Today, the world will celebrate “International Tennessee Whiskey Day” thanks to a resolution adopted this month by the Tennessee General Assembly.
Historically, the date signifies the state’s repeal of the ban on manufacturing alcoholic beverages in Tennessee on May 21, 1937.
“This General Assembly wishes to celebrate and acknowledge the many contributions of our state’s renowned distilling industry, its people, and products that help fuel Tennessee’s economy, and our culture and status as the world’s only producer of Tennessee whiskey,” said Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton in his resolution.
Tennessee’s history with whiskey-making is long and rich. Early farm-based distilleries in Tennessee date back to the late 18th century, when settlers traveling west found that the area’s fertile land, water, and climate were ideal for making good whiskey. And Tennessee is home to the nation’s oldest registered distillery and several other distilleries that date back to the 1800s.
Today, Tennessee’s whiskey industry draws hundreds of thousands of tourists from around the world, generates millions of dollars in tax revenue, and serves as popular subject matter for many of the state’s musicians and songwriters.
“The Tennessee Distillers Guild is proud to be an integral part of carrying on the rich tradition of Tennessee whiskey,” said Sara Beth Urban, executive director of the Tennessee Distillers Guild, in a prepared statement. “We are thrilled to see the recognition of the positive impact that Tennessee whiskey has had on this state, and we look forward to celebrating International Tennessee Whiskey Day each year.”
Officially, “Tennessee whiskey” must be made from fermented mash of at least 51 percent corn, aged in new oak barrels, charcoal mellowed, and produced in Tennessee.
“We honor and commend all of Tennessee’s distilleries, their workers, and the generations of families who have gone before them,” Sexton said.
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The Tennessee Distillers Guild is a membership organization that consists of 32 Tennessee distilleries and associate members with the mission to responsibly promote and advocate for the distilling industry in Tennessee through the collective voice of its members.
In 2017, the Guild launched the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, a 26-stop tour of Tennessee distilleries across the state.
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