I am sitting in The Shed sipping on some Jack Daniel's purchased in Lynchburg. This means I am cooler than you.
HA!
Great GREAT time in Lynchburg today! Spent too much money by far. Thank you Lynchburg for making it so easy to give you my money.
My trip today to find the distillery was kind of interesting. I saw more advertising to visit Rock City and Ruby Falls than I did directions or even signs to Jack Daniel's. I actually thought that I was lost until I saw this sign:
Of course, BIG sigh of relief!
I was very surprised at just how unassuming the entire place is. If you aren't paying attention, you'll drive right past the distillery without noticing. Anyway, the first thing you notice are big signs stating you are NOT to bring bags or backpacks into the place. They are posted everywhere. Also, the whole place was decorated for Christmas. The visitors center dominated the area and completely distracted me from looking anywhere else. Inside, there were several different displays to peruse while waiting for the tour to begin.
DISCLAIMER: The following account is what I remember from the tour. There may be multiple inaccuracies, but I'm pretty sure this is what happened. ALSO, I happen to love this place and am going to put as many details as I can remember from the tour. This post may read like a history lesson so I apologize. For anyone already getting bored, just scroll to the end for a sideshow of the pictures.
I was in a group of about 20 people, and our tour guide's name was Bruce. We watched a short video that basically covered everything we were about to see, and then went outside for a picture. A short bus drive us to the top of the hill, and we began our tour!
The first place was the Rickyard where... something... is heated using pallets made from white oak. The pallets are burned using 140 proof whiskey because they don't want vapors from anything else getting into the mix. There are a great deal of factors involved in the whiskey making process, and everything is about as natural as they could make it.
We walked away from the Rickyard, passing some old fire engines from the 1920s. They are located directly beside the spring that Jack Daniel found when he was 13. Jack set up shop and registered the distillery, making it the oldest distillery in the United States. The spring water is the basis for all the whiskey made at here. Bruce informed us that the spring has never run dry in all the years the distillery has existed.
The statue just outside the spring is an artist's rendition of Mr. Daniel, and Bruce shared the fact that JD was actually only 5'2". Beside the spring is the oldest building on the property where Jack's office was.
Inside this office is the infamous safe that is credited with being the death of JD... apparently he got to work early one day and for some reason, became enraged enough that he kicked the safe. Infection set in, causing multiple amputations, and eventually the death of Jack.
During the next part of the tour, we were NOT allowed to take pictures inside the building. Bruce said something about whiskey vapors damaging electronics, but I believe the reason is much simpler... they don't want their secrets (my phone autocorrected that word to severus) to accidentally get out.
Anyway, the first building we entered dealt with adding that spring water to the various grains used. All I really remember is that the grains are fermented, and after their use, they are sold to farmers for battle feed. "Lots of happy cows in Lynchburg!"
Outside this building, some evidence of the whiskey vapor danger can be seen on the trees surrounding the area. The black mold grows on everything.
The next building was where they ran the spring water/grain mix through 14 feet of charcoal, drop by drop. This process is what makes the whiskey specifically "Tennessee Whiskey." Bruce had us get to noise level with the charcoal bins and told us to first smell and then get a taste of the whiskey as he lifted the lid of the bins. The smell that hit was incredible and taking that taste of air was almost like drinking the stuff.
The drops take 24 hours to get through the charcoal, and afterward, it's placed in a barrel. The distillery has coopers (barrel makers) on staff. Part of the belief of the JD crew is that the barrel contributes to the taste of the whiskey. They use white oak, and refuse to use glue or nails so that nothing interferes with that taste.
If it's run through the charcoal twice, it becomes Gentleman's Jack. Whiskey that has a particularly good taste and deep color is bottled separately all at once. This becomes the Single Barrel whiskey, and only the Master Distiller can classify it as such. People can buy one of these single barrels for almost $10,000.00, and those who do get a plaque with their name and number of barrels purchased placed in the bottling plant.
At the end of our tour, we were given some old fashioned lemonade and invited to visit the White Rabbit Bottle Shop. The distillery is in a dry county so only the bottles are sold (the whiskey is free!). I bought two different bottles and received a special label to place on each.
After the tour, I drove to historical Lynchburg to so some other shopping. I was surprised because a few of the stores were closed and stated they were only open Wednesday through Saturday. Gus got a present from me, and that pretty much ended the day.
Here's that slideshow I promised (sorry... no music this time!):
HA!
Great GREAT time in Lynchburg today! Spent too much money by far. Thank you Lynchburg for making it so easy to give you my money.
My trip today to find the distillery was kind of interesting. I saw more advertising to visit Rock City and Ruby Falls than I did directions or even signs to Jack Daniel's. I actually thought that I was lost until I saw this sign:
Of course, BIG sigh of relief!
I was very surprised at just how unassuming the entire place is. If you aren't paying attention, you'll drive right past the distillery without noticing. Anyway, the first thing you notice are big signs stating you are NOT to bring bags or backpacks into the place. They are posted everywhere. Also, the whole place was decorated for Christmas. The visitors center dominated the area and completely distracted me from looking anywhere else. Inside, there were several different displays to peruse while waiting for the tour to begin.
DISCLAIMER: The following account is what I remember from the tour. There may be multiple inaccuracies, but I'm pretty sure this is what happened. ALSO, I happen to love this place and am going to put as many details as I can remember from the tour. This post may read like a history lesson so I apologize. For anyone already getting bored, just scroll to the end for a sideshow of the pictures.
I was in a group of about 20 people, and our tour guide's name was Bruce. We watched a short video that basically covered everything we were about to see, and then went outside for a picture. A short bus drive us to the top of the hill, and we began our tour!
The statue just outside the spring is an artist's rendition of Mr. Daniel, and Bruce shared the fact that JD was actually only 5'2". Beside the spring is the oldest building on the property where Jack's office was.
Inside this office is the infamous safe that is credited with being the death of JD... apparently he got to work early one day and for some reason, became enraged enough that he kicked the safe. Infection set in, causing multiple amputations, and eventually the death of Jack.
During the next part of the tour, we were NOT allowed to take pictures inside the building. Bruce said something about whiskey vapors damaging electronics, but I believe the reason is much simpler... they don't want their secrets (my phone autocorrected that word to severus) to accidentally get out.
Anyway, the first building we entered dealt with adding that spring water to the various grains used. All I really remember is that the grains are fermented, and after their use, they are sold to farmers for battle feed. "Lots of happy cows in Lynchburg!"
Outside this building, some evidence of the whiskey vapor danger can be seen on the trees surrounding the area. The black mold grows on everything.
The next building was where they ran the spring water/grain mix through 14 feet of charcoal, drop by drop. This process is what makes the whiskey specifically "Tennessee Whiskey." Bruce had us get to noise level with the charcoal bins and told us to first smell and then get a taste of the whiskey as he lifted the lid of the bins. The smell that hit was incredible and taking that taste of air was almost like drinking the stuff.
The drops take 24 hours to get through the charcoal, and afterward, it's placed in a barrel. The distillery has coopers (barrel makers) on staff. Part of the belief of the JD crew is that the barrel contributes to the taste of the whiskey. They use white oak, and refuse to use glue or nails so that nothing interferes with that taste.
If it's run through the charcoal twice, it becomes Gentleman's Jack. Whiskey that has a particularly good taste and deep color is bottled separately all at once. This becomes the Single Barrel whiskey, and only the Master Distiller can classify it as such. People can buy one of these single barrels for almost $10,000.00, and those who do get a plaque with their name and number of barrels purchased placed in the bottling plant.
At the end of our tour, we were given some old fashioned lemonade and invited to visit the White Rabbit Bottle Shop. The distillery is in a dry county so only the bottles are sold (the whiskey is free!). I bought two different bottles and received a special label to place on each.
After the tour, I drove to historical Lynchburg to so some other shopping. I was surprised because a few of the stores were closed and stated they were only open Wednesday through Saturday. Gus got a present from me, and that pretty much ended the day.
Here's that slideshow I promised (sorry... no music this time!):
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