Season 1 · Episode 550

550 - Leaving Jack Daniels to Start New with Jeff Arnett of Company Distilling

On this episode of Bourbon Pursuit, the team sits down with one of the most recognizable names in the whiskey world: Jeff Arnett. After nearly two decades at the helm of Jack Daniel’s, Jeff decided it was time to trade the corporate blueprint for his own vision, co-founding Company Distilling. Jeff opens up about what it’s really like to leave the world’s largest distillery to navigate the challenges—and the total creative freedom—of starting from scratch. We’re diving into his "best of both worlds" approach to distillation, where he’s focusing on spirits that are approachable enough for a newcomer but complex enough to keep the seasoned aficionados coming back for more. The conversation gets real about the current state of the industry, shifting consumer tastes, and how to maintain uncompromising quality in a market that feels more crowded every day. Jeff also gives us a look behind the curtain at Company Distilling’s community-focused homes in Lynchburg and Townsend. To wrap things up, we’re shifting gears into Jeff’s passion for cars and the surprising parallels he sees between a high-performance engine and a world-class whiskey.

Bourbon Pursuit

January 22, 20261h 2mExplicit

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Show Notes

Where do you go when you're on top? That could be said for elite quarterbacks or CEOs of top 20 global companies. But if you're the master distiller for the largest whiskey brand on planet earth, what could you possibly do next? We get to answer that today as we are honored to have Jeff Arnett back on the show. He was a prior guest back on Episode 150 when he carried the title of Master Distiller for Jack Daniel's. Since then, he's gone into a new venture and is now testing his grit in startup life as a partner with Company Distilling. We talk about the feelings he had when he left and what sort of vision he set for himself with this new role. We get into the business a bit further with distribution and more but I won't spoil the insight he shares.

Show Notes:

Jeff's pivotal decision to leave Jack Daniel's after 20 years
The creative freedom he found at Company Distilling
Insights on crafting a weeded bourbon with a unique maple finish
Analysis of the whiskey market's evolution and consumer trends
A look at Company Distilling’s community-centric vision
Reflections on his passion for cars and the shift towards electric vehicles

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