Raise a glass to Chris Fletcher, Vice President and Master Distiller at Jack Daniel‘s—one of the few human beings to hold this prestigious title. What makes Chris’s story even more remarkable? His grandfather held the same position before him. Working at a historic distillery overseeing 3 million barrels and nearly 1,000 employees in tiny Lynchburg, Tennessee (population 5,000), Chris has turned family legacy into a modern-day masterclass in consistency, people leadership, and craftsmanship.
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Find out the keys to Chris’s and Jack Daniel’s success in three, two, one!
Three Key Insights
1. Pursue Your Passion Later, But Pursue It With Purpose
Chris’s path wasn’t predetermined. Despite having a master distiller grandfather, he didn’t seriously consider the family business until later than you might expect. “It wasn’t until I got a summer job after my sophomore year in college that I started to think, well, that’d be pretty cool if I could learn how to make whiskey,” Chris explains. Sometimes, he says, the best careers find you when you’re ready for them, not when you’re forced into them.
Takeaway: Don’t chase a career because you are “supposed to” do it—pursue it when you’ve discovered why it genuinely excites you.
2. Great Products Are Built on Great People, Not Just Great Processes
When asked how Jack Daniel’s maintains perfect consistency across millions of bottles, Chris didn’t talk about technology or technique first. He said, “It’s about people… you can’t make whiskey without great people.” What’s remarkable is the deep community roots of Jack Daniel’s: so many employees have parents, grandparents, and siblings working alongside them. In a town of 5,000, the distillery employs nearly 1,000. “It’s the families of Lynchburg that make this product what it is,” Chris says.
Takeaway: Build a team of people who are invested in your success because they’re invested in your mission, not just a paycheck.
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