Page Updated: September 06, 2023
Marathon Village
Marathon Motor Works - Nashville TN
On a chilly overcast day, we spent some time back in the city checking out the historic complex of Marathon Motor Works and sampling Tennessee whiskey. The historical cotton mill turned auto manufacturing plant is now occupied by a series of eclectic shops and various tasting rooms. Popping from shop to shop, visitors can view the heavy machinery and assorted parts that give the complex its history and industrial vibe. Several distilleries on site offer tours in addition to tastings. Tours should be booked in advance to ensure a spot.
Our favorite of the bunch was Nelson’s Green Briar Distillery. The tasting room is large enough to spread out and enjoy the experience without being on top of other patrons. The samples are smooth and presented well, but the seasonal Mulled Fashioned is phenomenal. Highly recommend if visiting in the holiday season.
By comparison, the tasting room at the Tennessee Legend Distillery was a zoo. This spot had the largest selection of flavors to chose from, and visitors were elbow to elbow all the way around the bar top.
All the flavors we sampled were good with our favorite being the Salted Caramel. But overall, the experience felt rushed and we wouldn’t return.
Corsair Distillery and Taproom is the only venue we visited in Marathon that offered food, and pizza was the only option. It’s also the only venue offering gin. Still, hitting this spot at lunch meant it was packed and there was a significant wait time. But, in a wise design choice, the Corsair tasting room sits separate from the taproom allowing for easy access to the tasting experience.
Wine lovers can drop by the Grinder’s Switch Winery tasting room complete with wine tastings, cheese pairings, and wine slushies. We popped in to see what it was all about, but since we were in the whiskey lane, we skipped tasting here. Calm atmosphere with plenty of merchandise to browse while you sample.
Marathon Village is a unique spot to check out, and it’s conveniently a designated stop with Old Town Trolley Nashville!
-b&b
Braodway
Christmas at Gaylord Opryland
