CRAFT DISTILLERY

Mossback Distilling Co.

Jefferson City,
Tennessee
— Bourbon, Moonshine

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

DISTILLERY SNAPSHOT

🔨
Built Custom
Founders constructed their own copper still
🌙
Family Recipes
Grandfather’s moonshine from these same hills
💧
Limestone Water
Well water filtered through Tennessee limestone
👥
Owner Led
Tours by the actual founders
🏭
Production Floor
Taste surrounded by working equipment
🍑
Real Fruit
Flavored moonshine without artificial additives
📞 (865) 409-5822
🌐 http://www.mossbackdistilling.com/
📍 115 W Old Andrew Johnson Hwy, Jefferson City, TN 37760, USA

ABOUT THIS DISTILLERY

Old School Tennessee Moonshine Meets Bourbon

Mossback Distilling Co. sits on Old Andrew Johnson Highway in Jefferson City, Tennessee, where founders Lance Mabry and Brian Whitman turned their shared passion for craft spirits into a small-batch operation that opened its doors in 2015. The duo, both with backgrounds in construction and engineering, spent years perfecting their recipes before launching their distillery in a converted warehouse space. They named it Mossback as a nod to the old-school, traditional approach they take to distilling—doing things the slow, careful way rather than rushing to market. The distillery produces bourbon, moonshine, and flavored spirits using locally sourced grains when possible, focusing on small batches that allow them to maintain quality control over every bottle. Their 500-gallon copper still, custom-built for their operation, sits at the heart of their production floor where visitors can see the entire process from grain to glass. What started as a weekend hobby between two friends has grown into a legitimate operation that’s become part of Jefferson City’s small but growing craft spirits scene. The space itself feels like a working distillery first, tasting room second—you’ll smell the mash and see the barrels aging along the walls, giving you a real sense of how spirits are made rather than just where they’re sold.

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WHAT SETS THEM APART

Built Their Own Still From Scratch

Mossback stands out because Mabry and Whitman actually built most of their equipment themselves, drawing on their construction backgrounds to customize their distilling setup rather than buying off-the-shelf systems. Their moonshine recipes come from family traditions—Mabry’s grandfather ran shine in these same Tennessee hills decades ago, and some of those old recipes form the foundation of their current offerings. The distillery also takes advantage of Tennessee’s limestone-filtered water, which they draw from their own well on the property. Unlike larger operations that focus on bourbon exclusively, Mossback has kept moonshine as a core part of their identity, producing both traditional clear corn whiskey and flavored varieties that actually taste like the fruits they’re made with rather than artificial additives.

TOURS AVAILABLE

TASTINGS

FOOD AVAILABLE

COCKTAILS

RESERVATIONS

FAMILY FRIENDLY

BOTTLE SALES

THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE

Working Distillery First Tourist Stop Second

When you walk into Mossback, you’re stepping into their actual production facility rather than a polished visitor center—the working distillery surrounds you with the sweet smell of fermenting mash and the sight of copper stills in operation. Tours are led by the owners themselves when they’re available, or by staff who’ve been there since the early days and know the story behind every piece of equipment. You’ll see their custom-built 500-gallon still up close, learn about their mashing process, and walk through their barrel storage area where bourbon slowly ages in charred oak. The tasting experience focuses on their core lineup of moonshine and bourbon, with Lance or Brian often explaining the family history behind their recipes and the decisions that went into each batch. The space feels authentic—concrete floors, exposed beams, and the constant background hum of production equipment—giving you a real sense of how craft distilling actually works.

IS IT WORTH VISITING

Real Deal Experience No Tourist Polish

If you’re interested in seeing how two guys with construction backgrounds turned themselves into distillers, Mossback delivers an authentic experience that feels more like visiting someone’s workshop than a tourist destination. The personal touch from the founders, when they’re available, adds real value—you’re learning from the people who actually designed and built this operation from scratch. However, don’t expect a polished, high-production experience. This is still a small operation where the focus is on making spirits first, entertaining visitors second. It’s perfect for spirits enthusiasts who want to understand the nuts and bolts of distilling, or anyone curious about how family moonshine traditions translate into legal, commercial production. If you prefer sleek tasting rooms and elaborate tours, you might find it too bare-bones.

⚠️ VISITING TIPS

Call ahead before visiting since tours depend on production schedules and whether Lance or Brian are available to lead them personally. The distillery is located right on Old Andrew Johnson Highway, so GPS should get you there without trouble, and there’s plenty of parking in front of the building. Try their traditional clear moonshine first to understand their base recipe, then work your way through the flavored varieties—the apple pie and peach versions showcase how they balance fruit flavors with the corn whiskey base. Ask about their barrel aging process if you’re interested in their bourbon, since they’re happy to explain how they’re adapting moonshine techniques to aged spirits. Don’t expect a gift shop experience—they sell bottles on-site, but the selection focuses on their core products rather than branded merchandise.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Mossback Distilling Co. — Visitor FAQ

Do the owners actually give the tours themselves?
Lance Mabry and Brian Whitman, the founders, often lead tours personally when they’re available and not tied up with production. When they’re busy distilling, other longtime staff members who know the operation inside and out will show you around. It’s worth calling ahead to see if one of the founders will be available for your visit.
Are their moonshine recipes actually from family traditions?
Yes, some of their moonshine recipes come from Lance Mabry’s grandfather, who distilled shine in the Tennessee hills decades ago. They’ve adapted these family recipes for legal, commercial production while trying to maintain the authentic flavors and traditional techniques that made the original recipes special.
How small-batch is their operation really?
Mossback uses a 500-gallon copper still that they built and customized themselves, which keeps their batches genuinely small compared to commercial distilleries. This allows them to maintain hands-on control over every step of the process and make adjustments batch by batch based on how the spirits are developing.

GETTING THERE

Find Mossback Distilling Co.

📍115 W Old Andrew Johnson Hwy, Jefferson City, TN 37760, USA

 — 

📞 (865) 409-5822

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