1954 Gold Medal Series

A SHORT TRIP TO THE PRODUCTION LINE ENDS WITH A STAR OF EXCELLENCE

If there is anything as unique as the Jack Daniel’s 1954 Gold Medal commemorative bottle, it’s the story of how the Distillery came to acquire this special Gold Medal. Roger Motlow, one of Lem’s sons, received a letter about a whiskey judging contest in Brussels, Belgium. He handed the letter to Herb Fanning, his right hand man, and told him to take care of it. And indeed Mr. Herb did! He walked right out to the production line, pulled the first three bottles, and sent them on their way. According to Mr. Herb, when the folks in the advertising department found out he had pulled whiskey for the competition off the bottling line, they were a bit upset and asked why he hadn’t looked for some special whiskey for the judging. To this Mr. Herb exclaimed: “Why all Jack Daniel’s is special!” The folks in Brussels seemed to agree. Jack Daniel’s was awarded its sixth Gold Medal, the 1954 Star of Excellence.