How do visits to Jack Daniel and George Dickle compare?

[RoyF]

Looking forward to a slow trip across Tennessee and then up the Blue Ridge Parkway. I see that a visit to the Jack Daniel and/or the George Dickle distilleries might be interesting. Are the two experiences about the same? Is one of them more likely to have a lot of big tour group and a longer waiting time?

[hbillsmith]

The real production happens in the high speed bottling lines out on the hills around Lynchburg. They look like indiscriminate military compounds with guard gates to go thru. The tour is held at the old original JD distillery which up until the late 1970s was only used to bottle the little mini-bottles that airlines used. In 1979 they built the large tour center that is used today. You begin with a video and then are taken on an escorted tour by one of the retired distillery workers. Its a great tour. Today they are a wholly owned subsidiary of Kentucky based Brown-Foreman Distilled Spirits.

I haven't been there since working as a JD sales rep from 1973-79. Back then, a sales reps entire responsibility was to take orders and make sure that he spent all of his ample entertainment budget going to as many bars and restaurants as possible. The only restriction was that if you got a DWI, you were automatically fired. It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it.

[dennis1949]

At Jack Daniels you have to eat at Miss Mary Bobo's boarding house. She cooks with Jack Daniels since it it a dry county,, Neat town to walk around

[NoVa_RT]

You can now taste and purchase at the JD distillery as well as taste and purchase at Dickle.

Sounds like the OP should do his due diligence and sample both, and report back on the tours for those planning future trips!

[Larry-D]

Try to go during the week. Jack Daniels is a great tour and they push a lot of people through the facility each day. They have it down to a science and it is very entertaining. George Dickle is much more up-close and personal however it is well hidden in a hollow with a skinny road. No problem with an RV, just have to take it easy and watch for tree limbs overhanging.

Jack Daniels bottles on-site and has a "gift shop" to purchase special editions and bottles you can't buy away from the distillery. They can be pricey though. These do make great gifts. Take the time to walk around the city square in Lynchburg there's some good stores and restaurants.

[bowalker]

We visited Jack Daniel's in 2013 or 2014. I don't remember which. It was early November and there wasn't a large number of visitors. We had a great time.

[johntank]

4aSong wrote:

rv2go wrote:
I've only been to Jack Daniels. Found it to be real interesting. I think that you would enjoy your visit.
The downside to JD is that it is in a Dry County. No sampling or purchasing. :S

When we toured the Distillery back in 2003 they offered a special edition (5th. in a series) Tennessee Whiskey 1915 Gold Medal (90 proof) which we were able to purchase at the distillery even tho it is a dry county. In addition, being a dry county they offered lemonade to those at the end of the tour, no whiskey was available for consumption.
The bottles which we purchased are still unopened and in the original box which include a medallion which says 'This bottle purchased at the distillery, Lynchburg, TN USA.

I don't remember the year, but think it was 02 and remember the same as you, this was on a motorcycle trip so I had limited room so I did not purchase anything wish I had now.

[TenOC]

Make sure you go on a WORK DAY. On the weekend and holidays they still have the tours (as of a number of years ago) But the plant is not operating.

[4aSong]

rv2go wrote:
I've only been to Jack Daniels. Found it to be real interesting. I think that you would enjoy your visit.
The downside to JD is that it is in a Dry County. No sampling or purchasing. :S

When we toured the Distillery back in 2003 they offered a special edition (5th. in a series) Tennessee Whiskey 1915 Gold Medal (90 proof) which we were able to purchase at the distillery even tho it is a dry county. In addition, being a dry county they offered lemonade to those at the end of the tour, no whiskey was available for consumption.
The bottles which we purchased are still unopened and in the original box which include a medallion which says 'This bottle purchased at the distillery, Lynchburg, TN USA.

[Moderator]

You can now taste and purchase at the JD distillery as well as taste and purchase at Dickle.

[rv2go]

I've only been to Jack Daniels. Found it to be real interesting. I think that you would enjoy your visit.
The downside to JD is that it is in a Dry County. No sampling or purchasing. :S

[Moderator]

JD is much larger, more commercial, and larger tours. Both are a good tour and it's interesting to learn the differences in product and processes..

[ken56]

I can't answer your questions but am interested in the input others may share of their experiences. I want to visit there too and looked at staying at Tims Ford State Park just a little way to the south of Lynchburg. Don't know when I may do that trip but....maybe this fall when things cool down some.

[Mr__Camper]

They are as different as the taste of the two brands.