BEDFORD COUNTY, Tenn. — Southern, middle Tennessee – particularly Moore, Lincoln, Coffee, and Bedford counties – sits atop a limestone-rich shelf that naturally filters water, making it ideal for distilling. Add to that fact, the region’s rolling hills, cool springs, and abundant corn crops, and it’s no wonder that early settlers both Scotch-Irish immigrants as well as African and Caribbean enslaved people found it the perfect place to lay the groundwork for what would become one of America’s most iconic spirits: Tennessee whiskey.

It’s in that spirit – no pun intended – that Lynchburg’s own Motlow State’s recently launched a new Distilled Spirits Program, which is now available to students registering for their fall 2025 courses. Core classes in the Distilled Spirits Program will take place on the grounds of the Nearest Green Distillery. Students will begin their degree by taking Introduction to Distillery Operations, Spirits Production I, and Food and Beverage Regulations this fall.

Distillery Operations will instruct students on how to select equipment and maintain a high standard of production. Distillers must be able to think about the operation as a whole while also considering the minute details that work together to create the final product. Participants will learn about energy resources, production calculations, evaluation techniques, proofing, and blending considerations. This course will also cover barrel wood selection, barrel construction, bottling, brand development, and regulatory compliance.

Spirits Production I will take students back in time as it gives a history of whiskey and how the south made its mark in the industry. This course discusses the variety of distillation processes as well as the maceration, filtration, and finishing methods that make each type of whiskey unique and contribute to the flavor.

Food and Beverage Regulations will enable students to keep their industry safe and running smoothly by teaching them current workforce guidelines. Topics include product safety and quality, storage and processing standards, required licenses and certifications, and interacting with regulatory agencies.

These three courses cover a broad selection of topics necessary to thrive in the field. They work together to create a well-rounded base that students will be able to use as a foundation as they progress through the degree. An Associate of Applied Science in Distilled Spirits is a terminal two-year degree that gives graduates the option of transferring directly to the workforce upon completion rather than transferring to a four-year institution like MTSU’s Fermentation Science Program.

Nestled in the same footprints as those original distillers, Motlow State’s 11-county service area is in the prime location to give students many opportunities in the field.

To learn more about Distilled Spirits and how you can be one of the first students in the nation’s first two-year Distilled Spirits degree, contact Program Director Bruce Boeko at bboeko@mscc.edu. To become a student, visit Motlow.edu/apply. •

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