Nicknamed The Holler, this stone-and-wood moonshine distillery – Tennessee's first licensed moonshine maker – appears at first glance to have a Disney flair, but it's the real deal. Gathering around the hilarious bartenders, sampling eight to 10 flavors of hooch and taking in the colorful commentary is Gatlinburg's best time.
There's live bluegrass on the atrium stage from noon to 10pm, and it's usually pretty good – look out for Monroeville, a great progressive bluegrass band from Newport, TN, with a Grammy-nominated producer and engineer on lead vocals.
The moonshine category is growing fast, and so is Ole Smoky. A second, larger location, Ole Smoky Barrelhouse, with a focus on aged whiskeys, recently opened down the street at 650 Parkway. There's another moonshine outpost in Pigeon Forge.