The Spirits of Tradition Come to Main Street

Pour Me a Drink

By Courtney Tate | Photography by Rebecca Martin

It’s been a long-time coming, but it’s been worth the wait! Leiper’s Fork House of Spirits is now open.

An extension of the well-known Leiper’s Fork Distillery, the House of Spirits brings the unique combination of a distillery and cocktail bar to the heart of downtown Franklin. Located on Main Street, the House of Spirits continues the legacy started by the flagship distillery—serving high-end premium whiskeys using local ingredients, time honored pre-Prohibition techniques and pure limestone filtered water, resulting in superior whiskeys with a signature taste. It’s a true grain-to-glass premium experience. Combine that with intentionally curated cocktails, and the result is a blend of innovation with tradition that’s a natural extension of the Leiper’s Fork Distillery brand.

Owners Lee and Lynlee Kennedy have poured their hearts and souls into this new venue, just as they did with the distillery. Every detail has been thoughtfully and carefully considered. Asked "why the wait," the Kennedys shared "it was important to us to take the time needed to pay attention to all the fine details so this would be an experience unlike any other." From the hand-painted gold-leaf painted sign in the window to the artwork reflecting the time-honored history and Tennessee tradition of whiskey-making, no detail has been overlooked. Designed by Chisel Workshop, a local architect and interior design firm owned by Amanda and Ben McCreary, the design details align with the firm’s vision to craft thoughtful spaces that are comfortable, inspiring and tell unique stories. From that vision and design, custom builder Wes Kennedy brought it all to life in what you now see. Brother to owner Lee Kennedy and part-owner himself, Wes took ensured that the physical end result aligned with the vision imagined by all—to maintain the philosophy of the distillery, simply with a different vibe.

While the focus may be on the drinks, the bites should not be overlooked. In partnership with Circa Grill, the menu boasts the same sophisticated Southern cuisine with a creative twist that Williamson County residents have come to know and love from Circa’s Thompson’s Station restaurant, making it a perfect fit to bring a passion for Southern fusion food alongside a passion for a Tennessee whiskey-making passion. From country sliders to Cajun shrimp bruschetta, your taste buds will not be disappointed.

The location of House of Spirits within the vibrant downtown Franklin setting reflects the owners’ passion for the downtown Main Street community. Though many locations were considered, Main Street fit their desire to expand the Leiper’s Fork Distillery brand and to bring the distillery experience to tourists who may not yet know about Leiper’s Fork - but who will after a visit. Lee shares that “whiskey-making is woven into the cultural fabric of Tennessee. We honor that tradition in our flagship distillery and wanted to bring the experience of that tradition to Main Street too." And if you walk by and happen to notice the copper pot still sitting in the window, make sure to come in and ask the story. Whether it’s date night, girls’ night out or an evening for the gentlemen, come in, have a drink and sit a while—it’s been worth the wait.

Want a first look? Join the ribbon cutting on August 21^st from 4pm to 6pm at Leiper’s Fork House of Spirits, 334 Main Street in downtown Franklin. Come raise a glass, take it all in, and see what the wait was all about. Visit leipersforkdistillery.com to learn more.