Chattanooga Whiskey Launches Bad Chattanoogan Tennessee Whiskey
Chattanooga Whiskey has put actual records in the barrel. Bad Chattanoogan is believed to be the first whiskey of any kind finished with toasted maple wood records, and it is also the distillery's first Tennessee whiskey. The release went public on Friday, October 23, at $64.99 for a 750mL bottle, and it comes in two versions, Side A and Side B, like a vinyl record.
Did You Know?
The records are real wood: 30 discs cut from solid sugar maple, toasted for 24 hours and laser-engraved with two original songs about Chattanooga.
Every bottle includes a playable 4-inch Tiny Vinyl hangtag with both tracks, even though Side A and Side B are sold separately.
Chattanooga Whiskey's Experimental Distillery is described as the only standalone experimental distillery in the country.
The Release
Most music-themed whiskeys use music as inspiration. Bad Chattanoogan uses it as an ingredient. The maple records sat inside the barrels with the whiskey for 30 days, so the wood finish comes from the same discs that carry the songs.
The result is two vinyl-inspired blends, Side A and Side B, each finished with its own song.
The songs were written by Rich Abercrombie, Chattanooga Whiskey's Creative Director and frontman of the band Dollars Family. Both are tribute songs about Chattanooga.
Under the record finish is a straight Tennessee whiskey. "Straight" generally means a whiskey aged at least two years with nothing added. This one is drawn from three high malt mash bills, made primarily from Tennessee-grown grain. It was mellowed through sugar maple charcoal, a step that defines Tennessee whiskey, and aged more than four years in oak. It is bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV).
The launch began with an intimate 75-person listening party at the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery on Thursday, October 22. Public sales started the next day. Quantities are limited, and bottles are available on Seelbachs.com and in stores across Tennessee in the coming weeks.
The Story of Chattanooga Whiskey
Chattanooga Whiskey was founded in 2011 and challenged the laws to win the right to distill whiskey in Chattanooga for the first time in 100 years.
That fight led to the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery, which the company calls the only standalone experimental distillery in the country. It now welcomes more than 50,000 visitors a year and acts as a hub for pushing craft whiskey in new directions.
Over more than a decade, the brand has put out more than 50 experimental releases. Bad Chattanoogan is the first of those to carry the Tennessee whiskey label, which makes it a milestone for a distillery known for trying new things.
Why It Stands Out
Finished and "experimental" whiskeys are common. A finish built from engraved, toasted wood records that also play music is not. The record-themed packaging and the playable Tiny Vinyl give collectors a reason to pick up both sides. At $64.99 for a 100 proof, four-plus-year-old Tennessee whiskey made largely from Tennessee grain, it should draw interest from drinkers as well as collectors.
The Details
Style: Straight Tennessee whiskey, finished with toasted sugar maple wood records
Age: More than four years
ABV/Proof: 100 proof
Mash Bill: Three high malt mash bills, primarily Tennessee-grown grain
Cask/Finish: Oak aging, sugar maple charcoal mellowing, then 30 days with 30 toasted, laser-engraved sugar maple records
Release Size: Limited quantities (exact number not stated)
Price (SRP): $64.99 for 750mL
Availability: Seelbachs.com and stores across Tennessee in the coming weeks
US Availability: Sold in the US through Seelbachs.com and Tennessee retailers; no wider rollout has been announced
Release Date: October 23, 2026
Quick Answers
How much does Bad Chattanoogan cost? It is priced at $64.99 (SRP) for a 750mL bottle.
What proof is Bad Chattanoogan? It is bottled at 100 proof, after more than four years in oak.
Where can I buy Bad Chattanoogan? Limited quantities are available on Seelbachs.com and at stores across Tennessee in the coming weeks.
What is the difference between Side A and Side B? They are two separate blends, each finished with its own original song. Both are sold separately, and each bottle includes a hangtag with both tracks.
Tonights Poison Take
Bad Chattanoogan works as both a liquid and a collectible. The Tennessee-grown grain, charcoal mellowing and four-plus years in oak give it a solid base, and the record finish adds the novelty. Collectors may want to grab both sides while the limited run lasts.
Bar Talk: This is a Tennessee whiskey finished with toasted maple records that were engraved with songs and left in the barrel for 30 days.
Send this to the friend with the vinyl collection and the whiskey shelf, and tell us which side you would pick.
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About the author: Jas Sawhney (Tonights Poison) has spent 18 years in the beverage alcohol industry and shares new releases, tastings and spirits news as @tonightspoison on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Please enjoy responsibly.
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