The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Richard Thomas
Heretofore, restaurants, hotels, liquor stores and other commercial buyers have been able to choose from a growing array of private barrel programs, putting their own stamp on (often a moderately superior version) of a familiar whiskey brand. It wasn’t a retail operation, however, and private individuals weren’t invited to the party.
Now Jack Daniel’s is making that invitation with its By The Barrel Program. Those interested in buying their own personal barrel of Jack Daniel’s can now have one, or at least the contents of one. The distillery won’t ship you a full barrel, but in a process similar to what the aforementioned commercial buyers enjoyed, will allow you to buy a barrel and bottle the contents in a personalized production run.
Buyers can have their barrel selected in three ways: charge Master Distiller Jeff Arnett with the task; have samples of several barrels sent to them and chose one at home; or travel to Lynchburg, Tennessee and chose one of several barrels in person.
The typical barrel is expected to yield approximately 240 bottles, but actual amounts will vary. The price for buying a barrel of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey starts at $10,000.
