Throw another drink on the barby
Each year Jack Daniel’s holds a World Championship Barbecue and all sorts of enthusiasts attend. Peter Krass went along
When you take a sip of Jack Danielâs you may think youâre simply drinking Tennessee whiskey, but youâre not. Youâre taking a drink of a whole subculture, a subculture comprised of avid JD drinkers, collectors, and fans from every part of the world.
In an annual pilgrimage, thousands of these folks â from Harley Davidson bikers clad in leather to dapper whiskey connoisseurs â descend on tiny Lynchburg, Tennessee, home to the distillery, to attend the annual Jack Danielâs World Championship Barbecue.
While the prestigious bbq competition hosts pre-qualified teams from around the world, for hardcore JD fans itâs not about the eating; itâs all about networking, buying collectibles, and, of course, drinking JD.
In Lynchburg, a dry town, the drinking is discreet but before long you notice whoâs been imbibing. The festive tone for the most recent two-day event was set late Friday afternoon when a couple from New York â Teri and Joe Acampora â renewed their wedding vows in the village gazebo.
Not so strange perhaps, except that they had been married only a week and the renewal was the first official act of the just formed International Society of Jack Danielâs Collectors.
Ceremony guests included collectors from the United States, United Kingdom and Germany, as well as locals. Presiding over the ceremony â which began with a Pledge of Allegiance to Jack â was Bob âthe reverendâ Berry, who, hailing from South Carolina and a manager for UPS, has .....
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By Peter Krass
Section : Whisky Trends
Page number : 52
