Chattanooga Whiskey Wins Best Craft Producer 2026
Chattanooga Whiskey has claimed the Best Craft Producer title at the American round of the World Whiskies Awards for the second time in four years, cementing its position as one of Tennessee's most inventive distillers. The recognition, announced February 12, 2026, at Louisville's Brown Hotel, follows the distillery's double win in 2023 when it took both the American and global craft producer titles. The company now advances to compete for World's Best Craft Producer at the global ceremony in London next month.
The Hardware Behind the Hype
The World Whiskies Awards ceremony brought together American whiskey's elite to recognize excellence across categories. Chattanooga Whiskey's victory marks its second Best American Craft Producer win since 2023, when it simultaneously won Best Craft Producer for both America and the World. That dual achievement set a high bar for the Tennessee operation, which has spent the past three years maintaining the momentum that earned it global recognition.
Winners from the American round advance to the World Whiskies Awards 2026 Global Dinner in March, held in London. There, Chattanooga Whiskey will compete against craft producers from whisky-making regions worldwide for the ultimate craft producer distinction. The distillery's track record suggests it's a serious contender for repeating its 2023 global win.
Twenty-Two Drops in Twelve Months
Chattanooga Whiskey released over 22 innovative whiskeys and spirits in the past year, a prolific output that demonstrates why judges recognized the distillery's craft credentials. The lineup showcased range: an authentically crafted pre-Prohibition style Experimental bourbon that nodded to historical recipes; collaborative single barrels produced with fellow craft distiller New Riff; and Intergalactic Comet Crusher, a sci-fi-themed bourbon liqueur that blends satire with spirits. This diversity reflects the distillery's strategy of serving different segments of the whiskey market rather than chasing a single profile.
The Experimental Distillery model enables this rapid-fire innovation. Operating as the country's only standalone experimental facility, it produces batches of 20 barrels or less—ultra-limited releases that never get fully recreated once they sell out. This approach has become Chattanooga's signature, positioning the brand at the intersection of craft whiskey innovation and collector culture.
What Makes This Win Significant
Winning once could be timing. Winning twice in four years signals consistent execution at the highest level. American craft whiskey has evolved dramatically since 2023, with new distilleries launching and established players elevating their game. Chattanooga's repeat victory suggests the distillery isn't just riding initial momentum but actively raising its own standards to match an increasingly competitive field. Founding Distiller Grant McCracken acknowledged this evolution, noting that American whiskey has collectively raised quality benchmarks over the past three years.
The win also validates Chattanooga's dual-distillery model. The Experimental Distillery handles innovation and limited releases, while the Riverfront Distillery produces signature expressions like Chattanooga Whiskey 91, Cask 111, and 99 Rye. This structure allows the company to chase creative rabbit holes without jeopardizing consistent flagship production—a balance many craft distillers struggle to achieve. For a Tennessee operation competing against Kentucky's deep-pocketed legacy brands, this recognition carries extra weight.
The Chattanooga Context
Chattanooga Whiskey's story remains inseparable from its hometown. Founded in 2011, the company lobbied to change Tennessee distilling laws, winning the right to produce whiskey in Chattanooga for the first time in a century. That 2013 legal victory paved the way for the Experimental Distillery's 2015 opening and the Riverfront Distillery's 2017 launch. Founder and CEO Tim Piersant explicitly credited Chattanooga's support system in his acceptance remarks, positioning the award as belonging to the community that made distilling legally possible.
This local rootedness contrasts with the increasingly consolidated American whiskey landscape, where craft brands often get acquired by spirits conglomerates. Chattanooga Whiskey remains independently owned and operated, a status that allows the creative freedom behind releases like Intergalactic Comet Crusher—projects that might not survive corporate committee review. The distillery welcomes over 50,000 visitors annually to the Experimental Distillery, making it both a production facility and a cultural anchor for the city's spirits tourism economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What award did Chattanooga Whiskey win in 2026?
Chattanooga Whiskey won Best Craft Producer at the American round of the World Whiskies Awards, announced February 12, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the distillery's second time winning this title, having previously won both the American and World craft producer awards in 2023. The company now advances to compete for World's Best Craft Producer at the global awards ceremony in London next month.
Where can I buy Chattanooga Whiskey products?
Chattanooga Whiskey's core lineup including Chattanooga Whiskey 91, Cask 111, and 99 Rye is available through spirits retailers across the United States. The Experimental Distillery releases are ultra-limited batches of 20 barrels or less and typically sell out quickly. Check with specialty whiskey retailers or visit the distillery locations in Chattanooga, Tennessee—the Experimental Distillery at 1439 Market Street or the Riverfront Distillery at 890 Riverfront Parkway—for the most current availability on limited releases.
What is Chattanooga Whiskey's Tennessee High Malt style?
Tennessee High Malt is Chattanooga Whiskey's signature mash bill approach that emphasizes a higher proportion of malted barley than traditional Tennessee whiskey recipes. This style creates a distinct flavor profile that differentiates the distillery's whiskeys from other Tennessee producers. The company developed this approach through experimentation at its standalone Experimental Distillery, which produces small-batch releases that test flavor boundaries before certain elements get incorporated into flagship expressions.
How many whiskeys did Chattanooga Whiskey release in 2025?
Chattanooga Whiskey released over 22 innovative whiskeys and spirits in the 12 months leading up to the February 2026 awards. These releases included pre-Prohibition style Experimental bourbon, collaborative single barrels with craft distiller New Riff, and Intergalactic Comet Crusher bourbon liqueur. This prolific output reflects the distillery's model of producing ultra-limited batches that are never fully recreated once sold, making each release a one-time offering for collectors and enthusiasts.
When will Chattanooga Whiskey compete for the world title?
Chattanooga Whiskey will compete for World's Best Craft Producer at the World Whiskies Awards 2026 Global Dinner in March 2026, held in London, United Kingdom. Winners from the American round automatically advance to compete against craft producers from whisky-making regions worldwide. The Tennessee distillery previously won both the American and global craft producer titles simultaneously in 2023, making it a strong contender for repeating that achievement.