Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery has been operating in Marathon Village since 2014, but did you know the distillery dates back to the 1800s?

We recently visited the distillery to learn about (and sip on) its nearly 200-year history.

The tour

Our day began in a room with a timeline of the distillery wrapped around the walls. Fun fact: after founder Charles Nelson’s death in 1891, his wife, Louisa, became one of the first women in TN to run a distillery.

The tour felt like a “past to present” experience as we moved from that space to active production areas.

The tasting

The tour continued with an expertly guided tasting including Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey, Classic Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, and Calvados Cask Finish.

We also got to bottle our own Christmas in July Rye straight from the barrel, made with Fat Bottom Brewing's spiced Christmas ale.

The bar + restaurant

Nelson’s added a full-service bar and restaurant in July 2023. We finally got to visit, and dined on soft pretzels and poutine while we sipped craft cocktails overlooking the production floor.

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