King’s Family Distillery

Why go: King’s Family Distillery is the most awarded craft distillery in the Smokies, where complimentary tastings of double-gold ryes, Best of Class bourbons, and creative flavored whiskeys are poured by staff who know every mash bill by heart.

About King’s Family Distillery

King’s Family Distillery opened in 2018, the result of a shared ambition between husband-and-wife team Justin and Cara King. Cara brought a background in grain supply to the operation, giving the distillery an unusually precise grip on ingredient sourcing. Justin matched that with his own decade of experience in the whiskey industry, and together they built one of the most awarded small-batch distilleries in the region.

The lineup covers considerable ground: bourbon, rye whiskey, flavored whiskeys, vodka, gin, and liqueurs, with a rotating specialty finished series running alongside the core bottles. The flagship Ryeconic, a 95% rye mash bill aged across two barrels for a combined nine years, earned double gold at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. King’s Tennessee Standard Bourbon holds a Best of Class win from that same competition, and King’s American Blended Whiskey took top honors at the 2019 Barleycorn Awards. The San Francisco competition uses blind judging at a national level; these are not regional participation trophies.

Getting to King’s Family Distillery

King’s Family Distillery sits at 1440 Upper Middle Creek Rd, Suite 201 in Sevierville, a short drive east of the Pigeon Forge Parkway. From the Parkway, head east on Teaster Lane or take Winfield Dunn Pkwy toward Upper Middle Creek Road. The distillery is in a commercial complex with parking available on site, well away from the main Parkway congestion.

Why Choose King’s Family Distillery

Several distilleries compete for attention in the Smokies corridor, but King’s Family consistently draws a more deliberate crowd. A few specifics explain why.

• Complimentary tastings led by knowledgeable staff. The full current lineup is poured at no charge, and staff walk through each spirit with detail on mash bills, proof points, and serving suggestions rather than just a quick pour and a step back.
• A lineup that spans approachable to serious. The same tasting session can cover a 61-proof flavored whiskey and the 105-proof Ryeconic. Guests at every comfort level with craft spirits can find something worth taking home.
• Barrel Picks Program. A limited opportunity to spend an afternoon with Justin and Cara King personally selecting a barrel of Ryeconic Double-Oaked Rye. Bookable through the website.
• Off-Parkway location with easy parking. The distillery sits in a commercial complex away from the main Parkway traffic, making it a more relaxed stop than the busier stretches of the Sevierville corridor.

Meet the Spirits

The core lineup is available year-round, with a rotating specialty finished series alongside it. These are the bottles to ask about when you visit.

• Ryeconic. The flagship double-oaked rye: 95% rye mash bill, aged three years in one barrel then six more in a second. Double gold at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Full-proof, complex, and the bottle most likely to sell out.
• King’s Wheated Bourbon. 100-proof wheat-forward bourbon with a soft entry and a textured finish. Roasted caramel, chocolate, toffee, and orange on the nose. Best served with a single cube.
• King’s Rye Whiskey. 90-proof, 51% rye mash bill with dark chocolate, licorice, toasted tobacco, dark cherry, and ripe orange, finishing clean. Works equally well neat in a glencairn or as the backbone of an Old Fashioned.
• King’s Blackberry Whiskey. 61-proof flavored whiskey blended with blackberry juice. Deep rose color, big fruit-forward flavor, and low heat. Excellent over iced tea or with club soda and lime.
• King’s Apple Whiskey. 61-proof, with natural apple flavor built into a two-year whiskey base. Vanilla and cinnamon on the front, smoky caramel on the finish. A comfortable entry point for guests newer to straight whiskey.
• King’s American Whiskey. 80-proof blend of bourbon and light whiskey, aged at least two years. Honey, caramel, vanilla, nutmeg, and pear. Easy drinking neat, over ice, or as a Toddy base.

What to Expect

King’s Family Distillery is a tasting room and bottle shop. The experience centers on samples, staff conversation, and purchasing spirits by the bottle.

• Adults 21+ to sample; minors welcome with a parent or guardian. Valid ID is required for all tasting participants.
• No cocktails or food service. The tasting room pours samples of bottled spirits only. All purchases are by the bottle.
• Rotating specialty finished series. Beyond the core lineup, a specialty selection that includes port wine finished bourbon, cigar blend bourbon, and white corn bourbon among others cycles in and out. Ask staff what is currently available.
• Online shop for post-visit reorders. Products ship to most states, with free shipping available on qualifying orders.

Nearby Restaurants in Sevierville

• Jersey Hustle Pizzeria. A New Jersey-style pizzeria on Winfield Dunn Pkwy serving hand-tossed pies with a character that sets them well apart from the chain options in the area.
• Tennessee Legend Distillery. A craft spirits operation on Winfield Dunn Pkwy with its own small-batch lineup, worth pairing with a King’s visit for a full spirits day in eastern Sevierville.
• Buddy’s Bar-B-Q. A regional Tennessee institution on Winfield Dunn Pkwy serving slow-smoked barbecue with honest portions and a loyal local following.
• Tennessee Shine. A moonshine and spirits tasting room on Winfield Dunn Pkwy with a broad selection of flavored and traditional expressions available to sample and purchase.
• Shine Girl. A small-batch moonshine operation on Jenkins Rd focused on flavored expressions, with a casual and approachable tasting room experience.

Explore More

My Smoky Mountain Guide Sevierville is a great resource for finding things to do and places to eat.

• Sevierville Food & Beverage Guide. The full directory of restaurants, distilleries, breweries, and eateries across Sevierville, organized by category.
• Sevierville Attractions. From outlet shopping to family entertainment venues, a rundown of what else the city has to offer beyond the tasting room.
• Sevierville Outdoor Adventure. Hiking, zip lines, and mountain activities for visitors ready to get outside while they are in the Smokies.