Distillery Tour

By Debbi Harbour, Rally Liaison with help from the folks at Jack Daniels

It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it: spend the afternoon at the Jack Daniel's Distillery. I felt I was up to the task. Lynchburg, Tennessee is an unassuming place as you roll into town with a total population of around 500. The Jack Daniel's Visitors Center is the gateway into the facility with bits of history and lore scattered throughout the center. You are assigned a tour number and hook up with your guide. I knew this was going to be a riot when our tour guide gathered us together for a group picture. He announced that there were only two rules for this picture: "If you are playing hooky from work and you do not want your boss to know where you were, step away from the picture". Hmmm… no problem, I am the boss! Rule #2: "If you are here with someone other than your spouse, step away from the picture". Again no problem. My spouse knows where I am and is very jealous of that fact. These pictures as posted a day later on the Jack Daniel's website ( www.jackdaniels.com ). All tour guides are extremely knowledgeable about the facility and the process. As a business owner I am struck that most of the employees have been with Jack Daniel's for many years: says a lot about the company. Either they enjoy their job immensely or the fringe benefits are outstanding!

Whiskey Facts:

Mellow Out: Charcoal mellowing refers to a process used to make Tennessee whiskey, such as Jack Daniel's. This process involves slowly dripping the newly made whiskey through giant containers hard-packed with 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal. The process takes ten days, and during this time the whiskey absorbs the essence of the charcoal, refining the spirit and giving it a unique flavor and aroma.

Into Thin Air: As the whiskey ages, the whiskey barrels "breathe". Because of this phenomenon, somewhere between eight to ten percent of the alcohol volume will be lost to evaporation in the first year. Evaporation continues over subsequent years at a rate of four to five percent per barrel. A good whiskey is likely to lose approximately thirty percent of its original volume by the time it is ready for bottling.

Number One with a Barrel: Whiskey barrels are assembled from American White Oak, and that's because American White Oak just happens to have the right combination of compounds to create the tastiest whiskey. These compounds, referred to as such because they have really confusing names, are exposed when the insides of the barrels are charred by open flame. As the whiskey ages inside the barrel, the wood contracts and expands (as everything does) with changes in the surrounding climate. The whiskey is allowed to move in and out of the wood as this happens, and the exposed compounds mix with the whiskey. The mixing gives the whiskey a smoky flavor and an amber tint.

The pavillion at Jack Daniel's Distillery

Now you might ask, what is spending the afternoon at Jack Daniel's have to do with rally prep? Two years ago, Jack Daniel's built a pavillion on the hilltop above the distillery (see photos). This pavillion hosts special events and Friday luncheons catered by the people at Jack Daniels. Even though this pavillion closes at the end of September, the Jack Daniels folks have agreed to host a luncheon, just for our rally, on Friday, October 7, 2005. This luncheon will only be open to the first 400 rallygoers who sign up and consists of BBQ and southern fried catfish with all the fixins. You will be invited to eat, pitch some horseshoes, toss a few bungs, listen to the Barrel House Gang (a local band featuring tour guides who play authentic country and bluegrass music) or just enjoy the terrific view. You will also be invited to take a tour of the historic Jack Daniels Distillery and have time to wander downtown to purchase some souvenirs.

Signup for this event is over.

This is truly a taste of Tennessee and not to be missed!