Chris Fletcher
The Jack Daniels distillery started producing whiskey in 1866. From that time until 2012, Jack Daniels only made Tennessee Whiskey. Master Distiller #’s 1-6 oversaw the production and quality control of a limited but beloved product line. So beloved that, Jack Daniels Old #7 is the number one selling whiskey in the world. Jack Daniels fifth Master distiller was Frank ‘Frog’ Bobo. During his 24 yr tenure from 1964-1988 he was well known to resist change. Despite pressure to increase production, use cheaper, more available grains and forgo the time consuming Lincoln County Process, Bobo refused and remained committed to making whiskey “ the same way Jack did”.
Born in Lynchburg TN in 1981, Chris Fletcher grew up only a few miles from the Jack Daniels distillery and was exposed to the distilling process as early as 6 years old. You see, his grandfather was Frank Bobo and Chris would frequently been seen with him around the distillery, as well as playing in the water at Cave Spring Hollow. Following high school, Chris earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry from The Tennessee Technological University.
During the summer following his sophomore year, Chris landed a job at Jack Daniels working as a tour guide. Given his young age, he was worried patrons on his tours would test his knowledge, so he studied and learned all he could about the distilling process and history of Jack Daniels. After graduating, he worked as a laboratory technician at Brown-Forman from 2003-2008 and a production support group leader from 2008-2011.
In April of 2011, Chris left Brown-Forman to become the lead chemist at Buffalo Trace. Just over 2 1/2 years later, though, he would not only return to Brown-Forman, he would return to Lynchburg. This time as assistant Master Distiller under Jeff Arnett. When Arnett stepped down, Chris Fletcher became the 8th master at Jack Daniels in November 2020.
While his grandfather Frank Bobo resisted change at Jack Daniels, Chris has embraced it. Already under his tenure, Jack Daniels has expanded their product lines with the releases of Jack Daniels Bonded and Jack Daniels Triple Mash. He released a Single Barrel Special release Rye whiskey in 2021 and contributed two new whiskeys to the Jack Daniels Experimental Tasters Series. One finished in Jamaican Allspice wood barrels and a second which is a blend of Tennessee Whiskey and Rye. The Tennessee whiskey and Rye whiskey used in the blend were both produced on the same day in May 2014 and as such are referred to as ‘twins’ giving rise to the name ‘ Twin Blend’.
Chris may have settled a long debated question about the origin of the Old #7 brand name. Many have said it was because the number 7 was Jacks lucky number, or it was the 7th mash recipe Jack settled on for his whiskey. Some say its because he had 7 girlfriends in his lifetime or it was a result of government distillery redistricting. However, Chris has said his grandfather Frank Bobo was told by his mentor Lem Motlow that the Old #7 name arose from a mixed up barrel shipment. Years ago, the distillery sent a barrel to Denver Colorado. Transportation at that time took the barrel through Nashville and on to St Louis. From St Louis, cargo was shipped on a line numbered 1-9 depending on its intended destinations direction. The line from St. Louis to Denver and onto California was line #7. When a barrel shipped on line #7 failed to arrive, the saloon owner in Denver requested a search for the missing barrel and a that a new barrel be sent from Lynchburg, Jack obliged and sent a second barrel. Around the time the second barrel arrived in St Louis, the terminal manager had found the first barrel. The manager told them to put the words ‘New’ and ‘ Old’ on the barrels so they could be differentiated. Eventually the saloon owner received both barrels and wrote back to Jack asking that in the future he only send “The Old #7” and the name stuck.
Chris currently resides in Lynchburg Tennessee with his wife, Ashley and son, Payne Thomas.
Contributed By: Dr. George Crow, San Diego, California
Jack Daniel’s Bonded and Triple Mash
Chris Fletcher’s releases of Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey and Triple Mash
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Collection
Jack Daniel’s has a “Signature line of Tennessee Whiskies that include (from left to right); Jack Daniel’s White Rabbit Saloon, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Rye, Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 (Black Label), Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack Small Batch, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Green Label and Jack Daniel’s Winter Jack Tennessee Cider.
Jack Daniel’s has a line of Rye Whiskies that include (from left to right); Jack Daniel’s Rested Rye, Jack Daniel’s Select Single Barrel Rye, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye and Jack Daniel’s Unaged Rye.
Jack Daniel’s has a line of Flavored Whiskies that include (from left to right); Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Winter Jack Tennessee Cider and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire.
Jack Daniel’s has a Two Top Shelf Tennessee Whiskies that include (from left to right); Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s No. 27 Gold.