OT: Jack Daniels Distillery Tour

FormerBully

All-American
Sep 2, 2022
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My wife and I will be in the area in June, and I would love to take the tour. Is it worth it? Would she enjoy it? She is not a whiskey fan, but she does occasionally love their Tennessee Honey. Also, how long does the tour last?
 

The Peeper

Heisman
Feb 26, 2008
16,053
11,440
113
I did it 40 years ago and I remember just a couple details.
-Some dude that looked like Jr Samples from Hee Haw standing outside with his thumb over the end of a water hose keeping a ricket of maple that was destined to be charcoal filter material from burning up. They said he had been working there 35 years, and he was just a water hose technician?
-Almost gagging when they raised the lid on a big vat of mash the smell was so strong, I'm not a bourbon drinker and it wasn't a pleasant smell to me.
-Entering one of the bonded warehouses with barrels stacked to the ceiling maybe 4 or more stories tall and that smell being really mellow and good, even though I hated the smell of the mash.
-Having to go downtown and not at the distillery to get a drink if you wanted one because the distillery was and still is located in a dry county. I bet the county doesn't turn down the tax revenue but won't let the devil's elixir be sold there
 

skipperDawg

Senior
Dec 23, 2023
664
584
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I did it 40 years ago and I remember just a couple details.
-Some dude that looked like Jr Samples from Hee Haw standing outside with his thumb over the end of a water hose keeping a ricket of maple that was destined to be charcoal filter material from burning up. They said he had been working there 35 years, and he was just a water hose technician?
-Almost gagging when they raised the lid on a big vat of mash the smell was so strong, I'm not a bourbon drinker and it wasn't a pleasant smell to me.
-Entering one of the bonded warehouses with barrels stacked to the ceiling maybe 4 or more stories tall and that smell being really mellow and good, even though I hated the smell of the mash.
-Having to go downtown and not at the distillery to get a drink if you wanted one because the distillery was and still is located in a dry county. I bet the county doesn't turn down the tax revenue but won't let the devil's elixir be sold there
☝🏻
That right there
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
19,330
2,282
113
My wife and I will be in the area in June, and I would love to take the tour. Is it worth it? Would she enjoy it? She is not a whiskey fan, but she does occasionally love their Tennessee Honey. Also, how long does the tour last?
Yes, I've been a couple of times. It's very much worth the price of admission, which last time I was there was nothing. It's a good tour. I'm actually a JD Squire, and I don't even drink booze.

It's just over a few hills and hollers from where I live (40 ro 50 miles, actually).
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
19,330
2,282
113
Yes take the tour and go eat as Miss Mary Bobo’s. You will (really) want to consume some JD after the tour however Moore County is dry.
We went to Mary Bobo's once and I wasn't impressed. I'm not a huge fan of country cooking tho.
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
19,330
2,282
113
I did it 40 years ago and I remember just a couple details.
-Some dude that looked like Jr Samples from Hee Haw standing outside with his thumb over the end of a water hose keeping a ricket of maple that was destined to be charcoal filter material from burning up. They said he had been working there 35 years, and he was just a water hose technician?
-Almost gagging when they raised the lid on a big vat of mash the smell was so strong, I'm not a bourbon drinker and it wasn't a pleasant smell to me.
-Entering one of the bonded warehouses with barrels stacked to the ceiling maybe 4 or more stories tall and that smell being really mellow and good, even though I hated the smell of the mash.
-Having to go downtown and not at the distillery to get a drink if you wanted one because the distillery was and still is located in a dry county. I bet the county doesn't turn down the tax revenue but won't let the devil's elixir be sold there
The first time I was ever in Lynchburg was when I was a co-op student at NASA, and we drove up to Arnold AFB in Tullahoma for wind tunnel testing. It was a cool, foggy morning and you could smell the JD just driving through the town.
 

MaxwellSmart

Senior
May 28, 2007
2,563
981
113
I haven't been there in years but thought it was funny that since the county is dry, they would sell you an empty bottle and fill it for free. Not sure if they still do that though.
 
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FormerBully

All-American
Sep 2, 2022
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They have different types of tours I saw on the website. Anyone done more than just the basic?
 

champdawg.sixpack

All-Conference
Aug 25, 2012
1,165
1,234
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I did makers mark several years ago. Very cool except for the aforementioned stank. Got to dip my own personal bottle in da wax. Then went to Keenland and lost a bundle
 

ETK99

Heisman
Jul 30, 2019
10,005
13,765
112
My wife and I will be in the area in June, and I would love to take the tour. Is it worth it? Would she enjoy it? She is not a whiskey fan, but she does occasionally love their Tennessee Honey. Also, how long does the tour last?
It used to be very good but haven't been in years.
 

RotorHead

Senior
Mar 26, 2019
688
535
93
I went back in 2013-2014 timeframe and did the sipping tour. They walk you through the difference of #7, gentlemen’s, and single barrel. Not being a JD guy, it was still enjoyable. They also give you the chance to customize the bottle you buy and they fill….or did then.