Benjamin Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey 750ML

Benjamin Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey 750ML is a pot-distilled, 10-year-aged Tennessee whiskey bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof). Scored 92 points by Whisky Advocate in its 2021 ranking of top Tennessee whiskeys, this expression stands apart as the only Tennessee whiskey legally exempt from the Lincoln County Process — the charcoal-filtering step required of every other producer in the state.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 Proof)  |  Origin: Kelso, Tennessee, USA  |  Age: 10 Years  |  Distillery: Prichard's Distillery

Production & Heritage

Prichard's Distillery operates out of Kelso, Tennessee, a small town in Lincoln County. Unlike every other Tennessee whiskey on the market, Prichard's earned a grandfathering exemption under a 2013 Tennessee state law, allowing it to skip the Lincoln County Process — the maple charcoal filtration that defines brands like Jack Daniel's and George Dickel. The whiskey is distilled entirely in copper pot stills from a mashbill of sweet white corn, rye, and malted barley, then aged for a full decade in both new charred American oak barrels and smaller 15-gallon rum casks. After maturation, it is reduced to proof with limestone-filtered spring water and bottled unfiltered, preserving the full character of the spirit.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Vanilla and caramel arrive first, followed by tart raspberry and gentle oak. A mild peppery warmth rounds out the nose, hinting at the rye component in the mashbill.

Taste: The entry is distinctly sweet, led by fresh corn and toffee — a direct result of the sweet white corn base. The mid-palate broadens into toasted almonds and warm baking spices, while darker notes of coffee, cocoa, and cherry emerge as the whiskey opens up. A subtle citrus brightness keeps everything balanced.

Finish: Medium-long with woody spice and clove lingering on the palate. The unfiltered bottling gives the finish a slightly fuller texture than many Tennessee whiskeys at this proof.

How to Drink Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey

Neat or with a few drops of water is the ideal starting point; the decade of aging and unfiltered bottling reward slow sipping at room temperature. A single large ice cube also works well, especially in warmer months, gently opening up the toffee and almond notes without drowning them.

• Old Fashioned: The natural sweetness from the white corn mashbill means you can back off on the sugar, letting the whiskey's toffee and spice carry the drink.
• Manhattan: The cocoa and dark cherry notes pair naturally with sweet vermouth, creating a richer, more layered cocktail than column-still Tennessee whiskeys typically deliver.
• Whiskey Sour: Citrus from the palate harmonizes with fresh lemon juice, while the pot-still weight keeps the whiskey from disappearing behind the sour mix.

Best For

• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who already owns the usual Tennessee bottles
• Side-by-side tastings comparing pot-still versus column-still American whiskey
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or a cigar
• Building a collection of craft-distilled American whiskeys

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey taste like? It leads with sweet corn, toffee, and toasted almonds, then develops into darker notes of cocoa, coffee, and cherry. Whisky Advocate described it as "very flavorful but still extremely easy-drinking."

How does Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey compare to Jack Daniel's Old No. 7? The most fundamental difference is process: Jack Daniel's is charcoal-filtered through the Lincoln County Process before barreling, while Prichard's skips that step entirely under a legal exemption. Prichard's also uses pot stills and a sweet white corn mashbill, producing a heavier body and more pronounced corn sweetness than Jack Daniel's column-distilled profile.

Is Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey good for sipping neat? Yes — with 10 years of maturation, an unfiltered bottling, and a 92-point score from Whisky Advocate, it is designed primarily as a sipping whiskey. The 80-proof bottling makes it approachable without sacrificing complexity.

Where is Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey made? It is distilled and bottled at Prichard's Distillery in Kelso, Tennessee, a small community in Lincoln County. The distillery uses local limestone-filtered spring water to reduce the whiskey to bottling proof.

What foods pair well with Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey? Pecan pie and brown-butter desserts echo its toffee and toasted nut character. Smoked pork or barbecue ribs complement the oak spice, while dark chocolate truffles pick up on the cocoa and coffee notes. Aged cheddar or Gruyère also works well, as the fat tempers the woody spice on the finish.

What sizes does Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle. Availability of other formats may vary by market.

Is Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey worth the price? Prichard's positions in the premium craft tier of Tennessee whiskey — above mass-market brands but accessible relative to allocated single-barrel releases. The 10-year age statement, pot-still production, dual-cask maturation, and unfiltered bottling represent genuine cost-intensive steps that justify its positioning within the category.

Why Prichard's Tennessee Whiskey?

No other Tennessee whiskey legally skips the Lincoln County Process. That exemption alone makes Prichard's a category outlier, but the production details reinforce the distinction: copper pot stills instead of column stills, sweet white corn instead of yellow, and a 10-year maturation program split between full-size charred oak barrels and smaller rum casks. The result earned 92 points from Whisky Advocate and a Silver Medal from the ADI International Spirits Competition. For anyone interested in what Tennessee whiskey tastes like without charcoal filtration — and with a decade of patience behind it — this is one of very few bottles that answers that question.