Ole Smoky Distilleries most visited in the world with over 5.7M guests in 2021
For comparison, as the largest craft distiller in the United States, Ole Smoky reportedly welcomes more visitors than all of Scotland’s distilleries combined.
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WVLT) - Ole Smoky Mountain Distilleries welcomed more visitors in 2021 than any other distillery in the world.
The four Ole Smoky Tennessee distilleries welcomed more than 5.7 million visitors seeing more than one million more than last year’s count at 4.5 million visitors, according to a spokesperson.
Visitations per distillery in 2021:
- The Holler in Gatlinburg - 2.6 million
- The Barrelhouse in Gatlinburg - 1.1 million
- The Barn in Pigeon Forge - 1.3 million
- 6th & Peabody in Nashville - 0.7 million
“In 2021, Ole Smoky Distillery saw significant brand growth and more than one million additional visitors experiencing our four distilleries in Tennessee. We are proud that each year more and more people visit our distilleries to try our growing variety of quality moonshine and whiskey products,” said Robert Hall, CEO, Ole Smoky Distillery. “We know that part of the increase in visitors came from our regional drive markets, as more people took to the roads last year. We are also fortunate to be in Gatlinburg, a family-friendly destination that hosted more visitors at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, more than 14 million, as well as other new local attractions. East Tennessee truly became a more desirable travel location for so many this past year.”
For comparison, as the largest craft distiller in the United States, Ole Smoky reportedly welcomed more than twice as many visitors as all of Scotland’s distilleries combined. It also entertained more than triple the amount of visitors than the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
According to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), Scotland’s 134 whiskey distilleries saw 2.2 million visitors in 2021. Ole Smoky’s 5.7 million visitors is more than triple the 1.7 million people who visit all of the distilleries combined on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail 2019.
Hall told WVLT News the growth is partially due to more people getting out of the house or simply wanting to see the Great Smoky Mountains. The distillery is widely known for its award-winning moonshines and being the first legal moonshine in the state.
Even with all the foot traffic , the trip there taught us the secret is in the quality not quantity. Another secret Hall shared is no matter how many trips guests take, there’s something new every month.
The distillery also pours a lot back in the East Tennessee community. According to Hall, Ole Smoky donate hundreds of thousands to the Boys and Girls Club across and Friends of the Smokies.
Ole Smoky Distillery locations offer crafted moonshine, whiskeys and featured tastings every day of the week. According to Nielsen, Ole Smoky Mountain Moonshine is the most selling moonshine brand globally, with its market share being over four times the nearest competitor.
Check out the official Ole Smoky website if interested in experiencing self-guided tours, moonshine and whiskey tasting, live music and/or large retail stores at the East Tennessee staple.
Copyright 2022 WVLT. All rights reserved.
