How Jack Daniel Learned to Make Whiskey at Age 6
Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel, the founder of the iconic Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, began his journey in whiskey-making at an astonishingly young age. This story explores how a Lutheran minister and an enslaved distiller shaped the legacy of one of America’s most famous spirits.
A Young Boy’s Early Life in Tennessee
Born around 1846–1850 in Lynchburg, Tennessee, Jack Daniel was the youngest of ten children. After his mother’s death and a strained relationship with his stepmother, young Jack left home in the mid-1850s, seeking a new path. By the age of six or seven, he found refuge with Reverend Dan Call, a Lutheran minister, grocer, and part-time distiller in Lincoln County, Tennessee.
Learning the Craft from Reverend Dan Call
Reverend Dan Call ran a small farm and general store, but his whiskey still was the heart of his operation. While some accounts suggest Jack began working for Call as an errand boy, his curiosity quickly drew him to the still house. Call, recognizing the boy’s potential, introduced him to the art of distilling. Under Call’s guidance, Jack learned the basics of whiskey production, from fermenting grain to operating the copper stills.
The Influence of Nathan “Nearest” Green
At Call’s farm, Jack met Nathan “Nearest” Green, an enslaved African American and skilled distiller who managed the still. Green, born around 1820, was renowned for his expertise in whiskey-making, particularly the Lincoln County Process—a method of filtering whiskey through sugar maple charcoal to achieve a smooth flavor. Green took Jack under his wing, teaching him the nuances of this unique technique that would later define Tennessee whiskey. Their mentorship laid the groundwork for Jack’s future success.
A Partnership Forged in Time
By the late 1850s, Jack was working alongside Green and Call, absorbing knowledge that would shape his career. After the Civil War and emancipation, Green, now a free man, continued to work with Jack. In 1863, when Call’s wife and congregation pressured him to choose between his ministry and distilling, he sold the still to Jack, who was just a teenager. With Green as his first master distiller, Jack established the Jack Daniel Distillery, officially registered in 1866, making it the first registered distillery in the United States.
The Legacy of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
Jack’s early lessons from Call and Green culminated in the creation of Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7, a Tennessee whiskey known for its distinctive charcoal-mellowed taste. The Lincoln County Process, learned from Green, remains a hallmark of the brand. Over 150 years later, the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg continues to honor its founders, with descendants of Nearest Green still involved in the distillery’s operations.
Today, visitors to the Jack Daniel Distillery can explore this rich history, from the Cave Spring Hollow water source to the charcoal mellowing vats, and learn about the young boy who, at age six, began a journey that would make him a legend in American whiskey-making.
Jack Daniel’s Distillery
Lynchburg, Tennessee
(931) 759-6357
www.jackdaniels.com/en-us/visit-us