Eclectic Kim Review: Jack Daniel’s Distillery Tour and Tasting

There are a few experiences that feel quintessentially Tennessee – the kind that define a visit. The first is taking that fiery, unforgettable first bite of Nashville Hot Chicken. The second? Touring and tasting at the legendary Jack Daniel’s Distillery.

I landed in Nashville at 9 a.m., fully aware that making my 11:30 a.m. tasting would be a race against time. Still, with a reservation at Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant for their single afternoon seating at 1 p.m., there was no other choice. From the airport, I moved quickly – through the rental car counter and out onto the open highway that winds through the Tennessee countryside.

The drive itself was beautiful and meditative. It reminded me of summers spent in Texas, yet somehow it felt different. There was a distinct energy in the air, something rooted and timeless in the landscape.

When I arrived at the distillery, I already knew to park across the street in the visitor lot. A short, brisk walk took me over a charming river and toward the sweeping entrance of the tasting room.

Inside, I took a moment to refresh, wandering through the curated displays and soaking in the history before my tour group was called.

Introduction

The tour began with our guide – Anthony – introducing himself. He welcomed us, had us introduce where we were from and gave an overall introduction to the tour. We were then offered the opportunity to get our photo taken (which I politely declined) before boarding the tour bus.

As the bus wound its way across the property toward the start of the walking portion of the tour, I found myself quietly moved – by both the history of the land and the significance of what it represents.

It’s remarkable to think that Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, a brand recognized and enjoyed in more than 170 countries, is produced right here in Moore County – a dry county, where the sale of alcohol is still prohibited. In today’s world, that irony feels almost unbelievable.

Another fascinating detail about Tennessee: the state has a particular fondness for taxation. In the case of Jack Daniel’s, there’s a $13.50 per gallon tax – a fee ultimately reflected in every bottle that leaves the distillery.

The distillery grounds themselves are expansive, covering roughly 3,000 acres. Scattered across the rolling property are about 97 rickhouses, each filled with barrels slowly aging to perfection—a quiet testament to time, craftsmanship, and Tennessee tradition.

Stop 1: The Jack Daniel’s Boozy Lemonade Trailer

As we made our way from the rickhouse drop-off point toward the slushie trailer, I couldn’t help but admire the thoughtful cultivation of such a rich and storied whiskey culture. Everywhere I looked, there was evidence of craftsmanship – of pride distilled into every detail.

When we arrived at the trailer, our guide mentioned that we could purchase a boozy lemonade for $10. With the late-morning sun beginning to warm the air, the offer sounded delicious.

I chose a cup of the Jack & Blackberry Lemonade Slushy. Cold, tangy, and subtly spiked with whiskey, it was perfect.

Stop 2: A Roaring Fire of Sugar Maple

After we all sipped and remarked about how much each of us loved our frozen treats, Anthony led us over to as close as safely to a roaring fire. Named charcoal mellowing, the burning of the sugar maple is key to the Lincoln County Process. Jack Daniel’s makes their own charcoal, using only wood from the sugar maple tree.

Stop 3: Moonshine

Anthony led us to a room where he sprayed moonshine onto our hands. He offered us to smell first – and it smelled like rubbing alcohol. And then, he encouraged us to tip our hands together and then smell again. Here is where I began to smell the hints of distinctive flavors.

One thing that I’m pleased that Anthony did was openly discuss that Jack Daniel’s mentor, Uncle Dearest – was an enslaved man. You can’t hide from the past. So, best to accept the facts of the matter.

Stop 4: The Grotto

Anthony walked us over to the limestone grotto. Here, he explained the key to the products brewed at Jack Daniel’s Distillery is the water. With the river flowing by, the distillery takes the water, removes the iron and other trace minerals, and utilizes the water.

Stop 5: The Office

Next, we stopped in the office.

Here, Anthony explained the history of the Jack Daniels lineage. And, most amusingly, that Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel, died by kicking a safe.

According to accounts, one morning Jack Daniel became frustrated when he could not recall the combination to his office safe. In irritation, he kicked the heavy metal door and injured his toe. What began as a small wound soon developed into an infection. At the time, before the discovery of antibiotics, such infections were often life-threatening. The condition worsened into blood poisoning, which ultimately led to his death in 1911.

Stop 6: Distilling

During this portion of the tour, photography wasn’t permitted per company policy. Still, I found myself completely absorbed by what I saw.

In one of the interactive areas, we watched as whiskey slowly filtered through layers of charcoal – the real-life continuation of the bonfire we’d witnessed earlier in the day. It was mesmerizing to see the process up close, that tangible connection between fire, wood, and spirit.

The charcoal itself is used continuously for about six months. After that, it’s tested weekly until its quality begins to wane. Once it reaches that point, the spent charcoal is repurposed – packaged as smoking pellets and recycled for other uses, leaving almost nothing to waste.

Our guide, Anthony, shared a particularly impressive fact: less than one percent of the distillery’s total waste ends up in landfills. The rest is reused, recycled, or repurposed – a testament to how deeply sustainability is woven into Jack Daniel’s tradition.

Stop 7: Coopering

At this stop, Anthony talked to us about the American White Oak that is used for the barrels in aging. Jack Daniels does not own their own cooperage. It was a great video on how the barrels are made, seasoned and used in the bourbon making process.

The barrels give the whiskey their flavor and color. However, only fresh barrels can be used to make bourbon. Once the barrels are used, the spent barrels are sold to wineries, breweries and other companies to be reused.

Stop 8: Bottling

Our last stop was the bottling room. It was a fascinating process, with workers boxing bottles by hand. Strangely, it gave a rather personal touch to everything.

Along the walls, I noticed plaques of single barrels. I asked Anthony how much a single barrel of Jack Daniels could go for, to be included in the Barrel Society. He answered $9,000 to $15,000 – which gave perspective to how much each barrel is worth in the rick houses.

Stop 9: Tasting

Finishing up the tour, it was time for the experience I looked forward to the most: the tasting.

We tasted:

Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey
Gentleman Jack Tennessee Whiskey
Jack Daniels Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Whiskey
Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye Whiskey
Jack Daniel’s Blackberry Tennessee Whiskey

Now, because Moore County is a dry county, Jack Daniel’s Distillery literally has to sell the bottles to a distributor – and then buy their own bottles back in order to serve them in the tasting room.

But, I wasn’t there for the county’s politics. I was there to sip and experience the expressions of the brand.

Endings and Beginnings

It was here at the tasting that I noticed the time and that we had gone excessively over our expected time. Seating at Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant was 1pm. It was then that I consciously realized I needed to alert Anthony that I needed to leave. My opening came when he mentioned Mary Bobo restaurant and recommended it. I raised my hand, said that I needed to politely leave during the tasting to make my appointed time.

Turns out that I wasn’t the only one. Literally the other Californians were in the same boat.

As Anthony said that it was up to us – if we wanted to excuse ourselves and head out – I straight said “Thank you for the tour, everything was great” and politely excused myself. Anthony graciously found a friendly worker to walk us back to the visitor center.

Along the way, I asked our mini guide about the stubs along the creek. He told us that they were Cyprus trees, with additional root buds emerging from the ground.

He also introduced us to one of the employees dogs, which trotted over to us for smiles and pets.

It was a wonderful end to a lovely afternoon in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

The Gift Shop

After lunch at Miss Mary Bobo’s Restaurant, I hopped back on the Jack Daniel’s bus and returned to the Visitor Center.

Once inside, I went straight to one of the staff members with what I considered the most important question of the day:

“What’s something I can only buy here – at the distillery in Tennessee – that I can’t find at Total Wine & More in California?”

The answer came quickly: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel – Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey.

At a blazing 126.9 proof, this bottle is not for the faint of heart. It’s bold, unapologetic – a bottled ‘fuck your feelings’ experience – because after a few sips, you’ll be spilling them anyway.