Ole Smoky Distillery “The Barn” sits right on The Island in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee’s entertainment district, bringing moonshine culture straight to the tourist corridor. Founded by Joe Baker, Cory Cottongim, and Tony Breeden in 2010, this was Tennessee’s first legal moonshine distillery since Prohibition ended. The trio grew up in the Smoky Mountains where moonshine wasn’t just folklore—it was family tradition passed down through generations of mountain folk who’d been making corn liquor in hidden hollers for decades. Baker and his partners saw an opportunity to legitimize what their grandfathers had been doing illegally for years, working through mountains of paperwork and regulatory hurdles to get Tennessee’s first moonshine license. They started with a small operation in Gatlinburg before expanding to multiple locations, including this Pigeon Forge spot that puts their white lightning right where millions of tourists can find it. The company’s grown from three guys with a dream into Tennessee’s most prolific legal moonshine operation, but they’ve kept the mountain roots authentic. You’ll find dozens of flavored moonshines here, from traditional corn whiskey to wild concoctions like banana pudding and birthday cake that sound gimmicky but actually work. The space feels like a modern interpretation of an old mountain barn, complete with mason jars and rustic touches, but it’s built for volume—this isn’t some hidden cabin experience. It’s moonshine for the masses, done right by people who know the real history behind every jar.