Day 3 - Tennessee Waltz

On March 5, 1880 the train connection between Cincinnati (Ohio) and Chattanooga (Tennessee) was inaugurated.

It was the first major north-south connection for passenger trains. The train was nicknamed the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Glenn Miller had a huge hit with the 'Chattanooga Choo Choo', the first song ever to receive a gold record. The train station is still there, but is no longer used as such. Nowadays it has been given a second life as a hotel. And a perfect stopping point during your trip through Tennessee.

 

 

Six ingredients, that is all Jack Daniels needed to make the perfect whiskey. Yes Tennessee whiskey, not bourbon, not scotch, ...
Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones was and probably still is a big fan. No photo of Keith without his 'old no 7' bottle. They were an inseparable duo. A bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand, and a joint in the other, insofar as he did not have to hold his guitar on stage. Keith clearly appreciated the finer things in life : -).

 

Jack Daniels discovered in 1866 the ideal ratio between a mixture of corn, barley and rye diluted with the perfect water from the local spring and a little distillate from a previous production process. After the mixture has been boiled, it is cooled and yeast is added to ferment for six days.

 

 

The final step in the process is what makes it Tennessee whiskey. The golden moisture is dripped through a barrel filled with charcoal, made from sugared maple wood on the scene. This unique process provides Jack Daniels with the predicate Tennessee whiskey.

 

 

Water is added and then the whiskey is barreled for years so it can ripen quietly. The result is very tasty and is still made based on the original recipe. Jack Daniels is by the way the oldest licensed distillery in the United States.

 

 

To end our tour of the factory in Lynchburg, Tennessee, still the only place in the world where this whiskey is made and where they explain us the tricks of the trade, we get five kinds to taste.

 

 

It's just a big sip every time, because we're in - oh irony - dry county. In theory, alcohol can not be sold here, but Jack Daniels has a special permit for their tasting room and is allowed to sell alcohol to tourists from outside the state. For the first time in my life I carefully sip from a plastic glass of whiskey, afraid of the burning sensation. But to my surprise, that burning feeling is not coming. Admittedly, we start with a whiskey made especially for women: Gentleman Jack. I drink also my four other glasses that all taste surprising: naturally the world-famous 'old no. 7', the drink it all started with; 'Rye'; the next might be for the real whiskey lovers a bit too much: 'Honey' (oh yeah, whiskey and honey go perfectly together) and 'Fire' (no, not really burning but rather spicy) and also as a bonus a combination of the last two where I spontaneously get a Christmas feeling (especially because the taste is a bit like gluewein because of the combination of herbs and honey). Now I understand why 'old no 7' may be old, but still far from dead. After all, it is the most popular whiskey in the world. Not Johnny Walker, not Jameson, not William Lawson, but Jack Daniels is on the highest scaffold. As Keith would say: give me another round ... or a bottle ... or two.

 

 

The neon signs on Broadway glow in the dark. Taxis drop off an uninterrupted stream of party go’ers and pick them up again. Music sounds from the different bars. Welcome to the epicenter of the honky tonk. Yeah, we are at the heart of country music: Broadway in Nashville. Welcome to the capital of Tennessee.

 

 

There is a live band playing in every bar. Not all bands play country, occasionally rugged rock 'n roll also sounds. Nashville honors her nickname as Music City. But anyone who says Nashville says mainly country music and it is not called the capital of country music for nothing. Music that originated in the rural areas in the South and has its roots in American folk music. A singing voice, an acoustic guitar and a violin. That is all you need to score great, lived, rough and without much pooha hits. Tomorrow, the CMAs will take place here, the Country Music Awards. The city is already flooded with fans from all over the world today. There is an exuberant atmosphere on Broadway.

 

 

Tonight we hear bands play on various stages in the bars, looking for their big breakthrough and eternal fame. Maybe tonight we'll see the new Kenny Rogers, a future, inimitable Dolly Parton, a next 'man in black' or maybe 'man in any color you like' Johnny Cash. Timeless classics as their own work are brought to stage. The bands sing and play today for tips. And a bonus for a request number. It is honky tonk at its best. Music City honors her name tonight.