After failed attempts to rewrite a controversial proposal intended to legally redefine Tennessee whiskey, lawmakers have voted to postpone the initiative, allowing the patrons involved more time to debate its case.
According to the Associated Press, Tennessee state lawmakers voted on Tuesday not to rewrite the legal definition of Tennessee whiskey this session. Instead, the legislature decided to create a summer study committee to examine the issue and give it at least another year before the matter is once again brought before state lawmakers.
The dispute involves two well-known brand names, Jack Daniel's, owned by Louisville, Ky.-based Brown-Forman Corp, and George Dickel, owned British conglomerate Diageo PLC. George Dickel led the attempts to undo the law that defines Tennessee whiskey.
"We stand behind last year's law, we truly believe it's best for Tennessee whiskey all over the world," said Jeff Arnett, Jack Daniel's master distiller, to The Associated Press. "And for the players who've located in the state of Tennessee, we need to uphold these quality standards."
Calls have been made for state lawmakers to consider changing the existing law that would relax some of the requirements needed to opportunity to label their product as "Tennessee whiskey," according to the Associated Press.
The bill would allow Tennessee whiskey makers to reuse barrels, which would mean savings over new ones that cost approximately $600 each. The current law requires that whiskey be made from fermented mash of at least 51 percent corn, charcoal filtered and stored in unused oak barrels in order to be labeled as "Tennessee whiskey."
Guy L. Smith IV, executive vice president of Diageo said the law is too restrictive and unfairly benefits Jack Daniel's. He says that he hopes the "committee gives serious consideration to changing the law."
"Rather than having one company dictate for everyone, we can do this the right way and come together in an open forum to discuss how to create the best standards for Tennessee whiskey," Smith IV said in a release.
The AP reported that Jack Daniel's is the largest producer of Tennessee whiskey, with 11.5 million cases of its Black Label shipped last year. Several other companies, including Scotch whisky makers in Scotland and Champagne producers in France, have defined restrictions on the use of names.
