This vote passed and paved the way for House Bill 102. This resolution requested the state law to be amended, which would allow the state to include other counties (like Hamilton) into the list of those permitted to independently decide whether or not they would allow distilleries in their borders. The local community and local commissioners were largely supportive of the motives and shortly after this courthouse session on November 21, 2012, the Hamilton County Commission voted to adopt a non-binding resolution to the Tennessee General Assembly. On November 15th, 2012, Piersant and Ledbetter presented a pro-economic case to a crowded Hamilton County commission chamber on why local spirits production should be allowed. This was put to rest when Attorney General Bob Cooper later confirmed via opinion that Hamilton County commissioners didn’t have authority to approve the manufacture of whiskey in the county. īy late 2012, Piersant and Ledbetter, began to challenge the local government more directly, and went as far as seeking input from the Tennessee Attorney General via a formal interpretation of the County Commission resolution, which could potentially permit production. To help this cause, the company began a coordinated, event and social-media driven “Vote Whiskey” campaign, holding many rallies and social events to galvanize public support for the cause. īy April, 2012, the company began selling their “Chattanooga Whiskey” brand locally and simultaneously started the process of engaging local government - with the goal to eventually manufacture their own Chattanooga Whiskey in Hamilton County. Chattanooga’s county, as well as several others, were included in early drafts but were excluded from the bill in a final conference committee when differences were resolved between House and Senate versions of the bill. This expansion did not include Hamilton County (Chattanooga, TN). Under the new law, 41 additional counties (adding to the 3 existing and out of 95 in Tennessee) began to permit spirit production within their borders. In 2009, Tennessee lawmakers voted 57-26 in favor of expanding spirits production to counties that already allowed its sale in both retail package sales of liquor and liquor-by-the-drink. Prior to 2009, prohibition-era laws limited spirits production to only 3 counties in the state: Lincoln, Moore and Coffee. Legislative Precedent, Vote Whiskey Campaign and "Whiskey Bill"/House Bill 102 2009 Legislative Precedent, 2012 Vote Whiskey Campaign The facility began production in 2017 and has made Chattanooga Whiskey one of the largest craft whiskey producers in the state of Tennessee. The company’s production facility and headquarters is located on Chattanooga’s riverfront and engages in larger scale production of select recipes created at the experimental facility. The first experimental whiskey, "Batch 001: Tennessee High Malt", was released in August 2017. In March 2015, the company opened the first legal distillery in Chattanooga since Prohibition. Local public awareness eventually became a catalyst in galvanizing support to change Prohibition-era distilling laws. The launch met with some initial criticism, primarily due to where the product was made (contract manufactured at MGP/LDI of Indiana), but Hamilton County laws prohibited the manufacture of "intoxicating liquors" at the time. The 1816 brand was launched in April 2012, and the company simultaneously announced its intention to help change local distilling laws. The company was founded by Tim Piersant and Joe Ledbetter. The Chattanooga Whiskey Company is a producer of bourbon whiskey and "Tennessee High Malt" bourbon whiskey, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 1816 (Reserve, Cask, Single Barrel, Native), Experimental SIngle Batch Series
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