Pigeon Forge Distillery Tour: Moonshine Tastings on the Backroads

Taste your way through three distillery towns on the backroads of the Smokies

A guided distillery tour through Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Gatlinburg where you visit working moonshine and whiskey distilleries, learn the craft from staff on-site, and taste small-batch spirits exclusive to the region. The tour runs four to five hours with transport between stops and basic tasting fees included. You must be at least 21 years old.

Step-by-step itinerary

Distillery tour in Smoky Mountains

• Begin tour in Sevierville distilleries
• Learn distillation and taste spirits
• Visit Pigeon Forge distilleries
• Enjoy tastings and local culture
• Conclude in Gatlinburg distilleries
• Sample moonshine and whiskey

The experience

The tour starts in Sevierville, the gateway to the Smokies, where you'll step into local distilleries that craft moonshine, whiskey, vodka and other small-batch spirits. You meet the staff who make them, watch the distillation process unfold, and taste what comes out: flavors you won't find anywhere else. From there the party bus carries you to Pigeon Forge, where the distilleries lean into innovation and Southern hospitality. You'll sample moonshine, whiskey, cream liqueurs and seasonal offerings while the town's energy hums around you.

The route ends in Gatlinburg, a mountain town built around its distillery scene. You visit several renowned distilleries, taste award-winning moonshines and handcrafted whiskeys, and hear the history of how Appalachian distilling took root here. The tour wraps up in the evening, when Gatlinburg's streets come alive, though day exceptions are sometimes possible depending on traffic. Throughout the four to five hours, the air-conditioned party bus handles the driving between stops, so you taste without worrying about the road.

This is a working tour, not a museum visit. You're inside active distilleries talking to the people who run them, tasting spirits they've made, and learning why this region became what it is. The minimum age is 21, and the basic tasting fees are built into the price. Anything you buy to take home is separate.

What’s included

• Guided tour through working distilleries in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.
• party bus transport between stops in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• basic tasting fees at each distillery.
• live guide in English.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 10:30, 11:00, 16:00 and 18:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Under 21: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by The Crawl

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to taste spirits at multiple distilleries while staying on a vehicle most of the time rather than doing a walking-intensive tour.

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Top questions

What exactly do I taste at each distillery stop?

Each distillery offers guided tastings of its own products: moonshine, whiskey, cream liqueurs and seasonal spirits vary by location. Sevierville distilleries focus on the craft and heritage; Pigeon Forge adds innovative flavors; Gatlinburg features award-winning moonshines and handcrafted whiskeys. The basic tasting fees are included, so you sample without paying per pour.

How does the party bus work during the tour?

The party bus is your transport between Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. It's air-conditioned and handles all the driving so you can taste without managing the road. You stay on the bus between stops. The tour itself happens inside the distilleries.

Can I do this tour during the day, or is it only at night?

Gatlinburg stops are typically reserved for evening when the town's nightlife is in full swing. Day exceptions can sometimes be arranged depending on traffic and conditions, so ask when you book if a daytime departure matters to your plans.

What's the difference between moonshine and the whiskey I'll taste here?

Moonshine is unaged corn liquor, the spirit Appalachia became famous for, while whiskey is aged in barrels and develops deeper flavor. Both are made in the Smokies distilleries you'll visit. The tastings let you experience how each one reflects the region's distilling tradition.

Is there anything I should know before I book?

You must be at least 21 years old. The tour runs four to five hours and covers backroads between three towns, so comfortable shoes help. Tips and any spirits you want to buy to take home are not included in the price.