Thursday, December 9, 2010 4:46 pm

Short Mountain Distillery is pleased to announce securing $1 million in capital investment for a planned spirits manufacturing facility in Cannon County near Woodbury.

The financial commitment comes weeks after a local group gained the support of voters through a county wide referendum in November. Voters in every precinct voted to allow the distillery to be built and operated on Short Mountain.

"Today's $1 million investment shows our commitment to the people of Cannon County and the state of Tennessee," said local farmer Billy Kaufman. "We are now a big step closer to building an American brand we can all be proud of."

The financial commitment to the distillery by Billy and his brother David Kaufman will help create jobs and promote sustainable agriculture and business practices that focus on work with local farmers and businesses.

"Our investment is not just in a building and a product," said David Kaufman. "It is also an investment in quality, hard work and values that have always made our country strong."

The Kaufmans are the great grandsons of Jesse Shwayder, the founder of iconic American brand Samsonite 100 years ago in 1910. Their grandfather, Louis Degan, brought Samsonite to Murfreesboro, TN where it employed many Middle Tennessee families for decades.

Short Mountain Distillery will produce Tennessee corn whiskey and moonshine in an area famous for distilled spirits for over 150 years. Moonshine from the hills of Cannon County was praised in song by Uncle Dave Macon on the Grand Ole Opry's 1939 television debut and other stars of country music. Cannon County boasted close to 20 operating distilleries in the 1800s.

Get more information about Short Mountain Distillery at our website: http://shortmountaindistillery.com or follow our progress on Facebook.