Is Jack Daniels Drying Up?
Posted: 9:20 AM Jun 12, 2007
Last Updated: 9:20 AM Jun 12, 2007

Drought conditions can be felt all over the country and locally as well. The drought is also impacting Tennessee, with no signs of letting up and it’s hitting businesses right where they make their living.

Jack Daniels water supply is running low and putting the century-plus whiskey business in jeopardy.

Jerry Hamilton is the distillery plant manager for Jack Daniels. He checks the progress of the whiskey being made at the Lynchburg distillery. While doing so he finds a small problem - wasting water.


The water here has become a precious commodity. The water source for the whiskey is a spring flowing through the Jack Daniels property. For more than 140 years this spring, known as Cave Spring, has been the water supply for Jack Daniels. It is one of the most essential parts of the whiskey’s recipie.

“Cave Spring as most people know is iron free and because it is iron free, it tends to schew the firmentation just a little bit and allows us to produce Jack Daniels as we know Jack Daniels,” Hamilton explained.

But this year there is a problem - that water supply is starting to flow less and less. Hamilton said the drought Tennessee is in is taking a toll on Cave Spring.

“Water flow is down substantially. I would say at least one third to half of what we normally see,” Hamilton said.

To the people who make Jack Daniels, all water is not created equal. It takes a special kind to make this whiskey and they say it’s only here in this cave. For that reason they have started conserving as much as they can. Using the water only for the whiskey and nothing else and even finding ways to cut back on the amount used in the process.

What will happen if the spring goes dry?

“If we can’t use what it takes to make Jack Daniels I suspect we won’t make Jack Daniles until we get all the ingredients we need,” Hamilton said.

Moore County ironically it is a dry county. You can’t buy a drink here, but if this drought continues that term “dry” could take on a whole new meaning.
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I bet they'll find a way to keep making it. But maybe I oughta get a few fifths and store one away.
-matt

 

Good thing I don't care for JD

 

gonna have to start shipping from Canada

 

Alright!!! Start buying up the single barrel and the gentlemen boys............................get it while ya can!!!!

 

never liked it anyway, but its a darn situation for those who do like it.

but its even worse as to the reason why.

i need to get off my lazy rear and head out to the place for a visit, maybe it will be a trip next weekend.

 

They'll just crank the price up when they put in a big DI water system, and not tell anybody.

 

If the price goes up then I really doubt anyone would buy it. Around here a 375ml costs 29.99 and a 675ml is 45.99.

 

Ouch.. is that for #7 or the "single barrel"?

 

Switch to Scotch

 

Yes that's true..we make it here...Only in the water they use..there is an element called: Beaver Fever











and no after drinking 12 oz you don;t have an insatiable urge to cut down trees

 

Uhhh, Lets just say, we are self reliant around these parts here. No worries.

 

this is i sad story... mabe we will start getting jack daniels from china... man i hope not! lol

 

Whiskey with melamine...mmmmm.

 

China doesn't have any clean water to make whiskey. Chinese JD will turn out like that Vodka caused all those Russians to go blind.