You’ve probably tasted his life’s work, perhaps too much from time to time, but few people know the mysterious man behind one of America’s most celebrated whiskey labels. From his mysterious birth to his famous last words, “One last drink, please,” Jack Daniel lived a curious life with a long lasting legacy. For starters, fans of his beverage should note that the distiller’s actual name was “Jack Daniel,” as opposed to “Jack Daniels,” a common mistake likely resulting from years of packaging and marketing containing the phrase “Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.”The exact date of Daniel’s birth is up for debate, as the original birth certificate and further documentation was destroyed in a courthouse fire. The official company website would have you believe that Jack Daniel was born in 1950, though some records suggest his mother died in 1947, and with no verified cases of posthumous birth on record, the 1950 claim has come into question. The company also claims its original distillery was opened by Daniel in 1966, meaning he was only 16 when he first set up shop. This date has also come into question as land and deed titles would indicate a 1975 official opening. It is commonly believed Daniel was in fact born in 1946. Depending on who you believe, or whether the distillery was operating unsanctioned for its first 9 years, Daniel began his now legendary whiskey operation at either the age of either 20 or 29. Daniel’s life would center around his work as he never married or had children of his own, though he was very close with his nephew, Lem Motlow, who he groomed to take over his distillery, and keep the business in the family. Read More »