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Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel was born in the American South sometime between 1846 and 1850. Due to a courthouse fire and numerous bibliographic contradictions his specific birth date is unknown, however September has traditionally been celebrated as his birth month, and doesn’t a man like Jack deserve a whole month…

For the name Jack Daniel personifies more than a man, it exemplifies even more than the quintessential American whiskey (which of course it is), it is the embodiment of the greatest elements of the American spirit and mythology. Born into inauspicious circumstances, both Jasper and his elixir rose above place and surrounding, creating an impacting and lasting libation that transcends simple commodity and indeed shapes and influences our very culture…

Jack's old number 7 has long been a favorite drink of artists, miscreants, and musicians, fueling late night honky-tonk romps, rearing itself at Sturgis rallies and juke-joints, and showing up on the amps of bands like the Stones or the Devil Makes Three. Yet perhaps the least known group influenced by the drink and namesake of Jack Daniel was the Silver Cornet Band. Formed in 1892 by Mr. Jack Daniel himself, the thirteen so-called musicians jammed on Sears Roebuck instruments at the White Rabbit and Red Dog saloons, owned and operated by, you guessed it, Mr. Jasper Newton…

While drink and song mix well, drink and early mornings do not. One cursed morning Jack arrived early to work, and perhaps with head still thick from a visit to the Red Dog saloon was unable to remember the combination to his own safe. As any hung-over and frustrated man would, he gave that massive iron safe a swift kick in the ass and naturally shattered his toe. Eventually, blood poisoning set in, and in the age before WebMD, Jack was unawares that all his toe needed was a good soak in some high quality whiskey to alleviate that poisoning. As you would expect, Jack died from his injuries on October 10th 1911, ever the whiskey man his last words were, “one last drink, please.” His death prompted the marketable saying, “never go to work early.”

Taken together, Jaspers accomplishments and spirit warrants his induction as the first GBMC honoree, yet above all his magnanimous moustache necessitate his piliferous place of honor, so let’s all raise our glasses of Jack…

Cheers to you Jack Daniel.

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