award-winning whiskeys from Nashville, tennessee
ABOUT DAVIDSON RESERVE
Davidson Reserve’s award-winning whiskey joins the very small club of Tennessee distilleries that perform every function of the production process on-site. At our facility in West Nashville, we do everything except grow the grain (which is sourced locally from Renfroe Farms just up the road in Huntington), and we’re the first bottled-in-bond distillery in the state to receive the sought-after designation since the 19th century.
Pennington Distilling Co. began in 2011 in Nashville, TN. Although we’ve released a variety of products, Davidson Reserve is the truest expression of what originally inspired us to open a distillery. It’s a reflection of Tennessee heritage and history that connects us to a long (and storied) history of distilling alcohol in our home state.
What makes us special?
We’ll shoot straight with you – the truth is that most of the “small-batch” whiskey, bourbon, and rye produced in America isn’t really all that small-batch. While many small and artisanal distilleries will barrel-age and bottle their own product, more often than not, they are purchasing their unaged distillate from larger producers who have distilled this alcohol in large batches using ingredients sourced from the industrial agriculture supply chain. These distilleries will then take this unflavored and unaged alcohol and put it into their own barrels to age. It’s finally bottled and sold as “small-batch” when really none of the distillation was actually done in the distillery.
We are proud of what we do, and that’s why we want you to know the difference. While we don’t hold it against other distilleries for using this process, we believe the best whiskey (like most things) is a reflection of the people and the place from which it is produced. What we mean by this is that by sourcing our grains from what is essentially our back yard and by distilling this grain in our own facility, we impart the flavors of Tennessee directly into our whiskey. By working with a local grain producer and having complete control over the distillation process, we’ve created a product that isn't standardized or uniform, and our whiskey directly reflects the flavors of each particular harvest as well as all of the variables that change each day when we distill.
Tennessee Whiskey
Our Tennessee Straight Sour Mash Whiskey is made with a small amount of malt, allowing more flavor from the corn and rye to come through. It is then distilled twice and filtered through virgin Tennessee sugar maple charcoal to provide extra smoothness and a perfect balance to the whiskey. We age our whiskey for a minimum of 4 years in 53-gallon barrels before bottling at 96-proof.
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Nose: Sweet aromas of freshly made maple cookies lead into hints of dried strawberries, with warm crème brûlée.
Palate: Flavors of sweet caramelized sugars and toasted graham crackers advance, with grilled pineapple, stone fruit, peach cobbler, and toasted marshmallows developing on the second sip.
Finish: A lingering, pleasing spearmint finish is long enough to leave you wanting more.
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70% Tennessee White Corn
25% Tennessee White Cereal Rye
5% Malt
Mellowed Through Charcoal
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Davidson Reserve Tennessee Whiskey is made with a mash bill of 70% corn, 25% rye, and 5% barley, milled on-site using a hammer mill. After grinding the grain to the consistency of cornmeal, Pennington Distilling Co. cooks the mash to prepare it for fermentation. At this point, yeast is introduced, which begins the process of making alcohol. Following fermentation, Pennington Distilling Co. distills their Tennessee whiskey twice and then mellows it by passing it through maple charcoal.
At this point, the whiskey is ready to enter the barrel for aging. Pennington Distilling Co. uses nothing but full-sized 53-gallon barrels for aging, unlike other craft distilleries that have tried to rush the aging process in the past by employing smaller barrels to force more interaction between the whiskey and the char of the barrel, leading to a product that tastes more like wood and less like grain. Davidson Reserve Tennessee Whiskey is aged a minimum of four years and then tasted frequently after that duration to determine exactly when it is ready for bottling.
While Tennessee whiskey and bourbon share a lot of similarities, there are some distinct differences. Both start out with the same requirements – distilled using at least 51% corn, not distilled over 160 proof, barreled at a proof level of 125 or below, and using a new charred oak barrel. However, Tennessee whiskey has two extra defining characteristics. The obvious difference is that Tennessee whiskey must be made in Tennessee as opposed to bourbon, which can be made anywhere in the United States. The other difference is that Tennessee whiskey is charcoal-filtered before it goes into the barrel for aging. Using a method known as the Lincoln County Process, the distillate is filtered or steeped through charcoal chips before entering barrels. The charcoal filtering process strips the whiskey of some of its harsher flavors, creating a smoother, easier-to-drink whiskey.
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Double Gold - 2021 - SIP Awards
Double Gold - 2020 - San Fransisco Spirits Competition
Best in Class - 2020 - San Fransisco World Spirits Competition
Gold - 2019 - Beverage Tasting Institute
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Double Gold - 2021 - SIP Awards
Gold - 2020 - San Fransisco World Spirits Competition
bourbon
Davidson Reserve Bourbon is a small batch blend of barrels aged 4 to 6 years. The sought-after characteristics of wheated bourbon come through with a smooth, sippable finish.
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Nose: Creamy Banana Pudding, Graham Cracker, Honey Almond, Maple Syrup, Dried Apricots, Toasted Marshmallow, Dried Mango, Brown Sugar, Bubble Gum, Cinnamon, Vanilla Bean
Palate: Toasted Pecans, Nutmeg, Allspice, Raisin, Fig, Apricot, Vanilla Bean, Sweet Cream
Finish: Toasted Pecan, Herbs, Silky Linger, Dried Mint, Dried Citrus Fruit
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60% Tennessee Corn
22% Tennessee Red Winter Wheat
18% Malted Barley
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Sweet aromas of southern banana pudding topped with toasted marshmallows and crushed honey-roasted almonds. The palate is creamy and complex, with notes of toasted pecans, raisins, and hints of nutmeg. The finish is a silky balance with dried mint and fresh herbs.
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Double Gold - 2021 - SIP Awards
Gold - 2021 - San Fransisco World Spirits Competition
Consumers’ Choice - 2021 SIP Awards
Innovation- 2021 - SIP Awards
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Double Gold - 2021 - San Fransisco World Spirits Competition
Best in Class - 2021 - SIP Awards
four grain
Our Four Grain Tennessee Straight Whiskey is made from a blend of two Davidson Reserve Whiskies: Tennessee Straight Sour Mash Whiskey and Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Every batch consists of a unique breakdown of each whiskey, creating a new, distinct taste profile with each release.
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Nose: Darkened Caramel with hints of fresh vanilla bean.
Palate: dried dates, raisins plums, and milk chocolate
Finish: White grape and herbal dry similar to a Chardonnay
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Corn, Wheat, Rye, and Malted Barley. Grain percentages vary by batch.
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Rich notes of deep caramel and sea salt dance with hints of fresh vanilla bean on the nose. Taste buds are treated with flavors of dried dates, raisins, and plums with a hint of milk chocolate. The finish is slightly dry with characters of a nice Oaked Chardonnay. Very light on the palate with a refreshing linger.
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Best in Class - 2021 - American Distilling Institute
Best Whiskey - 2021 - American Distilling Institute
Gold - 2021 - American Distilling Institute
Consumers’ Choice - 2020 SIP Awards
Gold - 2020 - Beverage Testing Institute
Gold - 2020 - SIP Awards
Rye whiskey
Our Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey is made with care to ensure that the true flavors of the grain are not overpowered by the flavors of the oak in which it is aged. The resulting rye is neither overly woody nor overwhelmingly spicy, rather a delicate balance of both, resulting in a bold, well-rounded flavor profile.
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Nose: Rich maple aroma, fresh tarragon, flowering thyme, and fresh baked snickerdoodles
Palate: Beautiful herbal notes of fresh thyme, coating, rye forward
Finish: Herbal explosion, long and evolving with flavors of spearmint, rye and candied apples
Fresh herbs lead into grandma's freshly baked snickerdoodles. The palate continues with beautiful fresh herbs of thyme and tarragon. There is no denying this rye whiskey! the finish is oh-so-long and evolves with flavors of spearmint, rye, and candied apples.
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100% Tennessee White Cereal Rye
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Gold - 2021 - San Fransisco World Spirits Competition
Gold - 2020 - Beverage Tasting Institute
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Created from a recipe of 100% Rye from Renfroe Farms, a third-generation family farm in Huntingdon, TN. Davidson Reserve Rye is a notably different product from most rye whiskey. We mash, ferment, and distill our rye whiskey in a process that allows the spirit to develop more candid, fruity flavors than the traditional, sharper spices that commonly exemplify rye whiskies.