After the award-winning 2025 release sold out, Tennessee Whiskey Trail representatives returned with the second-annual release of Tennessee Collective, a limited-edition bottle series that unites distilleries across the state to celebrate Tennessee’s thriving spirit industry through a one-of-a-kind collaborative blend.
2026 participating 11 distilleries contributing a barrel:
- Big Machine Distillery
- Gate 11 Distillery
- Jack Daniel Distiller
- Leiper’s Fork Distillery
- Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
- Old Dominick Distillery
- Old Glory Distilling Co.
- Peg Leg Porker Spirits
- Short Mountain Distillery
- Sugarlands Distilling Company
- Tennessee Legend Distillery
This year's blend was created at Old Glory Distilling under the direction of owner/distiller Matt Cunningham. Representatives from each participating distillery gathered for the ceremonial barrel dumping, where they shared details behind their barrel selections, mash bills and tasting notes before blending them into a single expression.
The 2026 Tennessee Collective is bottled at 120 proof, with every contributed barrel aged a minimum of four years and selected to meet the highest quality standards before being incorporated into the final blend. Rich and full-bodied, this whiskey opens with notes of oak, nuttiness and a hint of mint, followed by vanilla, tobacco and spice on the palate, and finishes with a lingering touch of spiced honey. Each bottle features an individual neck label, made with Proof-It, equipped with proprietary technology that allows purchasers to claim their bottle digitally, explore the story behind the blend and the distillery from where it was purchased, as well as participate in a Tasting Notes Contest to win tickets to the 2027 Grains & Grits Festival.
"Coming together like this is a reminder that while each distillery has its own unique story and style, we're all working toward the same goal: elevating Tennessee spirits and showcasing what makes our industry so special," says Matt.
The Tennessee Whiskey Trail was launched during 2017.