|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Man buys barrel of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
Kim Johnson - Thu, May, 8, 2008
Most people buy their whiskey by the bottle or by the case; but one Farragut resident prefers to buy his by the barrel.
 |
Bob Beldnyk purchased an entire barrel of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey through Farragut Wine & Spirits as a sales promotion for his company, Lisega Incorporated.
The barrel, which yields approximately 220 750ml bottles of whiskey, cost just under $10,000.
“The total with taxes and everything was $9,731.21,” Beldnyk said.
“The owner of the company loves Jack Daniel’s, and it was a good fit,” Beldnyk said of the idea to use the whiskey as a sales promotion.
“They are a Tennessee company and we are a Tennessee company and we will be giving it to our customers,” he added.
Rob Hoskins, a representative for Jack Daniels Distillery, said, “With the purchase of an entire barrel of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, barrel owners receive the bottled whiskey and the empty barrel in which the whiskey aged, a customized sticker, a brass plaque and a framed certificate of ownership. Each Barrel bears a neck label with the rick number, barrel number and bottling date.”
Beldnyk contacted Jack Daniel’s Distillery through the company’s Web site and set up a taste testing at the distillery.
“They take you into a room with a master taster, my guy was Jeff Norman. They have three barrels they have chosen for you, and they have three glasses laid out for you to taste.
“It was amazing how different each barrel tasted,” he added.
Jimmy Bedford, JDD’s recently retired master distiller, said, “Each barrel of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel has a subtle difference in nose, color and taste, due to the differences in the new charred white oak wood used for each barrel, as well as the location of each barrel in the warehouse. These barrels rest in areas of the warehouse where they receive the greatest exposure to the extreme temperatures of [each of] the Tennessee seasons.
“Each barrel is as individual as the oak barrel in which it matures. So we thought it might be appropriate to celebrate the uniqueness of each barrel by offering folks the opportunity to buy a whole barrel for themselves,” Bedford added.
Beldnyk, who is considered a JDD Squire, owning a one-inch by one-inch piece of the distillery, said the placement of the barrels on the warehouse racks creates an even more distinct flavor.
“The higher up the barrel is placed, the more it will heat up and the liquor will actually go into the barrel and flow back out. It goes back and forth, into the barrel and back out, for several years,” he added.
David Purvis, owner of Farragut Wine & Spirits, said his store became involved due to state law.
“By state law they have to go through a retailer. We have to go to the distributor, who has to go to the distillery. The distillery does all the processing and bottling, then they send it to the distributor who sends it to us,” Purvis added.
Lisega Incorporated plans to send the barrel to Germany, the company’s headquarters, until the renovation of its new offices in Tennessee are complete. Then the barrel will come back and be displayed in the local office.
|
|
