Chattanooga Whiskey wins Best American Craft Producer at 2026 World Whiskies Awards
Chattanooga Whiskey has been named Best Craft Producer at the American round of the World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky 2026. The Tennessee distillery received the honor at a ceremony held at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, on February 12, 2026.
This marks the second time in four years that the company has claimed the Best American Craft Producer title, having previously won both the American and global awards in 2023.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORYThe distillery now advances to compete for World’s Best Craft Producer, with results to be announced next month in London.
Over the past year, Chattanooga Whiskey released more than 22 innovative whiskeys and spirits. Notable releases included an authentically-crafted pre-Prohibition style Experimental bourbon, collaborative single barrels with New Riff distillery, and Intergalactic Comet Crusher bourbon liqueur.
“Winning Best Craft Producer back in 2023 was a huge honor, but we didn’t want to rest on our laurels,” said Grant McCracken, Founding Distiller.
Trending Content
“Over the last three years, American whiskey has raised the bar in quality and execution, and our team answered by raising our own standards at every step. Winning again in 2026 just shows our commitment to making world-class whiskey and making Chattanooga proud.”
Tim Piersant, Founder and CEO, credited the company’s hometown for its success.
“This award truly belongs to our amazing team of creative producers, but it also belongs to our hometown,” Piersant said. “Without their support, we wouldn’t have changed Tennessee distilling laws back in 2013 and started this journey.”
Founded in 2011, Chattanooga Whiskey successfully lobbied to change Tennessee law, allowing whiskey distillation in Chattanooga for the first time in 100 years.
The company operates two facilities: the Experimental Distillery, which opened in 2015 as the country’s only standalone experimental distillery, and the Riverfront Distillery, which opened in 2017.
The Experimental Distillery produces ultra-limited releases in batches of 20 barrels or less, while the Riverfront facility produces signature recipes including Chattanooga Whiskey 91, Cask 111, and 99 Rye.
