Short Mountain Distillery sits on 8,280 Short Mountain Road in rural Woodbury, Tennessee, about an hour southeast of Nashville. Founded by Billy and Donna Kaufman in 2010, this small family operation started as a way to preserve traditional Tennessee moonshine-making methods that Billy learned from his grandfather. The couple converted an old barn on their 40-acre farm into a working distillery, complete with a custom-built copper still and a rustic tasting room that feels more like visiting someone’s backyard workshop than a commercial operation. They focus on clear spirits—moonshine, vodka, and flavored varieties—staying true to the mountain traditions that inspired their venture.
Billy spent years in construction before deciding to turn his family’s moonshine recipes into a legitimate business. The transition wasn’t easy—navigating Tennessee’s distillery licensing took nearly two years, and convincing local officials that a legal moonshine operation could work required plenty of persistence. Donna handles the business side while Billy runs production on their 100-gallon copper pot still. They kept the operation intentionally small, producing around 1,000 cases annually, because they wanted to maintain the personal touch that got them started. Their philosophy centers on using local ingredients when possible and keeping recipes simple enough that Billy’s grandfather would recognize the final product.
Visitors get an up-close look at how traditional Tennessee moonshine gets made, from mash to bottle. The tasting room doubles as a retail space where you can sample their core lineup and chat with Billy or Donna about the family recipes. The atmosphere is decidedly low-key—think folding chairs and mason jars rather than polished granite and crystal glasses. Tours happen when someone’s available to show you around, and tastings feel more like sitting on a friend’s porch than a formal spirits education. It’s the kind of place where you might end up talking for an hour about everything except whiskey, which somehow makes the moonshine taste even better.
