Jack Daniel’s Distillery Founders
(NOTE: FOUNDERS ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
1
Jeff Arnett
Tennessee Squire Arnett first went to work as a quality control engineer for Jack Daniel’s. When Jimmy Bedford stepped down as Master Distiller in 2008, Arnett became the 7th Master Distiller at the iconic Tennessee Whiskey Distillery.
Arnett was immediately faced with a large challenge: He needed to grow the brand. There were 3 brands when he took over, but several iconic whiskies were to follow!
2
Jimmy Bedford
One of Jimmy’s gifts of talent was his keen sense of taste and smell, abilities that are very critical to the whiskey industry. Whiskey must be consistent; the consumer must have the implicit trust that when they purchase a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey, it will be uniform with the previous bottle that they have grown to love.
Jimmy would often “inspect” new batches of whiskey, comparing them with the older batches by sniffing and sipping.
3
Frank Bobo
To locals, Frank was not only “Frog”, he was also a US Army Korean War veteran, a true southern gentleman, a diehard Moore County Raider fan, and a man with a deep, abiding love for his beloved wife, Avalee. According to his grandson, he was also known as “the guy who got the calls to go fix something at the distillery in the middle of the night.” In 1966, he was tasked with the role of Master Distiller at Jack Daniel’s.
4
Mary Bobo
After Ms. Mary’s passing, the Jack Daniel’s Distillery took over the building to preserve its history. In 1984, Lynne Tolley, great-grandniece of Jack Daniel, became the new proprietress. Under her care, and following renovations in 2006 that added modern updates, including a new kitchen and elevator, Miss Mary Bobo’s restaurant continued to serve traditional Southern meals in a family-style setting, complete with sweet tea and warm conversation.
5
Jack Daniel
Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel was born in Lynchburg, Tennessee, in 1848. Orphaned at the age of fifteen. Daniel was taken in by a local minister and moonshine distiller named Reverend Daniel Call, and he began learning the distilling trade from him. Within three years, Jack became a full partner in the small distillery. Jack eventually purchased the hollow and land where the distillery is now located, about five miles from where he was born.
6
Arthur S. “Art” Hancock
Arthur S. “Art” Hancock, took advice from Jack Daniel’s great-nephew, Hap Motlow, who told the out-of-work ad man, “Go to Lynchburg. They’ll learn ya’ how to hang around.” Soon, the smooth-talking 27-year-old Hancock became the Jack Daniel’s company’s first marketing director. Art oversaw what has been hailed as America’s longest-running ad campaign. Jack Daniel’s iconic, homespun, black-and-white “postcards” did more than sell whiskey. They celebrated relationship
7
Chris Fletcher
Fletcher worked as a laboratory technician at Brown-Forman from 2003-2008 and as 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 two and a half years later, though, he returned to Brown-Forman, and to Lynchburg, this time as assistant Master Distiller under Jeff Arnett. When Arnett stepped down, Chris Fletcher became the 8th Master Distiller at Jack Daniel’s.
8
Jess Gamble
Although Jess Gamble’s time as Master Distiller was relatively brief, his contributions left a lasting impression on the brand. His ability to balance innovation with tradition helped set a precedent for future Master Distillers, ensuring that Jack Daniel’s remained true to its heritage while evolving to meet modern demands. Gamble’s leadership exemplified the values of quality, consistency, and a deep respect for the craft. Unlike all his predecessors, Gamble was not a member of the Daniel family
9
“Nearest” Green
“Uncle Nearest”, as his family and friends in his hometown of Lynchburg, Tennessee, called him, was the first known African-American master distiller. Born in Maryland around 1820, Green’s enslavers were a firm known as Landis & Green, who “leased” Nearest Green for a fee to local preacher and moonshiner named Reverend Dan Call. He began working on Call’s country farm in Lincoln County and learned the art of distilling better than anyone else in those parts.
10
Angelo Lucchesi
Lucchesi was a short, one-armed, non-drinking, heavy man with a huge grin and an even bigger heart. He was hired by the Motlow brothers as Jack Daniel’s first salesman. The brand grew rapidly under Lucchesi's watch, not from his salesman’s tactics but rather through friendships and storytelling. Angelo Lucchesi was one of thirteen children born to Italian immigrants Anthony Lucchesi, and Maria Bisio in Memphis, TN.
11
Jess Motlow
In Jack Daniel’s 150-plus year history, only eight men have served as master distiller of the Jack Daniel’s distillery: first, of course, was Jasper “Jack” Daniel’s. Number two on the list, inheriting this responsibility from Jack, was Jess Butler Motlow, Jack’s nephew, and the younger brother of Lem Motlow. Lem had the business know-how, and Jess had the whiskey know-how.
12
Reagor Motlow
John Reagor Motlow was a key figure in the whiskey industry and Tennessee's local politics. He is widely remembered for his dedication to both Jack Daniel’s whiskey and the Tennessee communities he served. As a businessman and state senator, his life’s work centered around strengthening the legacy of Jack Daniel’s and supporting regional business interests, securing a lasting impact on American whiskey culture.
13
Lem Motlow
Lem had a close relationship with his Uncle Jack, who took Lem under his wing into the whiskey business. Lem had a head for numbers, and In 1883, just 14, he started working in the distillery, handling the distillery's bookkeeping. In 1907 due to failing health, Jack gave the distillery to his nephew, Lem. Lem ran for state-wide elections in 1908, with a sole interest in trying to influence the temperance movement laws being passed. Lem was elected a State Senator, and in the years to come would win several elections
14
Lexie Phillips
Just as she has done for the past ten years, Lexie Phillips makes her short daily drive from where she was raised in Estill Springs to the Jack Daniel’s distillery. It is down the quiet, two-lane stretch of smooth country blacktop, past the polite, white-frame houses of small-town Tennessee. Except these days, Lexie has been named the first female Assistant Master Distiller at the renowned whiskey works, operating side-by-side with Master Distiller Chris Fletcher.
15
Winton Smith
One of the most well-known stories involving then-Jack-Daniel’s President Winton Smith occurred in 1967, when Frank Sinatra, who, famously, had a near-infatuation with Jack Daniels (and was ultimately buried with a bottle of it), couldn’t find any of his beloved whiskey anywhere in Las Vegas. Smith was later quoted as confiding to some of his friends that it was “No easy task” keeping Ol’ Blue Eyes awash in Jack Daniel’s.
16
Lem “Big Hide” Tolley
On July 26, 1898, Lillian gave birth to Lemuel Lee Tolley in Moore County, Tennessee, making Lem Jack Daniels’ grandnephew. Lem was a tall, rugged man with a thick skin and stern demeanor, earning him the nickname ‘Big Hide’. ‘Big Hide’ was also a second-generation distiller whose father also worked at Jack Daniels. In 1941, Big Hide became only the third master distiller at Jack Daniels.