Chris Fletcher is Vice President, Master Distiller and Director of Distillery Operations at the Jack Daniel Distillery. In this role, he uses an extensive knowledge of the whiskey-making process to supervise and ensure the world’s top-selling whiskey is both in constant supply and true to Jack’s guiding belief that “Every day we make it, we’ll make it the best we can.” 

Chris is one of only a handful of individuals to have held the title of “Master Distiller” in the distillery’s history, which began production in 1866. A native of Lynchburg, Tennessee, he is proud to accept the enormous responsibility that comes with having one of the most envied jobs in the world. 

Chris joined the Jack Daniel Distillery first as a tour guide, coming home to work summers during his college years. After earning a degree in chemistry, he gained a complete knowledge of production at Jack Daniel’s including milling, mashing, fermenting, distillation, mellowing and maturation, all passed down first-hand by his grandfather, the late Master Distiller Frank “Frog” Bobo, and other Jack Daniel’s employees with decades of experience. 

After his stint in Lynchburg, Chris worked for Brown-Forman Corporation in Louisville, Kentucky on Jack Daniel’s quality control. Following two years of gaining valuable experience working for distilleries across North America, he returned to the Jack Daniel Distillery in 2014. This experience primed him to spearhead the quality operation at Jack Daniel’s. Chris plays a key role in any potential new offerings and considerations from the distillery.

As the grandson of Bobo, making Jack Daniel’s TennesseeWhiskey comes naturally to Chris.  He recalls visiting his grandfather at the distillery, following closely at his heels and hearing stories about those who came before them. Chris’s first memory of the distillery is watching his grandfather make sour mash and operate the stills. 

Fletcher not only has a foothold into the heritage and authenticity of Jack, but he also brings a fresh approach to product innovation. As his grandfather often reminded him, the incredible growth Jack Daniel’s has experienced since his days at the distillery is a result of the process and quality controls established by its founder.  

Knob Creek 21 Year Old is a limited-edition, 100-proof straight bourbon whiskey that became the oldest expression in the brand's history upon its release in October 2025. It features complex notes of charred oak, caramel, and fruit from its long aging period, with a rich and robust profile designed to be bold yet balanced

The mighty Sam Bronfman, Seagram’s first master blender, revolutionized the art of blending as he built his Seagram Company into a massive spirits empire. Their Master Blender, Drew Mayville, comes from this Seagram master blender lineage. Before he came to Sazerac, Mayville was the last master blender at Seagram’s and his mentor was Seagram Master Blender Art Dawe, who worked directly with Sam Bronfman. Mayville created this perfect blend through experimentation and precision and it is fittingly bottled at their Old Montreal Distillery in Montreal, Quebec. Cheers!

Named in honor of the whiskey pioneer George T. Stagg, who acquired the historic O.F.C. Distillery from Colonel E.H. Taylor in 1878, this powerhouse bourbon embodies his legacy of boldness and vision. Before taking the helm of what is now Buffalo Trace Distillery, Stagg had built a reputation as a successful whiskey salesman, and today his name graces the boldest expression in the Antique Collection. First introduced in 2002 to meet growing demand for well-aged, barrel-strength bourbon, this year’s George T. Stagg Bourbon was drawn from barrels aged more than 15 years and 4 months. The 2025 release is one of the strongest ever, bottled at 142.8 proof to deliver uncut, unfiltered intensity. The 2023 George T. Stagg release earned top honors, including Best in Class and Double Gold medals at the 2024 Whiskies of the World Competition.

A limited-edition rye whiskey from High West Distillery that continues its annual winter release series, which is inspired by Shakespeare's play. The 2025 release was crafted from a blend of straight rye whiskeys and finished in ruby and tawny port barrels, resulting in a luxurious, fruit-forward whiskey with notes of spice, plum, and dried fruit.  Cheers!

As Eric Church and Raj Alva began the development of Whiskey JYPSI, they sought the help of experienced whiskey masters and blenders who could help them reimagine traditional whiskey industry conventions. After countless meetings with master distillers and blenders, they decided Ari Sussman was the first man for the job.
After all, Ari had been the head of Spirits Development for Michigan State’s Artisan Distilling Program and an award-winning whiskey maker. But he also had a healthy dose of the JYPSI Spirit in him. Before entering the whiskey world full time, Ari’s career included winemaking in France, bartending on multiple continents, and working with seed banks to revive historic grain varietals for whiskey making. He also raised ostriches and almonds with Bedouin tribes in the Middle East. And when it comes to whiskey, it turns out he is a remarkable experimenter, tinkerer and innovator. “The mad scientist,” they call him. Which made Ari the perfect choice for creating something new. Called Whiskey JYPSI.

Bottled at barrel strength, the 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch is built around two standout 13-year-old V batches, delivering luscious notes of apricot, vanilla, and caramel. The addition of a bold 19-year-old OESV and OBSK brings layers of antique oak, rye, and depth for a truly balanced and complex profile. From the sweet, fruit-forward nose to the long, soft finish, every sip is a masterclass in craftsmanship - showcasing Four Roses’ signature mellow spice. This is more than a bourbon - it’s a celebration of age, character, and harmony in a bottle. Cheers!

The latest chapter in the legendary Stagg (Jr.) lineage is here, and it's another powerhouse straight from the heart of Buffalo Trace.For the uninitiated, Stagg is a uncut, unfiltered Kentucky straight bourbon that delivers a bold, complex experience every time. Batch 25A continues this tradition with authority. Cheers!

David Thomas Tao writer, reviewer, producer, and spirits expert based in New York City. A Kentucky native and Kentucky Colonel, David’s passion for drinks began in bourbon and has since expanded to all corners of the spirits world. He’s a member of The Barleycorn Society, one of the beverage world’s most prestigious tasting panels.

David covers the world of spirits, cocktails, and hospitality, with a particular (but not singular) focus on whiskey.

David’s writing has appeared in Fortune, Forbes, Slate, VinePair, Drinkhacker, and Malt Review. In 2016, he co-founded BarBend.com, which grew to become one of the world’s largest independent fitness publishers. David served as BarBend's CEO, leading growth to over 30 million annual readers before the company was acquired in 2023.

David graduated from Harvard College and was a Forbes 30 Under 30 list maker for Media in 2019. He’s an active producer of movies, television, and Broadway stage productions. Recent credits include serving as an Executive Producer on “Ferrari” (2023), directed by Michael Mann, as well as “Illinoise” and “Oh, Mary!” on Broadway (both 2024).

The guys partnered with the WVU Hospital Foundation in a barrel pick for charity. Cheers!

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Heritage Barrel Tennessee Whiskey is a permanent line extension that was announced in August 2025, first reaching United States markets and expanding into international markets thereafter. The release follows limited edition bottlings of the whiskey in 2018 and 2019. For the initial release, a total of 400 barrels were dumped. However, barrels will be dumped on an ongoing basis, with the intention of making the product readily available.