Summary
In hindsight, it would have been prudent to devise a more structured plan for our visit to Lynchburg and the Jack Daniel’s distillery!
Tickets for tours can be purchased online, a detail I regrettably overlooked; there are specific departure times for the tours, which I also failed to verify in advance; and, certain tours tend to sell out rapidly!
To be candid, up until that very morning, I was uncertain whether we would even reach Lynchburg.
Partway through our journey, I came across a sign indicating the presence of a waterfall situated inside a mountain (Ruby Falls, if I’m not mistaken) and opted to make a brief diversion to explore it, only to discover that it involves a two-hour guided tour, hence I swiftly decided to return to the vehicle and continue our excursion to Tennessee.
Upon our arrival in Lynchburg (not before stopping for lunch at Five Guys – my inaugural experience at this restaurant in the US), we managed to time our arrival perfectly for the ‘dry’ tour.
A random observation: Jack Daniel was, in fact, quite a diminutive individual! Within the reception area, there is a photograph that displays his actual height, which is certainly worth a look to appreciate the full context.
The tour commenced by illustrating every facet of the production process that contributes to the distinctive Jack Daniels flavor, ranging from the Sugar Maple wood utilized to create the charcoal for filtering, all the way to the spring from which every drop of Jack Daniels worldwide originates.
Historical accounts suggest that Jack entered his office (his formal name being Jasper, but commonly referred to as Jack) in an attempt to access his safe, which unfortunately did not open (it is said that forgetting the combination was a frequent occurrence for him).
In a moment of exasperation, he kicked the safe, resulting in a broken toe that later became infected, and ultimately led to his demise from blood poisoning.
Continuing with the tour, we explored the distillery, pausing to observe the production process behind unfiltered Jack Daniel’s whiskey…
…and ultimately concluded our tour at the barrel area.
Ultimately, locations like this primarily exist in the realm of television shows and films for individuals in the UK, making visits to areas of Tennessee like this a delightful conclusion to an exceptional journey through this fascinating American state.
Your Essential Guide To Visiting Tennessee (And 1-Week Itinerary)
