Close Menu
News

Tennessee whiskey definition feud continues

The dispute between Brown-Forman and Diageo over the definition of Tennessee whiskey continued last week as Jack Daniel’s master distiller urged lawmakers to stick to current legislation.

Jeff Arnett, master distiller for Jack Daniels, has reiterated his critique of Diageo’s proposed changes to the Tennessee whiskey definition

In March this year, Brown-Forman, owner of the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey brand, said the definition of Tennessee whiskey was “under attack” by Diageo, which proposed legislation allowing for the reuse of barrels.

UK drinks group Diageo argued that argued that allowing producers to reuse barrels more than once would deliver significant cost savings for both large scale and craft producers.

Under current legislation implemented last year and supported by Jack Daniel’s, Tennessee whiskey must be made from fermented mash of at least 51% corn, charcoal mellowed, and aged in new oak barrels within the Tennessee state.

While Diageo, which produces the George Dickel Tennessee whiskey brand, claims such requirements are a barrier to growth and that Brown-Forman is attempting to “stifle competition”, the US group said its aim is to protect the standards of Tennessee whiskey.

As Tennessee lawmakers prepare to make a decision on whether to retain to change the law when they come back into session in January, Fox Business reports that Jeff Arnett, master distiller of Jack Daniel’s, has reiterated his concerns.

“It has been understood for 150 years that this is what Tennessee whiskey is,” he said. “It’s only the fact that we’ve had a lot of new distillers coming that we feel like there needs to be some rules for the playground, if you will, just to keep everyone honest.”

It was also announced in March this year that the Tennessee state legislative voted to send a bill governing the production methods of Tennessee whiskey to a study committee over the summer, rather than push through changes proposed by Diageo.

Having considered the issue, lawmakers are set to give their verdict in January.

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No