Fletcher named Master Distiller of the Year
Jack Daniel’s 14-Year-Old wins top honor by by 'Whisky Magazine'
5:16 p.m. Feb. 24, 2026
Lynchburg native Chris Fletcher grew up learning the craft from his grandfather, the late Master Distiller Frank Bobo.
DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor
Chris Fletcher has been named Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year by Whisky Magazine at the 2026 Icons of Whisky and World Whiskies Awards America.
The awards ceremony took place Feb. 12 in Louisville, Ky. During the event, Jack Daniel’s 14-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 1 also earned the title of World’s Best Tennessee Whiskey.
• Jack Daniel releases 14-Year-Old whiskey
The annual awards recognize individuals and distilleries responsible for excellence in whiskey production across the United States. Winners from the Americas competition will advance to compete against international finalists at the global World Whiskies Awards next month.
Fletcher serves as vice president, master distiller, and director of distillery operations at the Jack Daniel Distillery. In that role, he oversees production and innovation while maintaining the traditional processes that have defined the distillery for nearly 160 years.
A Lynchburg native, Fletcher grew up learning the craft from his grandfather, the late Master Distiller Frank Bobo. He is one of only a few individuals to hold the title of master distiller in the company’s history.
• Chris Fletcher’s ‘pinch yourself’ moment
During his five years in the position, Fletcher has led the development of several premium and limited-release experimental whiskeys, including the Bonded Series, Aged Series, Special Release Series, and Distillery Series.
The award-winning 14-Year-Old Batch 1 debuted in February 2025 as part of the fourth annual Aged Series release. The expression marked the first time since the early to mid-1900s that Jack Daniel’s released a whiskey aged 14 years.
The whiskey is bottled at 126.3 proof (63.15% alcohol by volume). It begins with the distillery’s traditional Tennessee Whiskey mash bill and undergoes the signature charcoal mellowing process, filtered drop by drop through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal before extended aging. According to the distillery, the additional aging develops notes of baking spices and oak, with flavors of butterscotch, leather, and tobacco.
Founded in 1866, the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg is the first registered distillery in the United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s products are distributed in more than 170 countries worldwide.
