New products, expanded reach, major awards highlight family-owned craft distillery’s 2024
GATLINBURG, Tenn. – (December 17, 2024) – Sugarlands Distilling Company, renowned for its award-winning line of moonshines, Sippin’ Creams, High Rock Vodka and Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey, concludes its 10th year of operation by celebrating significant milestones it achieved over the past 12 months. From launching new products to expanding its presence nationwide, 2024 has been a banner year for Sugarlands that sets the stage for continued success.
10th Birthday Celebration Brings Community Together
Sugarlands toasted its first decade in business with a birthday bash in March. The event drew fans from near and far to Sugarlands’ flagship distillery in downtown Gatlinburg for a day full of live music, memories, celebrity appearances and new product releases.
Portfolio Additions
To coincide with its 10th birthday celebration, Sugarlands released Birthday Cake Sippin’ Cream, a 40-proof cream liqueur with classic flavors of fluffy cake, sweet vanilla icing and sprinkles. It was the first of two new Sippin’ Creams Sugarlands released in 2024, with Mint Chocolate Chip hitting the shelves in August. Summertime saw two additions to Sugarlands’ signature moonshine category, with the launch of Sour Watermelon and Orange Squeeze shines.
Sugarlands partnered with longtime collaborators Mark Ramsey and Digger Manes, stars of the hit television show Moonshiners, to release Mark & Digger’s Mountain Legacy Corn Whiskey in January. The unaged corn whiskey is an homage to classic homemade spirits that once thrived in secrecy all over Appalachia.
The company ushered in a new era for its critically acclaimed Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey, unveiling a new 750mL bottle distributed in a small allocation to retailers in select states. Sugarlands also introduced the first-ever Roaming Man Tennessee Whiskey in September, which was only available for a limited time. As with all Roaming Man releases, it was pot-distilled, aged and bottled by hand at Sugarlands.
Sugarlands capped the year with another limited-time product offering—Honey Pecan Moonshine, made in partnership with Field & Stream.
Marquee Partnerships
Field & Stream was just one partnership forged by Sugarlands in 2024. The company also welcomed the Golic Family as brand ambassadors while deepening existing relationships with rock band O.A.R., JR Motorsports, Kroger Racing, and Landon Huffman. Sugarlands also strengthened its presence in its home state of Tennessee, striking partnerships with Nashville SC and the Knoxville Ice Bears.
Expanded Reach
In August, Sugarlands announced an expanded partnership with Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) to introduce Sugarlands’ offerings to a wider audience nationwide. As part of the deal, Sugarlands’ handcrafted cocktails will be broadly available in establishments from restaurants and bars to festivals across the country. Sugarlands closes 2024 with distribution in 49 states.
Accolades
Throughout the year, Sugarlands snagged over 30 awards at some of the most prestigious spirits tasting competitions in the country. Highlights include Roaming Man winning Double Gold at the WSWA (Wine & Spirits Tasting) Competition, Birthday Cake Sippin’ Cream earning Double Gold Best in Show at the esteemed World Spirits Competition as well as earning Sugarlands the title of Tennessee Liqueur Distillery of the Year at the New York Spirits Competition.
High Rock Vodka notched two Double Gold Medal wins at the Johny Barleycorn Awards and the San Diego Spirits Festival, respectively. The handmade vodka, which is co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Amy Earnhardt also earned the title of Best Craft Vodka in America for the second consecutive year in the USA TODAY 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards.
USA TODAY 10Best readers also crowned Sugarlands’ Gatlinburg Distillery the Best Craft Spirits Tasting Room in America for the second straight year. Sugarlands also tacked on the honor of Best Craft Specialty Spirits in the USA TODAY 10Best awards. Fans also selected Sugarlands as Best Distillery, Best Moonshine and Best Bar in the 2024 Best of Pigeon Forge.
“This year was about celebrating the incredible journey we’ve been on the past decade while also looking ahead to the exciting opportunities to come,” said Ned Vickers, Sugarlands president and founder. “What started as a dream ten years ago has become a brand people enjoy nationwide. As we turn the page to 2025, we’re more energized than ever to continue innovating and finding new ways to connect with our fans.”
To find a Sugarlands retailer near you, visit FindMoonshine.com or buy online at Sugarlands.com.
About Sugarlands Distilling Co.
Sugarlands Distilling Company is a craft distillery located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Founded in 2014, Sugarlands produces a full line of craft moonshines and sippin’ creams with flavors like Mark Roger’s American Peach Moonshine, Butter Pecan Sippin’ Cream, Banana Pudding Sippin’ Cream and Appalachian Apple Pie Moonshine. Sugarlands also produces Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey, which has won multiple prestigious spirits awards, including Best Whiskey in the 2019 American Craft Spirits Association Awards and two Double Gold Medals at the esteemed San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2021 and 2023).
In 2022, Sugarlands launched High Rock Vodka with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his wife, Amy Earnhardt. High Rock Vodka is distilled seven times and then triple-filtered using the Lincoln County Process. Made famous by Tennessee whiskeys, the Lincoln County Process uses sugar maple charcoal to smooth and mellow the finish. High Rock checks in at 88 proof, a nod to the number Earnhardt drove for a decade in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Sugarlands’ downtown Gatlinburg distillery welcomes more than one million guests each year. The distillery was voted the top craft spirits distillery tasting room in America by USA TODAY 10Best and is rated as TripAdvisor’s number one thing to do in Gatlinburg and the world’s top-rated distillery experience. A proud community supporter, Sugarlands Distilling Company has donated nearly $1 million to nonprofits nationwide through their giveback program, MoonShare.
For more information, please visit www.sugarlands.com and follow Sugarlands on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @SugarlandsShine.
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Media Contacts:
Sammy Eanes
Sugarlands Distilling Co.
[email protected]
540-525-0864
