Photos by RFR
We are fortunate to have whiskey drinking correspondents on all points of the earth. Here’s an exclusive tour of the Jack Daniels distillery, museum and a few back doors by Rigid Frame Richard.
–Banditto it as Lynchburg, Tennessee but these are the laymen that have not felt the “light”.
First rule – No Matter what direction you are coming from Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville or wherever. There is only one way to reach your destination. That is off highway 24. We rolled out of Nashville, and while I do not recall the highway number it is the Shelbyville exit! Shelbyville is the same exit where the walking horse competitions are held each year. There are stables around Shelbyville that make many residences look like a dumps.
The first part of the trip off off 24 is somewhat flat. After you leave Shelbyville and start down into the valley towards Lynchburg there is some very fine scenery.
The tour is unbelievable. You are taken into every building that has to do with the making of Jack Daniels. I just took last Tuesday and would enjoy it again today. There are so many things to experience and absorb, that it is hard to remember it all. It began with a group photo at the “Rickyard”, where the charcoal for the “Mellowing” process comes from, unfortunately they were not burning any of the “ricks” while we were there. I was there on the 20th of August & there were 20 group photos posted on the site for just a single day.
Jack Daniels died at an early age from kicking the safe in the original office one day because he couldn’t get it opened and got an infection. He had no children so he left the distillery to his nephew Lem Motlow, who only had daughters that were not interested in running a distillery.
It was then sold to an outside company with the one rule that if they ever changed anything about the distilling process the company would revert back to the Motlow family.
There have only been (6) Master Distillers in the 152-year history of Jack Daniels. Jack Daniels was number 1 & Jimmy Bedford is now number 6. To be a Master Distiller at Jack Daniels requires a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering, as well as 10 years studying under the previous Master Distiller.
During the distilling processes Jack Daniels is clear and 140 proof. The color comes from the barrels, which are only used once then are sold to other whiskey distillers, to wine makers or to the public at the “Barrel Store” in Lynchburg. There are some extremely nice things that have been made from Jack Daniels barrels such as Bars, Card Tables, Bar Stools, and even a trailers for motorcycles.
Gentlemen Jack is run through the “Charcoal Mellowing” process twice. That is what makes it even smoother.
Jack Daniels is a blend of different barrels, however they will come across barrels from time to time that the flavor is so rich as well as the color that it will sold under “Single Barrel” label. If you would like, you can purchase an entire barrel of “Single Barrel” Jack Daniels. It will cost around $9000 depending on your state fees & taxes. Apparently Washington DC has the best rates for this. Imagine that.
You can actually return to Lynchburg and choose your barrel from 4 candidates. This is the ONLY time you can have a drink at the distillery since it is a dry county. At that time it will be bottled (about 240) with a limited medallion with your name placed on each bottle. They are then boxed, stacked on a pallet, along with the empty barrel you choose. Which now has a brass plate on top with your name and the dates purchased and Jimmy Bedford signs the barrel. Then your name is placed on a wall along many others, such as George Strait & Arthur Anderson or someone who worked there. No wonder they can’t count. Then it is shipped to your house, what could be better in life, except a sweet honey refilling your glass.
Every barrel of Jack is aged four years in the “Barrel Houses” the one on site is only four stories tall. Many others exist around Lynchburg which are seven stories tall. No one batch of whiskey is kept in the same barrelhouse due to the fact that if there was some thing bad was to happen they don’t want to lose the entire lot.
There is also nothing wasted from the distillery. Everything is reused in some way from food for livestock made from the mash residue, to the charcoal being sold for use in Bar-B-Q pits. We are currently investigating this charcoal that has enjoyed 140 proof JD wash over it for days on end.
There are 3 different stories as to what “Old No.7” stands for and the only one that knew for sure died many years ago.
That is just some of what I learned. You can take the tour on their website, but it is so much better in person. It is worth going out of way. I did enquire how the small fortune I have invested was used in the betterment of the distillery? Still waiting on an answer.
Everyone Ride Safe & enjoy a glass of Jack Daniels at the end of your journey.
–Rigid Frame Richard
Note the barrel in the author’s livingroom.
