Why 2 Gatlinburg distilleries named among nation’s best by USA TODAY

Gatlinburg is renowned for its access to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, family-friendly tourist activities and illustrious mountain spirit.

Or should we say spirits?

Two Gatlinburg distilleries were nationally recognized in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for excellence in creating vodka, craft specialty spirits, distillery tours and tasting room.

Sugarlands Distilling Company and Ole Smoky Distillery are among the nation’s best, according to USA TODAY readers.

Sugarlands Distilling Company has the No. 1 best craft vodka and best spirits tasting room in the United States, according to the 10BEST Awards. The distillery also came in at No. 2 for creating best craft specialty spirits.

Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler ranked No. 2 in the country for its distillery tours.

Recognition as the best distillery in Gatlinburg, let alone the nation, is no small feat. There are more than 10 distilleries, wineries and spirit companies on the Parkway alone.

Here are the spirit companies nationwide were recognized in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.

Which distillery has the best craft specialty vodka?

1. Sugarlands Distilling Company (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)
2. Ocean Organic Vodka (Kula, Hawaii)
3. Smugglers’ Notch Distillery (Jeffersonville, Vermont)
4. Pau Maui Vodka (Makawao, Hawaii)
5. Red River Brewing Company & Distillery (Red River, New Mexico)
6. South Fork Vodka (Grass Valley, California)
7. Central Standard Craft Distillery (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
8. Vermont Spirits Distilling Co. (Quechee, Vermont)
9. Barr Hill (Montpelier, Vermont)
10. Cardinal Spirits (Bloomington, Indiana)

Grown-up fun around Gatlinburg: Moonshine tasting, thrill rides, poolside cocktails

What are the 10 best spirit tasting tours?

1. Sugarlands Distilling Company (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)
2. Smugglers’ Notch Distillery (Jeffersonville, Vermont)
3. Traverse City Whiskey Co. (Traverse City, Michigan)
4. High West Distillery (Wanship, Utah)
5. The Koloa Rum Tasting Room (Lihue, Hawaii)
6. Straightaway Cocktails (Portland, Oregon)
7. Breckenridge Distillery (Breckenridge, Colorado)
8. Six & Twenty Distillery (Greenville, South Carolina)
9. Woodinville Whiskey Co. (Woodinville, Washington)
10. Balcones Distilling (Waco, Texas)

What are the 10 best craft distillery tours?

1. St. Augustine Distillery (St. Augustine, Florida)
2. Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)
3. Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery (Nashville, Tennessee)
4. Starlight Distillery (Borden, Indiana)
5. Manifest Distilling (Jacksonville, Florida)
6. Burnt Church Distillery (Bluffton, South Carolina)
7. Desert Door Distillery (Driftwood, Texas)
8. Jeptha Creed Distillery (Shelbyville, Kentucky)
9. Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. (Louisville, Kentucky)
10. Castle & Key Distillery (Frankfort, Kentucky)

Which distillery has the best craft specialty spirits?

1. City Gate Spirits (St. Augustine, Florida)
2. Sugarlands Distilling Company (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)
3. Tamworth Distilling (Tamworth, New Hampshire)
4. Eda Rhyne Distilling Company (Asheville, North Carolina)
5. State Line Distillery (Madison, Wisconsin)
6. Up North Distillery (Post Falls, Idaho)
7. Straightaway Cocktails (Portland, Oregon)
8. Long Road Distillers (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
9. Mastrogiannis Distillery & Winery (Lakewood, Washington)
10. Whidbey Island Distillery (Langley, Washington)

Allison Kiehl covers trending and breaking news from Knoxville for the Tennessee Connect Team. Email: allison.kiehl@knoxnews.com.

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