Jack Daniel's Master Distiller Series No.1 / 43% / 1.0l

In September 2012, Jack Daniel's Distillery launched its Master Distillers series, commemorating the seven master distillers who have held the position since the distillery's inception to the present day. The first on their list was, of course, Jack Daniel (1866-1911), and the series' opening edition is dedicated to him.

Sources disagree on the date of birth of Jasper Newton (Jack) Daniel (local courthouse records were destroyed by fire), but we can only assume that he was born between 1846 and 1850. His mother died shortly after giving birth and Jack was raised by Baptist pastor Dan Call. In addition to spreading the word of God, Dan also distilled, and it is said that it was from him that Jack took over the distillery and registered it in 1866, making him the first American licensed distiller. Jack Daniel developed the whiskey formula used today (80% corn, 8% rye, and 12% barley malt) and set high production standards.

Jack Daniel died childless in 1911 from a blood infection and the company was taken over by his nephew Lem Motlow. Lem was not a distiller, but his younger brother Jess learned all the secrets of production from an early age under Jack's supervision. It was he whom Jack Daniel appointed as his successor as master distiller.