Sugarlands Sour Watermelon Moonshine 750ML

Sugarlands Sour Watermelon Moonshine 750ML is a 60-proof (30% ABV) flavored moonshine from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, built on a corn-and-rye base spirit. Master Distiller Greg Eidam and Head Distiller Andrew Holt spent years developing this particular expression, aiming to capture the balance between ripe watermelon sweetness and a pronounced sour tang that keeps the spirit from veering into candy territory.

Quick Facts: ABV: 30% (60 proof)  |  Origin: Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA  |  Flavored Moonshine  |  Distillery: Sugarlands Distilling Company

Production & Heritage

Sugarlands Distilling Company operates in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, drawing on the region's deep-rooted moonshine tradition. The base spirit begins with corn and rye grains ground on an artisanal stone burr mill, combined with water sourced from the Smoky Mountains, then fermented and distilled in copper pot stills. The resulting white spirit carries a clean, grainy backbone that serves as the foundation for the watermelon and sour flavoring — a recipe that reportedly took the distilling team many years of trial batches to finalize.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe watermelon dominates the nose immediately, followed by a light candy-like sweetness and a faint tartness underneath. There is a subtle grain character from the base spirit that keeps the aromatics grounded.

Taste: The entry is bright and juicy, delivering unmistakable watermelon flavor reminiscent of freshly sliced fruit on a hot day. At mid-palate, a sour tang emerges, counterbalancing the sweetness and adding a citric-like sharpness. The corn-and-rye base provides a whisper of grainy warmth that prevents the profile from reading as purely artificial.

Finish: The finish is clean and relatively short, with a gentle fade of tangy sweetness. There is no harsh burn — the 60-proof strength keeps things smooth and approachable.

How to Drink Sour Watermelon Moonshine

Straight from a chilled mason jar or over ice is the most traditional approach, and the lower proof makes it easy to sip without dilution washing out the flavor. This expression also works well as a cocktail ingredient: try it in a Watermelon Margarita, where the built-in sour element replaces some of the lime juice; in a Moonshine Mule, substituting it for vodka alongside ginger beer and lime for a fruity twist; or in a Watermelon Lemonade Spritz, topped with club soda and fresh lemon for a low-effort summer highball.

Best For

• Summer cookouts and backyard gatherings where easy-drinking spirits shine
• Mixing flavored moonshine cocktails for guests who prefer sweeter profiles
• Gifting to someone planning a trip to or fond of the Great Smoky Mountains
• Stocking a home bar with approachable, conversation-starting flavored spirits

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sour Watermelon Moonshine taste like? It delivers a burst of ripe watermelon juice up front, immediately followed by a tangy, sour finish that prevents the sweetness from becoming one-dimensional. The corn-and-rye base adds a light grainy warmth underneath the fruit flavor.

How does Sour Watermelon Moonshine compare to Ole Smoky Sour Watermelon Moonshine? Both are Tennessee-made flavored moonshines targeting the same flavor profile, but Sugarlands uses a stone burr mill–ground corn-and-rye mashbill distilled in copper pot stills, which contributes a slightly grainier backbone. Ole Smoky's version is widely available at a similar proof point, so the choice often comes down to preference for sweetness balance and brand loyalty.

Is Sour Watermelon Moonshine good for cocktails? Yes — the 60-proof strength and built-in sweet-sour balance make it a versatile mixer that requires fewer additional ingredients than a neutral base spirit. It pairs especially well with citrus, ginger, and sparkling water.

Where is Sour Watermelon Moonshine made? It is produced at Sugarlands Distilling Company in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, situated at the doorstep of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The distillery uses local Smoky Mountain water in its production process.

What foods pair well with Sour Watermelon Moonshine? Grilled shrimp skewers complement the tangy fruit notes nicely. Fresh fruit platters with melon and berries echo the watermelon flavor. Spicy barbecue benefits from the sweetness as a counterpoint. Light, creamy desserts like panna cotta or vanilla ice cream work as a simple after-dinner pairing. Salty snacks like pretzels or kettle chips provide textural and flavor contrast.

What sizes does Sour Watermelon Moonshine come in? The standard offering is the 750ml bottle, which is the most widely distributed size for this expression.

Is Sour Watermelon Moonshine worth the price? It positions as an entry-level flavored moonshine, sitting in a competitive price tier alongside other Tennessee flavored spirits. For those who enjoy fruit-forward, lower-proof spirits for casual sipping or mixing, it delivers solid value without pretending to be something more complex.

Why Sour Watermelon Moonshine?

What separates this expression from the crowded flavored moonshine market is the deliberate development process — Master Distiller Greg Eidam worked for years on the watermelon profile before Head Distiller Andrew Holt finalized the recipe. The copper pot still distillation and stone burr mill–ground corn-and-rye mashbill give the base spirit more character than many flavored moonshines that rely on neutral grain alcohol. At 60 proof, it lands in a sweet spot between sippability and enough backbone to hold up in mixed drinks. For drinkers drawn to fruit-flavored spirits with genuine distillery heritage rather than mass-produced flavored vodkas, this Tennessee-made moonshine earns its shelf space.