in America we drive on the right side of the road...

We went to bed at 3 A.M and Ollie woke me at 8.30. Ouch! We had spent the previous night hanging out with a group of guys staying at the hostel, drinking beer (well Ollie), putting the world to rights and then tearing it apart again. This was the best evening we had spent in America so far and we hadn’t laughed so much in a while!

We walked into town and caught the bus to the airport. No we weren’t flying anywhere...we were going to hire a car for the day! It was the only way Ollie could get to visit his dream place. The Jack Daniels distillery in Lynchburg. As we left the parking lot and slowly made our way to the turn pike we were both a little nervous. Neither of us had ever driven abroad before and now were about to take on the wild American Interstates! But Ollie was brilliant and got the hang of the ‘right side’ really quickly. I wasn’t so bad myself and read the map and followed our scribbled down directions perfectly so that we didn’t make one wrong turn! That doesn’t even happen when we’re at home so it must have been our lucky day!

The distillery was set in the countryside, almost in the middle of nowhere. Surrounded by lots of trees and stretching back into the hills it was a great spot. The owners (some big corporation now) had kept it in its original place and we found out that there in Lynchburg is the only place they ever make J.D. That impressed me immediately. I had thought that this was just going to be a museum like place and the the actual manufacturing of the whiskey had long moved away to more modern distilleries. But in fact J.D is still made the exact same way that it was back in the late 1800’s when Mr Jack bought that distillery at around the age of 14. He had chosen it because of a cave and its underground spring; the source of which has still ever been found. We got a lick of J.D 140 proof moonshine (the stuff they start out with) and it really took our mouths off! Next we got to take sniff in the huge vats of fermenting yeast, hops, wheat and corn. When you took a sniff the vapours flew up your nostrils with such a tear that everyone in our group immediately jumped back. It was hilarious to watch each individual person have a go. 

In the building where the whiskey is past through the smoked charcoal (a process which distinguishes J.D as a whiskey and not a bourbon) the guide flapped the huge wooden lids so that we could get a smell. And WHAT a smell! Beautiful smokey whiskey filling our lungs and running our over our lips so that it was impossible not to lick them. We moved into one of the barrel stores and heard how Jack Daniels makes its own barrels by hand because its the wood of these that give the whiskey its colour. They only use a barrel once because after that they think all the goodness has been taken from the wood. We were most surprised to find out that they didn’t then throw the barrels away but instead shipped them to Scotland. This is because the Scottish whiskey makes use them to hold their whiskey while it matures. Apparently some very distinguished Scotch whiskey makers use them. Who would have thought?!

Finally we saw the bottling room and learnt that Single Barrel J.D is the best and is aged for longest. We could have bought a Barrel (240 bottles) for $9,000 but we decided not to!!! If we had though we would have had each bottler personalised AND got to keep the barrel itself! I have gained a far greater appreciation for Jack Daniels and realised it’s not just a gimmicky popular brand but actually a really distinguished and traditional whiskey makers. The effort that goes into producing such a whiskey is definitely worth the price! Even Ollie said he won’t complain again at how expensive it is! 

If you would like to win the next postcard please answer the following question -

Can you tell us the cause of Jack Daniels death? And for a bonus point how tall was he?

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We drove the car back, had an interesting moment at the petrol station that i won’t go into because it will annoy Ollie to much if I do, and walked back to the hostel. We had arranged with a couple of other guys that we would try and go to the NHL game that was happening at ‘Smashville’ (awesome name!) that evening. Nashville Predators were playing The New Jersey Devils. One of the guys we were with was a Devils fan so he was really up for going.

When we got to the stadium we tried to buy the tickets but the damn ticket woman was so slow that by the time she had entered our details she announced ‘Sorry they’ve all been sold!’ Mad as ever the four of us left the stadium. We had only one other option. To try and get some tickets from a tout. Looking around it seemed hopeless. But then we saw four men with boards hanging round their necks that said ‘Tickets’. We can over and shouted that we wanted four. Immediately the men jumped around us all figheting over who would get to sell them. We managed to get four siting close together and when the guy said $30 each we couldn’t believe our luck! And to think we almost played $67 in the stadium! Parting with our money the sudden realisation that the tickets might not be genuine hit us. 

Lining up by the doors, the dreaded ‘beep’ of tickets being scanned and accepted, we awaited our fate. Ollie was first through. Beep. He was in and following close behind so were the rest of us. A cheer of relief and congratulating ourselves we went to find our seats.

The 18,000 seats of the enormous stadium were practically filled and the atmosphere was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. There was music blaring, chants of all kinds running through the crowd and the Megatron (big screens in the middle) flashed pictures of previous games. It was all so over the top and I loved every bit of it. There were cheerleaders and a Saber-toothed Tiger Mascot. There was a live band and an old guy playing the organ! As the opposing team’s (The Devils) team sheet was read out the Preds crown shouted ‘You Suck’ after each name and filled the room with booing. It was hilarious! It was all about the home team tonight and the opposition barely got a mention. It was so one sided and I thought it was so funny ‘cos back home everything has to be so fair. 

The crowd descended into silence as a young girl walked out onto the ice to sing the National Anthem. There’s something about The Star Spangled Banner that gives me goose pimples every time I hear it. I don’t know if its the haunting melody or the lyrics but sometimes I think it has more of an effect than our own Anthem. It’s so much more emotive I think. The girl finished and the crowd let out huge hoots and cheers. The game was on.

I have to be honest one of the reasons I had so badly wanted to see a ice hockey game was because of the fights! I know it’s bad but it’s also very true! On T.V I’ve seen some cracking hits but when you’re actually there it’s even better! Players slamming each other into the side screens and flying over one another. In the first period to guys whacked into each other and then so mad they threw down their sticks, pulled off their gloves and then just went at each other! So theatrical! The Refs just stood back and let the two of them, well, fight it out! Punches were flying, although not often making contact due to all their padding, body parts being tugged and wrenched, faces contorted, it was a true spectacle! Eventually the refs called time on the little bust up but not after the crowd had had their fix. We were all on our feet screaming and shouting, getting thoroughly carried away! 

The rest of the game was just as exciting only slightly less violent! Preds went 2 up before the Devils managed to equalize and finally win on penalties. Yes. There was even a penalty shoot out! It was my dream game!! I was sad the home side didn’t win though. I think one of my favourite people there was the guy on the organ though. He’d suddenly burst to life at random parts of the game and play some stupid tune to get the crowd going. I also like the film clips on the megatron every time an issue occurred or something major happened...mainly because they kept using Will Ferrel quotes! 

I was so glad we got to experience an NHL game. It was great to see so many people there supporting there team and how such a big deal it was all made. It was a real party atmosphere and there were so many kids around with their families. We sat next to a guy who had brought his son along for, as he called it, ‘Your first Hockey Game’. The little boy was hilarious constantly shouting ‘You Suck!’ and ‘Go Preds!’. We got talking to the Dad who said he had always wanted to live in Ireland, in Belfast. Well someone has got to I suppose...

Back at the hostel we sat down to play some more cards and I actually won a game! We’ve had a great time in Nashville and in particular the time we’ve spent at the hostel meeting and talking to some great people. For the first time since being in America I think we will both be sad to leave a place. Tomorrow is another long bus journey. Onwards to South Carolina.