This challenge invites us to share a photo of something which says, “Mine,” and I immediately thought of a photo I took four years ago, whilst visiting the Jack Daniel’s distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. We did a road trip from New York to Florida, and then flew to Columbus Isle for a week. On the drive back, we stopped off at Chattanooga for the night, and the next morning decided that as we were in the area, we’d go and see how whiskey is made.
I had no idea what to expect, and don’t even drink whiskey, but the tour of the distillery, was so interesting.
We had a larger than life guide, who went by the name of ‘Bubba.” I found his southern accent, absolutely fascinating. Here he is in Jack’s original office.
I learned that Jack ‘s first name was ‘Jasper’, and that he was only 5’2″ tall. He died in 1911 from a blood infection, which he got after injuring his toe by kicking the office safe in a rage, because he couldn’t remember the combination to open it.
Born in 1850, he was one of 13 children, and when his father remarried after his wife’s death, Jack went to live with a neighbour, Mr. Felix Waggoner who introduced him to Mr. Dan Call, a preacher/bootlegger. At only seven-years-old, Jack started work in Call’s store, and so his career began. He was very interested in whiskey-making, and was soon made a full partner in the business. When Jack was thirteen, Mr Call decided that he needed to devote more time to his preaching, and sold the business to Jack. Word soon spread through the town about Jack’s wonderfully smooth and mellow whiskey, and he had to find an abundant source of iron-free limestone water, to keep up with the demand. The discovery of this cave, gave him a non stop flow of spring water, and in 1866, the Jack Daniel Distillery, became the first registered distillery in America after the Federal government began to regulate and tax all whiskey making operations.
With this water, and a special charcoal mellowing process, Jack made his now famous Tennessee whiskey, and the process hasn’t changed in all these years. At twenty-one, he went into the city and bought a knee-length frock coat and a broad-brimmed planter’s hat, which became his everyday uniform from then on.
In one building, the smell of the raw ingredients, was really overpowering, and in another, we got to see and smell the whiskey as it was filtering through the ten feet of hand-packed charcoal. One could get drunk just on that smell. 🙂
The Barrel House was the best part of the tour.
Here we saw rows and rows of oak barrels full of whiskey. The barrels are all made on site, and each barrel is used only once. The empty used barrels are shipped off to producers of Scotch whiskey, who use them multiple times. (The Scots are renowned for their miserliness and penny-pinching.) 😀
This one caught my eye, being labelled “This is MINE!” I don’t know who scrawled that message, but I think it fits the challenge really well. 🙂
Just in case you decide to visit the Jack Daniels distillery, let me warn you that there are no free samples. Lynchburg is a ‘dry’ county, so all we got at the end of the tour, was lemonade, which didn’t worry us one bit, as we don’t like whiskey. 🙂
To see links to more takes on the challenge, just click here.
Jack’s stories are awesome. Glad you included about the hat as well. 😀 I can’t believe that a water source cave has something to do with a liquor history. Very fascinating! I got so hooked. And I sooo would love to meet Bubba.
Thanks so much, Rommel. I’m glad you enjoyed my tale. 🙂
Wow, I enjoyde this a lot!! It is so interesting!
Thanks, Zirkie. 🙂
Thanks for the tour! I really enjoyed that. I don’t know anything about liquor, now I see why the boys here are fussing about Jack Daniels, haha!
Yes, I also know nothing about liquor, but some people are very fussy about their whiskey. 🙂
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This was a really interesting post – and a lesson in good reasons to mind your temper 🙂
Thanks, Tilly. A parable. 🙂
What a fascinating story… and Bubba took the ticket for me… 😆 Love this one! 🙂
Bubba was a real character and a half. Perfect in the job. 🙂
Ouw fabulous story – Tennessee whiskey. You’re right… This is MINE .. it fits with the theme 😆 … hemm Whisky 😛
Thanks so much. Glad you liked it. 🙂
I’m on first name terms with Jack as well!
Hehehe. Hope he’s keeping well. 🙂
Very cool entry for Mine, AD!
Thanks, Amy. 🙂
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AP do you think anyone saw you writing “This one is mine” on that barrel?
Hahaha! As if I would do graffiti, Marco. 🙂
What you say and what you do are 2 different things, lol. It’s a better hobby than setting things on fire, for instance, lol. Really loved your post btw, got carried away and forgot to mention that part. Thank you.
Thanks for your vote of confidence, Marco. 🙂
Anytime!
Wow! I got hooked looking at the exciting trip at Jack Daniels distillery. What an amazing history. The source of what and the preparation of the old days were truly fascinating. Have a great week.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed your tour and history lesson. 🙂 The spring water in that cave is still used today, and the distilling process hasn’t changed since the 1800’s. I think that’s amazing.
Loved the tour….
Glad you did. 🙂
Enjoyed your tour, AD. And after showing Jeff, he’s ready for a road trip! Thanks. I LOVE road trips.
Great post. Salute! ( with wine :-).)
Me too, Gemma. We’re hoping to do another road trip from Florida to New York at Christmas. I’ll also stick to my half a glass of wine. 🙂
This was a wonderful visual tour. The information was enjoyable to read. I loved the small tid bits about how he died and about his height. I don’t drink Jack Daniels either but I have lots of friends who do. I will have to talk about this at the next cocktail party. I will look so smart. Of course, I will say I learned it all from you. Thanks for posting.
Toodles,
Izzy
Thanks so much, Izzy. I’m so glad that i could help you out with your dinner table talk. 🙂
Well done, Ad. I love the history lesson – I can’t imagine how painful it would be kicking a safe! 😀
Thanks, Dianne. Jasper’s bad temper was his undoing. 😦
I wonder if the person who claimed that barrel actually got it!
The scrawl looked very old, Gilly. I wonder who did it.. 🙂
I love this post interesting history about Jack Daniels!
Thanks so much, Stefan. Have a lovely day my friend. 🙂
I love this post. How informative and nice. Now, remind me not to kick anything in rage – not good for the toe, not good for life. 😉
Thanks, Imelda. Bad temper can be one’s undoing, for sure. 🙂
We saw some of the barrels when we were at Edradour 🙂
Hehehe. So you know I wasn’t telling fibs. 🙂
The JD ad used to be my favourite ad on TV 😉
🙂
Hi AD, great trip and apt pic. Isn’t that Bubba caught in the photo of you in front of the entrance 😀
Thanks so much, Chris. Yes, you’re right; Big Bubba was waiting for us. 🙂
Similiar experience for me – just happened to be in the area of JD a couple of years ago on vacation and decided to do the tour. We had a great tour guide too. Some of the same photos ops. I remember her saying every employee gets a fee bottle of JD w/ their paycheck! Thanks for the memories.
Yes, our guide told us about the Christmas box, but he said that he was teetotal. 😆
What a great photo essay for the challenge. I love that barrel. Nice!
i don’t, as a rule drink. But when I do, Jacks and water is always the first choice 😉
A good example of mine 😉
Thanks so much, 68. That photo was stuck in my brain computer, just waiting for an opportunity to show itself. 🙂
AWESOME (sorry,nothing else came close to it!)
Totally permissible, Steve. 😀
Very clever take on the theme and a really fun post.
Thanks, Gunta. 🙂
Really like that barrel with the declaration of ownership!
“Bubba” Ha! How did he ever come up with that name?!? 🙂
We have a few Bubbas here in SC.
Several years ago we bought half JD barrels to use as flower pot planters. The smell of the whiskey was still quite strong.
Thanks, Phil. Yes, I guess you must have a few Bubbas there. 🙂 I hope your flowers flourished in those whiskey soaked barrels. 🙂
When I saw “mine”, the first thing that popped into my mind was “strike”, hehe. That’s a really good take on the challenge, I love the barrel that’s been scribbled on. 🙂
Well, being South African, it’s quite understandable. 😆 Mine is a loaded word here.
A curious business, distilling ‘whiskey’ as opposed to ‘whisky’ in a dry county.. A fascinating trip and an interesting post Ad.. Never knew there was that spelling difference between the American and the Scottish stuff. Shouldn’t think it matters much after a couple of glasses.. Is the sun over the yard arm yet? 😉
Great description of the distillery. Love the photo of Bubba and of course the well spoken for barrel.
Thanks, Lynne. 🙂
AinP – Nicely done. Great job of taking us around to see the Tennessee moonshiners. Personally, I love the Jack, along with French cognac and Spanish brandy. Salute!
Thanks, Tom. You have very good taste in liquor. 🙂
Very interesting AD – at least we got to sample a wee drop or two at Jamiesons Distillery in Dublin 🙂
hehe, great stuff and a fun way to meet the challenge
Thanks, sidey. 🙂
Pardon me, girl, didja do the Chattanooga choo-choo?
Deliciously dry humour to make Jack Daniels in a dry state!
Of course I did the Chattanooga choo choo. You know me. 🙂
This was an interesting tour, and your photographs are beautiful. I’m with you, not a whiskey drinker, but I love its history!
Wow! Great capture and lots of interesting history about Jack Daniels’ distillery. You look very cute with your friend “Jasper!” What fun…. And great find of “This is mine!” on the barrel of whiskey!
Thanks, Cathy. Glad you enjoyed the pics. 🙂
Double on the rocks and Cheers!!
Cheers to you too, newsy. 🙂