Around the Barrel with Jack Daniel's

Even when you have two great things that go great together, bringing them together is rarely a simple process—especially when both things carve out massive places in the environment in which they operate. Then again, sometimes, things work out just right. On this episode we talk with two of the key figures in bringing the iconic combination of Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola into a single package about how now was the right time to combine forces on a project like this, about the unique properties each brand brings to the world of ready-to-drink adult beverages, and about how a cocktail known the world over benefits from the chance to go into a can from Around the Barrel.

Very few people start collecting things on purpose. You start by grabbing one thing that catches your attention and then another. Soon, you have to start thinking about buying dedicated shelving, if not buying a whole new house.

On this episode, we talk with Linas Ruksenas, the man behind the social media handle @JackDanielsLibrary, about what kickstarted his Jack Daniel’s collecting habit, about how he sources all those wonderful bottles displayed on his Instagram feed, and about how he finally brought his spouse around to the idea of devoting their living room to the artful display of items that emerged from Around the Barrel. 

Working with a spirit of innovation involves a constant process of unlearning and relearning. You want to refine what has worked in the past and trim away what is not needed within your new process. When you lay that new template over the business of whiskey production, you also have to factor in the idea of “hurry up and wait” before you can make more changes and move a new product into its final form.

On this episode, we talk once again with Master Distiller Chris Fletcher about the brand-new global travel retail (GTR) product American Single Malt finished in Oloroso sherry casks, about how the word “single” doesn’t always correlate with the word “simple,” and about how this new endeavor just might bring about a new set of frequently asked questions, Around the Barrel. 

It's been said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. To develop an understanding of the genius of the spirits space, you’ve got to factor in distillation, fermentation and maybe a little repetition too. On this episode we talk with San Diego-based whiskey influencer Sarah Jeltema, the woman behind the social media handle @whiskynomad, about how asking the right questions of bartenders and distillers spawned her current pursuits, about how the idea of service through spirits has made an impact on the world of first responders and about how sharing the science can enhance the enjoyment of sitting and sipping Around the Barrel.

As much as tradition is a component of what comes out of the  Jack Daniel Distillery, the motto “Every day we make it, we’ll make it the best we can,” absolutely encompasses using new tools as they become available. On this episode, we talk with Melvin Keebler and Donna Willis, two key leaders on the Distillery’s operations team, about new technology the company is using to continue its sustainability climb, about how opportunities for changing processes can still benefit long-time partners who have been comfortable with the way things currently are and about how the wide world of whiskey needs geeks of all kinds, Around the Barrel.

If there’s anything the last three years have taught us, it’s to never overlook the chance to spend a little time away from home. On this episode, we talk with travel and spirits writer Brad Japhe about the state of American whiskey across a variety of ponds, about how patience is paramount whether it’s waiting for whiskey, barbecue or basketball, and about how both consistency and innovation are important pieces when it comes to what emerges from Around the Barrel.

Our enjoyment of so many things in this life tends to come about as a result of happy accidents. Then again, the creation of so many things, like whiskey, came about the same way. They can also emerge from putting aside one pursuit only to pick up another. On this episode, we talk with Matt Porter of the popular YouTube channel, ADHD Whiskey, about how putting down the fishing pole led him to picking up a tasting glass, about how chasing flavor isn’t always the key to enjoying a new whiskey and about how he’s still not entirely certain Lynchburg, Tennessee, isn’t a theme park dedicated to all good things Around the Barrel.

We can all agree that maturity can really only emerge over time. That’s certainly true of both people and whiskey. Most of the time, that maturity process can’t happen all by itself. It needs to be nurtured, monitored, guided and celebrated. On this episode, we talk with Byron Copeland, the Manager of Leadership Acceleration and Maturation Innovation at the Jack Daniel Distillery, about how his experience at both well-established companies and startups meshes well with the world of whiskey, how working your way into a new work family involves quite a bit of listening, and about how paving the way for future leaders to enter the spirits business can be just as important as what goes in and Around the Barrel. 

Regardless of the industry you’re in, there are many factors behind how much you enjoy the gig. When you’re working with your biggest fan, though, it goes a long way into making every day a joy. On this episode, we talk with Lexie Phillips and Josh Phillips, the Jack Daniel Distillery’s current “power couple,” about the new set of limited-edition Distillery Series products that bear their names, about how family got them both to the Distillery and remains a big part of their day-to-day work there, and about how their good-natured rye-valry has kept them both laughing about the long-term project that emerged from Around the Barrel.

For a whiskey as legendary as Jack Daniel’s, it’s only fitting that its first salesman was a man of mythic proportions. But Angelo Lucchesi was exceptional, not for his salesmanship, but for his grace and kindness. On this episode, Jack Daniel’s Historian Nelson Eddy returns to the podcast to share Angelo’s incredible story, from one-time monk to Sinatra’s right-hand man, to building a legacy of decency and respect, Around the Barrel.