On the Friday after Thanksgiving, The Guest House at Graceland is hosting a Southern dinner that pours a moonshine with every course, from the first plate to dessert. The menu leans on familiar holiday dishes, and the pairings add the twist.
Chef Mario Torres presents dishes such as butternut squash bisque with an apple moonshine gastrique and herb-roasted heritage turkey with a moonshine-maple glaze. The Southern Thanksgiving pie comes drizzled in bourbon-moonshine caramel. The glasses hold South Mountain moonshines, from Watermelon Jalapeno to a Peanut Butter Banana Moonshine Julep with dessert.
The King’s Table Pairs 6 Courses With Moonshine
The King’s Table: Feast & Shine is a six-course dinner on Friday, Nov. 27, at 8 p.m. in the TCB Showroom at The Guest House at Graceland. Guests must be 21 or older, and seating is limited.
Master Distiller Big Nick Calo of South Mountain Distilling Company joins moonshiners Benny “Tater” McClure and The Legend JB Rader to share the stories behind the moonshine. Hank Nightshade plays live music during the dinner.
More Christmas at Graceland
Graceland and The Guest House have several other holiday events on the calendar this season:
- Graceland starts the season on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. with the free Holiday Lighting Ceremony, which also streams live. Comedian Matt Mathews, an Elvis fan, flips the switch on Elvis’ holiday lights. Guests can get free photos with Santa afterward at the Enesco Gift Shop and Gallery on the Graceland campus.
- New this year, Graceland Unwrapped: After Dark is a one-night-only experience at Graceland Mansion on Nov. 19, with an after-hours look at Christmas in Elvis’ home. Expert guides share stories and artifacts along the way.
- The Guest House hosts a holiday feast on Thursday, Nov. 26, with live music from Hank Nightshade. The menu covers Thanksgiving dishes such as Southern cornbread dressing and green bean casserole, and the hotel recommends reservations. Take-home dinners serve six to eight, with orders due Nov. 25 at 4 p.m.
- Daily afternoon Christmas tours run from Nov. 19 through Dec. 23, with live guides sharing stories of Christmas with Elvis at Graceland. On Wednesday through Sunday nights during the season, small-group Ultimate VIP Christmas Tours add a personal guide and photo stops at the mansion.
The Holiday Decorations Stay Up Into the New Year
If the dates don’t fit your plans, the decorations stay up through Elvis’ birthday on Jan. 8. Graceland installs them the week before Thanksgiving, and inside the mansion they include Elvis’ traditional red velvet drapes and multiple Christmas trees. A life-size nativity scene and Santa with his reindeer sit on the front lawn.