Jack Daniel’s master distiller leaving. What’s next for the world’s biggest whiskey?
The biggest brand in whiskey, Jack Daniel’s, announced Thursday a major change: Master distiller Jeff Arnett is stepping down.
Arnett has been with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey for nearly 20 years, including 12 as master distillery.
Named Master Distiller of the Year by Whisky Magazine in 2017, Arnett said in a news release from the company that he is still considering what to do next.
“The last 20 years at the Jack Daniel Distillery have been an incredible chapter in my life and I look forward to spending some time to think about what the next chapter will hold,” Arnett in a statement. “I wish everyone in Lynchburg the best and I am appreciative of the support and confidence they have shown in me to represent Jack Daniel’s to the world during my time there. It has been an honor and privilege to be one of only a handful of people to have served as the master distiller of this wonderful brand known around the world as simply ‘Jack’.”
Under Arnett, the iconic whiskey has see huge growth and branched in new directions, including introducing super-premium versions of the standard “Old No. 7” whiskey such as Sinatra Select, Single Barrel Barrel Proof, Single Barrel “Heritage Barrel” and the Tennessee Tasters’ limited edition series.
“When Jeff became the master distiller, we said that he would carry on the long tradition of folks who have made the world’s best whiskey for more than 150 years, and that’s exactly what he’s done,” said Larry Combs, distillery senior vice president and general manager, in the press release. “He has worked tirelessly on behalf of the distillery and brought with him the creativity and the expertise that makes Jack Daniel’s the most valuable whiskey brand in the world. We thank him for his leadership not only at Jack Daniel’s but in the whiskey industry and wish him all the best.”
During Arnett’s tenure, Jack Daniel’s also introduced flavored variations including Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire and Tennessee Apple.
He also oversaw the Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel program, which allows for individual barrel selections, and traveled the world as the main ambassador for Brown-Forman’s flagship brand.
Louisville-based Brown-Forman and the distillery said there would be an announcement on his replacement “in the coming weeks.”
On Tuesday, the company reported that underlying net sales of the Jack Daniel’s family of brands grew three percent in the first quarter of the fiscal year compared to the same period of last year, despite the COVID pandemic.
