#hawks-rock-distillery

#hawks-rock-distillery

"When we started Sugarlands, we didn't set out to build a big company. The idea was simple. Make great spirits, create a welcoming and memorable experience for guests at our Gatlinburg Distillery."

After getting engaged in 2013, we started kicking around a wild idea: What if we moved back and revived the prohibition-era distillery his family had owned three generations back? The family business had been passed down for decades until it closed in 1919 due to prohibition. In particular, we had on our hearts Andy's dad, who died of cancer in 2010, but had always said, 'Don't move home unless you have a real good reason to.' This felt like it just might be that real good reason.

For pork lover, there's nothing quite as irresistible as the salty, savory pull of Virginia country ham. Whether it's to elevate mouth-watering ham sandwich, for pea and ham soup, or a good old-fashioned honey-glazed roast recipe, there's no shortage of quality cured pork in the Old Dominion State.

Both are bottled at 80 proof and use a low-rye mash bill, which makes for a sweeter, easier drinking experience. However, their production techniques are a little different, given that one is made in Kentucky and the other in Tennessee.

Bear Fight was founded in 2022 by Next Century Spirits co-CEOs Anthony Moniello and Rob Mason. They've already racked up a few big awards, including a Double Gold for their American Single Malt Whiskey at both the New York International Spirits Competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (it's affordable and legitimately good stuff, particularly the single malt).

Abingdon is easy to access just off Interstate 81. This little town has many charms-from its 20-block historic district to the 34-mile Virginia Creeper Trail. Add to that a thriving creative community, exceptional dining at The Tavern (the state's oldest bar), and homey accommodations, and you have a pretty darn close to perfect Blue Ridge Mountain getaway destination.

Along with the challenges of operating any new business, making good bourbon takes time and expert craftsmanship. It's for this reason that many new "distilleries" aren't distilleries at all (non-distilling producers, blenders, rectifiers). Instead, they source bourbon and then sell it as their own. That's not inherently a bad thing, as some expertly blend whiskey or add extra maturation to create a genuinely impressive bourbon, but there is a clear difference.

It's been wonderful to watch our industry blossom and come into its own. We started out with a handful of small cocktail-focused bars sprinkled throughout different pockets of the city that were trying to stand out among longstanding dive bars and bustling restaurant bars. But they've now burst onto the national map. My favorite thing, though, is that all of this growth still has something very beautifully Philadelphia to it.

This spectacle of a drink-which comes in a swiveling glass on a bed of moss under a smoke-filled cloche-is part of a new lineup of "multisensory" cocktails created by Jeremy Le Blanche, known for avant-garde creations at Fantom in New York. But the earthy and bright combination of tequila, amaro, matcha, cardamom, lemongrass, and lime is stunning even without the theatrics.

Mount Airy isn't trying to be everywhere else-and that's exactly why it stands out. It offers a true sense of place, rooted in tradition but evolving with purpose, where the pace slows down just enough to remind you what travel is supposed to feel like.

Nashville may be known as the 'Music City,' but it was Knoxville where several artists, including a young Dolly Parton, actually cut their teeth. The city has a self-guided tour to give you important intel on the music industry and a lay of the land for your trip.

You'll no doubt appreciate the balance with classic flavors of caramel, toffee and vanilla, with a backbone of light spice and oak. In many ways, it's the epitome of a well-made bourbon. Yet, there's a whole world of whiskey out there to explore. Sometimes this world can feel a little too big. With so many options available, it's hard to know where to turn. Whether buying for yourself or looking for a special gift, I've got you covered.

The U.S. spirits landscape has evolved far beyond the recognition of simply being the birthplace of bourbon. In recent years, we've seen a transformation in both the quality and individuality that the country's craft distilleries have been able to produce. While previous decades were dominated by the big-name distilleries, far more awards are going to craft distillers who have mastered the art of producing high-quality whiskeys, rums, gins, and more.

As they played, Gordon came up with the idea of a branded whiskey. Nelson's song offered the perfect branding idea. So the two worked together and partnered with Heaven Hill Distillery. Willie was sent samples while on tour so he could give feedback. He also helped come up with the design for the bottle and label. When they finally settled on a bourbon Nelson wanted to put his name on, Old Whiskey River was released.

Following what was a period of high sales and rapid expansion, the market is contracting for a number of reasons. Alcohol consumption has declined in recent years, for one thing, but international response to U.S. tariffs has also hit bourbon sales hard, with exports of the liquor dropping significantly in 2025. Many icons of American whiskey have been affected, with Brown-Forman - parent company to Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, and Old Forester, among others - laying off a significant portion of its workforce.

Stroll into nearly any Italian restaurant in the country and you'll likely get a glimpse at a row of oddly shaped bottles sitting in the oft-forgotten back bar. Those bottles contain grappa, a spirited sip most often enjoyed after a lengthy dinner when belts start feeling tight, when diners recline in their seats taking lazy last bites of half-eaten desserts.

Traveller Whiskey Full Proof, a collaboration between Grammy-winning artist Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace Distillery's Master Distiller Harlan Wheatley, has officially hit the shelves. This release is the first line extension from the award-winning brand since its debut in January 2024 and showcases the artistry of American whiskey blending. Bottled at an impressive 121 proof, Traveller Whiskey Full Proof is designed to amplify the flavor experience while maintaining the approachable nature that has become synonymous with the brand.