Tennessee Stillhouse | Chattanooga Whiskey Co.

One can't truly soak up the complete Tennessee experience without a whiskey tasting - or two or three or four - specifically from some of the incredible micro-distilleries found throughout the state. I took a detour through Chattanooga on my road trip around the American South, and visited the Tennessee Stillhouse, home of the Chattanooga Whiskey Company.

I loved all the drinks I tried, but my favorite whiskey was the 1816 Reserve. It's 90 proof, aged 6.5 years in charred white oak barrels, and a has really balanced sweet and spicy flavor. The 1816 Cask was also great, and I loved that they included cocktails so that you could experience how the different flavors of the whiskey complimented the drinks. I was only sampling, but the whiskey tasting put me in good "spirits" for the afternoon.

As became a recurring theme, I ended up having a really great discussion with the bartender about the journey I was on through the South. She was quick to offer recommendations, which lead to others sharing ideas and stories. Once again, my camera was a nice ice-breaker. There's also a lot to be said for local places like this where it's clear that they care about what they do. If you're in Chattanooga, you owe it to yourself to check out the Tennessee Stillhouse.