In a business where family tradition tends to matter, Chris Fletcher stepped up Wednesday to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps to lead the production of the Jack Daniel’s whiskey brand.
The Tennessee distillery in Lynchburg introduced Fletcher as a master distiller for the flagship brand of Kentucky-based Brown-Forman Corp. Fletcher spent six years as an assistant master distiller and assumes the top role following Jeff Arnett’s departure after 12 years leading the distillery.
Fletcher, 39, is the grandson of former Jack Daniel’s master distiller Frank Bobo, who served in the role for more than two decades until retiring in 1989. Fletcher’s boyhood home was about three miles from the distillery in Lynchburg where Jack Daniel’s is produced.