The 6 Best Tennessee Whiskeys, According to Drinks Pros

Corsair Triple Smoke American Single Malt

As the name implies, this is an American single malt, not a Tennessee whiskey. But don’t let that deter you. “Corsair Triple Smoke is a favorite because it is a great way for a scotch drinker to get into the world of Tennessee whiskey,” says Fette Sau’s Kelly. “They use three individually smoked malts (cherrywood, beechwood, and peat), which gives it the sweetness of an American whiskey and also the smokiness that a scotch drinker enjoys.”

George Dickel

George Dickel produces a broad and highly regarded range of Tennessee whiskeys. “It’s a heritage brand with a history that dates back to the 1870s,” says Cimera’s Griggs. “While the brand as we know it now has only been around since the ’50s, it’s probably the most widespread Tennessee whiskey brand outside of [Jack Daniel’s]. 

“Dickel still has some bite,” he says. “It’s smooth enough to enjoy on its own, especially some of the older expressions, but has enough punch to use in cocktails.”

Heaven’s Door Revival Tennessee Bourbon

Heaven’s Door crafts an accomplished range of whiskeys, and its Tennessee bourbon has impressed Lana Golla, bartender at Old Homestead Steak House in Atlantic City’s Borgata. “It’s a quality whiskey with a great story that always gets my guests talking,” she says. Revival’s production doesn’t include sugar maple charcoal filtering, which is why it’s labeled as a Tennessee straight bourbon as opposed to Tennessee whiskey. Regardless, it’s a deeply compelling whiskey in its own right.

Jack Daniel’s

“My favorite, and maybe one of the most recognizable, is Jack Daniel’s,” says Fette Sau’s Kelly. “It’s always a slam dunk on a menu because of name recognition, [it] has a loyal following, and [it] has a mellow and sweet character that lends well to being sipped neat or in a classic cocktail like a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned.” 

Old Homestead Steak House’s Golla is also a fan of Gentleman Jack. “[It] stands out for its double charcoal filtering, which creates an exceptionally smooth and velvety profile,” says Golla, “It’s mellow yet complex, with notes of toasty bananas foster and sweet vanilla.”

Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey

“[Nelson’s Green Brier] a great balance of old-school Tennessee character with a modern, polished profile,” says Lou Bernard, beverage director at MITA Restaurant, a plant-based Latin American restaurant in Washington, D.C. that’s earned a Michelin star. “It brings that mellow Tennessee sweetness, but also a little rye spice that keeps it energetic.”

Uncle Nearest

“This brand pays homage to a man forgotten by history who is now considered the godfather of Tennessee whiskey, Nearest Green,” says Cimera’s Griggs. “He distilled whiskey and is credited with introducing the charcoal mellowing process that makes Tennessee whiskey unique from bourbon. Uncle Nearest has quickly become one of the most awarded whiskey brands in the world, and [its] work to undo the whitewashing of distillation history is very admirable.” Make sure to check out as many of Uncle Nearest’s Tennessee whiskeys as you can find, like the 1856 Premium, Nearest Green 84 Proof, or the 1884 Small Batch.