Tennessee has long been synonymous with world-class whiskey, drawing spirit enthusiasts from across the country to wind their way through more than 700 miles of distillery-dotted landscape. But now, the Tennessee Whiskey Trail is raising a glass — and a fork — to something new.
Since March 31, the beloved statewide trail expanded beyond the barrel with a program that proves great Tennessee spirits deserve more than just a tumbler. Cork to Fork is Tennessee's new statewide culinary trail bringing together distilleries and local eateries to create spirit-infused, chef-crafted dishes, inviting guests to have their whiskey and eat it too!
“We wanted to help create that seamless visitor journey to where you're starting at a still, and you're experiencing this Tennessee product being made and seeing it in its raw form,” says Charity Tombs, the executive director of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. “Why don't we create an experience that once you leave those doors, you can actually continue that whiskey-forward journey with chef-driven cuisine?”
With more than 40 culinary partners participating statewide at launch, Cork to Fork offers something for every palate, giving both tourists and locals a fresh way to enjoy their favorite spirits or dishes. Trail-goers are encouraged to register for a Cork to Fork digital passport, which helps them locate partners near distillery stops, map routes, browse cuisine, and track their progress along the way. Participating restaurants make it easy to spot Cork to Fork offerings on their menus with a designated whiskey glass icon.
“I also put myself through the lens of when I'm a visitor in a destination,” Charity says. “We want to immerse ourselves in what makes that destination unique. This program highlights that you're getting a chef-driven concept every meal, curated, but you're also getting a taste of Tennessee's manufacturing spirit in this one dish. It’s just a very fun and easy way to experience a hyperlocal element of Tennessee.”
Each participating restaurant has poured the same level of craft into its kitchen as Tennessee distillers put into their barrels. The result is a menu landscape as diverse as the state itself, spanning breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizers, and desserts, with no two dishes quite alike. Every chef brings their own signature twist, whether that's Nashville's Urban Grub featuring Calabrian Bourbon Wood-Fired Oysters crafted with local Borchetta Red Corn Reserve Bourbon, or the Kooky Canuck in Memphis serving Maple Bread Pudding made with Old Dominick Distillery Cask Strength Whiskey. The spirit isn't just an ingredient here; it's the inspiration.
“I've been wowed about the menu creativity,” Charity says. “I really didn't know what to expect with the chefs, but I have loved the fact that I have seen them truly use the spirit in relation to how the item is being cooked or prepared."
Middle Tennessee locals don't have to venture far to get in on the action, the trail has a strong presence right in their own backyard. From ice cream spiked with Tennessee spirits at Hattie Jane's Creamery to craft-forward bites at The Butter Milk Ranch, The Coffee House Franklin and TENN & Bar at Holston House, the region's participants prove that Cork to Fork isn't just culinarily ambitious, it's visually stunning too. These aren't just dishes; they're plated experiences designed to stop you in your tracks.
“Food is such a visual medium, and I think they've done just a great example of being thoughtful about the toppings,” Charity says. “Food is art, but then even more so, I think the art part of this is just the creativity and how they've used it, and it's beautiful in a way, I'm blown away. I love it.”
Looking ahead, Cork to Fork is only getting started. The program is expected to expand with new distillery and restaurant partnerships, along with seasonal menu rotations that keep the experience fresh every visit. But Cork to Fork isn't just a trail for out-of-town visitors checking off stops on a map — it's an ongoing invitation for Tennesseans to rediscover their own backyard, one spirit-infused dish at a time.
“This is an experience that I think is as important to locals as it is to visitors,” Charity says. “It's a way to have an experience within your own community.”
Whether you're a seasoned trail-goer or just getting started, there's never been a better time to explore. For more information, to browse participating restaurants, or to sign up and receive your digital passport, visit their website and start planning your Cork to Fork experience today.
“This is an experience that I think is as important to locals as it is to visitors."
"This program highlights that you're getting a chef-driven concept every meal, curated, but you're also getting a taste of Tennessee's manufacturing spirit in this one dish."