The Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg Tennessee (pop 361) is America’s oldest registered distillery. Situated in the heartland of America and discovered over 150 years ago by Jasper Newton Daniel (Jack to his friends). The site has been blessed by nature, perfect to produce his world famous spirit, with the most simple of philosophies, “Every day we make it, we’ll make it the best we can”.

So what is the real difference between Bourbon and Scotch and why does Jack Daniel’s class itself as a Tennessee whiskey? The main difference between bourbon and scotch are the barrels used for aging and the amount of corn (Native American grain) used in production, a minimum of 51% for American Bourbon. Also one of the big factors is the climate in which both are made, affecting the final outcome dramatically. Jack Daniel’s meets all the criteria for bourbon so can still be classified as one. It is also a Tennessee Whiskey because of a special “final blessing”; charcoal mellowing, a process experimented and perfected by Jack himself and since copied by countless distilleries.

Lets talk about how exactly a bottle of Jack comes to be and how art meets science. No other premium distilled spirit is a made by using the same combination of ingredients or processes.

Firstly we need six high quality ingredients; Golden corn (no. 1 food grade), malted barley, rye, sour mash, pure yeast and the finest quality spring water filtered through natural limestone with not a trace of iron, perfect for making whiskey.

A quick look at the process; firstly the miller makes the perfect mix of corn and rye. Cave spring water is then added, cooked a little and cooled, followed by the addition of barley malt, sour mash (a little fermented mash from the previous run), then Jack Daniel’s private yeast strain. Fermentation then takes place (over 5 days) followed by distillation in 100 ft tall copper pot column stills (10 gallons of mash make 1 gallon of whiskey). It is a slow hands on process and every drop is created there at the distillery unlike any other of the world’s top 5 premium spirits.

The spirit then receives the “Final blessing” (charcoal filtration), a 10 day process. This is where Jack Daniel’s becomes something bourbon, scotch, or Irish whisky can never be, a genuine Tennessee whiskey.

“Feeling out the run” is Master distiller Jimmy Bedford only the 5th in Jack Daniel’s long history after the man himself. Ten generations of history and hand made processes ensure what you see is what you get and each drop is made slowly and carefully. This painstaking philosophy has kept Jack Daniel’s as the world’s largest selling premium American spirit for decades.

Brand new American white oak must be used (by law) to make the barrels which then must be charred and toasted inside eventually giving the whiskey the vanilla notes and the colour. These barrels, as they are only enabled to be used once, are then sold to the Scottish Whisky industry. Extreme temperature change in Tennessee help circulate the spirit in and out of the barrels over time heightening and enriching Jack Daniels flavour and at the same time gentles its overall character. All the American sugar maple and white oak is grown and farmed within view of the distillery and all the charcoal for filtration is carefully made at the brickyard and sawmill along with the barrels. Another step Jack Daniel’s take ensuring they are in complete control.

Get to know another side of Jack

Old Fashioned (Old Formula)
Created at the Pendenis Club, Louisville, Kentucky: "There are more recipes for this classic than waves in the ocean".

1 sugar cube
1 dash Fee Original Bitters
15 ml Still mineral Water
60 ml Jack Daniels Single Barrel

Drop sugar cube in base of old fashioned glass and coat with bitters.
Add water and muddle. Half fill glass with ice and pour over 30ml Jack.
Stir very well untill sugar is nearly disolved. Repeat process. Add a twist of lemon and a cherry.

Bourbon Smash

Glass - Collins
Garnish - Lime wheel

Recipe:

60 ml Jack Daniels
8-12 fresh raspberries
4 fresh torn mint leaves
90 ml Oceanspray Cranberry juice
30 ml freshly squeezed lime juice
15 ml Sugar syrup
2 dashes Fee Brothers Origional Bitters

Method:

Muddle berries in shaker. Add remaining ingredients. Shake well with ice and strain Into an ice filled Collins glass ( highball or tall glass)