Jack Daniel's
May 15, 2026
/ 5 mins
Jack Daniel's Distillery
Founded in Lynchburg Tennessee in 1875, Jack Daniel's produces a Tennessee whiskey known for it's oaky, sweet and smooth character. Filtered through charcoal for a smooth, mellow taste, there is a reason Jack is the biggest selling Tennessee whiskey (and second biggest selling American whiskey) in the world.
Did you know?
Nobody knows when Jack Daniel was born. His tombstone says 1850, but official records show his mother passing away in 1847.
| Region | Tennessee |
| Founded | 1866 (maybe 1875) |
| Ownership | Brown Forman |
| Style | Sour Mash Tennessee Whiskey |
| Cask Regime | New American oak barrels (200L) |
| Flavour Profile | Sweet and oaky |
History
Jack Daniel's was founded in 1866 (or 1875) and has weathered the storms of Prohibition and World War II to become the second biggest selling American whiskey in the world.
Started by Jack Daniel, a man of Welsh, Scottish and Irish descent, he learned distilling from the slave of a local priest. The enslaved man, "Uncle Nearest" would become Jack's first ever Head Whiskymaker.
After WWII, Jack started to gain favour among celebrities like Frank Sinatra and infamy for its popularity among the heavy metal scene and motorcycle gangs. There's a reason it resonates so widely, it's extremely tasty whiskey.
These days it is a powerhouse in the world of whisky famed for its Old No. 7 Brand.
Jack Daniel learns distilling
Jasper Newton ('Jack') Daniel leaves home and learns the art of whiskey making from Reverend Dan Call and an enslaved man named Nathan "Nearest" Green. Jack would later hire Nearest as the distillery's first head distiller.
Jack Daniel Distillery founded
According to Brown Forman the Jack Daniel Distillery is officially established in 1866 making it the first registered distillery within the United States. A later biography indicates the land and deed records show the distillery was not founded until 1875.
Jack stubs his toe
Jack Daniel breaks his toe kicking a safe out of frustration. This injury worsens and would eventually lead to Jack's death.
Lem Motlow takes ownership
Jack leaves his land and distillery to his nephew Lem Motlow.
Prohibition
The Volstead Act is ratified and production ceases as the distillery can't legally sell its stocks.
WWII
The distillery shuts down to redirect resources to the war effort.
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel is launched
The first ever Jack Daniel's single barrels are bottled.
Jack Daniel's launches a 10 year old
Jack Daniel's 10 Year Old launches. A 12 year old follows in 2023 and a 14 year old in 2025.
Myth Busting
The myth: Jack Daniel's is produced in a dry county.
The reality: Moore County is classified as a wet county. This means you won't find a liquor store, but you will be able to find restaurants selling beer and you'll get a sample after your tour of Jack Daniel's distillery. The staff will also be more than happy to sell you a bottle if you make the pilgrimage.
Whisky Style
Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey is famed for its balance of rich oaky flavour with a bold yet mellow style of new make spirit. A mashbill of 80% corn introduces a richness and sweetness to the spirit, while 8% rye brings spice and 12 % malted barley brings weight. This means it is mouth coating, sweet and has an oak intensity that will punch through many a cocktail.
During fermentation, some of the spent grains from previous batches is introduced to kickstart the process. This "sour mash" process introduces complexity and also helps to achieve consistency.
Distillation happens in copper column stills taking the spirit up to 70% ABV. This high ABV ensures the whiskey is smooth, but leaves more than enough room for the complexity of flavour delivered by the mash bill.
The spirit is filtered through charcoal in the Lincoln County process before entering a new oak cask for maturation. Think of this process as rounding off any rough edges. The whiskey will then sit in new American charred oak barrels for a minimum of 4 years. In here it gathers all of its rich colour (American whiskies don't add colouring) as well as developing it's intense oak spice and vanilla sweetness.
Distillery Process
Jack Daniel's distillery has a couple of standout processes that make their spirit unique. The first is the sour mash process of introducing spent grains from previous batches into the fermenters to achieve complexity and consistency. The second is the charcoal filtering process where every drop is filtered through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal. This is part of the mellowing process. The charcoal is made on-site and filtration takes 3-5 days.
Previous Whisky Club releases
The Whisky Club has featured 7 expressions from Jack Daniel's including 5 single barrels bottled exclusively for our Members.
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
1997 saw the first ever release of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel bottlings. Each one contained the content of a singular barrel from their rickhouses, selected for their unique flavour profile and ability to shine on their own.
Bottled in 2021, this Whisky Club Single Barrel reminded us of smoky bacon, pineapple , orange zest and cookie dough.
Try this if you like Old No. 7.
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Age: NAS
ABV: 64.5%
RRP: $150
Read more: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel II - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Our first JD Single Barrel sold out so fast, we had to ask Chris Fletcher, Master Distiller at Jack Daniel's, to find us another one, and boy did he deliver.
Bottled in 2023, this one showed flavours of tropical and exotic fruits, honey and spices.
Try this if you like Jack in any form.
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel II - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Age: NAS
ABV: 64.5%
RRP: $160
Read more: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel II - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel III - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Back for a third pick from the Jack Daniel's rickhouse, this one was like Old No. 7 on steroids. It had all the notes we know and love in a great glass of Jack, but dialled up to the max. This one was bottled in 2024 and selected by our Members.
We found notes of banana, fruitcake and white chocolate raspberries.
Try this if you like picking out unqiue flavours in limited releases.
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel III - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Age: NAS
ABV: 62.5%
RRP: $165
Read more: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel III - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Jack Daniel's Bonded Rye
Jack Daniel's Bonded Rye signalled a new mash bill on the books at Jack Daniel's distillery. 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% barley in the mashbill signified a desire to create something spicy, rich and full bodied. Bottling at 50% ABV doubled down on this desire. Like all Jack it is mellowed through charcoal and aged in new Ameican oak charred barrels.
We found notes of toffee, vanilla and chocolate with spice dialled up to eleven.
Try this if you like Belgrove.
Jack Daniel's Bonded Rye:
Age: NAS
ABV: 50% ABV
RRP: $100
Read more: Jack Daniel's Bonded Rye
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel IV - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
After a year out, we selected our 4th JD Single Barrel in 2025 exclusively for our Members. This one showcased Jack's slightly darker side.
We found notes of blackcurrant, dark cherry, vanilla and toasted oak.
Try this if you like Blantons
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel III - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Age: NAS
ABV: 62.5%
RRP: $165
Read more: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel IV - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Jack Daniel's 10 Years Old Batch 4
Jack Daniel's is best known for it's Old No. 7 brand. We'd go as far to say it is in almost every single bar in the world. They also have a treasure chest of older aged stock. This was the first batch of age statement Jack to ever hit Australian shores.
Using the same mashbill as Old No. 7, Batch 4 was aged in new charred American oak casks for a decade.
We found notes of soft fruits, tobacco, baking spices and butterscotch.
Try this if you like American whiskey or Scotch from a new oak cask.
Jack Daniel's 10 Years Old Batch 4
Age: 10 years old
ABV: 48.5%
RRP: $150
Read more: Jack Daniel's 10 Years Old Batch 4
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel V - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Back for 2026, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel V allowed us to highlight the banana, tropical sweetness in a great Jack Daniel's.
We found notes of spiced banana bread, toasted almonds and orange sherbert.
Try this if you like Maker's Mark
Jack Daniel's Single Barrel V - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Age: NAS
ABV: 62.5%
RRP: $165
Read more: Jack Daniel's Single Barrel V - created exclusively for The Whisky Club
Jack Daniel's FAQ
What is Jack Daniel’s?
Jack Daniel’s is one of the world’s most recognisable American whiskey brands, produced in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The distillery is best known for its Tennessee whiskey, defined by the Lincoln County Process and a distinctive balance of sweetness, oak, and charcoal influence.
When was Jack Daniel’s founded?
Jack Daniel's was founded in either 1866 or 1875 depending on who you speak to. Many recognise that it is America's oldest registered distillery with records going back to 1866, but a prominent biographer claims the deeds for the buildings and land date back to 1875.
Where is Jack Daniel’s made?
All Jack Daniel’s whiskey is made in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
What makes Jack Daniel’s a Tennessee whiskey?
Tennessee whiskey must meet the legal requirements of bourbon and undergo an additional step known as the Lincoln County Process. This process, which distinguishes Jack Daniel’s from bourbon, involves slowly filtering new-make spirit through thick layers of sugar maple charcoal before barreling. It must also be made in Tennessee.
What is the Lincoln County Process?
The Lincoln County Process filters the spirit drop by drop through approximately three metres of sugar maple charcoal. This softens the whiskey before it enters the barrel, contributing to Jack Daniel’s signature smoothness.
What grains are used in Jack Daniel’s whiskey?
Jack Daniel's mashbill for Old No. 7 is 80% corn, 12% malted barley and 8% rye.
For their Rye they use 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley.
How is Jack Daniel’s matured?
Jack Daniel’s whiskey is matured in new, toasted and charred American oak barrels, made in-house at the distillery’s own cooperage. Barrels are typically stored in multi‑storey rackhouses, where temperature variation influences flavour development and complexity.
Does Jack Daniel’s produce limited or single‑barrel releases?
Yes. In addition to its core range, Jack Daniel’s regularly releases Single Barrel, Barrel Proof, and special-edition whiskeys that showcase variation in cask character, proof, and maturation location. The Whisky Club has featured 5 single barrels and JD Rye as well as their rare as hens teeth 10 year old.
Has The Whisky Club released Jack Daniel’s before?
Yes. We have selected 5 x Jack Daniel's Single Barrels as well as the Jack Daniel's 10 Year Old Batch 4 and the Bonded Rye release.
Is Jack Daniel’s just for mixing, or can it be sipped neat?
While Jack Daniel’s is a classic choice for cocktails, many expressions are designed for sipping neat, on the rocks or with a small amount of water to explore their full flavour range. The complex mash bill and new American oak casks ensure the flavour profile is strong enough to work with many mixers. That's why Jack and Coke is such a popular highball.
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