Falls State Park isn’t complete without visiting local establishments. One such place is the George Dickel Distillery in Cascade Landing near Tullahoma, Tennessee.
A tiny crossroads, Cascade Landing is perched high atop the Cumberland Plateau making the whisky produced here unique in taste and quality.
The original proprietor and namesake of the distillery, George Dickel, chose the location for the natural spring water that readily flowed. He found that the pure spring water created a smoother whiskey than others made in Tennessee and claimed that it was comparable to the great Scotch whiskies and therefore dropped the ‘e’ in his own whisky.
First opening in 1870, George Dickel Distillery was soon one of the most successful whisky productions in the state and the South. Unfortunately, production came to halt with the passing of Prohibition laws in the early twentieth century. For forty years, Dickel Whisky fell from public knowledge. Then, in 1958 Ralph Dupps reopened George Dickel Distillery using Dickell’s original notes outlining his unique whisky-making process.
Today, visitors to the distillery can take a free tour and discover the rich history surrounding one of Tennessee’s oldest whisky-making establishments. Tours are available year-round on Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 4pm. Reservations are recommended for groups.
While enjoying Fall Creek Falls State Park and all that the Cumberland Plateau has to offer nature-lovers, visitors to Middle Tennessee should take the opportunity to discover the wealth of history that can only be found by turning down a few country roads and exploring the people and places long rooted in the culture. By visiting George Dickel Distillery, one will learn more than just whisky – they’ll learn about an Appalachian legend.
George Dickel Distillery
