Collier and McKeel facts for kids

Collier and McKeel is a special kind of Tennessee whiskey. It's made in Nashville, Tennessee. The company started in 2009. It was founded by Mike Williams. He was a state representative. Later, a group from California bought the brand. But the whiskey is still made in Nashville.

The Story of Collier and McKeel

How Whiskey Makers Came to Tennessee

Long ago, in 1794, there was a "Whiskey Rebellion" in Pennsylvania. President George Washington stopped it. Two whiskey makers, William Collier and James McKeel, worried. They feared similar problems in their states. So, they moved to Tennessee. They used their skills from Scotland and Ireland. They started making their own sour mash whiskey.

Centuries later, the Collier and McKeel story began again. Mike Williams is a descendant of these original makers. In 2009, he helped pass new laws. These laws changed how whiskey could be made in Tennessee. Before this, whiskey could only be made in three counties. These were Coffee, Moore, and Lincoln counties.

Starting the Distillery

Mike Williams opened the first Collier and McKeel distillery in 2009. It was in an old building in Nashville. The first whiskeys were ready in 2011. They were aged in small barrels. The company made Tennessee whiskey. They also made a cinnamon whiskey, vodka, and "white dog" whiskey. White dog is also known as moonshine.

Moving and Growing

In 2012, Collier and McKeel moved its distillery. It moved to a new place in West Nashville. This place was called Speakeasy Spirits. Speakeasy Spirits used Collier and McKeel whiskey. They mixed it with other flavors. This created a drink called Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Cream. A Nashville chef helped make this recipe.

In 2013, Collier and McKeel made a big agreement. They partnered with The Vintner Group. This helped them sell their whiskey in more places. Their whiskey became available in states like Maryland, Delaware, and Florida. It also reached Washington D.C.. Mike Williams said this was a "major move" for the company. In 2014, he announced the sale of Collier and McKeel. It was sold to North Coast Spirits.

Making the Whiskey

Special Ingredients and Process

Collier and McKeel Tennessee Whiskey uses a special recipe. It's made from corn, barley, and rye. These ingredients come from local farms. They also use water from Big Richland Creek. This water is filtered through limestone. The creek is on the Williams family farm. This farm is in Humphreys County.

The whiskey is filtered using the Lincoln County Process. This is a special method. Most Tennessee whiskeys must use it. Collier and McKeel changes the method a little. They pump the whiskey slowly through charcoal. Other distilleries often let it drip by gravity.

Aging and Awards

The company first used small barrels for aging. But in 2013, they added larger barrels. These were the traditional 53-gallon size. Mike Williams said that time is very important. But the small barrels helped them age whiskey faster at first. After 2013, they focused on the larger barrels. They made only a limited amount of whiskey in small barrels.

The brand also got a new label. It showed "Pappy," their large copper still. It also featured Big Richland Creek and a rustic barn. Each bottle even had Mike Williams' real thumbprint.

Collier and McKeel's unaged white dog whiskey won an award. It received a silver medal in 2012. This was from the American Distilling Institute. Wine Enthusiast magazine also liked their Tennessee Whiskey. It gave it a score of 92 in 2016. They rated it "Best of Year."