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Distillery profile

King's Family Distillery

Explore the distillery's history, craft, production, and the distinctive character of its whiskies.

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King's Family Distillery

Overview of the Distillery

King’s Family Distillery is located in the area around Pigeon Forge/Sevierville in Tennessee and is a family-owned distillery founded by Justin and Cara King in 2018. The distillery has built a large range of award-winning bourbons, rye whiskies, flavored whiskeys as well as vodka, gin, rum, brandy and moonshine. The combination of practical experience, focus on cask finishing, and local ingredients makes their bottles notable in the Smokies region.

History

Justin and Cara King joined forces in 2018 to start King’s Family Distillery after each having built more than a decade of experience in the spirits industry. Justin entered the industry through the moonshine culture, was later recruited to Tennessee’s first legal moonshine distillery, and rose to Master Distiller. Cara came from a family business that for generations supplied rye to the whiskey industry, started in 2008 with the company and later moved to Louisville to work with bourbon before returning to Appalachia to start their own production. Since its founding, the couple has focused on small-batch products, specialty aging and barrel finishing, and the distillery has earned numerous national and international awards.

Raw Materials and Production

Raw materials range from high corn-mash bills in many bourbons to rye-forward mash bills in their rye expression. Vodka is produced from 100% American corn and described as six-times distilled; gin is produced in a bathtub-style. Several whiskies go through double or triple aging, and the distillery uses both new charred white oak barrels and a range of finish barrels (sherry, port, amburana, ice-wine-seasoned barrels, agave-toasted, etc.). Cara King’s background in rye-supply supports a focus on grain choices, and the distillery draws on traditions from Appalachian moonshine and modern finish techniques.

Maturation and Barrel Types

King’s Family Distillery places a strong emphasis on barrel selection and finish. Many bourbons are aged at least six years in charred white oak, while special expressions receive post-aging in sherry-, port- or Madeira-finished barrels. Ryeconic is a double-oaked expression, and there are triple-oak processes with specific toast/char for certain rye varieties. Experiments include ice-wine seasoning (Elijah Craig finish), toasted amburana and the use of barrels that previously contained local honey to tame the rye spice.

Whiskies

The range spans from core bourbons such as King’s Bourbon, Tennessee Standard and a wheated bourbon to several rye expressions with Ryeconic as the flagship. In addition to classic aged whiskies, the distillery produces flavored whiskeys (apple, blackberry, peach, cinnamon, chocolate), vodkas, rum and gin as well as moonshine and limited releases such as 10-year releases and single barrel/18-year expressions. Several bottles are award-winning, and some special releases are store-only or online-exclusive.

Whisky Type / Series Alcohol Age Barrel and Style Flavor Profile Status
King’s Bourbon Bourbon Aged at least 6 years New charred white oak Single barrel bourbon with a high corn-mash bill, aged at least 6 years. Available in two proofs (87 proof in-store/online, 107 proof in distribution).; Nose: Smoky tobacco and vanilla with hints of raisin, fig and date Current; Core range; In-store and online; distribution at higher proofs
King’s Tennessee Standard Bourbon Blend Bourbon Blend Aged at least 6 years 99% corn mash bill bourbon blend, aged at least 6 years and blended with an aged light whiskey. Designed to be a robust yet versatile bourbon for both neat and cocktails.; Nose: Pronounced butterscotch Current; Core range
King’s Wheated Bourbon Wheated Bourbon 50 % Aged at least 6 years Wheat-forward mash bill for a soft mouthfeel with presence of caramel and toffee. 100 proof.; Nose: Caramel, butterscotch and a touch of cinnamon; Taste: Toffee, orange and spice; Finish: Soft, wheaty finish Current; Core range
King’s Bourbon 10 Bourbon (special edition) 52.5 % Aged 11 years Special expression created to mark Cara and Justin’s anniversary; rich and aged over a decade. Current
King’s Ryeconic Rye Whiskey 52.5 % Double-oaked / twice-barreled; finish: Twice aged in separate barrels Signature top-shelf rye, 95% rye mashbill, traditionally double-distilled in separate barrels. Has won numerous awards and is a showpiece in the range. Current; Core range
King’s Rye Rye Whiskey 45 % Aged at least 4 years A spiced and complex rye with classic rye-spice, mint notes and an unexpectedly smoky finish. Recommended neat in a Glencairn or in rye-based cocktails.; Nose: Dark chocolate, licorice and toasted tobacco; Taste: Roasted hazelnut, dark cherry and ripe orange; Finish: Robust but clean finish, light smoke in the back Current; Core range
King’s Toasted Ryecnic (Toasted Ryecnic) Cask-strength Rye Aged at least 9 years Triple-oak (first and second new charred white oak; third six-hour char with flash toast); finish: Triple-oaked process with specific toast/char Cask-strength rye with dominant spice and caramel/toasted oak in the finish; each batch triple-oaked. In-store only
King’s High Proof Whiskey High Proof Whiskey 77.5 % Aged 10 years Aged 10 years and bottled at 155 proof as a powerful, unfiltered expression intended for slow savoring. Current
King’s Reserve Tennessee Whiskey (distillery exclusive) 63.9 % Aged 8 years in the original barrel + 1 year in a sweet vermouth barrel Sweet vermouth barrel (finishing); finish: Rested in sweet vermouth barrel for 1 year after 8 years in the original barrel Distillery exclusive TN whiskey, designed as a sipper with extra aging in a sweet vermouth finish. In-store only
King’s Apple Whiskey Flavoured Whiskey 30.5 % 2 year whiskey (base) Two-year whiskey-based expression flavored with natural apple aroma and cane sugar; designed to be enjoyed on the rocks or in cocktails.; Nose: Vanilla and cinnamon; Taste: Natural apple flavor, cane sugar-sweetened; Finish: Smoky caramel Current; Core range
King’s Blackberry Whiskey Flavoured Whiskey 30.5 % 2 year whiskey (base) Two-year whiskey blended with sorbet-like blackberry juice and a touch of sugar; the color is deep pink and the flavor is dominated by blackberry.; Taste: Blackberry forward with subtle whiskey presence Current; Core range
King’s Chocolate Whiskey Flavoured Whiskey 30.5 % 61 proof chocolate whiskey created with natural chocolate aroma and cane sugar; described as an afternoon or dessert sipper.; Taste: Natural chocolate flavor, cane sugar-sweetened Current
King’s Peach Whiskey Flavoured Whiskey 30.5 % 2 year whiskey (base) Two-year whiskey blended with peach juice and a touch of sugar; marketed as light and versatile for hot drinks or mixers.; Taste: Peach juice blended with cane sugar Current
King’s Apple Brandy Apple Brandy Aged at least 6 years Used bourbon barrels; finish: Aged min. 6 years in used bourbon barrels Limited availability; apple brandy aged at least 6 years in used bourbon barrels. Noted as "No longer in stock" on the product page.; Nose: Caramel and oak; Taste: Combination of sour and sweet with bright apple finish Discontinued; Discontinued / Not in stock
King’s Vodka Vodka 40 % Non-GMO, naturally gluten-free vodka made from 100% American corn. 6x distilled for the ginger variant specifically mentioned.; Taste: Uniquely smooth, velvety texture with a clean finish In-store only; Core range
King’s Gin Gin 40 % A gin made 'bathtub style', designed also for those who usually don’t prefer gin.; Nose: Juniper on the nose; Taste: Star anise forward with a sweet and floral finish; described as citrusy and rich yet refreshing Current; Core range

Whiskies' Styles and Flavor Profiles

Across the range there are three through lines: spiced rye character (licorice, toasted tobacco, classic rye-spice), fruity notes (dark cherry, ripe orange, apple and peach in flavored expressions), and sweet/wood-driven influence from the finish (caramel, butterscotch, vanilla and honey). These traits recur in descriptions of both the bourbon and rye lines as well as the fruit-based flavored whiskeys.

Visiting the Distillery

The distillery operates open locations in the Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area with daily hours and an on-site shop. Tastings are offered in the shop, and several reviews mention free tastings and personal service from staff such as Cara and Justin. The distillery offers a Barrel Picks program, where you can reserve a session with the owners to select a cask; these sessions are limited and require booking. In addition, many products can be purchased online and shipped to most states.

The stated opening hours are 1440 Upper Middle Creek, Sevierville: 10:00–20:00 daily. 242 Upper Middle Creek / Wears Valley Rd, Pigeon Forge: 10:00–21:00 daily.

Philosophy and Craft

The company is built on family values, precision in craftsmanship and a love for finish and innovation. Justin and Cara combine long practical experience with deliberate choices in cask aging and finishing to create both traditional and experimental expressions.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Best of Class (American Blended Whiskey) (2024, Best of Class, King’s Tennessee Standard Bourbon Blend)

  • Double Gold (2022, Double Gold, King’s Bourbon)

  • Double Gold (2022, Double Gold, King’s Single Barrel Select 18YR Whiskey)

  • Double Gold (2022, Double Gold, King’s Ryeconic)

  • Gold (2024, Gold, King’s Tennessee Standard Bourbon Blend)

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