Kentucky bourbon may get more press these days, but Tennessee whisky will always be close to my heart. The Jack Daniel Distillery is the oldest registered distillery in the U.S. – dating from 1866. Of course, it’s listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Jack Daniel Distillery is located in Lynchburg, Moore County, which still keeps up an interesting premise of being a dry county. Local lore is they “sell you the bottle, what’s in it is free.” I decided to embrace the legend and take the “Dry County Distillery Tour.” Just over an hour in length, we were guided by Chion, a local young man who was simultaneously charming, funny, and interesting. I can’t imagine having a better host to show us around.

An Amazing Friendship for its Time

Significantly, as a child, Jack Daniel was taken in by Lutheran Minister Dan Call and grew up on his family farm. While working on the Reverend’s farm, Jack learned how to make whiskey at the feet of a master, the enslaved Nathan “Nearest” Green.  After the Civil War, the Reverend’s congregation and his wife gave him an ultimatum – the church or the still. He chose the church and sold his whiskey-making business to Jack, who hired the now-emancipated Mr. Green as his Master Distiller. Green family members have worked at the Distillery ever since.

Learn more interesting history on a Distillery tour!

They say the key to the distilling process is the water and they still pull the iron-free water from the original source – a limestone cave spring that is always, naturally 56 degrees. Oh yeah, then there’s the charcoal filtration and single-use toasted white oak barrels, but I won’t turn this into a chemistry lesson. Let’s just say that Mr. Green was a genius.

Tasting Tours Too

For those interested, there are several types of tasting tours. Figuring I already knew what most Jack Daniel products taste like, I opted to try one of the two types of slushies available for purchase, the Jack & Coke. I make a pretty good whiskey slushie and I have to say, my pineapple/limeade concoction goes down much easier.

Maybe it was all those Tennessee football games where we smuggled in the Jack to mix with our Coke (at 18, we were legal back then) . . . . . but I still can’t watch a college game without that familiar cocktail.

Miss Mary Bobo’s

These days, the Jack Daniel Distillery is THE business in Lynchburg. Distillery properties are evident in the town’s small square, Visitor’s Center, Trailhead for the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, and the quaint Miss Mary Bobos Boarding House. Miss Mary rented out her unused rooms to boarders and opened her dining room to paying guests, running the house from 1908 until she died in 1983 at 101. The 1867 home is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is now part of the Jack Daniel Distillery empire. Guests may still partake of a tasty Southern feast at one of the three daily seatings Monday – Saturday (11 AM – 1 PM or 3 PM) where they will be served two meats, good sides, and yummy pie.

I’m Still Talking About the Food

We dined in the Crutcher Room – a former bedroom upstairs and shared the table with 10 other guests and our chatty hostess who kept conversation and refills moving along. On this day we feasted on savory shredded pork, fried chicken, corn salad, baked mac & cheese, fried okra, green beans, potatoes, candied apples (with Jack Daniels), biscuits, and fudge pie topped with Jack-infused whipped cream. The drinks here were unaltered sweet or unsweetened tea.  

Price: $29.95 + tax, kids under 10 $10.95 + tax.  BTW, the well-stocked gift shop has some quality home goods, souvenirs, and gift items.

I promise – there are history lessons throughout the home. So, this meal qualifies as an educational expense.

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