How far is the distillery from Louisville?

Neeley Family Distillery is about 45 minutes northeast of Louisville in Sparta, Kentucky. It's in Gallatin County, off the main Bourbon Trail routes, so plan for a bit of a drive through rural Kentucky.

What makes their bourbon different from larger distilleries?

The Neeleys grow some of their own corn right on the property and handle most of the production themselves as a family operation. You're tasting spirits made in small batches with direct family involvement from grain to bottle, rather than mass-produced bourbon.

CRAFT DISTILLERY

Tennessee

Big Machine Distillery

Lynnville,

Tennessee

— Bourbon, Rye, Vodka

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

📞 (615) 527-0027

🌐 https://www.bigmachinedistillery.com/

📍 1800 Abernathy Rd, Lynnville, TN 38472, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Big Machine Distillery sits on 1800 Abernathy Road in Lynnville, Tennessee, about an hour south of Nashville in the heart of bourbon country. Founded by Scott Borchetta, the music industry mogul behind Big Machine Label Group who launched Taylor Swift and other country superstars, this operation opened in 2017 as his pivot from managing hits to making whiskey. The 15,000-square-foot facility houses copper pot stills and produces bourbon, rye, and other spirits with the same attention to detail that built his music empire. What started as Borchetta’s personal passion project has evolved into a legitimate craft distillery producing small-batch spirits under the guidance of master distiller Greg Eidem, formerly of Templeton Rye. The combination of music industry precision and traditional distilling methods creates something you won’t find anywhere else in Tennessee. You’re touring a facility where the founder understands brand building and quality control at the highest level, applied to making whiskey instead of platinum records.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

This is probably the only distillery in America where the founder has multiple Grammy-winning artists on speed dial and built a billion-dollar music empire before deciding to make bourbon. Borchetta’s music industry background shows up everywhere, from the meticulous attention to brand presentation to the way they approach product development with the patience of someone who knows how to build something that lasts. The facility uses custom copper pot stills and focuses on Tennessee bourbon with a twist, incorporating techniques that bridge traditional Kentucky methods with modern precision. They’re also one of the few distilleries where you might catch live music events, because when your founder basically invented modern country music marketing, you use those connections.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Tours take you through the full production process, from grain to bottle, with guides who actually understand both the technical aspects of distilling and the story behind why a music mogul decided to make whiskey. The tasting room feels more like a high-end Nashville venue than a typical distillery space, with music memorabilia mixed in with the bourbon barrels and copper stills. You’ll taste through their core lineup while learning about Borchetta’s transition from managing artists to managing mash bills, and the stories connect in ways that make both industries more interesting. The space has that polished feel of someone who knows how to create an experience, not just pour samples.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

If you’re interested in craft spirits and curious about how different industries approach quality and brand building, this is absolutely worth the drive. It appeals to both bourbon enthusiasts who want to taste something different and music fans who are curious about Borchetta’s next chapter after Taylor Swift. You won’t get the rustic farm distillery experience here, but you will get insight into how someone applies music industry perfectionism to making whiskey. The production is still small enough that you’re seeing real craft distilling, just with more resources and attention to detail than most startup operations can afford.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Book tours in advance through their website, especially on weekends when Nashville tourists make the drive down. The distillery is about 15 minutes off I-65, and GPS gets you there without trouble, but it’s definitely a destination rather than something you stumble across. Ask about the music industry stories during your visit, because the guides have heard some good ones from Borchetta about the transition from managing artists to managing aging schedules. If you’re driving from Nashville, combine it with other Lynchburg area distilleries to make a full day of it. The tasting room usually has limited releases available that you won’t find in stores.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Big Machine Distillery — Visitor FAQ

Is this really the same Scott Borchetta who managed Taylor Swift?

Yes, Scott Borchetta founded Big Machine Label Group and was instrumental in launching Taylor Swift’s career, along with artists like Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts. He started the distillery in 2017 as his passion project while still running the music company.

How does the whiskey compare to other Tennessee distilleries?

Big Machine uses higher rye content in their mash bills than most Tennessee producers, creating more spice and complexity. Master distiller Greg Eidem brings techniques from his Templeton Rye background that differentiate their flavor profiles from typical Tennessee whiskeys.

Do you need to book tours in advance?

Yes, tours require advance reservations through their website. Weekend slots fill up quickly, especially during peak tourist seasons when Nashville visitors make the drive to Lynnville.

GETTING THERE

Find Big Machine Distillery

📍1800 Abernathy Rd, Lynnville, TN 38472, USA

—

📞 (615) 527-0027

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