LOCAL NEWS — On December 3, locals, and visitors from around southern, middle Tennessee, the United States, and as far away as the Netherlands gathered at the Jack Daniel Visitor’s Center for the annual lighting of the barrel tree. This year, the original tree in the Holler stood as one of five spread across the U.S. in five American cities – Lynchburg, Chicago, Dallas, Milwaukee, and Nashville.

Each stood over 26 feet tall and was made from 140 American white oak whiskey barrels from right here in Lynchburg. As you know, all our “local product” is made in new charred oak barrels … the same barrel is never filled twice. Each of the 700 barrels used to build the trees was once filled with Tennessee sippin’ whiskey.

As this season comes to an end, the trees will come down and the top barrel from each will be auctioned to support Jack Daniel’s Operation Ride Home. Since the program began, it’s assisted 7,232 junior-enlisted service members to travel home for the holidays. It’s helped members from the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard travel to all 50 states.

“At Jack Daniel’s, we like to say that good cheer is our number one export to the world,” said Master Distiller Jeff Arnett. “The barrel tree in Lynchburg has a special way of bringing people together, just like Operation Ride Home, and we hope friends either living in or visiting these locations will stop by and join us as we celebrate this most special holiday season. After all, it’s not what’s under the tree that’s important, but who’s around it.” •

{The Lynchburg Times is an independently owned and operated newspaper that publishes new stories every morning. Covering Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}