About Sugarlands Distilling Company
Sugarlands is the Gatlinburg distillery with the most going on beyond a simple tasting. The Parkway location makes moonshine, cream liqueur, vodka and whiskey, and the visit menu spans a basic tasting, a still house tour, a whiskey experience and a cocktail flight.
The tasting
A moonshine tasting costs $5 per person for a 12-flavor sampling that takes about 20 minutes, and each tasting comes with $5 off a merchandise purchase. Tastings are limited to once a day per guest. Walk-ins are accepted during open hours, and no appointment is needed. Guests must bring a government-issued photo ID for tastings, and visitors under 21 can join the group but cannot drink.
Tours and experiences
The visit page lists several bookable options:
- The Roaming Man Whiskey Experience pairs a still house tour with three half-ounce pours, at $25 plus tax per guest.
- Cocktails Behind the Stave is a three-cocktail flight of whiskey, vodka and moonshine drinks, also $25 plus tax per guest.
- The Still House Tour is a behind-the-scenes look at production at the Gatlinburg facility.
- The Hidden Stave add-on lets you fill, label and wax-dip your own bottle.
The site asks you not to book back-to-back sessions. Tours run on weekends, and availability can change, so confirm with the distillery before you travel. The FAQ says tours are subject to cancellation on short notice.
Hours and bringing the family
The distillery is at 805 Parkway and is open daily from 10am to 10:30pm, closed Christmas Day. Children are welcome to visit and can join a still house tour. Dogs are welcome everywhere except the stillhouse and must be leashed. Parties of 20 or more should message the distillery to help schedule.
Getting the most from it
The lineup includes Sugarlands Shine, Sippin' Cream, High Rock Vodka, Roaming Man Whiskey and Broken Antler flavored whiskey. If you want a bottle but are not sure which, do the tasting first, since the merchandise credit makes it close to a free sample if you shop. Late afternoon is a good time to skip the biggest crowds on the Parkway.
For a designated driver policy or special arrangements, call the distillery at (865) 325-1355, since the site does not publish one.
Plan the ride home
Tastings are for guests 21 and older, and every spirit here is strong enough to catch you out. Pick a designated driver before you walk in, or plan on a rideshare or the trolley back to your cabin or hotel. Pours are small, but five or six of them add up faster than you expect.
