King’s Family Distillery

In the heart of Tennessee's Smoky Mountains, where most distilleries lean heavily into moonshine tourism, King's Family Distillery charts a different course. This Sevierville operation has built a reputation not just for variety, but for thoughtful whiskey making that respects both tradition and innovation.

History & Heritage

King's Family Distillery operates as a family-owned venture in Sevierville, Tennessee, positioned within the greater Pigeon Forge area. While many Gatlinburg-area distilleries focus primarily on moonshine heritage, King's has established itself as a serious whiskey producer. The distillery maintains daily operations and has built a following through both on-site tastings and nationwide shipping.

The Whiskey

The distillery's portfolio spans from approachable flavored whiskeys to serious aged bottles. Their King's Rye features a balanced 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley mash bill, while King's Wheated Bourbon takes a wheat-forward approach. The standout is Ryeconic, a 95% rye whiskey that undergoes an unusual double-barrel aging process: three years in the first barrel, then six additional years in a second. King's American Blend combines bourbon and light whiskey, each aged at least two years. The range also includes fruit-infused whiskeys built on a two-year whiskey base.

Why It Matters

Ryeconic represents serious rye whiskey craftsmanship, with its nine-year total aging and high-rye mash bill producing a spirit that has earned multiple awards. In a region known more for tourist-friendly moonshine, King's demonstrates that Tennessee can produce thoughtful, aged whiskey worthy of any Reserve Whiskey Library. Their commitment to diverse mash bills and patient aging processes places them among the state's more serious whiskey makers.