How Chattanooga Whiskey Brought Bourbon Back To Chattanooga

Tim Piersant and Joe Ledbetter founded Chattanooga Whiskey in 2011. After a more than century-long prohibition, the two entrepreneurs wanted to bring whiskey distillation back to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Below is a brief history of Chattanooga Whiskey and tasting notes on the brand's current whiskey range.

Chattanooga Whiskey: A Brief History

Until 2009, only three of Tennessee's counties were allowed to distill whiskey. Beginning in 2009, the number of counties was expanded. Hamilton County, where Chattanooga is situated, however, was not included. By the time Piersant and Ledbetter proposed their plan, Chattanooga hadn't seen legal whiskey production since before Prohibition.

The founders launched a "Vote Whiskey" campaign to change the law prohibiting distilling in Chattanooga. In 2013, thanks to their efforts and overwhelming community support, the Tennessee General Assembly expanded the number of counties where distillation was allowed and included Hamilton County. The new law marked a significant milestone in Tennessee whiskey history and allowed the team to launch the distillery.

In 2015, Chattanooga Whiskey began operations at its Riverfront Distillery. Shortly afterward, in 2017, they opened the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery, a smaller facility designed to push the boundaries of whiskey-making by experimenting with unique grains, alternative fermentation processes, and different barrel aging techniques.

Their primary innovation was crafting a bourbon with a high-malt mash bill, which gives their whiskey a distinctive creamy character. In 2019, they released their flagship whiskey, Chattanooga Whiskey 91, marking the first time a whiskey was legally made in Chattanooga in over a century.

Chattanooga Whiskey's production methods have several innovative features.

First, it uses a high malt mash bill combining several different malted grains, called Tennessee High malt, to create a more complex and creamy flavor profile.

Secondly, the company employs an extended, low-temperature, seven-day fermentation period, which allows for the development of more layered and complex flavors and gives the whiskey richer fruit and spice notes.

Additionally, the whiskey is distilled at a low still-proof and matured in a mix of #4 charred barrels and previously toasted barrels that receive a #3 char.

Chattanooga's Experimental Distillery focuses on small-batch innovations, testing new mash bills, barrel finishes, and fermentation techniques. This willingness to experiment allows them to produce limited-edition whiskies that push the boundaries of bourbon production.

In addition to traditional aging methods, Chattanooga Whiskey uses a solera barrel aging system. This fractional blending system blends older and newer whiskeys in a 4,000-gallon oak vat.

Each bottling run is limited to 10% of the vat's contents, ensuring each bottle of whiskey contains elements of the distillery's oldest reserves. The Solera system creates consistent aroma and flavor profiles across batches while allowing for layered and complex flavors.

Chattanooga Whiskey Tasting Notes Chattanooga Whiskey 91 Straight Bourbon, 45.5% ABV, 750 ml.

The Chattanooga Whiskey 91 bourbon, the company's flagship brand, is made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 12% malted rye, 6% honey malted barley, and 7% caramel malted barley. Experimental batch No. 91 used the original mash bill, yeast selection, and distillation protocol used in Barrel #91, hence the name.

Caramel malted barley is a specific type roasted at higher temperatures than standard malts, allowing the sugars within the grain to caramelize. The hotter kilning process develops more complex flavors in the whiskey, including sweetness, toffee, caramel, and sometimes a hint of toasted or nutty characteristics. It also imparts a darker, richer color. The process is common in producing Stouts and Porter beers but unusual in whiskey production.

Honey malt is a specialty malted barley known for its distinct sweetness and rich, honey-like flavor. It is produced through a unique malting process that preserves the grain's natural sugars, resulting in a malt that has a particularly strong and pleasant sweetness, often compared to honey or light caramel.

Chattanooga's unique bourbon profile is due to the inclusion of caramel malted and honey malted barley and the extended, low-temperature seven-day fermentation. The caramel malted, and honey malted barley provides layers of sweetness and depth, featuring aromas of caramel, toasted malt/cooked cereal, dried fruits, stone fruits, especially apricots, and spices.

The palate has rich notes of toffee, malt sweetness, vanilla, and subtle spice, leading to a smooth, balanced finish with hints of seasoned oak and peppery rye. The malt character stands out, making it a distinct bourbon compared to more corn-heavy expressions.

Chattanooga Whiskey 111 Cask Strength Bourbon, 55.5% ABV, 750 ml.

This whiskey is a cask-strength version of Chattanooga 91. It has the same mash bill and fermentation protocol. The difference between the 91 Straight Bourbon and the Cask Strength expression is in the barrel selection. Chattanooga produces its whisky in batches of 8 to 10 barrels.

When the whisky is ready, the whisky blenders taste each barrel. The fruit-forward barrels are earmarked for the 91 expression, and the oak-influenced barrels are earmarked for the cask-strength version. The whisky intended for bottling as 91 Straight Bourbon goes into the solera blending system. The bourbon intended to be bottled at Cask Strength is treated as a small batch bottling and isn't put into the solera system.

The higher proof of the cask strength expression amplifies the flavors and provides a greater intensity. The barrel selection also magnifies the wood influence. In particular, the higher proof enhances the caramel and malt notes and introduces more distinctive elements of dark chocolate, dried cherries, baking spices, and, especially, toasted oak. The palate is rich, oily, and full-bodied, with a long, warming finish. Try it on the rocks; it's ideal for those who enjoy the complexity and intensity of cask-strength spirits.

Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled in Bond, Spring 2020 Edition, 50% ABV, 750 ml.

The Bottled in Bond (BIB) expression is a blend of various whiskies based on the different mash bills tested by the Experimental Distillery. Each BIB expression is a unique blend reflecting the aroma and flavor profile selected by the blending team.

This Bottled in Bond release is aged for at least four years and is made in a single distillation season. The tasting note reflects the most recent 2020 BIB release.

The nose features toasted/cooked grains, honey, and subtle oak aromas. The palate has layers of honey, dried fruit, spices, and a buttery smooth finish. The finish is long with a lingering honey sweetness.

Chattanooga Whiskey Founder's 12th Anniversary Blend, 50% ABV, 750 ml.

This whiskey is a three-spirit proprietary blend comprised of 12% 1816RES, 60% SB091, and 28% Infinity.

SB091 is Chattanooga Whiskey's standard high-malt bourbon, bottled as Chattanooga 91 and Chattanooga 111 Cask Strength. It has been aged for two years or more and has the distillery's signature mash bill.

Infinity is a straight whiskey produced at Chattanooga's Experimental and Riverfront Distilleries. It is a blend of 5 YO, high-malt whiskies produced from different, undisclosed mash bills. Typically, these are not bourbon mash bills.

Founder's is rich and complex on the nose, featuring notes of dark chocolate, toasted malt, dried fruits, and hints of vanilla. Subtle layers of caramel and honey, with a touch of spice from the oak aging, complete the profile.

The whiskey is bold and full-bodied on the palate featuring dark fruit flavors of dried cherries and plums, sweet caramel, vanilla, and a touch of brown sugar. The influence of the high-malt component is unmistakable, with notes of malted chocolate and a slight nuttiness.

The finish is long, with spice, well-seasoned oak, and a subtle roasted malt character. The whiskey is layered, with extended aging adding a mature complexity that lingers on the palate. This Anniversary Blend showcases Chattanooga's innovative high-malt bourbon and provides a beautiful balance of sweetness, spice, and mature oak.

Chattanooga Whiskey Port Cask Finished, 47.5% ABV, 750 ml.

This whiskey is part of the Barrel Finishing Series. It's based on a blend of different whiskies from different mash bills. The Port cask previously held a White Port.

On the nose, the Port Cask finish exhibits a rich fruitiness with aromas of ripe plums, figs, and red berries. There's also a deep caramel undertone and vanilla, cinnamon, and oak notes.

The white port wine influence is prominent on the palate, with flavors of ripe fig, golden raisins, and berries complemented by sweet toffee, caramel, and hints of spice from the rye. The malt content adds a layer of richness, giving the whiskey a smooth, velvety texture.

The finish is medium to long and slightly drying, with the dried fruit sweetness fading into lingering notes of spice and oak. This expression is ideal for those who enjoy sweeter whiskeys with fruit-forward finishes. The port cask adds a layered complexity, balancing the bourbon's sweetness and spice while providing a rich, wine-like depth.

Chattanooga Whiskey Pinot Cask Finished, 47.5% ABV, 750 ml.

The Pinot Cask expression is also part of the Finishing Series. It, too, is based on a blend of different whiskies. Details of the blend components are not disclosed. Each Cask Finish expression uses a different blend of whiskies.

The whiskey is vibrant and aromatic, with fresh, red fruit notes of cherries, raspberries, and cranberry aromas, reflecting the influence of the Russian River Pinot Noir casks. The malt provides a balanced sweetness with hints of oak and soft vanilla.

The Pinot Noir finish imparts a gentle fruitiness, particularly red berries and light plum notes, on the palate, which blends harmoniously with the sweetness of the corn and malt. The body is medium, with the malted barley providing a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. Subtle spice from the rye cuts through the fruit, offering balance with notes of cinnamon and white pepper.

The finish is long and elegant. The Pinot casks' slight dryness is balanced by lingering fruit sweetness, subtle spice, and a touch of seasoned oak.

The Pinot Cask Finished whiskey is delicate yet flavorful, with a layered and complex interplay between the bright red fruit flavors and the underlying malt sweetness. It's a nuanced and sophisticated whiskey showcasing the distillery's cask finishing talent.

According to Grant McCracken, Founding Distiller and Chief Product Officer, the next Cask Finished expression is a Triple Islay Cask Finish. The whisky uses three different barrel types in maturation. He notes that they can't disclose the origin of the barrels but acknowledged they come from the Kildalton region of Islay. Since only three distilleries exist in that area, Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig, it is not hard to determine the barrel's origin.

Additionally, notes McCracken, Chattanooga used three different peating protocols with different types of peat and peating levels and three different mash bills.

A Chattanooga Whiskey Straight Rye Malt Whiskey is also available, although hard to find, and several Experimental Single Batch Series expressions are only sold at the Experimental Distillery.

Chattanooga Whiskey's malt-forward bourbons and experimental finishes are bold and innovative, allowing the company to stand out in the crowded whiskey market. Its production methods, particularly its high malt mash bills and the solera aging process make it a unique and creative player in the modern bourbon world, offering drinkers a range of bold and complex expressions. If you are unfamiliar with Chattanooga Whiskey, it's definitely worth trying.