Jack Daniels Barrel

The makers of Jack Daniel’s whiskey have dismissed claims made in the UK press that the famous Tennessee whiskey is derived from an old Welsh recipe discovered by a UK businessman amongst his family papers.

Mark Evans claimed to have discovered the recipe in a book of herbal remedies written in 1853 by his great-great-grandmother, and that a relative of his, John ‘Jack the Lad’ Daniels headed off to the USA around the same time, ending up in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

In a statement from Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Master Distiller, Jeff Arnett, said:”It’s a good story, but one based in fancy rather than fact – as the dates don’t match historical record.

“The people and dates just don’t match up. Jack Daniel’s family was living in America for two generations prior to the 1853 date Mr. Evans suggests his relative came to the United States. His John ‘Jack the Lad’ Daniels is not our Jasper Newton ‘Jack’ Daniel.

“We also know that Jack Daniel learned to make whiskey from a local Lutheran minister here in Lynchburg and not an herbal remedies book,” added Arnett.

“Jack Daniel’s has always benefited from the fact that people liked to talk about it. Its remarkable, small-town founder and the fact it’s made in a dry county intrigue people and get them talking. And so, through the years, it’s drawn all kinds of legend and lore to it. Mr. Evans’ story falls into the category of lore.”