Corsair Artisan Distillery is a small-batch distilling company that operates in Nashville, Tennessee, US. It was originally founded in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in January 2008. The distillery is owned and operated by Derek Bell and Andrew Webber, who are both distillers and natives of Nashville. Corsair Artisan Distillery is known for its production of innovative spirits, which include buckwheat whiskey, quinoa whiskey, malted and smoked whiskies, multi-grain bourbons, barrel-aged gin, red absinthe, naturally flavored vodka, and spiced rum.
Childhood friends Webber and Bell began their journey into homebrewing beer and wine in Bell's garage. They initially encountered challenges while working on a biodiesel plant prototype, which led Webber to propose focusing on whiskey production instead. The distillery officially commenced operations in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 2008. Due to their strong connection to Tennessee, the owners established a second location in Nashville in 2010, making Corsair the first legal craft distillery in Nashville since Prohibition. Embracing the ethos of "Innovate or Die," Corsair has ventured into creating numerous experimental products, incorporating unconventional grains such as quinoa, spelt, triticale, and buckwheat, along with various hop variations. Notably, their quinoa whiskey gained recognition and was featured on the 393rd episode of the cooking show, Chopped.
Corsair expanded further by opening a third location in the Wedgewood/Houston neighborhood of Nashville in 2016. This move allowed them to increase production capacity and utilize the WeHo site for additional office space and barrel storage, effectively designating it as their headquarters. The Bowling Green distillery was subsequently closed on August 31, 2018, as Corsair focused on expanding its two Nashville locations and achieving national distribution.
In March 2020, Corsair undertook a rebranding initiative to facilitate wider distribution and streamline its product line, resulting in changes to spirit names and proofs. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the distillery garnered attention for producing hand sanitizer, which was donated to healthcare facilities in substantial quantities.
Corsair is committed to encapsulating the essence of Nashville by utilizing resources from Bell's local farm, including their own malthouse and smokehouse. They offer tours at their Nashville locations to showcase their craft spirits and local craft beers.
As of 2018, Corsair had manufactured a total of 28 distinct types of spirits. Presently, the availability of these spirits may vary, with 11 typically offered for sale. Additionally, there are six varieties classified as seasonal or experimental, while 11 have been discontinued.
In 2018, the company reported that its spirits had received over 800 medals at national and international spirits competitions.