work within the broader landscape of Tennessee whiskey. Unlike the dominant Tennessee whiskey archetype defined by Lincoln County Process charcoal mellowing and lower malt content, the high malt approach emphasizes grain character and complexity while maintaining regional identity. This stylistic choice reflects the distillery's broader philosophy: respecting distilling tradition while refusing to be constrained by it. The Experimental Distillery model, unique as a standalone experimental facility in American craft distilling, enables the investigation of mash bills, yeast strains, and barrel treatments that inform both limited releases and the evolution of core expressions. This methodology—treating innovation as systematic exploration rather than random experimentation—has positioned Chattanooga Whiskey as a bellwether for American craft distilling's creative potential. More than fifty thousand annual visitors to the Experimental Distillery witness this approach firsthand, connecting consumers directly to the distilling process and the decision-making that shapes each release.
Frequently Asked Questions
What awards has Chattanooga Whiskey won recently?
Chattanooga Whiskey won Best American Craft Producer at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards, their second such honor following their 2023 wins for both Best Craft Producer: America and Best Craft Producer: World. The distillery now advances to compete for the global title, to be announced in March 2026 in London. These distinctions recognize the distillery's consistent quality and innovative output across their experimental and core product lines.
What makes Chattanooga Whiskey different from other Tennessee whiskeys?
Chattanooga Whiskey employs a Tennessee High Malt style that emphasizes higher malt content in the mash bill compared to traditional Tennessee whiskey formulations. The distillery operates two distinct facilities: an Experimental Distillery that produces ultra-limited releases in batches of twenty barrels or fewer, and a Riverfront Distillery that produces signature expressions. This dual-facility model allows simultaneous exploration of innovative techniques and consistent production of established recipes, a structure uncommon among American craft distilleries.
When did Chattanooga get its distilling rights back?
Chattanooga regained the legal right to distill whiskey within city limits in 2013, after Chattanooga Whiskey's founders successfully advocated for changes to Tennessee distilling law. This ended a century-long prohibition on distilling in the city. The Experimental Distillery opened in 2015, followed by the larger Riverfront Distillery in 2017. This legislative change has enabled Chattanooga's emergence as a recognized whiskey-producing region within Tennessee.
What is Chattanooga Whiskey's Experimental Distillery?
The Experimental Distillery is the nation's only standalone facility dedicated exclusively to experimental whiskey production. Opened in 2015, it produces single-batch whiskeys and spirits in quantities of twenty barrels or less, with releases that are never fully recreated once depleted. This model allows systematic exploration of variables including grain selection, fermentation protocols, distillation parameters, and barrel treatments. The facility welcomes more than fifty thousand visitors annually, offering direct engagement with the experimental distilling process.
Where can I visit Chattanooga Whiskey's distilleries?
Chattanooga Whiskey operates two distilleries in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Experimental Distillery is located at 1439 Market Street and focuses on small-batch innovative releases, while the Riverfront Distillery at 890 Riverfront Parkway handles production of the distillery's signature expressions including Chattanooga Whiskey 91, Cask 111, and 99 Rye. Both facilities offer visitor experiences that showcase different aspects of the distillery's production philosophy and Tennessee distilling heritage.