Arriving in the home of country music, Mark Bibby Jackson discovers how much of Nashville Tennessee and its surrounds you can see in 24 hours.
Day 1: Big Machine Brewery and Distillery
I have had many travel experiences in my time, but never have I made my own Bourbon. Once I did create my own wine in California, but never bourbon. This is the experience awaiting me at Big Machine Brewery and Distillery.
The distillery was founded by Scott Borchetta in 2015. Borchetta made his money by signing Taylor Swift for Big Machine Records in 2005. With cash to burn he decided to set up his own distillery. This produces Borchetta Bourbon as well as Tennessee whiskey.
On the Borchetta Bourbon Blend Your Own Bourbon Experience you are given a choice of red, white, and blue heirloom corns; I opted for the red manly due to the colour. Then my guide Josh provided me with a selection of bourbons to taste. After an arduous process I chose three whiskies to mix. According to Josh three whiskies provides greater depth than two.
Having made my selection, Josh tapped whiskey from barrels and poured them into a bottle, which he corked and sealed. It was a great experience, at the end of which I walked away with my own bottle of bourbon, which had been engraved as the ‘Hairy Traveller.” It has to be said this is a strong whiskey, but it’s mine!
Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
If my first Tennessee whiskey tour was a bit gimmicky, the second is anything but. Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery tour takes you through the history of the distillery as well as the process of making Tennessee whiskey before naturally concluding with a tasting.
The distillery has a unique story. It was first established by Charles Nelson in Green Brier in the late 19th century. He adopted the strange policy of informing everyone of his recipe. The idea was to convince the public that his whiskey was safe, not moonshine peddled by traders. It was so successful that by 1885 he was selling around two million bottles, and had just about cornered the market.
Prohibition put an end to all this. And the family tried to hide any trace of their sinful business. So, when Andy and Charlie Nelson decided to open their own distillery, they had little knowledge of their whiskey heritage. It was only when they visited a butcher’s in Green Brier that the full scale of the family’s former business became apparent. They even managed to discover two of the original bottles and the recipe.
All this information is provided by Jacob Nelson (no relation), who also explains the difference between Tennessee whiskey and bourbon. While the former passes all the requirements to be considered a bourbon, namely American, stored in an unused charred oak barrel and at least 51% corn, the latter also has to be distilled in Tennessee and use the sugar maple charcoal filter which makes it cleaner than bourbon, although sometimes less complex in flavour.
On the tour we try the original Tennessee whiskey, 110 years after it was first concocted, as well as more recent whiskies which were some of the finest, we tasted during our tour.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Nashville is not just about whiskey. Dubbed the Music City, Nashville has music flowing out of the pores of each bar, especially on a Saturday night. It also has the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which is very similar in feel to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame I visited in Cleveland a couple of years ago.
I must admit to being a novice as regards country music. Before entering the museum, my knowledge was limited to the Blues Brothers’ both types of music: country and western gag. So, I was intrigued to see how the music was integrally linked with the development of other types of music such as blues and rock.
The museum has sections on both music genre as well as memorabilia, such as Hank Williams guitar, although I think the standout feature was Elvis’ dream car.
After this I just had time to visit the Frist Art Museum, which is located in the beautiful art deco former post office. The museum does not have a permanent collection, but during my visit there were exhibitions on French Impressionists as well as, In Her Place, which features 21st century female artists in Nashville. I was particularly impressed by the work of Barbara Bullock, a Tennessee artist who was new to me.
We dined at Philippe Chow Chinese restaurant; when in Nashville … Perhaps an unusual choice but the food was excellent, especially the amazing sea bass, and the atmosphere was really buzzing. The manager is from Italy and there was an Italian dimension in the choice of wines: a Barolo and a cabernet Sauvignon from Puglia, as well as the dessert which had cheese cake inside candy burned in front of us, which was quite spectacular and in keeping with the spirit of Nashville. It was the best meal of our trip.
Night in Nashville
Nashville’s night-life is full on. I saw more hen nights than I have had hot dinners; well, Chinese hot dinners in Nashville at any rate.
The action congregates around Broadway in the Honky Tonk area of time. There’s no need to ask for directions, just follow the sound.
Earlier in the day my uber driver Misty, who had moved here from Texas and “just loves Nashville”, explained you just walk along the street and pop into a bar listen to the band “and if you don’t like them pop upstairs and listen to another one”.
Despite this advice, I was not quite prepared for the experience. Hordes of revellers spilled out onto the street. The music was loud and on the rock side of country.
I must admit to being transfixed like a rabbit being introduced to headlights for the first time. Despite the sirenesque alure we decided to head down Printer’s Alley which had been recommended to us as a little quieter than Honky Tonk.
There we encountered Tanner Clyne playing at the Countrypolitan, the most amazing bar inside the Hotel Indigo Nashville. Taylor Clyne and his colleagues played the most wonderful Bluegrass. I sat even more transfixed than I had been on Honky Tonk. There music was full of vitality and power, but with an underbelly of suffering; perfect for me. There was no cover charge. All we did was buy some beers which we nursed through their excellent set.
Day 2 : Franklin
The following morning, we returned to Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery for me to take more photos as my battery had run out (rooky error). This allowed us to explore the surrounding area.
Across the road was an impromptu church where they were playing country rock religious music. Along from it was the Marathon Motor Works. Founded in 1881, it has been converted into an artistic hub with a coffee shop, grocer’s tattoo parlour and inevitably a Tennessee whiskey distillery, which has a reputation for being rather experimental. It is a great example of how previous industrial spaces can be created into creative communities, just like I had seen in my previous road trip in Buffalo and Cleveland.
In addition to being a vibrant city, Nashville is also blessed to be close to some beautiful towns, including Franklin, a 30-minute drive from the Music City.
We had brunch at Pucketts, a traditional southern restaurant. We took advantage of the clement weather to eat outside where I had my first catfish fried in a breadcrumb batter with fried green tomatoes.
Leiper’s Fork
A short drive from Franklin, Leiper’s Fork has only been distilling for 10 years but has won several awards in that time. We tasted both bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, as well as white spirit straight from the barrel, which I would only recommend to confirmed alcoholics.
But the whiskies tasted just fine as did a Hillsboro, which is their take on an Old Fashioned. I had a short tour of the beautiful distillery located in a barn, which uses pre-prohibition techniques. In the yard out back, Krystal King was playing country music. And the sun was shining.
It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and a beautiful way to conclude our 24 hours in Nashville, city of music, bourbon and Tennessee whiskey.
Where to Stay in Nashville Tennessee
Mark stayed in the Hotel Fraye, part of the Hilton’s Curio Collection. My room had great views of uptown Nashville. There was also a pool area with lots of space to lie outside and a large gym. The hotel has a couple of bars; one of which is near the pool and the other in the lobby. This being Nashville, a singer was playing during our stay.
Where to Eat in Nashville Tennessee
The food at Philippe Chow Nashville was excellent. Certainly, the best Chinese food I have eaten in Tennessee; well, it is the only time, but still the food was really good. Its downtown location between Honky Tonk and Country Music Hall of Fame makes it the perfect location to plan your line of attack for the night. Make sure you try the sea bass.
Things To Do in Nashville Tennessee
For more information on what to do in Nashville Tennessee in 24 hours or longer, got to the Nashville Music City website.
Holiday Extras
Mark flew from London Heathrow to Washington DC. He parked his car at Heathrow Terminal 5 through Holiday Extras: the market leader in UK airport parking, hotels, lounges, and transfers. In 2025 its customers saved an average of £200 per trip by booking their airport parking in advance. He also stayed overnight at Hilton Hotel at Heathrow Terminal 5.
Booking an airport hotel with parking means you can enjoy more holiday with less hassle – and can actually cost less than booking airport parking alone. One night at the Hilton with 22 days parking is available for £327.65 based on arrival on 18 May. He also arranged access at Club Aspire at Heathrow T5 (available for £50 based on arrival on 18 May). With Flextras, if you need to cancel or amend you can without charge for wither lounge, hotel or parking. For more information and to book, HolidayExtras.com or call 0800 316 5678.
*All costs supplied are the cheapest available rates for the product specified and therefore availability may be limited at this price. Prices are correct as at 30/03/2026.
