Jack Daniel

The Jack Daniel Distillery is the oldest registered distillery in America. Since all the way back in 1866, JD's been located in the sleepy little town of Lynchburg, Tennessee. Surrounded by rolling hills and farmland and only about 75 miles away from Nashville, the distillery makes an excellent day trip destination with Lynchburg offering an ideal setting for getting away from it all and retreating from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

A tour of the distillery is definitely a recommended highlight of any visit to Lynchburg. It's truly amazing to see how such a quiet and rural corner of the world can be the home of such a widely recognized global brand. Distillery tours are free and run daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.

Tours last about an hour and a half, are mostly outside, and involve some stairs. So, comfortable footwear is recommended. For security and safety reasons, visitors may not take backpacks, camera bags, tote bags, shopping bags or other large bags on the tour, and visitors should turn off their cell phones before their tour begins.  No pets are allowed on our tours, but service animals are permitted.  Photography is allowed during most but not all parts of the tour.  Guides will let you know where and when it's okay to take pics.

Expecting a thirst quencher at the end of your tour? True to southern hospitality, you'll get one. But your pick of poison will be limited to the not-so potent options of lemonade, coffee or water. Ironically, this major operational distillery shipping its world famous booze across the planet is located in Moore County, a dry county since Prohibition, where it’s illegal to sell alcohol at any store or restaurant.

The distillery is allowed to sell commemorative decanters of Jack at its White Rabbit Bottle Shop. However when booking a flight to Tennessee and planning your visit and hoping to purchase a souvenir featuring the local liquid, it's worth keeping in mind that the shop is closed on Sundays as well as during certain holidays such as the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

So why should a whiskey maker stay in a dry county? Well, the biggest reason seems to be Jack Daniel's Tennessee Sipping Whiskey's main ingredient – cave spring water. The distillery is built around the source of the same water that was originally used in the first ever bottle of Jack. The spring flows year-round at 800 gallons per minute at a constant temperature of 56° and is virtually iron free. A key stop on the tour and an excellent photo op, there's a statue of the man himself, Jack Daniel, just outside the cave.

The Jack Daniel Distillery is certainly the main draw around Lynchburg, but hardly the only thing worth seeing during your visit.

A leisurely stroll around the quaint downtown transports visitors back in time while a wealth of restaurants such as the legendary Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House and the down home BBQ Caboose Cafe ensure visitors are treated to the best in country cooking. The local hardware store, the old drug store, antique and craft vendors and a handful of shops with a range of “all things Jack” provide shopping opportunities for the whole family and plenty of gift ideas for whiskey enthusiasts. A good number of bed and breakfasts and other accommodations make staying over an affordable option. Beyond town, Tims Ford State Park, Monteagle Mountain and more scenic spots await for those seeking add a bit of outdoor adventure to the mix.

IMG Cred: Chris Osburn