A Lively Visit to Big Machine Distillery in Downtown Nashville
A Guide to Big Machine Distillery in Downtown Nashville
Downtown Nashville is packed with honky-tonks, live music, and the glow of Broadway, but just a block off the main drag is a distillery in Nashville that keeps visitors coming back: Big Machine Distillery. With three locations across Tennessee, this Nashville distillery has a lineup broad enough for whiskey drinkers, vodka fans, and everyone in between, and the downtown tasting room happens to be one of the only places in the city where you can legally order a cocktail to go.
A Big Machine Distillery tour fits naturally into a downtown Nashville day. Pair it with a stroll down Broadway, a stop at the Johnny Cash Museum, and a plate of hot chicken, and you have the makings of a classic Nashville visit. It is also an easy add-on to a stay at Belle Air Mansion, our historic Nashville B&B set back from the downtown core, where you can enjoy a quiet evening after a busy day of tastings.
What to Expect at Big Machine Distillery
Big Machine Distillery was founded in 2015 by music industry executive Scott Borchetta, best known for founding Big Machine Label Group. The downtown Nashville location sits on 3rd Avenue South, close enough to the Johnny Cash Museum that both fit easily into one afternoon. A second facility in Lynnville, Tennessee handles production, while the downtown spot works as a tasting room, bottle shop, and live music venue in one.
That mix of working distillery, bar, and stage is what sets this whiskey distillery in Nashville apart from the more traditional, tour-only operations nearby. Guests can wander in for a tasting flight and live acoustic music, or reserve a full guided tour in advance. A standard Big Machine Distillery tour runs about 45 minutes and is offered Thursday through Sunday, walking guests through the distillation process from grain to glass, along with the story behind the brand’s patented platinum filtration system that smooths its vodka.
For guests who want more hands-on time, Big Machine also offers a whiskey steward-led experience. Guests blend their own mash bill from aged barrels in the rick house, with the option to purchase an uncut, unfiltered bottle from the barrel they helped select. Every tour wraps up in the tasting room with a full lineup for guests to sample before they head back out to Broadway.
Signature Spirits to Try
Big Machine’s lineup spans several categories, which helps when a group has mixed tastes: Big Machine Platinum Filtered Vodka, the distillery’s flagship; Borchetta Bourbon, a Tennessee bourbon named for the founder; Clayton James Tennessee Whiskey; Abernathy Gin; All Mighty Moonshine; and Pickers Vodka. Among the best distillery tours in Nashville, this is a strong pick for groups who cannot agree on whiskey versus vodka, since the tasting flight covers enough ground for everyone to find something worth bringing home.
Make a Nashville B&B Home Base
After a tasting flight downtown, a quieter setting makes the evening land better. Belle Air Mansion is an 1832 Antebellum estate turned historic Nashville B&B, thoughtfully restored for a relaxed, elegant stay just 15 minutes from downtown Nashville. Guests enjoy spacious rooms and suites, a full Southern breakfast each morning, and six acres of historic grounds to unwind on after a day spent touring distilleries and honky-tonks. Whether you are planning a downtown distillery day trip, a weekend built around Nashville’s food and drink scene, or a longer stay to see the city’s top attractions, this location is an easy home base.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Big Machine Distillery tour like?
A standard tour runs about 45 minutes, Thursday through Sunday, and covers the distillation process from grain to glass, finishing with a guided tasting flight of the distillery’s spirits.
How long is the Big Machine Distillery tour?
The standard guided tour takes about 45 minutes. Guests who want a longer, more hands-on visit can book the whiskey steward-led experience, which includes blending a mash bill from barrels in the rick house.
What should I wear to a distillery tour?
Comfortable, closed-toe shoes and casual layers work best, since tours involve walking through production areas that can vary in temperature.
Who owns Big Machine Distillery?
Big Machine Distillery was founded by music industry executive Scott Borchetta, best known as the founder of Big Machine Label Group.
How far is Big Machine Distillery from Belle Air Mansion?
Belle Air Mansion sits about 15 minutes from downtown Nashville, making Big Machine Distillery an easy addition to a day trip or evening out.