Which Jack Daniel’s Tour is the Best?

Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel opened his humble distillery next to Cave Spring Hollow in 1866, making it one of the first registered distilleries in the United States. Back then, most of the visitors to the distillery were after a refill of the Old No. 7 Whiskey, but nowadays, more than 300,000 people from near and far flock to the hallowed grounds in Lynchburg, Tenn., each year. After all, Jack Daniel’s is the best-selling whiskey in the world.

Nearly 2 million barrels of Jack age in rickhouses dotted throughout Lynchburg, making it a bucket-list destination for whiskey lovers. And the distillery itself rolls out the red carpet to its fans, offering an array of tours aimed to please both the whiskey newbie and the aficionado alike. But which Jack Daniel’s tour is the best? We will walk you through all the offerings and let you surmise which is ideal for you in our Jack Daniel’s tour comparison.

But first, let’s talk about Lynchburg and the logistics of going on a Jack Daniel’s tour. The city of Lynchburg sits about 74 miles south of Nashville, making it an ideal day trip from Music City. To make your experience safe, easy and hassle-free, we recommend using an official tour company to escort you to the Jack Daniel Distillery and back. Not only are you guaranteed specific tour times, but your expert guides will be able to show you the best of what Lynchburg has to offer, including the famous Mary Bobo’s Boarding House & Restaurant, the Lynchburg Hardware General Store, and even Jack Daniel’s gravesite, where many toasts have taken place to honor the Old No. 7 founder. 

Plus, even though Lynchburg is a dry county, most of the Jack Daniel’s tours include tastings of various Jack whiskeys. Using a professional tour company like Mint Julep Experiences will ensure you and your party all get to enjoy the touring and tasting sessions that are offered. And if you like what you taste, why not grab a bottle from the gift shop and enjoy it on the way home? With an official tour company, this isn’t just possible, it’s encouraged.

Official Jack Daniel Distillery Tours

Tours at the Jack Daniel Distillery typically run daily from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Lynchburg is in the Central Time Zone.)

The Angel’s Share 

If you’re a true lover of whiskey, the Angel’s Share tour is the one for you. After a full tour of the distillery, you’ll be whisked away to the intimate tasting room inside the George Green Barrel House. Here, you’ll learn about the variations between barrels and get to sample for yourself. In other words, you’ll get to taste high-proof whiskeys from a single barrel, which is an honor that was once reserved only for Jack Daniel’s distillers and tasters. Included in the tastings are three expressions from the Single Barrel Collection and two limited-edition whiskeys.

This 90-minute tour is $35 per person, and you must be 21 or over to attend. 

The Flight of Jack Daniel’s

If you’re curious to explore the vast Jack Daniel’s canon of whiskey, the Flight of Jack Daniel’s tour is for you. After a full tour through the distillery by one of Jack Daniel’s veteran storytellers, you’ll get to take a seat inside the historic George Green Barrel House and sample through five of Jack’s best-selling products. While the exact selections change from time to time, some examples of what you might taste include Old No. 7, Gentleman Jack, Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Rye and Tennessee Apple, to name a few. 

This 90-minute tour is $30 per person, and you must be 21 or over to attend. 

The Dry County

Geared toward families and non-drinkers, the Dry County tour offers the full experience of going behind the scenes at the distillery, complete with sordid stories, an intricate look at the whiskey-making process and much more. You’ll get to see, smell, listen and learn throughout the tour, but there is no tasting included. According to the website, “It may be whiskey-free, but it’s certainly overflowing with distillery stories.”

This 70-minute tour is $20 for those 18 and over, $7 for youth (10-17) and free for children (0-9). 

The Taste of Lynchburg

If you’re an avid Jack Daniel’s fan and would like to spend a whole afternoon in Lynchburg, this tour is just for you. The Taste of Lynchburg combines the Angel’s Share tour mentioned above — including five samples of single barrel and premium products — plus a down-home Southern meal at Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House & Restaurant, a legendary dining spot in Lynchburg where Jack himself used to eat. And on top of all this, you’ll get a special gift to commemorate your visit, plus a personal photo of your group of up to 10.  

This 3-hour tour is $125 per person, and you must be 21 or over to attend. This special experience is offered Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 1 p.m.

Hit the Road (to) Jack 

Again, we recommend you visit Jack Daniel’s with an official tour company from Nashville to make your day fun and effortless. Not only will you get a knowledgeable tour leader, but everything else will be taken care of for you including reservations, lunch, parking, transportation and much more. All you have to do is sit back, relax and be ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tenn. 

Mint Julep Experiences – Nashville has been in the professional tour business for more than 12 years, and they’ve collected hundreds of awards, accolades and positive reviews to show for it. Mint Julep offers three tours to Jack Daniel’s — from an express trip to a VIP experience — and below is a comparison of all the offerings. 

Jack Daniel’s Express Tour

Mint Julep’s Jack Daniel’s Express Tour is perfect for mid-week travelers looking for an afternoon jaunt to Lynchburg. The 6.5-hour tour runs weekly every Monday through Thursday, and it includes guaranteed tickets to the Angel’s Share tour mentioned above, plus so much more. Of course during that distillery tour, you’ll get to sample five premium expressions of Jack Daniel’s, some straight from the barrel. The Express Tour also includes guided transportation there and back with a tour leader who will share even more stories about Jack’s legacy, as well as lunch in Lynchburg and time for shopping at the various stores in town. 

This tour runs Mondays through Thursdays.

Jack Daniel’s Hometown Experience

If you’d like to devote more time to Jack and Lynchburg, the custom Jack Daniel’s Hometown Experience from Mint Julep might be the best option for you. It’s recommended you set aside eight hours for this intimate excursion, which includes guaranteed reservations for the Angel’s Share tour previously mentioned, plus a whole lot more. Along with the full distillery tour and five samples of premium Jack brands, your trip will include guided transportation with a whiskey expert, lunch in Lynchburg, time for shopping around the quaint Tennessee town, PLUS an exclusive salute to Jack Daniel at his gravesite. Since this is a custom tour, Mint Julep will cater to your preferences, and it can be booked just about any day of the week with enough advance notice. 

This custom tour is by request only and will take an average of eight hours. 

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VIP Jack Daniel’s Distillery Experience

Calling all Jack fans! Mint Julep’s VIP Jack Daniel’s Distillery Experience is crafted just for you. This bucket-list experience takes an average of nine hours and includes guaranteed reservations for the distillery’s Angel’s Share tour, which, as we previously mentioned, includes a full distillery tour and an intimate tasting of five premium Jack expressions — some straight from the barrel. Along with guided transportation there and back with a whiskey expert on board, you’ll also be treated to lunch at the legendary Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House & Restaurant, where Jack himself used to dine. You’ll also have time to explore the highlights of Lynchburg, which includes shopping and an exclusive salute at Jack’s gravesite. And there is one last bonus with the VIP Experience: Your party will receive an engraved bottle of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel as a memento of the once-in-a-lifetime excursion. 

This custom tour is by request only and will take an average of nine hours.

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About The Author

Sara Havens has been a bourbon enthusiast and educator long before the boom began. As a Louisville-based writer, her work has appeared in various national and regional publications, including Bourbon+ Magazine, The Bourbon Review, Alcohol Professor and Food & Dining Magazine. In 2020, Havens was one of 10 finalists in the World’s Top Whiskey Taster competition held by the Bardstown Bourbon Co., beating out more than 400 contenders to represent the Kentucky region. She maintains her own website, barbellelou.com, covering the bourbon industry and local nightlife scene, and in her down time, you can find her leading tours along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® for Mint Julep Experiences.