JACK DANIELS

In the town of Lynchburg, Tennessee, lies the story of Jack Daniel’s, an iconic American whiskey known for its “Extra Blessing”. The distillery was founded in 1866 by Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel, who learned the craft from Nearest Green, an enslaved African American man. After emancipation, Nearest became the distillery’s first master distiller, and his legacy remains integral to the brand today.

A line of master distillers has shaped the brand since, including Jess Gamble, Frank Bobo, Jimmy Bedford, Jeff Arnett and, today, Chris Fletcher. Gamble and Bobo turned Old No. 7 into an American icon, while Bedford introduced Gentleman Jack, further cementing the brand’s reputation. Arnett expanded the range with innovations such as Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey in 2011, and Fletcher now balances that heritage with new ideas.

At the heart of every bottle is the Lincoln County Process, also known as charcoal mellowing. The new whiskey comes off the still at 140 proof and slowly seeps through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal, made on site, over three to five days. This gentle, gravity fed process gives the whiskey its signature smoothness and is what makes it a Tennessee Whiskey rather than a bourbon. It is this “Extra Blessing”, together with the people, history and craft behind it, that sets Jack Daniel’s apart.

Chris Fletcher

Chris Fletcher was named the eighth Master Distiller of the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in 2020. He had previously served for six years as Assistant Master Distiller, and is now responsible for the overall quality of Jack Daniel’s from “grain to glass”, as well as innovation, and serves as a global ambassador for the brand. Born and raised in Lynchburg, Fletcher is carrying on a family tradition as the grandson of former Master Distiller Frank Bobo, who held the role from 1966 until his retirement in 1989.

“It’s an honour to be named Master Distiller here at Jack Daniel’s and join a line of folks who’ve made the best whiskey in the world,” said Chris Fletcher. “Over the last 17 years, I’ve been able to learn and work alongside so many talented whiskey makers, and I am very grateful for the mentors I’ve had, including Jeff Arnett, who taught me so much. Our distillery and team here in Lynchburg are the best in the business, and I cannot wait to continue to work with them crafting the world’s favourite Tennessee Whiskey.”