It’s been a while since we’ve had a Whiskey Wednesday around here, but it feels like all the big news lately has been breaking early in the week. So let’s slide into the weekend with a bit of brown-water news.
First up, they’ve got plenty of reasons to celebrate in Lynchburg lately. Even in a depressed whiskey market, the folks at Jack Daniel’s continue to innovate and put out some excellent new products while maintaining the quality standards of their flagship offerings. Earlier this month, Jack Daniel’s 14-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 1 was awarded World’s Best Tennessee Whiskey at Whisky Magazine’s 2026 Icons of Whisky and World Whiskies Awards America, held Feb. 12 in Louisville, Ky.
This historic batch is the oldest Tennessee whiskey that Jack Daniel’s has released with an age statement since Mr. Daniel himself still trod the wooden floors of the distillery. In my review at the time of its release, I was truly impressed by this amazing whiskey, noting that the “flavors were a roller-coaster ride on the palate. In succession, the whiskey exhibited cinnamon, molasses and caramel, followed by almost tropical fruity notes before the grains and oak took over, with the usual long wood and leather finish that eventually transformed into something akin to pipe tobacco stored in a cedar box.”
I feel like my opinion continues to be reinforced by the awards this whiskey is receiving, and that makes me think maybe my palate isn’t getting worse with age. I’ve been a part of a few year-end blind tastings with some experts who I really respect, and Jack 14 has finished at or near the very top in all of them.
Chris Fletcher was named Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year at that same awards ceremony, in part because of his management of the consistency of Jack Daniel’s production, but also for the rapid increase in innovation of new products over the five years he has been master distiller. He has spearheaded and shepherded the development and release of many award-winning, premium releases including the Bonded Series and the Aged Series, as well as widely celebrated expressions from the Special Release Series and the Distillery Series line of experimental whiskeys.
A Lynchburg native, Fletcher is the grandson of another iconic Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller, Frank Bobo. I’m certain Grandpa Frank would be proud!
In other whiskey news, Two Rivers Mansion is holding its inaugural dog-friendly whiskey festival, Whiskey & Wags, on Saturday, March 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. Hosted in partnership with the Tennessee Whiskey Trail, this event will bring together Tennessee spirits, live music, local food, and plenty of pooches on the historic grounds of Two Rivers Mansion at 3130 McGavock Pike.
During the evening, guests can take guided tours of the mansion, sample products from more than 20 Tennessee distilleries, shop from local vendors and food purveyors, and enjoy live music. Lawn chairs are suggested and dogs are wholeheartedly invited!
Here are the distilleries that have signed up to participate to date:
• Big Machine Distillery
• Chattanooga Whiskey
• Company Distilling
• Corsair Distillery
• Drop Zone Distilling
• George Dickel (Cascade Hollow)
• Junction 35 Distillery
• Leatherwood Distillery
• Leiper’s Fork Distillery
• Lost State Distilling
• Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
• Old Dominick
• Old Forge Distillery
• Old Glory Distilling Co
• Ole Smoky Distillery
• Prichard’s Distillery
• Roaring River Distillery
• Short Mountain Distillery
• Silverbelly Whiskey
• Stable Reserve Distillery
• Sugarlands Distilling Co.
• Tennessee Hills Distillery
• Tennessee Legend Distillery
Tickets are on sale now at the Two Rivers Mansion website.
