Leiper’s Fork plans Nashville distillery
Tennessee-based whiskey maker Leiper’s Fork will open its second distillery next year, located at Nashville Yards.
Leiper’s Fork, a family-owned whiskey distillery in Williamson County, Tennessee, has announced plans to open a new distillery at Nashville Yards, a 19-acre mixed-use development property near Broadway. The new space will feature on-site whiskey production, a restaurant and bar, retail store, tasting room, and event stage.
“As a Tennessee distillery, and as someone who grew up in Nashville, I’m incredibly excited to expand to Nashville Yards,” founder and distiller Lee Kennedy said.
“This move allows us to share our story of authentic grain-to-glass whiskey production with a broader audience in the heart of downtown.
“With Broadway as the epicenter of Nashville tourism, establishing a presence at Nashville Yards offers us an opportunity to grow our brand and further solidify our reputation for crafting high-quality whiskeys that resonate with both locals and visitors alike.”
Leiper’s Fork was founded in 2016, and Kennedy plans to move the distillery’s existing 500-gallon still from Williamson County to Nashville, and install a new 1,000-gallon system in its place. The Nashville Yards distillery is expected to open in mid-2026.
The distillery will occupy the entire ground floor of a 18,500-square-foot two-storey building on the west side of the Pinnacle Tower at Nashville Yards and overlook both Nashville’s historic rail lines and an open green space park named Ascension Saint Thomas Landing. The landing will include a dog park, amphitheater, and a space capable of hosting concerts, films, farmers markets, more.
The new Leiper’s Fork distillery will include a large patio that will open onto the landing, a bar offering in-house spirits and curated flights, and a regular artist showcase, building on the brand’s Still House Sessions at its Williamson County location.
The distillery will be open for tours, with production running five days a week. The retail store, restaurant, and other front-of-house functions will open six days a week. The project also comes from Southwest Value Partners (SVP), a privately-held real estate investment company.
“Leiper’s Fork Distillery at Nashville Yards will masterfully distill and showcase much of what we love about Nashville – friendship, whiskey, great bites and live music – in one incredible setting at some of the most uniquely beautiful architecture we have designed into Nashville Yards,” Cary Mack, SVP managing partner, added.
“We are proud to welcome them and thrilled they will continue to build on their awesome history and Tennessee success story at our project.”
Leiper’s Fork brought its whiskeys to the UK in 2023 through importer Pol Roger Portfolio.
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