Just For Foodies

Memphis

Memphis is home to award-winning distillery, Old Dominick and their products are featured in restaurants and bars around their hometown. When Old Dominick produced their first barrel of Tennessee Whiskey in 2017, it became the first operating distillery in Memphis since the advent of Prohibition. In addition to whiskey, Old Dominick also produces a gin and a unique Honeybell Citrus Vodka with elements of sweet tangerine and bitter grapefruit that make it a fascinating ingredient for cocktails. Blue Note focuses on bourbons which are a fine base for an Old Fashioned.

At Alchemy, guests can pair a menu of elevated bar bites and hearty larger plates with several cocktails that use Old Dominick products as the base spirit. Doesn’t a butternut squash and bacon pasta dish paired with a brown sugar-sweetened Memphis Old Fashioned sound like a delightful combo? The Lobbyist in the Chisca Building combines international flavors with local ingredients to create a global menu that reflects the country’s melting pot of cultures. Among those indigenous ingredients are Old Dominick gin so you can think globally while drinking locally.

Hog & Hominy is another restaurant that combines Southern ingredients with international recipes, specifically the cuisine of Italy. James Beard-nominated chefs Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman reach to their Italian heritage growing up cooking in the kitchen with their families to inspire a menu of flavorful plates, many of which benefit from a kiss of smoke and fire from their wood-fired pizza oven.

The talented bar staff at Cameo believes that the food should complement the cocktails, as opposed to the normal attitude toward pairing. Some people have taken to calling mixologists “bar chefs,” and the description is certainly apt at Cameo where they come up with ingenious flavor combinations that inform the culinary choices of the kitchen.

IBIS is a two-story cocktail emporium that features your choice of experiences. Enjoy the view from the rooftop deck while sipping on a Cairo Cosmo made with Old Dominick vodka and some bar snacks, or dine on a larger menu in the main dining room where you’ll encounter generous large plates of salmon or braised short rib. Finish the evening with a nightcap in the subterranean speakeasy. Try the Sour Tower, a sweet and tart cocktail featuring Blue Note Distilling’s Riverset Rye.

Tennessee’s oldest and largest distilleries, Jack Daniel’s and Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. (the home of George Dickel,) exert a great influence over menus across the state, and rightfully so. These two carried the flag of Tennessee whiskey for decades, and they have inspired the new generation of distillers to continue to push the industry forward. Distilleries have germinated all around Middle Tennessee, from Clarksville at the Kentucky state line to Prichard’s in Kelso near the Alabama border. In between, spirits tourism fans can enjoy fabulous food and transcendent drinks at a multitude of restaurants around the region.

Nashville

Nashville is both the capital of the state and one of the South’s major culinary capitals. Distilleries such as Big Machine Distillery,Corsair, Pennington Distilling Co., Nashville Craft and Nelson’s Green Brier all have facilities within city limits and offer tastings and tours as part of their participation in the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. Nashville Barrel Co. has proven to be an award-winning powerhouse when it comes to choosing, finishing and blending unique spirits, and restaurant guests will find many of these distilleries featured prominently on Nashville menus.

The minute patrons step foot inside Gertie’s Bar at The 404 Kitchen, it becomes immediately apparent that this is a serious whisky bar. The entire back wall of the bar is packed with shelves heaving under the weight of hundreds of bottles that the bartenders use in inventive cocktails. While the menu changes seasonally, you might encounter a Picker’s Vodka drink infused with exotic flavors or ask the bartender to shake you up a classic cocktail using your favorite spirit from the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, and they’ll be happy to oblige. Then head upstairs to The 404 Kitchen for a dinner that is sure to stick to your ribs, especially the shareable 24-ounce tri tip that takes 72 hours to cook low and slow. Don’t forget to order a skillet of the kitchen’s legendary warm baked cornbread with sorghum butter!

Sometimes people complain that high-proof whiskey “burns,” but that’s the least of your worries if you’re enjoying it with Nashville’s most famous local dish, hot chicken. The fiery fried fowl is available from chicken joints all over town, but only Party Fowl offers the chance to cool down with a slushy cocktail made using Old Dominick Vodka and frozen lemonade. Party Fowl offers hot chicken in many different presentations ranging from a half bird on the bone to tenders to tacos, all at heat levels ranging from tame to infernally spicy. You can even order Hot Chicken and Beignets, a clever take on traditional chicken & waffles. Paired with a Music City Mule made with your choice of flavors of Picker’s Vodka from Pennington Distilling Co., that might make for a lovely brunch.

The overarching ethos at Husk has always been “if it doesn’t come from the South, it’s not coming through the door,” and this attitude extends from the kitchen to the bar where many Tennessee brands are featured on the spirits list, including some single barrels selected by the restaurant staff directly from the distilleries. Both the food and drink menu maintain a laser focus on celebrating the flavors of the South, often through modern versions of ancient techniques of fermentation and preservation. The resulting cuisine and cocktails represent a shrine to both the history and future of the region.

Corsair Distillery offers tastings and tours at its two facilities in Nashville, and both also feature cocktail experiences to demonstrate how their products work as part of a mixed drink. More than just a sip out of a plastic cup, these cocktails are thoughtfully created by adroit mixologists to showcase some of the more unique spirits that Corsair produces.

One of Nashville’s oldest movie houses has been converted into a sultry restaurant called Sinema, oozing Hollywood-era glitz and glam. Bold colors dominate the design scheme of the main dining room downstairs, and the sexy upstairs lounge features one of the best whiskey and cocktail menus in town. Weekend brunches are particularly advantageous times to visit Sinema for all-you-can eat Southern breakfast classes served family-style at the table along with Bloody Marys and mimosas.

In the burgeoning 12 South neighborhood, Josephine is another great brunch spot or for a dinner featuring regional cuisine informed by chef Andrew Little’s Pennsylvania Dutch sensibilities and classic French techniques. A weekend morning meal at Josephine accompanied by a couple of cocktails from the talented bar staff is the perfect fuel for an afternoon of strolling the sidewalks of 12 South and a little window shopping. (Or actual shopping. Bring your debit card!)

Franklin

Franklin frequently shows up on lists of the best small towns in America, and with its charming downtown and friendly vibe, that should be no surprise. In addition to spirits from Leiper’s Fork Distillery in the neighboring village that gives its name to the whiskey, Franklin bars and restaurants keep it local with a special emphasis on Tennessee spirits.

The Harpeth Hotel’s flagship restaurant in downtown Franklin is 1799 Kitchen & Cocktails, a dining experience that very intentionally pays homage to the area’s whiskey culture. The main dining room is girded with white oak, creating the dramatic effect of dining inside a gigantic barrel and much of the decor is meant to symbolize different parts of the distilling process.

1799’s extensive list of spirits and cocktails features many Tennessee products, including Leiper’s Fork and Company Distilling’s Ghost Rail Gin made just down the road in Thompson’s Station. Regular patrons can even store bottles of their favorite liquors in storage lockers in the restaurant to ensure that there’s more to pour. The eclectic dinner menu ranges from traditional shrimp & grits to more exotic fare like a double-cut bone-in elk chop.

Chef Jason McConnell operates two of the most popular fine dining options in Franklin with his Cork & Cow chophouse and Red Pony, an upscale Southern restaurant. Both restaurants feature excellent cocktail programs with special emphasis on Tennessee products whenever appropriate. Cork & Cow also offers fantastic bargains during happy hour, so there’s plenty of reason to arrive early for your dinner reservation.

During the 19th century, “O Be Joyful” was slang for homemade hooch, and today it’s the name of a convivial whiskey pub in downtown Franklin. An entire section of the expansive whiskey list at O Be Joyful is dedicated to Tennessee products, so it’s almost certain that you’ll be able to find your favorite to sip neat or as part of a tasting flight. While the food at OBJ is typical pub grub, it’s high-quality and ideal for the environment.

Clarksville

Not everyone knows that Clarksville is the fifth-largest city in the state, but it still maintains a small-town feel. Home to two distilleries, Clarksville is rightly proud of the local spirits that appear on area menus. Old Glory Distilling demonstrated remarkable patience by waiting almost five years to release their first small batch Tennessee Whiskeys and bourbons, and their restraint was rewarded with some notable new products. They did fill the time while waiting for their brown spirits to mature by making some gin, vodka and moonshine products which are available to taste and purchase at the distillery and as part of signature cocktails from the tasting bar.

Perhaps the best spot for cocktails in Clarksville is in the newly renovated historic post office. The Mailroom is a dramatic bit of architectural achievement with outdoor seating available and an impressive menu of cocktails. Both the drinks and eats lean toward the international as a nod to the mail going to and from soldiers at nearby Ft. Campbell who were stationed all over the world. The former federal building is an inspiration for a Federal Mule cocktail featuring vodka from Old Glory, and the distillery’s products also show up in a few other signature drinks. The made-from-scratch food at The Mailroom is geographically diverse, with Latin American elements and Korean cuisine among the highlights.

While they don’t pour any spirits at Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant in Lynchburg, the sweet tea is mighty fine and the family-style smorgasbord of classic Southern food is a “can’t miss” experience when combined with a visit to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery just a short stroll away. Hostesses sit with each table of assembled strangers who often become fast friends. The hostesses are always available to regale guests with stories of the town and Mr. Jack, and also to make sure that the platters of fried chicken and copious side dishes remain stocked.

Due to open sometime soon at Nearest Green Distillery, Humble Baron will be a combination entertainment venue and restaurant which claims to be home to the world’s longest bar. While we can’t wait to see that, in the meantime visitors can tour the sprawling distillery property and learn all about the history of Nearest Green, the man who legendarily taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey. Until Humble Baron opens, the Barrel House BBQ location is a pretty good substitute. Their grilled cheese sandwich on Texas toast with pulled pork and spicy BBQ sauce has been named the best in the state!

Cookeville

While the sole distillery in Cookeville is a retail outpost of Tennessee Legend Distillery where guests can enjoy free samples of their spirits and purchase cocktails, the town still has a strong commitment to Tennessee products at local restaurants.  37 Cedar has a menu that aims to please everyone with a wide variety of cuisine ranging from classic Southern comfort food to flatbreads, salads, burgers, pasta and steak. With a menu that diverse, the cocktail program also has to stretch itself, and it does with clever drinks devised in-house by the bar team. A highlight of the bar menu is a section of custom Collins-style cocktails including a refreshing Tennessee Collins made using Corsair Gin.

Seven Senses is an attractive dining option in Cookeville’s West Side Entertainment District where the talented kitchen team puts out a menu of seasonal Southern fare with little dashes of international influences to up the excitement. For example, just the concept of a bacon and cheese grit hushpuppy sounds prototypically Southern, but jazz it up with a European dijonaise and an Asian sweet chili as dipping sauces, and you’ve got a global treat!

Cookeville residents and visitors alike are anxiously awaiting the opening of 1854 on the historic downtown square hopefully sometime later this summer. The cocktail lounge is named after the year that the land was purchased to establish Cookeville as the county seat, and soon the seats at 1854 will be filled with fans of elevated mixology enjoying inspired drinks.

Chattanooga

Although Chattanooga was a little late to the game after the state legislature opened up additional counties to legalized distilling back in 2009, once Chattanooga Whiskey Company convinced Hamilton County to vote in favor of permitting them to open up their experimental distillery in 2014, the city has quickly become a valued member of the state’s spirits community. Specializing in what they call “Tennessee High Malts,” Chattanooga Whiskey produces some very novel products thanks to their experimentation of different varieties of malted barley and other innovative techniques. Although their larger primary production facility is not open to public tours, they do offer tastings and cocktails at their quaint Experimental Distillery in the Southside Historic District.

They have been joined by Gate 11, a micro-distillery located in the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo terminal building. Focusing on very small batch production of spirits like single malt whiskey, absinthe, gin, vodka, rum and straight whiskey, Gate 11 actually ages their spirits in a box car on the property. Visitors can experience their spirits as part of elegant cocktails at the bar and stroll the grounds of the Choo Choo while enjoying their drinks.

Upscale cocktail lounge Stir lives up to its name with an imaginative list of drinks, including a clever take on a traditional whiskey sour that features Chattanooga Whiskey plus the unexpected addition of pineapple juice and miso paste. An exhaustive menu of Tennessee whiskeys means that guests can pretty much take a trip along the Tennessee Whiskey Trail without leaving their bar stool. Paired with an excellent raw bar and a selection of international entrees, Stir is a great representative of the best that Chattanooga has to offer.

Rosecomb is a hip new bar that reaches across the state to source Tennessee ingredients for some of their cocktails. The Zora & Kozzola is a fascinating balance of sweet and savory featuring Barrel-Rested Gin from Knoxville’s PostModern Spirits along with sherry, sorghum, olives and onions, while Nelson’s Green Brier is the star of the Walk in the Woods, an herbal cocktail made with Fernet and a walnut and sassafras liqueur. Rosecomb’s tight menu of bar snacks still manages to show off the kitchen’s creativity through just about a dozen choices. From deviled eggs and collard & artichoke dip to fried catfish and a solid burger, there’s something for just about everyone.

The Social shares a kitchen with their sister restaurant next door, Public House so patrons have plenty of convenient options to eat and drink. At The Social, the focus is on craft cocktails, beer, wine and small plates, and they take their drinks quite seriously. Spirits from Knoxville’s PostModern Spirits, George Dickel and Chattanooga Whiskey dot the cocktail menu, and happy hour deals are tough to beat.

Company is a speakeasy-style bar tucked surreptitiously away in the boutique Kinley Hotel on Market St. This cozy cocktail spot oozes atmosphere with a quiet library seating section, Edison bulbs lighting the attractive space and a brilliant copper-topped bar. Mixologists slide artful cocktails across that bar while jazz music plays softly in the background to heighten the mood. Bar patrons can also order tasting flights of rums, whiskeys, tequilas and amari along with small plates that can be combined to build an entire meal.

Easy Bistro is best known for the culinary talents of chef/owner Erik Niel who combines classic French techniques with Southern sensibilities to create a seafood-centric menu of bistro food. But don’t sleep on the bar at Easy Bistro. (Seriously, don’t sleep on the bar. You’ll get kicked out!) The bartenders at Easy Bistro offer up new takes on classic cocktails alongside completely novel creations, many of which feature Tennessee spirits. Boasting a whiskey collection of more than 300 bottles, there’s a great chance you’ll discover a new favorite.

Peaceful Side of the Smokies/Blount Co. (Alcoa, Maryville, Townsend, Walland)

The voluminous wine and spirits list at The Barn at Blackberry Farm is as big as a phone book, assuming of course you remember what a phone book was. Suffice it to say that it stretches more than 250 pages including dozens of Tennessee whiskeys ranging from common to extremely rare. Trained mixologists artfully create refined cocktails using these exotic ingredients, or they’ll gladly pour a flight of three spirits you’ve never tried before. The kitchen at The Barn has produced multiple James Beard Award nominees and winners for their hyper-local approach to seasonal cuisine, and a dinner in the warm and welcoming dining room at Blackberry Farm is always a memorable experience.

Chef Trevor Stockton is one of those talented culinarians who learned his chops in the kitchen at Blackberry Farm, and he has brought his talents to The Restaurant at RT Lodge in Maryville. Veteran Blackberry visitors will probably recognize some of the philosophies that Stockton employs in his own kitchen with elevated versions of classic Southern dishes like pimento cheese, smoked trout dip, skillet fried chicken and pan-roasted fish. Chef Stockton also provides the upscale bar snacks for The Morningside Room, a new drinking and dining destination at RT Lodge. Both the main restaurant’s bar and The Morningside Room offer full cocktail service to hotel guests and visitors.

In Townsend, The Bar at the Bear at Dancing Bear Lodge and Appalachian Bistro offers more than a dozen Tennessee whiskeys on their spirits menu, including selections from their neighbors at Company Distilling. They also feature difficult-to-find whiskeys that will probably never show up on the shelves of your neighborhood spirits store, so this might be your best chance to find one of those “white whales.” The fun food menu features items like a charcuterie plate called an “Appalachian Lunchable,” rainbow trout & grits and a sticky sorghum-glazed chicken.

Knoxville

Chef/owner Joseph Lenn is another one of those Blackberry Farm alums who moved on to start his own restaurant after winning a Beard award. His dream project is JC Holdway where his commitment to using local ingredients extends beyond simply sourcing from farmers, ranchers and purveyors within a few miles of his Knoxville kitchen. He also makes sure that products from Knoxville distilleries PostModern Spirits and Knox Whiskey Works are available to pour alongside his soulful menu of Southern food, much of which is prepared using a wood-fired grill to connect with the heritage of open-fire cookery.

It would be easy for Osteria Stella and sister bar Brother Wolf to steer clear of Tennessee products for their bar menus, considering the Italian theme of both establishments and the preponderance of Negroni variations on both drink lists. However, they go the extra mile to source PostModern Spirits’ Giniferous gin as the base for at least a couple of their drinks, most notably the Old City Negroni that also includes PostModern’s bitter and fragrant Artemisia Amaro Liqueur. Quaffing a Negroni is a great way to stimulate your appetite for a meal of Italian small plates and pasta at either restaurant.

Peter Kern Library at the boutique Oliver Hotel used to be a closely-guarded secret in Knoxville, originally accessible by hotel guests through the lobby or by in-the-know locals through a camouflaged speakeasy entrance tucked away in an alley under a single red light bulb. Now that the secret is out, you may find a line down the alley to get in, but it’s worth the wait to enjoy creative cocktails named after literary heroes in a clubby environment where patrons speak in soft tones and concentrate on their drinks. Sharp-dressed mixologists precisely prepare the drinks, and the bourbon/whiskey list offers more than 150 options to choose from. For a complete experience, plan dinner before or after drinks at the Oliver Royale. As part of downtown Knoxville’s chef driven food scene, Oliver Royale serves all the classics and new favorites alike.

The sign on the top of the building says BEERWORKS, but there’s more than beer at work at Balter Beerworks. Since rehabilitating an old downtown service station in 2016, Balter has become known for a welcoming environment (inside and out) that celebrates craft beers, craft cocktails and made from scratch food. Settle in on the patio and enjoy their Brewery Mule with Knox Whiskey Works Tennessee Valley Vodka, fresh lime juice, and house-made ginger syrup. Fun fact, Knox Whiskey Works and PostModern Spirits are just steps away! Make note: BALTER is a verb that means to dance artlessly, without particular grace or skill but with enjoyment. Go for it.

Finally, don’t strike a bowling alley off your list for great food and drink in Knoxville. The spirited bowling experience at Maple Hall is sure to score big with everyone. To enhance your upscale bowling experience, Maple Hall has fresh, made from scratch menu items that you can enjoy at the lanes, bars, tables, or cozy lounge areas downstairs and upstairs at the Maple Room. The Maple Room cocktail lounge features life-sized board games as well as game night classics, a patio and a full bar with top-shelf spirits. Fan favorites include Mood Ring Lemonade made with

PostModern Kore vodka (it actually changes color – hence the name) and the Knoxville Kingpin, crafted with Knox Whiskey Works Jackson Avenue Gin.

True to the region’s historical heritage as a hotbed of “backwoods distilling,” many of the distilleries in Northeast Tennessee feature various versions of flavored moonshines, but most of them have been around long enough to also offer aged whiskey products. There is absolutely nothing wrong with dropping into any of the modern moonshiner stops along the Tennessee Whiskey Trail to enjoy a delicious taste of Apple Pie ‘shine or experience the burn of some white lightnin’, but it’s even better now that distilleries like Ole Smoky, Sugarlands, TN Legend, Lost State,Old Forge and others have diversified their offerings to include other spirits like bourbon, rye whiskey, gin, rum and vodka. It’s also not hard to find a great meal in or near these distilleries, so be sure to include that in your travel plans.

Sevierville

The town of Sevierville is a little quieter than its more touristy neighbors of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, but that doesn’t mean visitors can’t find plenty of fun there. Fuel up at Graze Burgers with a couple of delightfully elevated starter plates like crispy pork belly or fried green tomatoes with homemade pimento cheese and bacon jam. Be sure to save room for one of their epic burgers made using 100% all natural grass-fed beef topped with local veggies. Wash it all down with a TN Fashioned featuring Chattanooga Whiskey and rhubarb bitters or a boozy milkshake that’s a drink and a dessert at the same time.

Gatlinburg

Situated on the ridge overlooking downtown Gatlinburg, The Greenbrier offers some of the most upscale dining in town. In addition to an internationally-inspired menu of seafood and chophouse classics, the real highlight is The Greenbrier’s extensive selection of prime quality dry-aged beef, pork and venison. Their unparalleled drink menu includes clever cocktails and a long list of rare spirits. The bar staff selects single barrels of whiskey to create one-of-a-kind cocktails that can’t be found anywhere else.

Bristol

Bristol prides itself as “the birthplace of country music,” and there’s even an entertaining and educational museum in town that is dedicated to the famous 1927 Bristol Sessions that introduced rural hillbilly music to the rest of the country. Bristol is also an excellent drinking and dining destination thanks to spots like the Stateline Bar & Grille, J Frank and Cootie Brown’s. Delta Blues considers itself the home of “Blues, Brews and BBQ,” and they even cook with Lost State Distilling’s Shelby Bourbon and Maple-flavored Whiskey as part of their delicious recipes.

Chris Chamberlain, Content Creator

Chris Chamberlain is a food, drink, and travel writer based in Nashville, Tennessee, where he has lived his entire life except for four years in California where he studied liberal arts at Stanford University and learned how to use chopsticks. He is a regular contributor to the Nashville Scene, Style Blueprint, Thrillist, The Bourbon Review, Bourbon +, and Resy as well as Conde Nast Traveler, Garden and Gun, and The Local Palate. He’s not a fan of the Oxford comma, but uses it when forced to by editors.

Post Modern Spirits
205 W Jackson Ave
Knoxville, TN 37902
865-437-3190
postmodernspirits.com

Knox Whiskey Works
516 W Jackson Ave
Knoxville, TN 37902
865-525-2372
knoxwhiskeyworks.com