Corsair Artisan, Nashville

Before Corsair Distillery began earning rave reviews and winning awards for its artfully crafted, small-batch spirits, the company was a home-brewing project run by childhood friends. After fussing around with beer and wine recipes, Darek Bell and Andrew Webber decided to focus on whiskey, so they began studying distilleries like it was their job—and soon thereafter, whiskey was their job.

Corsair Distillery specializes in craft spirits, from its artisan gin to its red absinthe to its quinoa whiskey, which won gold at the 2013 International Review of Spirits Awards. Patrons can learn about the unique distilling processes and taste the boozy results during tours of the company's multiple distillery locations.