Jack Daniel's ramps up production

Published: 28 July, 2008

Global drinks industry giant Brown Forman is set to invest more than £3 million ($6 million) at its Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee in a bid to improve efficiency and raise output.

The company plans to add nine fermenters to increase the amount of spirit yielded from each batch of grain.

The aim of the refit is to boost the Lynchburg output by 20 million litres a year - twice the output of Glenfiddich, Scotland's biggest distillery.
The company believes that it will recoup the cost of investment in just a few months through cost savings.

The distillery currently has 48 fermenters, but the nine extra fermenters will increase overall production from 160 million gallons to 180 million litres a year. The groundwork for the expansion is already underway with completion by the end of the year.

"Fermentation is a bit of a bottle-neck for us right now," said master distiller Jeff Arnett.

"This move will allow us to make as much alcohol as possible per bushel, which is good because corn is really expensive," he added.
Jack Daniels is just the latest in a long line of distilleries seeking to improve efficiency and raise production.

The drive is in response to both worldwide shortages of grain and a huge surge in demand for whisky worldwide.

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