Hidden Gems: Meet Jeff and Jenny Pennington of Pennington Distilling Company

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff and Jenny Pennington. 

Hi Jeff and Jenny, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
We started our as friends and classmates years earlier at Franklin High School. As kids, we would hang out in groups and meet at local spots and movie theaters. 

When we first started dating, we worked for competing liquor distributors, a big no-no in the booze biz. When things got serious, we told our bosses and quit to start our own marketing business.  We built the company, sold it, and got married. 

Around the same time, Tennessee changed its laws to make it easier for distilleries to open. We soon launched our own dreams in the sprits industry.  Pennington Distilling 

Company was founded in 2011.  We proudly craft Tennessee Whiskey, vodka, and sipping cream. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like everyone else, Covid has been our biggest challenge. From pivoting to making hand- sanitizer, maintaining our full-time staff, servicing our restaurants and bars, to the supply chain issues we have seen many firsts in business.   We are thankful that we have a great team and we are adjusting as best we can during these trying times all while focusing on delivering a great product as well as launching new ones. 

We’ve been impressed with Pennington Distilling Company, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
From hand-selecting local farmers, gathering the best non-GMO grain, and remaining committed to “grain to glass,“ to aging whiskey in oak barrels, combined with their unique and flavorful spirit recipes, the Pennington brands are not only fan loved but also award-winning. Our brands have garnered over 69 awards to date in competitions such as the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the International Wine and Spirits Competition, SIP Awards, Beverage Tasting Institute/Tastings.com, American Distilling Institute. 

For almost ten years, we have worked diligently to bring the finest alcoholic beverages to the ever-changing and highly competitive spirits industry. Our Pennington Distilling Company family of brands includes three proprietary mash bills Davidson Reserve Tennessee Straight Sour Mash Whiskey®, Davidson Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey®, and Davidson Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey®. Davidson Reserve Four Grain® and Davidson Reserve Genesis® are both Tennessee Straight Bourbon whiskeys created by blending small batches of these mash bills together. 

Pickers Original Vodka® with additional fruit-infused flavors which include Blueberry, Blood Orange, and Pineapple; Pickers Unplugged Vodka Soda in assorted low calorie, zero carbohydrate, and gluten-free flavors; Pickers Crafted Cocktails in assorted flavors; Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Cream, (Cream Liqueur made with Tennessee Whiskey) available in Whisper Creek Original® Tennessee Sipping Cream®, Mocha, Peanut Butter Chocolate and Pumpkin Spice Flavors; and Walton’s Finest Vodka® which is named after Jenny’s father and made with 100% Tennessee red winter wheat. 

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Our son means the most to us now and the family we have created because that is what life is truly about for us. 

Contact Info:

• Email: https://youtu.be/TFNl9O5dbc4
• Website: www.penningtondistillingco.com