Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge both sit at the center of Tennessee’s moonshine boom, and two names come up constantly when visitors plan a tasting stop: Sugarlands Distilling Company and Old Forge Distillery. Both pour flavored moonshine by the sample, both welcome walk-ins, and both make for an easy 20-30 minute stop on a busy sightseeing day.
But the experiences aren’t the same. One charges a flat fee for a big flavor lineup in a lively downtown tasting room; the other leans on free samples inside a historic mill complex. Here’s how the two actually compare, so you can decide which one earns a spot on your itinerary — or whether it’s worth doing both.
Quick Answer
If you want the biggest flavor lineup and a lively, guided tasting for a small fee, go to Sugarlands in downtown Gatlinburg. If you’d rather sample for free with no pressure to buy and don’t mind a shorter list, Old Forge Distillery at The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge is the better stop. Both are worth doing if you have time for a mini distillery crawl.
The Tasting Experience, Side by Side
At Sugarlands (805 Parkway, Gatlinburg), the tasting costs $5 per person and gets you 12 samples poured at an octagon-shaped bar, with a tastemaker walking you through each pour. The lineup of moonshines and sippin’ creams rotates daily, so no two visits are identical. The $5 you pay also comes back to you as a $5 credit toward merchandise, which softens the cost if you’re planning to buy a bottle anyway. Sugarlands is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and you don’t need a reservation to walk up and taste — reservations are only needed for the weekend distillery tours (2-9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday).
At Old Forge Distillery (170 Old Mill Ave, Pigeon Forge), the core tasting is free: up to 10 samples pulled from a lineup of around 27 moonshine flavors. Two higher-proof or barrel-aged options, the Harvest Gin and the Blended Bourbon Whiskey, carry a small $3 tasting fee on top of the free flight. Old Forge doesn’t run formal guided tours, but the still and production area are visible from the main tasting room, so you get some of that behind-the-scenes feel without booking anything. It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Both spots require everyone tasting to be 21 or older with valid photo ID, though minors are welcome to come along and look around.
Atmosphere and Location Make the Real Difference
Sugarlands sits right on the Gatlinburg Parkway, in the thick of downtown foot traffic, arcades, and candy shops. The tasting room has a bigger, louder, more produced feel — think octagon bar, staff patter, and periodic in-person visits from cast members of the Moonshiners TV show, who come to distill on a published monthly schedule (typically the first Wednesday and a Friday each month). No tickets are needed for those appearances; visitors just line up for a photo and autograph, and dates are always subject to change, so check Sugarlands’ events page before counting on one. It’s a good fit if you want tasting as part entertainment, part shopping stop.
Old Forge is part of The Old Mill historic complex in Pigeon Forge, alongside a working gristmill, restaurants, and a candy kitchen. The setting is quieter and more scenic, with the mill and creek right outside. Because the core tastings are free and there’s no formal tour to book, it’s an easier in-and-out stop if you’re short on time or already exploring The Old Mill’s shops and restaurants.
Neither location has dedicated on-site parking that’s guaranteed easy: Sugarlands relies on a nearby garage and street parking, while Old Forge shares The Old Mill’s lot, which fills up on weekends.
Tips and Common Mistakes
Don’t assume both tastings are free — Sugarlands charges $5 up front (credited back to merch), while Old Forge’s core flight is free but its two premium spirits add a $3 charge. Check which flavors are pouring that day; both distilleries rotate their lineups, so a flavor you loved on a Tripadvisor review might not be on the bar when you visit. If you’re hoping to meet a Moonshiners cast member at Sugarlands, don’t plan around a random weekend visit — appearances follow a specific monthly schedule posted on Sugarlands’ events page, so confirm the date before you go. If you want the Sugarlands guided tour rather than just the tasting, book ahead online since tours only run on weekends. Bring ID even if you look well over 21 — both places enforce it strictly. Finally, if you’re doing both distilleries in one day, go earlier rather than later; tasting rooms get crowded once evening foot traffic picks up on the Parkway and at The Old Mill.
Explore more: more Smoky Mountains food and drink guides.
Sugarlands vs Old Forge Distillery FAQs
Which is cheaper, Sugarlands or Old Forge?
Old Forge is cheaper for the core experience since its moonshine flight (up to 10 samples) is free; only its Harvest Gin and Blended Bourbon Whiskey carry a $3 fee. Sugarlands charges $5 per person for its 12-flavor tasting, though that $5 comes back as store credit.
Do I need a reservation for either tasting?
No, walk-ins are welcome for tastings at both. Sugarlands only requires booking ahead for its guided distillery tour, which runs on weekends from 2 to 9 p.m.
Which has more flavors to try?
Old Forge has the larger overall flavor catalog at around 27 moonshine varieties, though you only sample up to 10 per visit. Sugarlands pours 12 rotating flavors per tasting session.
Can I meet the cast of Moonshiners at Sugarlands?
Sometimes. Cast members like Mark and Digger make periodic appearances at the Gatlinburg distillery on a published monthly schedule (generally the first Wednesday and a Friday each month), with no ticket needed — just a line for photos and autographs. Dates change, so check Sugarlands’ events page before your trip.
Are kids allowed inside either distillery?
Yes, both welcome families, but only guests 21 and older with valid photo ID can taste or purchase alcohol.
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Images: Sugarlands.