Thunder Road to Old Tennessee: Why We Rebranded

As you’ve probably noticed by now, we’ve taken the plunge and rebranded, changing our name from Thunder Road Distillery to Old Tennessee Distilling Company. We are so excited about this step and this new chapter for our distillery. But don’t worry – our drinks and products have not changed!

We chose the name “Old Tennessee” because of the rich history we have here in our beloved East Tennessee. Our inspiration all started back in June of 1785 when the Treaty of Dumplin Creek was signed and ceded the territory now known as East Tennessee. The treaty allowed the hardworking settlers to make a living the only way they knew how – off the land. It is a precedent that Old Tennessee Distilling Company instills in each moonshine, vodka, and gin that bears the Dumplin Creek name.

In early 1838, the first Prohibition law in the history of the United States was passed in Tennessee, making it a misdemeanor to sell alcoholic beverages in taverns and stores. It wasn’t until 1932 when Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected 32nd president of the United States did Tennesseans see the light at the end of the tunnel for the ending of Prohibition. Prohibition officially ended in 1933 with the ratification of the Twenty-First Amendment.

Thunder Road Distillery, now Old Tennessee Distilling Company, was able to open its doors in 2014 in Kodak, TN, celebrating the old whiskey runners and the brotherhood forged amongst the local moonshiners.

History is important to us here at Old Tennessee. Made on-site by master distillers, Old Tennessee’s farm-to-bottle products are handmade and homegrown from the bounties of local fields and the fertile minds of our forebears. We understand how to respect the past while living for the moment. Many of our products are named for historical figures, important events in the history of Tennessee, like Cal F. Johnson, the Treaty of Dumplin Creek, and Tuckaleechee Caverns.

An homage to our people and our unique place in the world, Old Tennessee Distilling Company celebrates the independence, creativity and ingenuity that has influence far beyond our borders. From music to moonshine, Tennesseans have long ignored convention and constraints to focus on the things that make life worth living. Join us at Old Tennessee Distilling Company for those same great products, with a new name, celebrating Old Tennessee.