The Tennessee Whiskey Trail is offering some holiday bells and whistles this year with a new Carols & Barrels trail of themed stops at distilleries and bars in Middle Tennessee. Running through January 5, the Carols & Barrels trail highlights whiskeys and festive winter cocktails at each stop and allows visitors to earn stamps on a digital passport by checking in at each location. When the passport is filled there’s a commemorative prize—a Tennessee Whisky Trail cocktail set that includes a shaker tin, bar tools, and an ice mold.
Whiskey fans can sign up for a digital passport on this website by entering their email and cell phone number, which will be used to receive the passport. When visiting a participating distillery or bar, guests can check with their phone to stamp the location. Both distilleries and bars are participating, and there are 12 stops along the Carols & Barrels trail. All of the locations have been transformed into Christmas and winter-themed holiday pop-up concepts, and each boasts its own Christmas or winter vibe—ranging from vintage holiday and Tennessee Christmas themes to classic holiday movies. Each stop also features a special drink made with a Tennessee Whiskey Trail partner.
Distillery participants include Tullahoma-based Cascade Hollow Distillery, home of George Dickel, and features the theme “Holidays in the Hollow,” offering visitors a Dickel-based Merry Mule cranberry cocktail; Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, maker of Uncle Nearest, will showcase a “Winter Wonderland” theme and serve the Merry & Bright drink at its Humble Baron restaurant; and Leiper’s Fork Distillery in Franklin, will feature a “Spirited Tennessee Christmas” theme and a Spiced Cherry Mule cocktail.
Beyond distilleries, the Carols & Barrels trail also has several Tennessee whiskey partners that are participating by way of bars around Nashville with holiday pop-up concepts and specialty-themed winter drinks. Jack Daniel’s is working with the Omni Nashville Hotel to offer a “Tinsel and Tennessee Whisky” experience, complete with a drink called The Chairman’s Cheer that features its whiskey mixed with apple liqueur, lemon, and grenadine. Meanwhile, Chattanooga Whiskey is set up at Assembly Food Hall in Nashville with a “Silver and Gold” theme and a Chocolate Orange Old Fashioned cocktail. More information on the drinks and bars is located here.
Visitors who check in at 10 stops on the holiday trail receive the cocktail set and ice mold, while those who visit five stops get the ice mold only. In addition, Carols & Barrels also features an elf hunt. Each Christmas pop-up location—be it a distillery or bar—has an Elf on the Shelf hiding at the venue. When guests find it and snap a photo, they can post it with the hashtag #carolsandbarrels to be entered to win an ice mold.
For out-of-town guests, the Tennessee Whiskey Trail is also offering a holiday weekend experience in partnership with the Omni Nashville Hotel and local tour company Mint Julep Nashville. Visitors can stay at the hotel for a special rate and book the Carols & Barrels tour through Mint Julep, which includes visits to four of the participating partners with round-trip transportation from the hotel. Information on that can be found here.
