At Jack Daniels distillery there’s a tradition that employees are given a bottle of whiskey on the first Friday of every month as a thank you for their hard work. Now that’s a tradition we can definitely get on board with!
To bring a little bit of this Tennessee spirit to the UK, Jack Daniels have started Jack Friday, a night of food, drink and music running every Friday throughout September. Jack Daniels have partnered with award-winning mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana, live music curator Mikey Jonns and MEATLiquor restaurants to celebrate Fridays the Jack Daniels way!
We went along to a preview of the event held at the newly-opened, and lots of fun, venue Old Street Records. Held in the basement bar, the room was packed with people ready to start their weekend off with a bang! All of the cocktails sounded tempting but we opted for the Wilderness (Tennessee Honey Whiskey, pressed apple juice, fresh passion fruit and lemon juice) and a signature Jack Daniel’s Lynchburg Lemonade. The lemonade was cool and refreshing, something we needed on a hot Friday evening! The Wilderness was delicious, sweet but not sickly and had a real kick of Honey Jack Daniels. We can also highly recommend the Sour Records (Pistachio syrup shaken with Jack Daniels Whiskey, lemon juice and egg white).
Just as we were starting to get peckish, along came our savour – MEATLiquor! The ‘Jack Palace’ burger combines their beef patty with buttered onions marinated with the distinctive character of Jack. But don’t fear vegetarian friends, the veggie option was equally delicious, a big chunk of halloumi works for us!
Alongside the cocktails and burgers, each Friday will feature a guest band or musician – the programme has been curated by Mikey Jonns. Summer may be coming to an end, but it isn’t time to stay home and hibernate just yet!
If this sounds like your kind of thing, make sure you get down early – the first 20 people through the door will receive a free cocktail if they hashtag #JackFriday!
As well as Old Street Records, Jack Friday is also being held at The Blackbird in Edinburgh on the 9th September, and on the 30th September, White Lyan in London is hosting a special, secret gig!
And to keep the Friday feeling after September, here’s the recipe for the Jack Daniels’ Lynchburg Lemonade to try at home!
Jack Daniels’ Lynchburg Lemonade
A signature cocktail using Jack Daniel’s whiskey
1 part Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
1 part sweet and sour mix
1 part triple sec
4 parts soda