Tucked inside a working distillery just off the interstate in Clarksville, Tennessee, Old Glory Distilling Co. has quietly become one of the region’s most beloved family-owned dining destinations.
What began in 2012 as a young firefighter’s curiosity about how whiskey gets made has grown into a full-blown family operation, complete with a restaurant that locals now rave about almost as much as the bourbon.
This is a story about slow-smoked brisket, whiskey-spiked sauces, and a family that built something from scratch. 🥃🔥
How Old Glory Distilling Co. won Clarksville’s hearts
Old Glory Distilling Co. started as a concept in 2012, when founder Matt Cunningham, then just 22 years old and working as a Clarksville firefighter, became curious about the whiskey-making process during his downtime.
Cunningham’s father, who works in construction, helped physically build the distillery alongside Matt’s brother, and the operation grew from there into what is now widely considered a true family-run business.
His wife, Shannon, took the reins on developing the Old Glory brand and personally designed the on-site restaurant, which finally opened its doors to the public on February 19, 2024, bringing a full Southern comfort food menu to pair with the distillery’s house-made spirits.
The restaurant sits inside the same building where Old Glory grinds its own grain, ferments, distills, ages, and bottles every drop of whiskey, bourbon, and moonshine it sells, meaning diners can watch the process happening just steps from their table. 🌾
Every dish on the menu is made from scratch, and many recipes are built specifically to pair with the bold character of Old Glory’s own bourbons and cocktails, from smoky barbecue sauces spiked with Tennessee whiskey to a beurre blanc finished with a splash of the house spirits.
Word spread about the 16-hour white oak smoked brisket that anchors much of the menu, along with a rotating cast of comfort food classics that reviewers keep coming back for, again and again.
One recurring theme among diners is just how much of the menu gets smoked in-house over white oak, a slow process that gives the brisket, prime rib, and pulled pork their signature depth of flavor.
The restaurant also leans hard into its distillery roots by working real whiskey and bourbon into the food itself, not just the drinks, so a bite of the Chicken-Bourbon-Mac or a spoonful of Smoked Brisket Shepherd’s Pie carries a little of that same barrel character found in the cocktail menu.
Add in a working distillery tour, a lively Silo Park with firepits and live music, and a kitchen turning out genuinely craveable Southern food, and it becomes easy to see why families and first-time visitors alike keep making the drive out to Alfred Thun Road. 🎶
What started as one guy’s curiosity about whiskey eventually pulled in an entire family, and today Old Glory functions as a real Tennessee institution built one barrel and one scratch-made dish at a time. 💯
Food Highlights
- Prime Rib Egg Rolls: Eight-hour white oak smoked prime rib rolled with sharp cheddar and Swiss-American cheese, then served with house-made au jus and tarragon aioli for dipping.
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Oak Smoked Brisket: Smoked low and slow for sixteen hours over white oak, then finished with a Tennessee whiskey barbecue sauce, bread and butter pickles, and pickled red onions.
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Smoked Brisket Shepherd’s Pie: A comfort-food twist built with carrots, peas, onions, bacon, and Old Glory bourbon, all topped with mashed potatoes and a melted cheese blend.
- Butcher’s Block Burger: A double smash burger topped with sharp cheddar, balsamic-spiked grilled onions, seared thick-cut pork belly, roasted tomatoes, arugula, mayo, and house-made steak sauce.
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Southern Crispy Chicken: Hand-breaded fried chicken smothered in drunken gravy, served alongside mashed potatoes, collard greens, tomatoes, bacon, and green onions.
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Prime Rib Sandwich: Eight-hour smoked prime rib piled on a house-made hoagie roll with caramelized onions, arugula, tarragon aioli, and au jus on the side.
- Grilled Smoked Salmon: A lighter entree featuring smoked salmon finished with a beurre blanc sauce and a touch of lemon oil.
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Chicken & Shrimp Alla TN Vodka: Ziti pasta tossed with smoked chicken, seared shrimp, onions, and peppers in a Tennessee vodka cream sauce topped with asiago.
Atmosphere
Old Glory blends industrial and cozy in a way that rarely feels forced, with exposed beams, metal accents, and visible distilling equipment giving the dining room real character. 🏭
Step outside to Silo Park, and the vibe shifts entirely, trading polished dining for firepits, an open-air bar, and live music on weekends.
High ceilings and multiple seating areas keep the space from ever feeling cramped, even during a busy Saturday brunch rush.
It manages to feel special without ever feeling stuffy, which keeps families, couples, and groups all coming back.
Bottom Line
A genuine family story, sixteen-hour white oak smoked brisket, whiskey-infused Southern entrees, a working distillery you can watch in action, and a lively Silo Park with live music make Old Glory Distilling Co. an easy Clarksville favorite worth the drive. 🥃🔥
Address:
451 Alfred Thun Rd, Clarksville, TN 37040
📞 (931) 919-2522
🕔 Open Mon–Thu 11 AM–10 PM, Fri 11 AM–11:30 PM, Sat 10 AM–11:30 PM, Sun 10 AM–10 PM