07/23/2026
Let's take a minute to talk about the history and heritage of Tennessee Whiskey by bringing one family to the forefront.
The founders of Leiper's Fork Distillery go back 7 generations in Williamson County. The Locke family roots started getting real deep in 1805.
Mr. Sam Clay Brook Locke, in December of 1924, became a Federal Prohibition officer. Yep! You read that right. He personally had a hand in disrupting the operations of what was called the Williamson County Whiskey Ring by having 70 plus stills destroyed. On March 7, 1925 leaders of that ring ambushed ol Sam and shot him in which he succumbed to his injuries. If you wanna really get into a whiskey tour, head on up to Franklin, Tennessee to Sneed Road and go pay homage to the family legacy at the historical marker placed.
Thanks to keeping with family culture and history, Founder and Chief Distiller Lee Kennedy spent a couple years working to amend the Williamson County law which paved the road for his dreams legally opening a distillery come true.
In the words of Lee and his wife Lynlee:
Out mission has remained singular and steadfast; to resurrect the lost art of authentic, small-batch Tennessee Whiskey. Since filling out first barrel, we have committed ourselves to honoring the craftsmanship that once defined whiskey making in the hills of Middle Tennessee.
We are a family-owned, award-winning distillery producing whiskey on a deliberately small scale. Inefficient by design.
Our low-volume, low-impact approach allows for uncompromising attention to detail at every stage of production. Each drop of our whiskey is 100% mashed, fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled by our own hands, to our own exacting specifications. Producing approximately 25,000 gallons annually, we are, by definition and by choice, a true small-batch distillery.
Using quality local grains, pure limestone-filtered water, and time-honored techniques, we craft premium whiskeys with a distinctive sense of place.
In a world increasingly driven by mass production and fleeting trends, we remain steadfastly authentic, guided by tradition, fueled by passion, and focused on quality above all else.
From grain to glass, we pour our heart and soul into every bottle, proudly carrying Tennessee’s whiskey legacy forward for the next generation.
