Hit the Road Jack

Atlanta was swell, but we had to leave our swanky hotel behind and hit the road once again to the small unchanging township of Lynchburg Tennesee.

After the drive from Daytona to Atlanta we knew the mere 196 miles from Atlanta to Lynchburg would be a walk in the park. We settled in easily and found the scenery quite beautiful as the road wound slowly through mountains that were clearly in the planners way when they were laying the I25. Massive rents in the earth through dense forested areas was the scenic backdrop to the first leg of our journey. Looking like something out of a videogame it was hard to believe it was made by man, such was the scale. As we got further north and the road rose up we got some amazing views and our first hint of just how the roads seem to stretch on forever.

The contrasting colours of the deep greens of the trees and the stark blue and white of the sky was something to marvel at... though not while driving.

Before we knew it we were in Tenessee and the kinds of middle America we always thought of came into view. As the multi-nationals, gas stations and towering advertising boards dissapeared into our rear view mirror. We knew our goal was close. Lynchburg as they say isn't the type of place you "pass through" on your way to somewhere else. It's so far off the beaten path, it's either your destination or your lost.


We pulled into the oldest registered distillery in the U.S. we were, to say the least a little excited. We arrived just in time for one of the 50 minute guided tours of the premises and were greeted by a portly, country gent named David. We learned that the water is filtered through limestone found only in the local area and is a major part of what makes Jack Daniel's No.7
what it is.

All the Corn, Barley and Rye are form in and around the local states which, according to Mr Jack, was the best grain in the country. Through massive towering copper stills they make the neat Whiskey which is as clear as water. Then onto the 'mellowing' process, where the whiskey is passed through 10ft of charcoal made onsite at the distillery. The company cares so much, that it even manufactures the barrels by hand in which to age the whiskey in. This is how the whiskey get's its flavour and colour.

Needless to say we were both taken aback by the whole process and really enjoyed the tour, it was a shame that it was Sunday, as we were unable to purchase any onsite on the day. We would fix that the very next morning. Any Jack Daniels sold ANYWHERE in the world all comes from the beatuiful, quiet and unchanged town of Lynchburg right out of the stills and barrels we walked past that very day. It made us feel proud to have experienced it. You can to by going down the local Wine Rack and buying yourself a bottle. I just got $20 for saying that.



We left the atypical small American town of Lynchburg with some wicked souvenirs, a tear in our eye and a need to get some good old fashioned sippin whiskey inside us. Through the rolling hills of Moore county and up to Nashville we passed corrals and stud farms the size of which we could not fathom, i mean they just filled the surrounding countryside, horizon to horizon.



We went for a stroll through Nashville upon arriving and had some seriously tasty burgers at Bailey's bar on Broadway and listened to piped country and western music as we walked through town. Our hotel was nothing to write home about, not after the sheer opulence that was the Doubletree in Atlanta, so i'm not about to write about it here. 'nuff said.

----------------
Now playing: Thin Lizzy - Whisky In The Jar
via FoxyTunes

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM LYNCHBURG HERE