Tennessee Cider Company — Attraction in Gatlinburg

When you visit Gatlinburg, Tennessee, you will be presented with a good deal of things to do, from amusement parks to museums to aquariums, and more. Shopping, food and drink are also part of the package and as you browse the store fronts and look for souvenirs and other things, you may stumble upon a place in the Mountain Mall offering free cider tastings. The establishment is Tennessee Cider Co.

I discovered Tennessee Cider one afternoon while I was walking down the street, waiting for my family members to finish up their activity. Like many people, I was drawn in by the offer of free cider and found it too good to pass up. Cider isn’t my favorite type of booze, but it can be very good if done right so I walked inside, stepped up to the bar, and asked to do a taster.

What I discovered is that the free tasting includes four basic ciders but you can go with the extended plan and get more. This is what I recommend. Stopping at only four is going to make you curious to keep tasting and the cost is minimal so go ahead and taste. Some of the flavors I tried when I was here include golden apple, pineapple, blueberry, watermelon, caramel apple, and spiced apple. I liked every one of them, with the golden apple rating as my personal favorite. Ciders can often have excessive bite and dryness, but these ciders were not like that. And while they leaned in a sweet direction, they were not excessively sweet in any way.

To help make your tasting as memorable as possible, Tennessee Cider pairs you up with a member of its knowledgeable team. They will fill you in on the different flavors, the process, the history of the establishment, and most anything else you would like to know. Having such a knowledgeable staff made a huge difference and I did learn quite a bit about Tennessee Cider and its place in the local booze scene.

Gatlinburg has much to offer the curious tourist and Tennessee Cider is certainly a place you don’t want to miss. They sell bottled ciders to go and once you taste what they offer, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if you end up buying a few bottles for later enjoyment. Tennessee Cider Co was one of the highlights of my Gatlinburg visit and a place I recommend...

As a local full-time blogger and photographer for a set of locally owned hotels in the Smokies part of my job is to find the best spots in town to recommend to our guests. With that said, Tennessee Cider Company in downtown Gatlinburg is one of my favorite spots to stop in at when I'm doing rounds in town. I absolutely love the open air entrance, the tunes playing always put me in a good mood - even if I'm just passing by, the tasting room is always spotless and clean, guests are always enjoying themselves and every interaction that I've ever had with staff has been positive and a pleasure. They offer $5 VIP tastings but I can promise that you'll also be leaving with at least a few bottles and probably even a cozy hoodie this fall. Tennessee Cider Company is an exceptional business that is locally owned and operated by a lifelong Tennessee resident that has clearly poured his heart and passion into not only TNCiderCompany but also his sister company, Tennessee Homemade Wines. I've been recommending both companies to thousands of folks visiting the Smokies for quite sometime now and today I wanted to pass the recommendation on to those outside of my radar as well as give the TNCiderCompany and TNHomemadeWines staff the recognition that they've certainly earned. Stop in when you're in town, or if you're in the Sevierville area - stop by their Tanger Outlets location and you'll find the best of both worlds under one roof at their newest location in the Smoky Mountains. One stop and you'll have a couple new favorites here in the hills...

I stopped into Tennessee Cider Company on a recent trip to Gatlinburg and had a great time. The vibe was laid-back and welcoming, and the staff made it easy to relax and enjoy the experience. Special shoutout to Ryan Rees, who was behind the bar—he was super friendly, helpful with recommendations, and just made the whole visit better.

The tasting setup is great: you can try a couple samples for free, or pay a modest fee to taste through everything they have on tap, including some fun seasonal options. Every cider I tried was solid, with the Peach Mimosa and the Black & Blue standing out as favorites for their refreshing, well-balanced flavors.

The Pumpkin Pie cider was definitely a seasonal highlight—sweet, spiced, and festive. I really liked it, though I think it would be even better with just a little less flavoring to avoid the candle-like aftertaste. Still, it’s a cozy fall drink worth trying.

All in all, this is a spot I’d definitely recommend if you’re in Gatlinburg. Between the friendly service, the variety of flavors, and the relaxed atmosphere, conscience of access close to Anakeesta and Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Tennessee Cider Company is an easy stop...