My trip to the start of the Natchez Trace started on September 30th when I drove nine hours to Dalton, GA. I spent the night in Dalton and headed to Franklin this morning. The longer drive time yesterday meant I could stop at a few distilleries along the way today. I stopped at the Jack Daniels distillery in Lynchburg, TN. I didn’t do any tasting at this distillery, but did walk through town and stopped into several gift shops. I managed to keep my purchases to the liquor to take home to try. The next stop was at the Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, TN. This distillery was the Most Awarded American Whiskey or Bourbon of 2019, 2020 and 2021. I made a purchase to take home and also stopped in the onsite bar called Humble Baron. Once in the bar, I decided to purchase an Old Fashioned and it was one of the best I have ever tasted. After this stop I headed to Franklin at the hotel meeting place. My bike was loaded onto a trail to be moved tomorrow to the start of the Natchez Trace Parkway. I will be riding with my friend Julia. I share hiking adventures with her (including a couple of times on the AT), so this bike trip was my adventure idea to share. The hotel provided appetizers worthy of a meal and then we had the traditional rider meeting. Bubba started the meeting and then introduced us to the new owners of Bubba’s Pampered Pedalers: Phil and Pat. Back in their youth, they were two guys that were in the Peace Corps at the same time. It seems like it will be a smooth transition.
An early morning stop at the Tennessee welcome center.
I did not opt to go on the tour, but visited the welcome center and purchased some Jack Daniels and their own recipe for bitters to take home. I’m looking forward to trying them out with a friend from my old high school.
There was an entire wall made from Jack Daniels whiskey bottles at the welcome center.
The tradition continues of finding a local post office.
I had already planned to visit the Nearest Green Distillery before I headed to Tennessee, and my stop at Jack Daniels cemented my plan. This artwork is outside of the visitor center. Nathan, “Nearest” Green was Jack Daniels first Master Distiller. He was the first African American master distiller on record.
This is just a tiny snapshot of the bar inside of Humble Baron. It is part of the world’s longest continuous bar at 518 feet long. It wraps around an indoor stage.
I just had to try an Old Fashioned — it was great.
Photo opportunity with Bubba and Geepa (aka Brian). Geepa lives nearby and stopped in to say hello!.