Benjamin Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey

Benjamin Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey is a brand of Tennessee whiskey produced in the small community of Kelso, Tennessee in the United States. Although it is produced by the only distillery operating in Lincoln County – and its unaged variation is named Lincoln County Lightning – Prichard's is not produced using the Lincoln County Process.[1] Due to a special grandfathering exemption under a Tennessee law enacted in 2013, the Prichard's distillery in Kelso is the only producer allowed to label its product as "Tennessee Whiskey" without using this process.[2][3] Prichard's whiskey is produced entirely using pot stills rather than column stills.[4]

The Prichard's Distillery company opened the Kelso distillery in 1997 and opened a second location in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2014.

History

The whiskey brand and distillery were founded by Phil Prichard, who is now the company's master distiller. He named it after his ancestor Benjamin Prichard, who operated a distillery in Davidson County, Tennessee, in the early 1800s.

The first Prichard's Distillery location was opened in an old schoolhouse in Kelso in 1997, making it the first new legal distillery to open in the state since the repeal of Prohibition.[5] A second Prichard's distillery opened in May 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee, on the grounds of the Fontanel mansion in Whites Creek neighborhood.[6] Both sites have distillery tours. The Fontanel site was owned by country music singer Barbara Mandrell from 1987 to 2002, and since 2010, it has been a tourist attraction, including a winery, zip lines, hiking, an amphitheater with live concerts, lodging, dining, shopping, and a tour of the Mandrell mansion, which is one of the largest log homes in the world.[7][8]

Prichard's rums come from American molasses sourced from Louisiana.[9]

Whiskeys

As of 2018, the Prichard's line of whiskeys includes:

  • Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey (40% ABV/80 U.S. proof): This product is made from white corn instead of the yellow corn used for most Tennessee whiskeys. It doesn't use the Lincoln County Process that is normally required to qualify as Tennessee whiskey and is the only Tennessee whiskey that isn't required to meet this legal requirement.[1]
  • Prichard's Double Barreled Bourbon Whiskey (45% ABV/90 proof): This bourbon was given a score of 92 and described by whiskey-writer Jim Murray as "a classy effortless delivery…" in his 2009 Whisky Bible.[10][11] It uses a re-barreling process that involves cutting down the proof level after 9 years of aging and then putting the spirit into new charred oak barrels again.[12]
  • Prichard's Double Chocolate Flavored Whiskey (45% ABV/90 proof): This flavored whiskey blends bourbon with artisan chocolate. It is the result of a collaboration between Prichard's and the Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Company.[13]
  • Prichard's Rye Whiskey (43% ABV/86 proof): This product was named one of the five best value rye whiskies by Gayot in 2014.[14]
  • Prichard's Tennessee Malt Whiskey (40% ABV/80 proof): This product is a malt (barley-based) whiskey.
  • Prichard's Lincoln County Lightning Corn Whiskey (45% ABV/90 proof): This "moonshine" is made from white corn and bottled straight from the still.[15] Southern Living said it has "an agave-like aroma" and "a salty, grassy taste."[16]

Other spirits

The current line of rums and liqueurs made at the Prichard's distilleries includes:

Rums
  • Prichard's Fine Aged Rum (40% ABV/80 proof): This rum is made with molasses and aged at least three years in handmade, charred white oak casks.[17]
  • Prichard's Crystal Rum (40% ABV/80 proof): This blend is distilled five times.[18]
  • Prichard's Sweet Georgia Belle Peach Mango Rum (35% ABV/70 proof): Natural peach and mango infusions give this rum a summer fruit flavor for cocktails and iced tea.[19][20]
  • Prichard's Key Lime Rum (35% ABV/70 proof): Key limes add citrus flavor to this tropical rum.[21]
  • Prichard's Cranberry Rum (35% ABV/70 proof): This is a cranberry-infused rum, and the producer suggests serving it with limes.[9]
  • Prichard's Private Stock Aged Rum (45% ABV/90 proof): A limited offering that is ultra-aged for ten years in charred oak barrels to deepen the flavor, this rum is only available at the two Prichard's distilleries.[22] Wine Enthusiast described it as "Weighty, rich and toffee-like, it's rum with gravitas."[23]
  • Prichard's Spiced Rum (40% ABV/80 proof): With tropical flavors, natural vanilla, and cinnamon, this spicy rum is smooth enough for sipping in addition to being used in frozen cocktails.[24]

Liqueurs
  • Prichard's Sweet Lucy Liqueur (35% ABV/70 proof): With a higher ABV than the cream version, the Sweet Lucy recipe comes from a homemade blend of whiskey, peaches, apricots, oranges and sugar that has a long history among hunters and other outdoorsmen.[25]
  • Prichard's Sweet Lucy Cream Liqueur (17.5% ABV/35 proof): This liqueur is made with a blend of Sweet Lucy and premium Wisconsin cream.[26]
  • Prichard's Sweet Lucifer Liqueur (35% ABV/70 proof): This is Sweet Lucy infused with spicy ginger to create a bourbon liqueur with some spicy heat.[27]
  • Prichard's Praline Cream Liqueur (17.5% ABV/35 proof): This sweet spirit is made to taste like the nutty caramel flavor of a praline.
  • Prichard's Fudge Brownie Cream Liqueur (17.5% ABV/35 proof): This dessert liqueur is made to appeal to chocolate lovers.[28]

Awards and accolades

Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey and various other Prichard's spirits have earned awards from the American Distilling Institute and Ultimate Spirits Challenge on several occasions, as listed below.

Lincoln County Lightning was rated by Southern Living as the "#2 Legal Moonshine in the U.S."[16]

For its rums, Prichard's won gold and silver medals at the International Cane Spirits Festival across a span of several years (2006–2009):[29] Fine Aged Rum (Gold), Crystal Rum (Gold), Peach Mango Rum (Gold and Silver), and Key Lime Rum (Gold). Additionally, the American Distilling Institute gave the distillery's aged rum a silver medal in 2007,[30] and the Ultimate Spirits Challenge recognized the Aged Rum, Crystal Rum, and Private Stock Rum with ratings and recommendations that ranged from good to very good in 2012.[31]

In liqueurs, Sweet Lucy received a gold medal from the American Distilling Institute in 2010[32] and a very good rating and recommendation in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2012.[31]

Double Barreled Bourbon 2011 American Distilling Institute[33] Silver, Best of Category
2011 Ultimate Spirits Challenge[34] 95 – Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge[31] 95 – Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
2014 Ultimate Spirits Challenge[35] 94 – Excellent, Highly Recommended
2017 Ultimate Spirits Challenge[36] 93 – Excellent, Highly Recommended
2017 American Distilling Institute[37] Silver, Best of Category
Double Chocolate Whiskey 2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge[31] 90 – Excellent, Highly Recommended
Tennessee Whiskey 2010 American Distilling Institute[32] Silver
2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge[31] 88 – Very Good, Strong Recommendation
Rye Whiskey 2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge[31] 90 – Excellent, Highly Recommended
Tennessee Malt Whiskey 2010 American Distilling Institute[32] Silver
2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge[31] 81 – Good, Recommended
Lincoln County Lightning 2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge[31] 85 – Very Good, Strong Recommendation

References
  1. Stambor, Zak (February 16, 2015). "A whiskey fight in Tennessee". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  2. Zandona, Eric (September 16, 2013). "Tennessee Whiskey Gets a Legal Definition". EZdrinking. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  3. "Public Chapter No. 341" (PDF). State of Tennessee. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  4. Dietsch, Michael (April 2012). "The Serious Eats Guide to Tennessee Whiskey". Serious Eats. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  5. Deese, Hollie (July 26, 2013). "A spirited journey along Tennessee's whiskey trail". USA Today. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  6. Stravinsky, Amanda (January 9, 2014). "Tennessee Tourism Announces What's New for the State in 2014". The Chattanoogan. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  7. "Prichard's Opens New Distillery at Fontanel. Fontanel Officially Unveils 4-Star Luxury Boutique Hotel: The Inn at Fontanel". Nashville Music City. Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. June 16, 2014. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  8. "Fontanel". Fontanel official website. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  9. "Prichard's Cranberry Rum". proof66.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  10. "12 Small-Batch Bourbons You Need to Try Before You Die". brobible.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  11. Politelli, Nicholas (January 24, 2013). "Mews Tavern in fine spirits". The Independent. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  12. "Whiskey Review: Benjamin Prichard's Double Barreled Bourbon". The Whiskey Wash. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  13. "Prichard's Distillery Double Chocolate Bourbon". distiller.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  14. "5 best value rye whiskies". Fox News. August 21, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2018 – via Gayot.
  15. Reimer Sr., David J. (May 24, 2012). Micro-Distilleries in the U.S. and Canada, 2nd Edition. Google Books. ISBN 9780985259914. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  16. "The Best Legal Moonshine". Southern Living. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  17. Buda, Rick (November 5, 2014). "Let the Tasting Continue! RTRR Tastes Prichard's Rum". Liquor.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  18. "Prichard's Crystal Rum". distiller.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  19. "Prichard's Sweet Georgia Belle Peach Mango Rum". distiller.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  20. "There's a Rum Revolution Happening in the South Right Now". Liquor.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  21. "Prichard's Key Lime Rum". proof66.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  22. "Prichard's Private Stock Rum". distiller.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  23. "American Spirits from Every State". Wine Enthusiast. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  24. "Prichard's Spiced Rum". reddogwineandspirits.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  25. Reimer Sr., David J. (May 24, 2012). Micro-Distilleries in the U.S. and Canada, 2nd Edition. Google Books. ISBN 9780985259914. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  26. "Prichard's Sweet Lucy". Liquor.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  27. "Prichard's Sweet Lucifer Liqueur". proof66.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  28. "Prichard's Fudge Brownie Cream Liqueur". liquor.com. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  29. "Search Results for International Cane". prichardsdistillery.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  30. "ADI Spirit Competition – 2007 Results". distilling.com. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  31. "2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Results" (PDF). ultimate-beverage.com. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  32. "ADI Spirit Competition – 2010 Results". distilling.com. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  33. "ADI Spirit Competition – 2011 Results". distilling.com. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  34. "2011 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Results" (PDF). ultimate-beverage.com. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  35. "2014 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Results" (PDF). ultimate-beverage.com. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  36. "Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2017 Full Results" (PDF). ultimate-beverage.com. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  37. "Judging of Craft Spirits – 2017 Results". distilling.com. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
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