by Fawn Weaver
First published 2017
This book chronicles the true story of Jack Daniel, the Tennessee whiskey pioneer who built his distillery under circumstances no other whiskey maker would attempt. Author Fawn Weaver draws on over 2,500 hours of research and more than 10,000 original documents to separate fact from legend. The narrative began with conversations involving Thomas Gregory Motlow, Jack Daniel's 89-year-old nephew and closest confidant, then expanded to include testimony from other family members and trusted associates who knew Uncle Jack personally. Weaver approached the project as a skeptic, believing Daniel's reputation was inflated. After nearly a year investigating in Lynchburg, Tennessee, and across the country, she emerged as a genuine admirer. The book reveals how Daniel created his distinctive whiskey, when key events occurred, and the specific circumstances that shaped his unique approach to distilling. This anniversary edition includes new material from Weaver, a bestselling author, while preserving the original factual foundation that makes this more than folklore.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, business, non-fiction, 21st-century, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-secrets, true-story
Setting: Tennessee, Lynchburg
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century, 21st-century
Hardcover · Grant Sidney Publishing