By Rebecca Harris
Jack Daniels has announced that it will honour the inauguration of the next US President with a special ‘Presidential Barrel’ of Tennessee Whiskey.
On January 20, 2009, at the exact time that Barack Obama takes the Presidential Oath, the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, will stop and set aside a barrel of Tennessee Whiskey. The barrel will then be placed in a special spot in one of the warehouses to continue its maturation.
“Inaugural celebrations are nothing new to Lynchburg. Mr Jack Daniel himself held an inaugural party every four years,” said Jack Daniel’s master distiller, Jeff Arnett.
“It was held on March 4 back in Jack’s day and we’re told these events featured an all-night party, dancing and, of course, an ample supply of our hometown product.”
Arnett said the special barrel would have been produced to honour the next President, regardless of the outcome of the election.
“Mr Jack would throw his own party for the new president – regardless of his political affiliation – and it was his special way of bringing folks together. So we thought the time was right to honor Mr Jack’s interest in bringing people together by pausing to honour the new President with a symbolic barrel of whiskey,” he said.
Upon maturity, the barrel will be bottled, sold, and all proceeds will go to charities.
The Jack Daniel Distillery is the oldest registered distillery in the US. It is the maker of Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails.