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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Brown-Forman Officially Opens Jack Daniel’s Cooperage In Trinity, Alabama

07/08/2014
The 144-year-old Kentucky-based producer of fine spirits and wines, Brown-Forman celebrated the grand opening of its Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey Cooperage in Trinity, Alabama. The brand new facility, located at the Mallard Fox West Industrial Complex, will employ 200-plus workers when fully operational.

A cooperage produces the solid American white oak barrels that are toasted and charred for maturing Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey is made using the finest grains, pure, iron-free spring water, charcoal mellowed and matured in new American made oak barrels. Jeff Arnett, Master Distiller for Jack Daniel’s, said the barrel is responsible for all the color of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and more than half of its flavor and character.

“The barrel couldn’t be more important to our whiskey making process, and helps impart the quality and character of our whiskey that folks have come to know and expect when they see Jack Daniel’s,” Arnett added.

The cooperage is currently producing approximately 400 barrels per day and expects that number to rise to around 700 barrels in the coming weeks. Wood for the barrels comes from the company’s stave mills in Stevenson, Alabama, and Clifton, Tennessee, both of which are in close proximity to the distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

“Providing new jobs to Alabama residents is my priority, and I appreciate Jack Daniel’s officials for expanding to Trinity, Alabama, and creating 200 jobs,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “We are proud to know that hard-working Alabamians will produce the company’s classic solid white oak barrels.”

“The American whiskey category is booming with exports of Tennessee Whiskey and bourbon eclipsing $1 billion for the first time last year,” said John Hayes, Senior Vice President, Managing Director of Jack Daniel’s. “We want to be able to satisfy the world’s thirst for our premium Tennessee Whiskey, and having this state-of-the-art cooperage will help us meet that demand. We couldn’t be happier with this new facility and the great welcome we have received from the people of Alabama.”

“Lawrence County is so fortunate to have Jack Daniel Cooperage locate in Mallard Fox West Industrial Complex. To have them as the anchor tenant is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all who have been involved in making this project a reality,” said Tony Stockton, Executive Director of the Lawrence County Industrial Development Board. “Our team, in conjunction with Brown-Forman, developed an excellent working relationship at the project’s outset and it only grew stronger as construction progressed. We welcome the Jack Daniel Cooperage and their employees to Lawrence County and appreciate the economic impact this industry will have on our county.”

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