Jack Daniels logo and the history of the business

It’s time to explore the Jack Daniels logo and the incredible history of the business.

Jack Daniels is undeniably the best–selling American liquor worldwide. Yet, is it the oldest distillery in the United States? Buffalo Trace thinks otherwise. Buffalo regards its brand as the oldest running distillery in the country. With this intense claim, where does Jack Daniels stand?

Jack Daniels holds the title as the oldest registered distillery in America. It traces its formation to Jasper Newton Daniel, a native of Moore County. Jasper, who became known as Jack, learned to make whiskey from Nathan Green, a black slave owned by Dan Call, a reverend.

Since then, Tennessee has become the home of American top-selling spirits. The distinct character of the brand reflects in its illustrious label. The custom black and white label is one of the most iconic and recognizable logos in the world. It appears on anything the company owns.

The emblem comes as an oval vignette with the brand’s name legibly written on top. The famous Old No.7 is not left out. It sits in the middle of the oval-shaped outline. The logo is unique, classic, and adorable. Its black and white persona represents elegance and hygiene.

Evolution of Jack Daniels Logo


It’s difficult to trace the first emblem Jack Daniels used. Yet, one thing is sure. The logo mirrors the square–shape of its bottle. It featured an oval figure with a coiled strand around it. And within this shape is the famous catchphrase—Old No.7.

You’ll also find the brand’s name above the vignette in uppercase letters. In addition, these elements are housed in a black square frame. Again, there is another label with extra captions in a vertical square shape with curly sides.

With this option, customers can see the likeness between the logo and the bottle.

What Font Is Jack Daniels Using?

Jack Daniels used custom fonts. The brand’s name is written in custom caps, and it’s close to Black No.7 from Typocalypse. This typographer is based in Hamburg, Germany. Also, the origin of the company, Tennessee, is captured in a handwritten typeface closer to Lynchburg script.

Why Does Jack Daniels Logo Work?

1.      The Logo Is Simple:

Jack Daniels’ black and white trademark is simple. When you focus on the core emblem, you’ll notice that it has relatively fewer elements. This includes texts and an icon. One aim of simplicity is to help consumers connect quickly with a brand.

2.      The Logo Is Legible:

Logos pop up on multiple platforms. From larger screens to tiny ones, they must exchange greetings with customers. So, no matter the medium, an emblem must be readable. It’s one basic rule that shouldn’t be ignored when crafting a logo. Jack Daniels label has passed this test. It has a clean and bold inscription that stands out from the crowd.

3.      The Logo Is Unique:

The black and white label is exclusive. It has featured graphic elements that aren’t linked to other brands. Based on these uncommon features, Jack Daniels’ label stands above all brands in the distilling industry. This rare personality makes it practical for consumers to differentiate from other brands serving the same market.

4.      The Logo Is Versatile:

Jack’s label has a clean layout. So, it can scale on multiple communication channels effortlessly. With this designing trait, the trademark can reach several consumers. To achieve scalability, a logo shouldn’t have a complicated layout. Jack Daniels logo is a winner here as well.

5.      The Logo Is Consistent:

For a century–plus, the charisma of the Jack Daniels label is almost unchanged. The brand has won many hearts by keeping a trademark with consistent graphic elements. This means its message is still the same across all marketing mediums. Consistency brings loyalty.

Jack Daniels Logo Design Elements


The creator behind the Jack Daniels label did superb artwork. The neutral–colored logo has custom fonts and simple shapes that are exclusive to the liquor giant. Without further ado, let’s discover the graphic elements that make the old No.7 insignia the king among kings.  

Jack Daniels Logo Shape And Symbol

1.      A Crown Cork:

This is a classic vignette that holds breath for the trademark. The shape is an oval with a filament around it. Can you guess what it looks like? The iconic symbol resembles a brown–up crown cap or cork. As a closure for bottling, it stands for protection and preservation. Likewise, a crown cap symbolizes power, royalty, and immortality. These emotions are authentic because the shape resembles the British Queen’s Crown. Also, it’s a symbol of royalty.

2.      A Unique Bottle:

The frame housing the other design elements is a bottle. The designer gave it a subtle persona by drawing it from the neck to the base. This famed symbol is the company’s custom bottle. While most bottles come in circles, Jack Daniels favored a squared type. The bottle became handy, easy to distribute, and preserve. Over a period, customers accepted the novel-shaped bottle.

Jack Daniels Logo Colors

1.      Black Color:

Primarily, the black works as the frame color of the trademark. To some people, it honors the founder who died in 1911. Curiously, it was the same year the company launched its black and white label. Black, as a ritual color for Jack Daniels, represents elegance, wealth, and authority.

2.      White Color:

Except for the frame, all the elements in the Jack Daniels emblem are white. The color white symbolizes hygiene, purity, and simplicity. Again, the hue of heaven stands for loyalty, safety, and purity. I need to state that with a white background, the other elements take on black color.

Why No. 7 on Jack Daniels Label?

The iconic Old No.7 is the original Jack Daniels label. It’s also called the Black Label. The idolized insignia was the district tax identifiable number given to Jack Daniels as a whisky distiller. After modifying the district, the federal government assigned the brand with number 16. Jack kept the old number because it had gained traction with customers. In those days, distillers promoted their products with numbers and not logos.

What Is Jack Daniels Slogan?

With new customers in the market, Jack devised a novel strategy to attract them. The first of its kind for the brand was a global marketing campaign to introduce Jack Daniels to the next generation of consumers. This marketing communication came with a mantra—Make It Count.

Make It Count is a way of life. It sums up the desire to live, enjoy, and give life all you’ve got. The board believes this slogan resonates with the founder’s lifestyle. The campaign was intended to drive global brand equity and unify consumers who are still discovering American whiskey.

Who Started Jack Daniels?

Jasper Newton Daniel was widely known as the founder of Jack Daniels. He was an American entrepreneur and a liquor specialist. His birthday isn’t known because a fire outbreak ruined the records at the courthouse. He lost his mother shortly after his delivery.

Daniel was the last of ten children born to Calaway and Lucinda Daniel. Though his parental grandparents were of Scottish–Irish origin, he was born in Lynchburg, Tennessee, United States. Some people think he was born in September 1846, while others believe it was January 1849.

Conflicting dates, right?

His father married Matilda Vanzant in June 1851. They had three children. Expectedly, young Daniel didn’t get the best treatment from his stepmother. So, he ran away after his father died in the civil war. Finally, he became an orphan and was raised in a Baptist Church.  

As an orphan, Dan Call, a preacher, and distiller took him under his loving arms. Here, Daniel took an interest in the distilling business, and he learned the nuts and bolts of the trade. Dan Call saw potential in Jack, and as a busy man, trusted the running of the business to Jack.

Jack received his share of the father’s property in 1875. With this backbone, he went into registered business with Dan Call. But not long, Dan Call stepped out for religious reasons. So, Jack took over the distilling business and turned it into an empire.

Jack Daniels had no child and didn’t marry till his death on 9th October 1911. He died in Lynchburg from blood poisoning. He was wise to mentor his nephews, who took over the business before his demise. With this decision, his legacy still lives on after many decades.

Who Invented Jack Daniels?


Jack Daniels is American’s signature whiskey. Its sparkling taste has overwhelmed consumers worldwide. And for over 150 years, the origin of its recipe has puzzled many. On the lighter side, Jack Daniel has received the credit for this invention. Yet, history has a way of retelling its story.

According to Fawn Weaver, an author and entrepreneur, Nathan Green invented the recipe. She went further to say that Green was a black slave owned by Dan Call. As a master distiller, he taught Jack Daniels the secret art of making whiskey.

With this insight, I can assert that Jack created a beverage empire. But Nathan created the recipe that built the empire. Do I sound sarcastic here? Surely not!

Jack Daniels Short History


The state of Tennessee takes the honor of being the home of authentic American whiskey. And Jack Daniel’s Distillery is the brand behind this unmatched tribute. In 1886, it became the first registered distillery in the United States. The company operates in the distilling industry.

It began when Jack became an orphan. To find solace, he ran to stay with Dan Call, a preacher and distiller. Here at the custody of Dan Call was Nathan Green, a black slave. Today, authors have uncovered that Green was the master distiller who taught Jack the art of making whiskey.

To add to the facts, Green was the first African American master distiller in the United States. With this credential, he became Jack Daniels’ first master distiller. This insight is quite exciting. Jack entered the business with Dan Call after getting his share of his father’s estate.

However, this partnership didn’t last long. Dan Call left, giving full ownership to Jack Daniel. In 1884, Jack Daniel bought land, the present location to serve as the headquarters for the brand. Two years later, Jack Daniel’s Distillery was officially registered, and its iconic story followed.


In 1904, the brand won its first gold medal at the World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the start of many things to come. In 1907, Jack handed his business to his nephews. This was the time his health was under critical threat. He took this decision because he had no children.

His nephews—Lem and Jess Motlow, took over the business as the brand’s owners. In 1910, the distillation of Jack Daniels came to a standstill because of a statewide law. So the company moved production to St. Louis and Birmingham. Despite the switch, the quality wasn’t excellent.

They failed to meet the quality produced at Tennessee. Unexpectedly, similar laws affected the two new production centers. After several legal battles in 1947, Jack Daniels resumed production. Shockingly, Motlow also died the same year, leaving the business to his children.

Though the ban was reversed, Jack Daniels still operates in a dry county. This means it’s lawful to make the whiskey in the area but illegal to sell it there. It’s witty! There is one exception, though. As a distiller, you can sell one of the company’s commemorative products.

Brown–Forman Corporation purchased the company in 1956. Today, Chris Fletcher is the eighth Master Distiller for the brand. He is the grandson of Frank Bobo, the fifth Master Distiller.

How Big Is Jack Daniel’s Distillery?


Jack Daniels, American finest whiskey, operates on 1,700 acres of land. It’s in Moore County, the founder’s hometown. It employs about 700 workers. This working staff comprises 95% local residents and two–thirds generational descents. These brains perform the brand’s magic.

Yes, the company depends on their skills to serve the world with its soothing and smooth liquor. Jack Daniels whiskey is made from corn, rye, and malted barley. These quality ingredients are distilled in copper stills. Afterward, they are taken through a process called mellowing.

This method entails filtering the mixture through a 10–feet stack of sugar maple charcoal. This step aims to remove the residue and taste of corn. From this tedious process comes the celebrated liquor treasured by many across the globe. Once you take a sip, you’ll understand this.

The company has a range of products. They include Old No.7, Gentleman Jack, Tennessee Rye, and Tennessee Fire. You’re also likely to see Tennessee Apple and Honey in stock. In 2017, Jack Daniels production was 16.1 million cases. It translates into 31 million gallons annually.

Jack Daniels generated $121.7 million in net income after releasing this quantity into the market. Today, Jack Daniels ships around 119 million bottles of liquid per year. It’s the highest-ranked liquor brand in the world. And Interbrand estimated its brand value to be $5.64 billion.

Last Notes On Jack Daniels

Whether accidental or not, information can be inaccurate. The historical account of Jack Daniels is one unique case study. For instance, the actual birth date of its founder is unknown. Though there are three conflicting dates, the company has accepted September as Jack’s birthday. So, every year, the company dedicates the entire month to celebrate his first day on earth.

Also, until recently, the person who taught him how to distill whiskey was lost. It took a publication in the New York Times to unearth this master craftsman. Clay Risen wrote the story and entitled it: “Jack Daniels embraces a hidden ingredient: Help from a slave.”

This moving story, which appeared in June 2006, led to including Nathan Green in the history books of Jack Daniels. These missing facts, along with its smooth taste and logo, have made the brand highly popular. With its unique charisma, Jack Daniels would continue to be the best–selling American liquor worldwide. If you love whiskey, cheers to Jack and Green.