19th-Century Distillery Revives Its Tennessee Whiskey

In 1891, a woman was running one of America’s largest distilleries. “Miss Louisa,” the wife of Green Brier Distillery founder Charles Nelson, took over the Tennessee whiskey business upon his death, which was producing and selling over 380,000 gallons of whiskey around the world.

According to The Tennessean, Green Brier Distillery has begun producing whiskey again for the first time since 1909 when its stills went quiet. Still owned by the Nelson family, Green Brier (which was first made in Greenbrier) has relocated to Marathon Village with its original still named “Miss Louisa” in honor of its former matriarch.

Brothers Charlie and Andy Nelson have been producing Belle Meade bourbon for two years at mega-distillery MGP Ingredients in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, but plan to make it at their new facility along with other original whiskeys. [The Tennessean] [Photo: Flickr/Scott Robinson]