Earl Scruggs Music Festival Introduces Spirits of Bluegrass Whiskey Experience

Mill Spring, NC (July 15, 2026) –– Earl Scruggs Music Festival is expanding its celebration of Appalachian culture with the debut of Spirits of Bluegrass, a brand-new whiskey experience arriving at this year’s festival, September 4-6, 2026, at Tryon International in Mill Spring, North Carolina.

Presented in collaboration with The Bluegrass Situation, Spirits of Bluegrass offers festivalgoers an opportunity to explore the longstanding connection between bluegrass music and Southern whiskey traditions through curated tastings, regional food, educational conversations, and immersive hospitality. Designed as a gathering place throughout the weekend, the experience celebrates the makers, stories, and craftsmanship that have shaped generations of Carolina culture.

Located within its own dedicated whiskey lodge, Spirits of Bluegrass will feature:

• Curated tastings from regional and nationally recognized distilleries
• Whiskey-forward craft cocktails
• Fireside conversations exploring Appalachian whiskey history and culture
• Smoke & Spirits BBQ offerings and regional food pairings
• The Cook's Mill Hi-Fi Lounge, featuring vinyl listening sessions presented by Citizen Vinyl
• Comfortable indoor and covered gathering spaces for guests to relax between performances

Participating distilleries include Oaklore Distilling Co., Cook’s Mill Whiskey, Defiant Whisky/Blue Ridge Distilling Co., and Still Austin Whiskey Co., with additional programming taking place throughout the weekend.

Guests ages 21 and older may purchase a Spirits of Bluegrass Tasting Pass, which includes weekend-long access to the whiskey lodge, five tasting tokens redeemable for beverage tastings or select food offerings, and access to exclusive programming throughout the weekend. Additional tasting tokens and whiskey-forward cocktails will also be available for purchase inside the lodge.

The debut of Spirits of Bluegrass continues Earl Scruggs Music Festival’s commitment to honoring the traditions that helped shape bluegrass music while creating new ways for attendees to experience Appalachian culture beyond the stage. The fifth annual festival, recently named the 2025 International Bluegrass Music Association Event of the Year, returns September 4-6 with performances from The Avett Brothers, Greensky Bluegrass, The Del McCoury Band, Béla Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart, Alison Brown, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, and dozens more.

Festival passes, Spirits of Bluegrass Tasting Passes, and on-site lodging are available now at EarlScruggsMusicFest.com.