BusinessTN

Tennessee boasts a rich heritage in the production of spirits, with world famous whiskey makers Jack Daniels and George Dickel located in the Volunteer State, as well as one of the few U.S. rum producers in Pritchard's Distillery.

Despite the boost the industry supplies for business in the state--not to mention the state's identity around the world--current state law only permits the manufacturing of "intoxicating liquors" in Moore, Coffee and Lincoln counties, where those distilleries are located respectively. There hasn't been a new sanctioned distillery built or operated in Tennessee in decades.

But thanks to Tennessee lawmakers and at least one distiller who wants to open a facility in Nashville, that's about to change. The General Assembly passed legislation in June that, if signed by Gov. Phil Bredesen, will allow budding "craft," "artisan" or "micro-" distillers to join the ranks of Tennessee's famed big three. According to the bill, which was introduced earlier this year by Sen. Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro), such distilleries can set up shop in Tennessee counties where retail package sales and liquor-by-the-drink have been approved by voter referendum.

For Darek Bell, a Nashville native who founded Corsair Artisan Distillery in Bowling Green, Kentucky, that's good news. After all, Bell, who is better known as vice president and partner of one of the state's largest contractors, Brentwood-based Bell & Associates Construction (and the son of founder Ray Bell), says, "it broke my heart to have to go to Kentucky" to open the distillery. Now, given the opportunity, he'd like to expand his operations to Nashville.

Bell says he drew inspiration for starting his Kentucky distillery, which opened in December, from the underground moonshine scene hatched and supported by trendy, young professionals in New York City. Success came quickly for Corsair, which is run by Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Business alum Andrew Webber. After only a few months in operation, Corsair Artisan Gin won a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition--quite a feat for an upstart, not to mention Southern, distillery.

As soon as the legislation passed allowing distilleries in the Tennessee, Corsair put a tentative lease (dependent upon Bredesen signing off on the bill) on a space in the Gulch neighborhood in downtown Nashville. The company would like to maintain its Kentucky facility for bourbon production and make gin, vodka, absinthe, rum and whiskey in Nashville.

If all goes as planned for Corsair, Nashville and the state will certainly reap some benefits once the facility (and others like it) is up and running. Bill Owens, president of the American Distilling Institute, says new distilleries lead to tax and tourism revenues, jobs, and new markets for local farmers. According to Owens, seven jobs are created for every one person working in a distillery, "providing employment for farmers, truck drivers, retailers, wholesalers and others." He also ties new Tennessee distilleries to the green movement, saying, "It is part of the greening of America that people want to know where products are made and to support local businesses."

Kudos to Tennessee lawmakers for passing a law that's sure to be an economic boon for
the state.