16. September 2009 13:08

Interview with Jeff Arnett, master distiller of Jack Daniel's

The native Tennessean Arnett was appointed  Master Distiller of Jack  Daniels in spring 2008. Since the company’s foundation in 1866 he is the seventh person to become Master Distiller at Jack Daniels distillery.

What is your job as master distiller of Jack Daniels like and why do you enjoy doing it?

I spend 80% of my time as the working distiller in Lynchburg. In this capacity, I oversee the entire whiskey making operation for Jack Daniel’s. I also head the master taster’s panel that reviews the maturity of our whiskey while it is still in the barrel, and ultimately I will determine which barrels are ready to be bottled. The remaining 20% of time is spent traveling and educating friends and fans around the world about Jack Daniel’s and why there is no other whiskey like it.

What is it that astonishes you the most about the brand Jack Daniel’s and the cult surrounding it?

I think the greatest thing about our brand is that it is very difficult to describe the typical Jack Daniel drinker. They come from all walks of life and seem to have chosen Jack for many different reasons. I believe the broad appeal of Jack Daniel’s has been built by having a very high quality and consistent flavor that tastes like no other whiskey in the market today.

What qualifies a barrel to be chosen for Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel?

All Single Barrel comes from the angel’s roost, which is the term we use for the uppermost floor of the warehouse. In this location, the barrel is subjected to the greatest extremes of heat in the summer and cold in the winter. These wide swings in temperature create the maximum interaction between the whiskey and the charred oak wood of its barrel. Although each Single Barrel bottled is subtly different than another, they share common traits of being very mature, aromatic, and flavorful. They can range from being a very sweet vanilla or butterscotch in flavor to being very creamy with strong toasted oak finishes.

As the most exclusive product of Jack Daniel's, how would you recommend to enjoy Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel?

We offer Single Barrel for our most discerning of Jack drinkers who tend to notice and appreciate the subtle differences that each barrel can impart to its whiskey. For this reason, most Single Barrel is served neat, on the rocks, or with a splash of water. I have been served an Old Fashioned made with Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel that was fantastic, but I would recommend Single Barrel be limited to cocktails where whiskey provides the majority of the flavor.

What is your opinion on Malt Whiskey?

Malt is a very high quality grain from which to make whiskey, but it lacks flavor and complexity by itself. This is why malt whiskey distillers use peat water and smoking techniques to create flavors that the grain is incapable of producing alone. By in large, malt whiskeys are also matured in used barrels that have already been stripped of their color and wood character. For Jack Daniel’s, we use malted barley for starch conversion and to provide a little cereal flavor character, but we derive most of our sweet character from corn and our spice character from rye. By using all three of these grains in our mash bill, we can create a more complex and flavorful whiskey that only improves by being placed into a new charred oak barrel for maturation. All of these elements separate Jack Daniel’s from malt whiskey and provide us with a uniquely well rounded range of flavors.

Do you like the fact that Lynchburg, Tennessee is a prohibition area?

I think it is great that we live in a democracy where people can decide things such as this through their votes. As for whether or not I like it, I simply couldn’t imagine Lynchburg any other way. It is just a part of the town history that seems very ironic when you discover that the number one selling whiskey brand in the world today is all produced and shipped from a dry town where you can’t be served a drink of it.

Which is your favorite place and/or occasion to enjoy a glass of Jack Daniel’s?

My favorite place to enjoy Jack Daniel’s is on my back porch or patio with my wife and some of our friends. My home is located in Lynchburg about three miles from the distillery, and only half a mile from where Jack’s home once stood. Lynchburg is a beautiful place to live and to also enjoy some of our hometown product with those I love and care about.

Thank you for the interview, Jeff!