Question: Which pre-Revolutionary War distillery in North Carolina was revived at the same location in 2014 by its owners’ descendants?
Answer: Old Nick Williams Distillery was founded as Williams Distillery in 1768 by Joseph Williams in what is now Lewisville in Forsyth County. Williams, who served as a colonel during the Revolutionary War, established the distillery on an 8,000-acre land grant for producing whiskey initially for medicinal and personal use, which grew in demand over time. The “Old Nick” brand name was introduced later in the 1800s by his descendants, and the distillery name was later changed to Old Nick Williams Distillery.
The operation remained family-run across generations until Prohibition forced its closure in the early 20th century, with a failed revival attempt in the 1930s. The distillery was successfully revived by descendants in 2014 and now operates in the same location, hosting tours and tasting events, and selling vodka, rum, whiskey, and bourbon.
