Distillery throws victory party (May 31)

Chattanooga Whiskey Company celebrates bill passing

photo An artist rendering of the future site of the Chattanooga Whiskey Co. Distillery at 1400 Fort St. on the Southside.
photo Company owners Tim Piersant, left, and Joe Ledbetter are moving forward with plans to distill Chattanooga Whiskey in Hamilton County, now that Tennessee lawmakers have passed a law allowing it.

IF YOU GOWhat: Chattanooga Whiskey victory partyWhen: 6:30-11:30 p.m. Friday, May 31Where: Future site of Chattanooga Whiskey Distillery, 1400 Fort St.Admission: Free general admission, $70 (plus fees) VIP; RSVPs requiredWebsite: www.chattanoogawhiskeyparty.eventbrite.com

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The founders of Chattanooga Whiskey Co. are celebrating the recent passing of a whiskey distillery bill by Tennessee lawmakers with a party Friday night, May 31.

A lot of people want to share in the rejoicing. By last Thursday, 3,000 people had signed up to attend, says Tim Piersant, who co-founded the company with Joe Ledbetter a little more than a year ago.

The bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Bill Haslam on May 16, will allow Chattanooga Whiskey to be made in Hamilton County. The company's 1816 Reserve handcrafted whiskey, a 90-proof product aged four years in charred American white oak barrels, is currently made in Indiana.

It's a victory party "for changing the century-old distilling law in Hamilton County," Piersant says. "We are hosting it at the location of our future Chattanooga Whiskey Co. Distillery at 1400 Fort St."

The site is the former headquarters of Turnbull Cone Machine Co. on the Southside.

According to Piersant, Fort and 14th streets will be blocked off for pedestrian-only traffic beginning at 5 p.m. Festivities will last from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Food trucks will provide concessions. Musicians from the Folk School of Chattanooga will entertain.

General admission is free, though there is a $70 VIP option that permits access to a private open bar inside the distillery.

Piersant says two cash-only bars will be located outside, with Chattanooga Whiskey cocktails priced at $4 each.

"We are asking our friends to RSVP on our Eventbrite page, which can be accessed via our Facebook page or directly at www.chattanoogawhiskeyparty.eventbrite.com," Piersant says.

"We will not turn you away if you have not RSVP'd, but out of respect for our event coordinator, Victoria Love Events & Staffing, we ask that you please do."

Contact staff writer Karen Nazor Hill at khill@ timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/karennazorhill. Subscribe to her posts on Facebook at www.facebook.com/karennazorhill.

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