West Knoxville Lifestyle is fortunate to partner with businesses in our region who are committed to giving back to their communities in meaningful ways that offer lasting impact. We have been inspired by an East Tennessee distiller whose corporate mission is to Gather Around™ as they create “Spirits Worthy of Sharing,” visionary ideals that spill over into their culture and their nationwide nonprofit grant program, “Gather Around Giving.”
It’s our privilege to spotlight Company Distilling in the Holidays and Giving issue.
Company Distilling is a Tennessee-based craft spirits producer co-founded by native Tennessean and former Jack Daniel's Master Distiller, Jeff Arnett, and a team of longtime industry professionals. They produce award-winning premium whiskeys and spirits with distillery locations in Townsend, Thompson Station and Lynchburg, Tennessee.
Gather Around Giving Program—How It Works
Company Distilling spirits are distributed all over the country, so their charitable giving goal is to gather around communities from across the United States to support nonprofits that are making a difference in their communities.
Each year in August, Company Distilling invites applications and receives hundreds of nominations from nonprofits across the country. The team at Company Distilling then narrows the list and advances approximately 50 nonprofits to a voting round from September to early November. Voters can go to CompanyDistilling.com/gather-around-giving/ to see the full list of nominees and vote. For 2026, the nominees range from such worthy nonprofits as community food banks to rescue animals to service dogs to wildlife refuges to mentor and youth programs to US veterans’ programs.
In the voting phase, nonprofits promote their nominations to their fan bases and communities to encourage voting. The general public can also vote on which of the 50 nonprofits should receive the 12 “Gather Around Giving” grants to support their work. As a result of the voting process, Company Distilling awards grants, celebrates and promotes the 12 winning nonprofits throughout the year.
On Giving Tuesday, December 2, Master Distiller Jeff Arnett will announce the names and locations of the 12 grant recipients for 2026 live from Company Distilling on the company’s social channels (@companydistilling). On their assigned month, each of the 12 winning nonprofits will be featured on Company Distilling’s social channels, media press releases and blogs, so the public can learn more about their work.
West Knoxville Lifestyle invites readers to check out the December 2 announcements of the 2026 winning nonprofits and to consider nominating a favorite nonprofit for the 2027 grants by visiting Company Distilling’s website (age 18+) CompanyDistilling.com.
Personalize Your Gift-giving with an Elegantly Etched Name or Business Logo Directly onto any of their Bottles
Company Distilling's core spirits (Whiskey as Good as the Company you Keep) are crafted using innovative aging processes that incorporate different wood species native to Tennessee. Under the leadership of the 2017 Master Distiller of the Year, Jeff Arnett, the three flagship whiskeys are designed for connoisseurs and whiskey novices alike. Jeff says it has the kind of drinkability and price point that make it your go-to or a holiday gift!
Savor a flight of award-winning spirits and relax with the best of company at any of three locations. CompanyDistilling.com.